What to expect at our Oakville chiropractic clinic!
We try to run our Oakville chiropractic clinic like a well oiled patient orientated machine. From our online paperwork, to our 9 completely private treating rooms we try to make the process as easy as possible for patients the minute they enter the clinic. We offer chiropractic appointment reminders via email or text to our patients and we try to respond back to patient in a timely matter. You can reach us by email, text or calling. We offer direct billing to patients insurance if their plan allows for it.
Unlike most medical clinics we do not run behind. Our Team of highly trained staff prides themselves on building schedules and keeping our patient visits friendly with little to wait times. Going to be a little late for your appointment, text us and let us know. This way we can keep the schedule running smoothly and value everyone time.
Chiropractic Initial Intake Paperwork and Booking
Nottinghill Family Wellness Centre offers our intake paperwork online. You can download it as a PDF and edit on your own computer or print the paperwork off and fill it our at home before you come in. Over the past 15 years we have streamlined our intake paperwork to 1 page so it shouldn’t take all day to complete. Fill the paperwork out at home and email it back to us before your first chiropractic appointment or just bring it in with you. If you do not have time to complete the paperwork before your first visit, we ask that you come in 15- 20 minutes before your appointment to fill out the paperwork and let everything run on time. You will receive a text/email reminder the day before your appointment, please send back a ‘C’ to confirm, this helps us run on time and keep track of our busy schedule. 6 hours before your appointment you will receive a COVID survey, fill it out and it automatically updates your file.
First Oakville Chiropractic Visit
Our clinic is located upstairs at 1131 Nottinghill Gate, Oakville. There are stairs and an elevator to get to the second level and our office is just left of the stairway. The entrance to the second floor is located between Watch Us Fashion and the Total Health pharmacy. We have a sandwich board outside to help guide you! There is ample free parking in the complex.
When you arrive you will be greeted by one of our lovely front desk staff and asked if you have any private insurance you would like us to bill. Our staff will bill the insurance company during your first visit to limit any-or-all out of pocket expense to you. As long as your insurance policy plan allow for it, we will have no trouble billing directly!
Natalie or Steph will take you into a private chiropractic treating room for your assessment and examination. Dr. Steve and Dr. Jenn have been doing this job a long time and the assessments and examinations are pretty quick and do not require x-rays.
Dr. Steve wants emphasize the importance of the right diagnosis. Too many times we have patients come into our Oakville chiropractic clinic that have been suffering for years because of the wrong diagnosis. Some of the most poorly diagnosed injures are; rib subluxations, plantar fasciitis, Morton’s Neuroma and a low back pain or SI joint injury.
After the history portion of the assessment of your injury our chiropractor will move on to the physical examination. In most cases our chiropractors get this done efficiently due to the fact that if you ask the right questions you get the right answers and we can figure out why the injury is the way it is. Our chiropractors are goal oriented medical professionals. Its their job to ask the right questions to make sure the patient gets their desired outcomes.
Most patients come in with some sort of pain, but it is not the pain that brought them into the clinic — its the inability to complete a task, play a sport or just take care of their children. Dr. Steve and Dr. Jenn make specific goals for every new patient so that they know the treatment is working.
Proper Diagnosis and Chiropractic Treatment
Our chiropractors take the time to get the right diagnosis during the patients initial visit. Too many times we see patients come into the clinic having been previously misdiagnosed. This is a problem because it cuts into valuable treating time, and likely will add to the time it takes to fix their problem. Once a diagnosis is give the chiropractor will go over the fundamentals of treatment and a game plan.
Most treatments include, Suction IFC, ART, Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Treatment, Shockwave Therapy and Chiropractic Adjustments. Dr. Jenn will also include acupuncture in many of her treatment plans. In most cases moist heat will also be applied to the patient to help blood floor and loosen up the injured area for further treatment.
Almost ALL patients will receive treatment their first visit. However, if our chiropractors don’t think they can fix your issue or they are not the right person to help you with your pain they will refer you to someone who can help! Their number one priority is getting you back to the activities you love to do!
