Dr. Clara MacKinnon

Dr. Allison Gross provides skilled chiropractic care for a variety of conditions, including but not limited to:

Specific Populations & Injury Types

• 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.
• Motor Vehicle Accident Injuries (e.g., Whiplash, Back Strain): Helping you recover from the physical impact of a car accident with a tailored chiropractic care plan.
• 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.

Back & Spine Conditions

• Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Dysfunction / Pain: Restoring proper motion and stability to the SI joints to alleviate pain and improve pelvic biomechanics.
• Spondylolisthesis (Lower Grades): Chiropractic management for stable, lower-grade spondylolisthesis, focusing on reducing pain, improving spinal stability, and enhancing function.

Head, Neck & Jaw Conditions

• Cervical Radiculopathy (Pinched Nerve in Neck): Symptoms such as pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness radiating from the neck into the shoulder, arm, or hand due to nerve root compression in the cervical spine.
• Dizziness & Vertigo (Cervicogenic & BPPV Management): Helping you find relief from certain types of dizziness and vertigo by addressing underlying musculoskeletal or vestibular (inner ear) causes.
• Whiplash Associated Disorders (WAD): Specialized care for whiplash injuries, focusing on restoring neck mobility, reducing pain and inflammation, and addressing associated neurological symptoms.
• Tinnitus (Cervicogenic/Somatosensory): Investigating and addressing potential musculoskeletal contributions from the neck or jaw that may be linked to certain types of tinnitus.

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

• Postural Assessment & Correction Planning: Identifying postural faults and creating a plan to address them through ergonomic advice and corrective exercises.
• Radiographic (X-ray) Imaging & Analysis: On-site or referral for X-rays when clinically indicated to assess spinal structure, identify underlying conditions, or rule out pathology, adhering to diagnostic imaging guidelines.
• Surface Electromyography (sEMG) Scan: Utilizing sEMG to objectively assess muscle function and patterns of tension around your spine.
• Diversified Technique: A widely used manual adjusting technique involving specific high-velocity, low-amplitude thrusts to restore proper movement and alignment to spinal and extremity joints.
• Functional Movement Screening (e.g., FMS™, SFMA™): Movement pattern analysis to understand how your body functions during common activities and sports.
• 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.

Note: This list highlights some key services offered by Dr. MacKinnon. 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 Ordre des chiropraticiens du Québec (OCQ).

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

• If that annoying crick in my neck is impacting your daily life and preventing you from enjoying walking around the mall or shopping centers, know that effective chiropractic care can help. Dr. Clara focuses on achieving living with significantly less pain and greater freedom of movement so you can engage in the things you love again.
• Dr. Clara understands how frustrating that runner's knee grinding feeling can be. By aiming for an undeniable improvement in their overall quality of life and daily happiness, chiropractic care can empower you to return to activities like diving and spiking in our weekly volleyball games with friends with renewed confidence.
• Many individuals visit Dr. Clara because they are tired of dealing with pain from repetitive movements at their work station. Through a personalized chiropractic care plan, they often find they can achieve a better understanding of their condition and effective self-care strategies and get back to enjoying important activities like sticking to your regular at-home exercise and stretching routine consistently.
• Overcoming tailbone pain making sitting excruciating to achieve improved nerve function, leading to less tingling, numbness, or weakness and resume achieving a full night's deep, restful, and uninterrupted sleep is a common success story at Dr. Clara's practice. Personalized care makes a real difference.

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

Dr. MacKinnon's practice at Chiro proactive is situated in a central location within Coaticook's vibrant neighborhood. The clinic is conveniently positioned in a modern facility close to local community services and pharmacies, making it easy for patients to access comprehensive chiropractic care as part of their healthcare routine. The clinic is well-connected via public transit routes, ensuring accessible transportation options for all visitors. Our clinic is wheelchair accessible. Street parking and nearby paid lots offer convenient options for visitors.

Is chiropractic treatment, especially an adjustment, painful?

Chiropractic adjustments are generally not painful. Many patients experience immediate relief or a sense of improved movement. Some individuals may experience mild, temporary soreness or aching, similar to what you might feel after starting a new exercise, especially if the area being treated was already inflamed or very stiff. Your Chiropraticien will communicate with you throughout the treatment and use techniques appropriate for your comfort level. Any discomfort usually subsides quickly, often within 24 hours.

Is chiropractic care covered by Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) in QC?

In Quebec, chiropractic services in private clinics are not covered by RAMQ, and patients typically pay out-of-pocket or through private insurance. Some exceptions might exist if care is provided in a hospital setting, but this is rare. It is strongly recommended to verify your coverage with your private insurer and check your individual plan for chiropractic benefits.

What is chiropractic care and how can it help me?

Chiropractic is a healthcare profession focused on diagnosing, treating, and preventing disorders of the neuromusculoskeletal system, primarily the spine, and their effects on overall health. Chiropraticiens use hands-on spinal manipulation (adjustments) and other manual therapies, as well as exercise, and lifestyle counseling, to relieve pain, restore function, and support your body's natural ability to heal. It can help with issues like back pain, neck pain, headaches, and joint problems in your arms or legs.

What is that 'cracking' or 'popping' sound during an adjustment?

That sound is a common and usually harmless phenomenon called joint cavitation. When a joint is gapped during an adjustment, the pressure inside the joint decreases, allowing dissolved gases in the joint fluid to form a bubble, which then quickly collapses, creating the 'pop'. It doesn't mean bones are cracking, and many effective adjustments occur without any sound at all.

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 a minimum of three years of undergraduate university education followed by four years of intensive study at an accredited chiropractic college. The program includes comprehensive training in anatomy, physiology, pathology, neurology, biomechanics, diagnostic imaging, orthopedics, and chiropractic-specific techniques. Extensive hands-on clinical internships prepare graduates for practice. To become licensed, graduates must pass demanding national and provincial examinations.

Do I need a doctor's referral to see a Chiropraticien in QC?

Chiropractors are primary contact healthcare professionals in Quebec, meaning patients can book an appointment directly without a medical referral. However, some private insurance plans or extended health benefits may require a referral for reimbursement purposes. It is advisable to verify your insurance policy details.

Chiro proactive
61 rue Thornton Nord
Coaticook, QC J1A 2E1

Phone: (514) 794-3891 | Website: www.chiroproactive.ca

Dr. Allison Gross is regulated by the Code des professions in QC and is a member of the Ordre des chiropraticiens du Québec (OCQ).

Registration can be verified with the Ordre des chiropraticiens du Québec (OCQ).

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