Dr. Amber N. Gardiner

Dr. Amber N. Gardiner provides skilled chiropractic care for a variety of conditions, including but not limited to:

Hip, Leg & Foot Conditions

• Achilles Tendinopathy: Management of Achilles tendon pain and dysfunction through targeted therapies to promote healing, improve tendon load tolerance, and address contributing factors.
• IT Band Syndrome: Helping athletes and active individuals overcome lateral knee pain related to a tight or irritated IT band.
• Piriformis Syndrome / Deep Gluteal Pain: Pain in the buttock region, which can sometimes radiate down the leg mimicking sciatica, often caused by spasm or tightness of the piriformis muscle irritating the nearby sciatic nerve.

Specific Populations & Injury Types

• Sports Injuries (Acute & Overuse): Helping you recover from common sports injuries like runner's knee, shoulder strains, or ankle sprains, and optimizing your biomechanics for better performance.
• Work-Related Injuries (RSI, Lifting Injuries): Addressing pain and dysfunction arising from the physical stresses of your job, whether it's heavy lifting or prolonged computer use.
• Pregnancy-Related Musculoskeletal Pain: Management of common musculoskeletal discomforts experienced during pregnancy, such as low back pain, pelvic girdle pain (including symphysis pubis dysfunction), sciatica, and rib pain, using safe and gentle techniques.

General Musculoskeletal & Systemic Conditions

• Fibromyalgia (Pain & Stiffness Management): As part of a multidisciplinary approach, chiropractic care can help manage the widespread musculoskeletal pain, stiffness, fatigue, and tender points associated with fibromyalgia.
• Postural Imbalances & Related Pain: Helping you achieve better posture to alleviate pain, improve breathing, and enhance overall physical well-being.
• Chronic Pain Syndromes (with Biomechanical Factors): A holistic approach to managing chronic pain by looking at the whole body's mechanics and nervous system function.
• Muscle Strains & Ligament Sprains (Various Regions): Comprehensive care for acute muscle and ligament injuries, focusing on reducing inflammation, promoting optimal healing, and restoring strength and flexibility.

This list offers examples of conditions commonly addressed. If your specific concern isn't listed, please contact the clinic. Dr. Gardiner can assess your needs.

• Postural Assessment & Correction Planning: Identifying postural faults and creating a plan to address them through ergonomic advice and corrective exercises.
• Surface Electromyography (sEMG) Scan: Non-invasive scanning technology used to measure electrical activity in muscles, helping to identify areas of abnormal muscle tone or imbalance along the spine (if offered).
• Personalized Therapeutic Exercise Prescription: Customized exercise programs including stretching, strengthening, and stabilization exercises designed to support your recovery, prevent re-injury, and improve overall function.
• Comprehensive Chiropractic Examination: A thorough assessment including health history, postural analysis, spinal alignment checks, range of motion testing, orthopedic and neurological tests to determine the cause of your concern.
• Functional Movement Screening (e.g., FMS™, SFMA™): Movement pattern analysis to understand how your body functions during common activities and sports.
• Radiographic (X-ray) Imaging & Analysis: Diagnostic X-ray evaluation to aid in accurate diagnosis and ensure the safety and appropriateness of care.

Note: This list highlights some key services offered by Dr. Gardiner. For a full list or to discuss your specific needs, please contact the clinic.

All services are provided in accordance with standards set by the College of Chiropractors of Ontario (CCO).

At Gardiner Family Chiropractic, chiropractic care is focused on helping individuals like you achieve significant improvements in health and daily activities. Dr. Gardiner frequently helps patients work towards goals such as:

• Patients often share how a persistent knot between my shoulders affected their ability to resuming your regular early morning jogging routine around the neighborhood. With Dr. Amber's help and a focus on getting back to work feeling more comfortable and productive, many are now enjoying life with improved function and less discomfort.
• Experience the significant benefit of living with significantly less pain and greater freedom of movement if you're dealing with upper back pain from sitting too long. Dr. Amber helps patients regain their ability to fully participate in activities like enjoying your brisk morning walks with the dog, no matter the weather through focused and gentle chiropractic treatments.
• Many individuals visit Dr. Amber because they are tired of dealing with pain in the ball of my foot. Through a personalized chiropractic care plan, they often find they can achieve rediscovering the joy of hobbies without physical limitations and get back to enjoying important activities like traveling and exploring new places.
• Overcoming recovering slowly after a nasty fall to achieve improved nerve function, leading to less tingling, numbness, or weakness and resume pushing myself in your weekly high-intensity spin class is a common success story at Dr. Amber's practice. Personalized care makes a real difference.

