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The Core Principles of Evidence Based Medicine

EVIDENCE-BASED MEDICINE

The core principles of evidence-based medicine dictate that relevant research, the practitioner’s clinical experience, and the patient’s values all need to be considered when determining the best course of action in any given clinical scenario. Because clinical experience and a patient’s values are considered subjective variables, clear communication and understanding between the practitioner and patient is crucial. Appraising and interpreting relevant research, however, offers a key objective component to consider in the clinical decision-making process.

When it comes to joint pain, we often think of injections or surgery as our only options, however, it is important to understand that the bio mechanics of a joint, or the way a joint functions, is heavily dependent on structures that are adjacent to it. Think of the nerves in the muscles, tendons, and ligaments that relay messages to and from the brain about that joint. Knowing this, it is not surprising that the relevant research around managing many musculoskeletal conditions is to employ what is known as a ‘multi-modal’ approach to treatment. This means that the best outcomes are achieved by utilizing a variety of treatment options, including addressing changes to fascia, muscles, and tendons surrounding a joint, in addition to working through an individualized strengthening program to re calibrate or rehabilitate the function of that joint, and perhaps even protecting it from further damage with a brace.

In applying these concepts, the key to successful outcomes at Elite Sport Performance and the Knee Clinic is our three-pronged approach to treatment: treat the problem, strengthen the area, and avoid or modify offending activities.

Dr. Arif Karmali

BSc(Kin), DC

 

 

What does it mean to be a Chiropractic Sport Specialist?

By definition “chiropractic is an evidence-based, non-invasive, hands-on health care discipline that focuses on the musculoskeletal system.” – Ontario Chiropractic Association

Chiropractors treat a large range of maladies related to the spine, pelvis, nervous system and joints. After a thorough patient history and physical exam, a chiropractor may use a combination of treatments, manipulations, hands on therapies, exercise prescriptions and lifestyle counselling. A chiropractor is indisputably an integral part of our primary healthcare team.

So what makes a Sport Specialist Chiropractor stand out?

Sport specialist chiropractors are highly educated and uniquely trained to provide expert assessment, diagnosis, and management of musculoskeletal conditions. In addition to a health science or kinesiology undergraduate degree and 4-year Doctor of Chiropractic degree, the intensive post-graduate sports sciences fellowship can take an additional 4 years to complete. With over 1500 hours of field work, academic focus on exercise physiology, sport nutrition, sport psychology, radiology, advanced imaging, rehabilitation, sport specific research, acute and chronic injury management, and sport administration training, the sports sciences fellowship provides the most extensive sports specialty training in the chiropractic profession.

 

Dr. Arif Karmali

Why Manual Therapy could be just what the Doctor Ordered

At Elite Sport Performance and the Knee Clinic, the key to successful outcomes is our three-pronged approach to treatment: treat the problem, strengthen the area, and avoid or modify offending activities. These three components are broad and can encompass a wide variety of decisions and actions. If we zoom in on the first component, ‘treat the problem’, we may encounter a number of treatment options for the problem we are endeavoring to manage, but how do we know what’s best for each patient? The principles of evidence-based medicine would dictate that that the related research, the practitioner’s clinical experience, and the patient’s values all need to be considered when determining the best course of action.

When it comes to joint pain, we often think of injections or surgery as our only options, however, it is important to understand that the bio-mechanics of a joint, or the way a joint functions is heavily dependent on structures that are adjacent to it. Think of the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves that relay messages to and from the brain about that joint. Knowing this, it is not surprising that the related research around managing many musculoskeletal conditions is to employ what is known as a ‘multi-modal’ approach to treatment. This means that the best outcomes are achieved by utilizing a variety of treatment options, including addressing changes to fascia, muscles, and tendons surrounding a joint, in addition to working through an individualized strengthening program to re-calibrate or rehabilitate the function of that joint, and perhaps even protecting it from further damage with a brace.

Whether due to trauma or degenerative changes over time, cellular scar tissue, or fibrosis can accumulate and disrupt optimal function of a joint or tissue, and can even be a cause of pain. Using a variety of clinically-derived manual, or hands-on treatment protocols such as Active Release Techniques, Graston Technique, and other similar approaches, practitioners can improve the rate and quality of healing as well as aid in restoring optimal function to a joint or tissue.  This ‘hands-on work’ will often be prescribed as part of a patient’s individualized plan of management, and would fall under the ‘treat the problem’ component.