
Chiropractic at Teamworks
Teamworks’ Chiropractic Doctors are highly trained and skilled and have extensive experience in the health and wellness field. The Chiropractic Doctors at Teamworks utilize treatment methods that are extremely diverse, including manual therapy joint procedures (spinal manipulation, Activator method), soft tissue injury techniques (Active Release Techniques, Graston Technique), Neuro-proprioceptive taping (Kinesiology Tape), electrotherapeutic modalities and specific rehabilitation exercises. Spinal manipulation or an adjustment is a carefully controlled and precise movement delivered by a skilled practitioner to dysfunctional joints, restoring proper joint motion and enhancing joint function.
Our Chiropractors
Dr. Brent Magowan BSc, DC
Dr. Khaled Dossa BSc (Kin), DC
Dr. Joanna MacDonald BHKin, DC
Dr. Ann Izard BComm, DC
What to Expect
Your first visit to a chiropractor at Teamworks will include a thorough history and physical examination in order to establish a diagnosis of your injury or condition. Our chiropractors will provide you with a detailed report of findings whereby the nature of your condition will be explained to you and a recommended treatment plan will be laid out for you. The goal of the session is to get to the root cause of your injury. Your chiropractor will perform a combination of techniques such as adjustments, soft-tissue therapy, electrotherapy application, exercise prescription and education. Our chiropractors take an active approach to care which means that you will be actively involved in your recovery process. You will be prescribed a home exercise program to facilitate your recovery and get you back to your sport or life activities as quickly as possible. Chiropractic services at Teamworks is provided in our comfortable private treatment rooms whereby you will receive uninterrupted one-on-one patient care.
Now that you know more about Chiropractic care; learn more about Physiotherapy Vancouver!
Treatments
ART® is a state-of-the-art soft tissue system/movement-based massage technique that treats problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves. Headaches, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, shoulder pain, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, knee problems, and tennis elbow are just a few of the many conditions that can be resolved quickly and permanently with ART®. These conditions all have two important things in common: they are often a result of overused muscles, and they often lead to the production of tough, dense scar tissue. Teamworks’ ART® practitioners use their hands to evaluate the texture, tightness and movement of the affected tissues, and subsequently remove the scar tissue from these structures using a precisely directed tension with very specific patient movements.
Custom-made orthotics are prescribed by the practitioners at Teamworks and manufactured at an affiliate laboratory. A foam impression of the patient’s foot, along with a digital gait scan, are sent to the laboratory where they custom fabricate an orthotic device designed to improve the patient’s static and dynamic structural alignment.
The Kinesio Taping® Method is a rehabilitative taping technique that is designed to facilitate the body’s natural healing process. It provides support and stability to muscles and joints without restricting the body’s range of motion, providing extended soft tissue manipulation to prolong the benefits of manual therapy administered within the clinical setting. Latex-free and wearable for days at a time, Kinesio® Tape is safe for populations ranging from pediatric to geriatric, and successfully treats a variety of orthopedic, neuromuscular, neurological and other medical conditions. Athletic taping is a traditional taping technique that effectively wraps a joint to provide stability and support in cases of ligament and joint capsule sprains.
Manual Therapy is a clinical approach utilizing skilled, specific hands-on techniques to assess and treat injury and dysfunction in soft tissues and joints in the body. This can involve assisted stretches, deep tissue massage, myofascial release, mobilizations and manipulations. Mobilizations are gentle, rhythmic, passive movements and manipulations are skilled, passive, quick movements. Manual therapy is effective in achieving numerous treatment goals including: modulating pain, increasing range of motion (ROM), reducing or eliminating soft tissue inflammation, inducing relaxation, improving contractile and non-contractile tissue repair, extensibility, and/or stability, facilitating movement and improving function.
TENS (Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) – Electrical current applied through two or four electrodes. This stimulation is usually very comfortable for the patient and can provide immediate reduction of pain and muscle tension.
IFC (Interferential current) – Another form of electrical current, IFC provides deeper stimulation and can be utilized to provide longer term pain reduction. It can be used to reduce pain and/or swelling in both acute (ie; sprained ankle or knee) and sub-acute or chronic conditions (ie; ongoing back pain).
Ultrasound – Ultrasound is a sound wave that produces mechanical energy which is used to break down scar tissue and decrease pain. It can be an effective treatment for various tendinopathies and local inflammation.
Thermotherapy – Application of moist heat to improve blood circulation and relax soft tissues.
Cryotherapy – Application of ice packs to reduce swelling and control acute pain and inflammation.
Teamworks plays a vital role when preparing for or recovering from surgery. Our team of experienced and highly qualified practitioners will ensure that you are in the best form possible to go into surgery and will carefully guide you through the postoperative period. We are committed to seeing you right through the process so that you can successfully return to all of your life and sport activities.
