Dr. Kara Lee Paat – Chiropractor | Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Dr. Kara Lee Paat is a dedicated Chiropractor practicing at Dr. Kara Paat, DC in Sault Ste. Marie, ON. She is committed to providing high-quality, patient-centered care that aligns with the standards set by the College of Chiropractors of Ontario (CCO). Dr. Paat specializes in delivering comprehensive chiropractic assessments and treatments for a broad spectrum of neuromusculoskeletal conditions, focusing on spinal health and overall well-being. Her approach emphasizes individualized care, ensuring that each patient receives tailored strategies to improve their health, mobility, and quality of life.

With a solid educational background and clinical experience, Dr. Paat earned her Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Northwestern Health Sciences University. She continuously advances her expertise through ongoing professional development and adherence to evidence-based practices. Her philosophy centers on understanding the interconnectedness of the spine, nervous system, and overall health, aiming to facilitate natural healing and optimal function. Dr. Paat serves patients of all ages, from infants to seniors, applying gentle and effective techniques suitable for each stage of life.

She offers care in English and approaches her practice with a holistic mindset, emphasizing the importance of lifestyle, ergonomics, and patient education. Dr. Paat strives to empower her patients, helping them achieve their health goals through personalized treatment plans that promote long-term wellness and pain relief.

Dr. Kara Lee Paat 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.
• Pediatric Musculoskeletal Conditions (e.g., Growing Pains, Postural Concerns): Gentle chiropractic care for infants, children, and adolescents, focusing on issues like non-specific growing pains, postural imbalances, recovery from minor sports injuries, or concerns related to spinal development, using age-appropriate techniques.

Back & Spine Conditions

• Coccydynia (Tailbone Pain): Management strategies, including gentle manual techniques and postural advice, to relieve discomfort associated with coccyx injuries or irritation.
• Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Dysfunction / Pain: Restoring proper motion and stability to the SI joints to alleviate pain and improve pelvic biomechanics.
• Herniated, Protruded, or Bulging Discs (Symptomatic): A condition where the soft inner part of a spinal disc pushes out, potentially pressing on nearby nerves and causing pain, numbness, or weakness in the back, neck, arms or legs.
• Rib Pain / Intercostal Neuralgia / Costochondritis: Addressing pain around the rib cage, often sharp or related to breathing/movement, potentially due to rib joint dysfunction, intercostal muscle/nerve irritation, or cartilage inflammation (costochondritis).

General Musculoskeletal & Systemic Conditions

• Fibromyalgia (Pain & Stiffness Management): Helping fibromyalgia patients improve their quality of life by addressing musculoskeletal components of their condition.
• Muscle Strains & Ligament Sprains (Various Regions): Helping you recover from common injuries like a pulled hamstring, twisted ankle, or strained back muscle.
• Myofascial Pain Syndrome / Trigger Points: Identifying and treating muscular trigger points to relieve pain, reduce muscle tension, and improve range of motion.

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

• 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.
• Postural Assessment & Correction Planning: Detailed analysis of your standing and sitting posture to identify imbalances and provide targeted advice and exercises for correction and pain prevention.
• Functional Movement Screening (e.g., FMS™, SFMA™): Utilizing screens like FMS™ or SFMA™ to analyze your movement quality and pinpoint areas contributing to pain or predisposing you to injury (practitioner certification dependent).
• 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.
• Interferential Current (IFC) / TENS Therapy: Using targeted electrical stimulation to manage acute or chronic pain.
• Surface Electromyography (sEMG) Scan: Utilizing sEMG to objectively assess muscle function and patterns of tension around your spine.