Your personalized chiropractic care plan, developed with Dr. Gardiner, will be designed to help you reach your specific functional and wellness objectives.

Gardiner Family Chiropractic is conveniently situated in the central neighborhood of Grimsby, ON. The clinic is easily accessible and located near local community services and pharmacies, making it convenient for patients to incorporate their visits into their daily routines. The clinic is accessible via local public transit routes, ensuring easy access for those relying on public transportation. Our clinic is wheelchair accessible. Ample parking is generally accessible close to the clinic entrance.

Do I need a doctor's referral to see a Chiropractor in ON?

In Ontario, chiropractors are primary contact healthcare professionals, meaning patients can book an appointment directly without a referral from a medical doctor. However, some private or extended health insurance plans may still require a doctor's referral for reimbursement purposes, so it's advisable to check the specifics of your insurance policy.

What should I expect during my first chiropractic appointment?

During your initial chiropractic appointment, Dr. Gardiner will spend time understanding your health concerns. Expect a detailed discussion about your medical history and symptoms, followed by a physical exam focusing on your spine, posture, and movement. After the assessment, she will explain her findings, answer your questions, and outline a recommended course of care. You may receive your first adjustment or other therapies during this visit.

Can children and babies receive chiropractic care?

Yes, chiropractic care is safe and can be very beneficial for children of all ages, from infants to teenagers. Techniques are always modified to be extremely gentle and appropriate for a child's age, size, and developmental stage. Common reasons parents seek chiropractic care for their children include concerns related to posture, after minor falls or sports-related tumbles, supporting spinal health during growth spurts, or issues like colic or feeding difficulties in infants where gentle musculoskeletal approaches may be supportive.

Do chiropractors only treat back pain?

No, not at all! Although back pain is a common reason people visit a Chiropractor, Dr. Gardiner is trained to diagnose and treat many conditions related to the spine, joints, muscles, and nervous system. This includes neck pain, headaches, sciatica, sports injuries, arthritis-related pain, and pain in the arms or legs.

What kind of education and training do chiropractors in Canada receive?

Chiropractors in Canada complete a rigorous post-secondary Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) degree, which typically requires at least three years of undergraduate university education followed by four years of intensive study at an accredited chiropractic college. The program includes comprehensive training in basic sciences such as anatomy, physiology, pathology, neurology, and biomechanics, along with clinical sciences like diagnostic imaging, orthopedics, and differential diagnosis. Extensive hands-on clinical internship experience is a key component. Graduates must pass demanding national and provincial board examinations to become licensed to practice.

Is chiropractic care covered by Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) in ON?

In Ontario, OHIP generally does not cover chiropractic services provided in private clinics for most residents. There are very limited exceptions, such as care delivered within certain Community Health Centres or Family Health Teams that have integrated chiropractic services, but these are uncommon. Many patients rely on private insurance plans that often provide significant chiropractic coverage. It is recommended to verify your specific insurance benefits.

Gardiner Family Chiropractic
89 Main St. W.
Grimsby, ON L3M 1R5

Phone: (905) 945-6768

Dr. Amber N. Gardiner is regulated by the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 and the Chiropractic Act, 1991 in ON and is a member of the College of Chiropractors of Ontario (CCO).

Verify registration with the College of Chiropractors of Ontario (CCO): https://cco.ca.thentiacloud.net/webs/cco/register/?t=1#/registrant/all/all/all/all/all/all/1110/10/595d5ea965a9f0df10fceb4c

Always consult with your primary healthcare provider before starting any new treatment program.