We are experienced at taking patients through various surgical procedures including:
- ACL reconstruction, total knee replacements, patella reconstruction
- Shoulder surgery
- Spinal surgery
- Hip replacement and hip arthroscopy
- Wrist fractures and carpal tunnel release
- Ankle fractures and reconstruction
We are equipped with a bright, spacious exercise gym where we will help you through the steps of the pre and post surgical rehabilitation process. Our practitioners will provide you with appropriate range of motion, stabilization, and strength exercises which will help you gain back independence and function.
We will obtain reports from your orthopaedic surgeon after your surgery and provide them with progress reports throughout your recovery to ensure that your progress is on track and that you have a successful outcome.
Sport injuries, whether you are an elite or recreational athlete, require specialized care. The spectrum of sport injury management at Teamworks ranges from injury risk screening and prevention programming to sport-specific movement training and performance enhancement. Our practitioners at Teamworks use the most effective treatment methods and have a vast array of experience working with athletes of all ages and ability. Moreover, our practitioners are active themselves and personal experience with sport-related injuries provides them with a deep understanding of the experiences of injured athletes.
Programs
This program has been uniquely created by Teamworks to address the needs of patients who are either unsure of which service(s) they would benefit from most or those who have a complex injury presentation. A thorough initial assessment is performed by one of our Chiropractors or Physiotherapists and then a customized treatment program is developed. This treatment plan includes a combination of services and treatment techniques that is specifically designed to meet each patient’s needs. We highly recommend this program for anyone that is interested in benefiting from our team approach to care.
Your initial appointment in the Collaborative Care Program will be booked with either a Chiropractor or a Physiotherapist (depending on your preference as well as practitioner availability). Your practitioner will perform a thorough exam, including both a subjective (injury/medical/activity history) and an objective (specific and functional movements, orthopedic and possible neurological tests) assessment. Once the practitioner has gotten to the root of the problem, they will recommend a custom management plan that includes some combination of our various services (chiropractic, ART®, physiotherapy, massage therapy, acupuncture, etc). You will be actively involved in the planning process to ensure that the management plan meets your preferences and your needs.
Teamworks hosts in-house educational sessions and workshops on various health related topics. Participation is open to all patients as well as friends, family and community members. If you are interested in attending, join our mailing list or like us on Facebook to stay connected and learn about upcoming educational sessions. In addition, if you would like to learn more about a particular topic, let one of our staff members know and we can arrange to include it in an upcoming session.
In order to avoid injury we must be able to move efficiently. Joints need to be capable of providing adequate movement and muscles must generate enough force at the right time to be able to produce a smooth and efficient gait cycle. If joints are stiff and muscles are weak and/or tight, the body finds ways of compensating for the problem, leading to biomechanical abnormalities. Various injuries can result from these abnormalities including plantar fasciitis, patellofemoral pain syndrome, shin splints and other injuries at the ankle, knee and hip.
At Teamworks, a gait analysis can be performed as a part of your comprehensive initial assessment with a Physiotherapist or Chiropractor. This analysis involves walking on a treadmill or outside. Your practitioner will observe the way that you move, looking in particular at your technique as well as your feet, ankles, knees, hips and back. It will provide valuable information as to how your joints are moving and working together through the gait cycle, giving your practitioner insight into biomechanical abnormalities that may be contributing to your injury. Your practitioner will provide you with a summary of your findings and often prescribe exercises and/or make footwear or orthotic recommendations based on the assessment.
Interested in learning more about workplace ergonomics, nutrition, postural re-training, injury prevention, or another health-related topic? Our practitioners are available to come to your workplace to do an educational workshop on the topic of your choice, and the best part is, it’s free! Just get a group of at least 5 co-workers to attend the workshop and we will take care of the rest.
Postural Analysis is the process of evaluating the body positioning of a patient. When one’s posture is “off”, the body may experience a range of problems including: restricted range of motion, pain and joint, tendon, ligament and muscle stress. Our practitioners utilize both the traditional plumbline method as well as a state of the art software program to assess your posture.
With your consent, two pictures will be taken to view your posture from the side and front. The results are privacy protected and sent directly to you by email. Your practitioner will review the findings with you and make recommendations for treatment and/or postural exercise correction.
The body has an ideal position, and our trained practitioners can evaluate your body’s positioning and movements to identify deviations that may be impacting the quality of your movement and/or your sport performance. Video analysis is a highly useful tool for assessing and revealing maladaptive patterns in functional movements.
Analysis can be performed during various activities and movements including cycling, overhead throwing and golf swinging. The analysis includes a written report summarizing the findings and their potential implications as well as treatment and exercise recommendations.
Do you want to run faster, safer and more energy efficient? Do you want to minimize your risk of encountering the multitude of injuries that are common in runners? Teamworks provides a comprehensive video run analysis program to achieve these goals. A frame-by-frame video analysis allows us to see specific biomechanical deviations and breakdowns in the kinetic chains of the lower body.
The analysis involves a comprehensive assessment of your training regime and goals, footwear, alignment, muscle balance, biomechanics and dynamic stability. You will be filmed running on the treadmill from various angles. Your practitioner will then analyze the footage and prepare a report summarizing your findings and recommendations for training, exercises, treatment and/or footwear.