Note: This list highlights some key services offered by Dr. Paat. 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 Dr. Kara Paat, DC, chiropractic care is focused on helping individuals like you achieve significant improvements in health and daily activities. Dr. Paat frequently helps patients work towards goals such as:

• For those whose tendonitis pain in my [shoulder/elbow/knee/achilles] has made performing your physically demanding job duties a challenge, Dr. Kara offers a path towards experiencing a smoother and more comfortable postpartum recovery. Chiropractic care can be instrumental in helping you rediscover the joy of movement and an active lifestyle.
• Dr. Kara understands how frustrating growing pains keeping my kid awake can be. By aiming for participating more fully in family life and social engagements without pain being a constant distraction, chiropractic care can empower you to return to activities like attending concerts and live events with renewed confidence.
• Getting back to horseback riding after struggling with chronic pain from a previous accident is a frequent aspiration for patients at Dr. Kara's clinic. A dedicated care plan often leads to better managing flare-ups with personalized strategies and feeling more in control and a return to a more active life.
• Many individuals visit Dr. Kara because they are tired of dealing with feeling restricted in my movements. Through a personalized chiropractic care plan, they often find they can achieve an undeniable improvement in their overall quality of life and daily happiness and get back to enjoying important activities like advancing in your martial arts training and sparring sessions.

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

Dr. Kara Paat's practice is situated in the heart of Sault Ste. Marie, in the Downtown, Central neighborhood. The clinic is conveniently located near the Sault Ste. Marie Museum, making it easily accessible for residents and visitors alike. Patients can reach the clinic via Sault Ste. Marie Transit, with stops nearby. Our clinic is wheelchair accessible. Ample parking is generally accessible close to the clinic entrance.

Is chiropractic treatment, especially an adjustment, painful?

An adjustment itself is typically not painful. You might hear a 'pop' or 'crack', which is just gas being released from the joint, not bones cracking. Some people feel a bit sore the next day, like after a workout, but this is usually mild and temporary. Your Chiropractor will ensure you are as comfortable as possible.

Can children and babies receive chiropractic care?

Chiropractic care is safe and can be highly beneficial for children of all ages, from infants to teenagers. Techniques are always modified to be extremely gentle and appropriate for each child's age, size, and developmental stage. Parents often seek chiropractic care for concerns related to posture, after minor falls or sports-related tumbles, to support overall spinal health during growth spurts, or for issues like colic or feeding difficulties in infants, where gentle musculoskeletal approaches may be supportive.

Will I need to get X-rays before starting chiropractic care?

X-rays are not routinely required for every patient. Dr. Paat will conduct a thorough history and physical examination to determine if imaging is necessary. Typically, imaging is recommended to rule out more serious conditions such as fractures or pathology, assess for significant spinal degeneration or instability, or if your condition is not improving as expected with conservative care. All imaging recommendations follow established diagnostic guidelines to minimize radiation exposure.

What should I expect during my first chiropractic appointment?

The first appointment primarily involves assessment and understanding your health concerns. Dr. Paat will ask about your medical history and perform various physical tests. The goal is to identify the cause of your problem and develop a tailored treatment plan. You will have the opportunity to ask questions, and treatment may begin on this initial visit if appropriate.

What is Dr. Kara Paat, DC's appointment cancellation policy?

We understand that life happens! However, to accommodate all patients, we kindly request at least 24 hours' notice for cancellations or rescheduling. Missed appointments or cancellations with less than 24 hours' notice may be subject to a cancellation fee. Please contact the clinic as soon as possible if you need to make changes.

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

In Ontario, chiropractors are primary contact healthcare professionals, allowing patients to book an appointment directly without a referral. However, some private or extended health insurance plans may require a doctor's referral for reimbursement purposes. Patients are advised to check their individual insurance policies for specific requirements.

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

OHIP generally does NOT cover chiropractic services in private clinics. There are very limited exceptions, such as care delivered within a Community Health Centre or a Family Health Team that has integrated chiropractic services, but these are rare. Most patients should verify coverage with their private insurance providers and be aware that private insurance often offers significant chiropractic benefits.

Dr. Kara Paat, DC
421 Bay Street, Suite 203
Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6A 1X3

Phone: (705) 971-2656

Dr. Kara Lee Paat 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/7340/10/64c92817c47ccb104f782a83

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