IFC (Interferential Current Therapy)
If you have been to the clinic you have probably heard Dr. Steve praise his older IFC machines that are strong and do a far better job than today’s cheaper versions. If you really get him going he will show you this picture, of Michael Jordan standing besides his favourite Metter Sys*Stim 220.
We use suction applicators for our IFC machines at our Oakville clinic. These vacuum units are far better than the “sticky pads” and allow for a far superior treatment. The IFC machine is used for pain tolerance, increase blood flow and a unique stimulation of the muscles that allows for a better overall treatment. What does this mean for the patient? They get better faster and each treatment is more efficient with the layered modality approach.
Moist Heat Application
During the 10 minutes of IFC treatment the patient will have the option for a heat pack. If you have been to the clinic, you have heard Dr. Steve constantly telling patients to ice when they get home. At the clinic we use heat combined with IFC to loosen up the muscle and relax the tissue. This combination works great to prime the injured area for shockwave treatment or a chiropractic adjustment. Don’t like heat? No worries, just tell Natalie or Steph.
Shockwave Therapy
One of the main factors that separates our Oakville chiropractic clinic from other chiropractic and physiotherapy clinics in Oakville is that we incorporate Shockwave Therapy into the treatment plan of almost every appropriate patient.
Shockwave Therapy is a state-of-the-art, evidence-based treatment that uses a pneumatic acoustic pulse to stimulate healing in injured tissue. It helps break down scar tissue, reduce chronic inflammation, and promote new blood vessel formation, improving circulation to areas that often struggle to heal on their own. Many persistent injuries plateau because of poor blood supply. Shockwave helps restart and accelerate that healing process.
At our Oakville clinic, we use Shockwave Therapy for stubborn conditions such as plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, tennis elbow, rotator cuff injuries, hip pain, IT band syndrome, and chronic muscle tightness. Treatments typically last just a few minutes per area. While the sensation can feel intense, patients often describe it as a deep, productive discomfort that reaches areas traditional massage cannot — and they frequently notice improved mobility and reduced pain shortly afterwards.
Our experienced chiropractic assistants, Steph and Laura, deliver precise shockwave treatments under clinical direction as part of a comprehensive plan that may also include chiropractic adjustments, soft tissue therapy, muscle release techniques, corrective exercises, and IFC therapy. This layered, evidence-based approach allows us to not only reduce pain but improve long-term function and recovery.
If you are dealing with an injury that simply is not resolving, Shockwave Therapy may be the missing link. At our Oakville chiropractic clinic, we focus on actively stimulating healing rather than waiting for it to happen on its own.
Jaws to Low Back and Tennis Elbow to Headaches. Shockwave combined with the moist heat and the IFC help our patients heal faster and get to their treatment goals quicker than other clinics.
Active Release Therapy (ART)
Active Release Techniques (ART) is one of the core hands-on treatments used by Dr. Steve at our Oakville chiropractic clinic. While modalities like Shockwave and IFC stimulate healing at a cellular level, ART focuses directly on the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia that are tight, shortened, or scarred from injury or repetitive strain.
Over time, overuse, poor posture, sports, and even desk work can cause tissues to develop microscopic adhesions. These adhesions restrict normal movement, reduce circulation, and can compress nearby nerves — leading to pain, stiffness, weakness, or tingling sensations. ART is specifically designed to locate and release these problem areas.
During treatment, Dr. Steve applies precise tension to the affected tissue while guiding the patient through specific movements. This combination of manual pressure and active motion helps break up adhesions, restore proper tissue glide, and improve overall function. Unlike general massage, ART is highly targeted and based on identifying the exact structure causing the dysfunction.
ART is particularly effective for conditions such as tennis elbow, rotator cuff strain, sciatica, hip tightness, Achilles tendon injuries, plantar fasciitis, and chronic neck and shoulder tension. Many patients notice improved mobility and reduced pain immediately following treatment.
At our clinic, ART is rarely used in isolation. It is typically combined with chiropractic adjustments, Shockwave Therapy, IASTT, and corrective exercises to create a comprehensive, results-driven treatment plan. The goal is not just to reduce pain, but to correct the underlying restriction so the injury heals properly and is less likely to return.
Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Therapy
Some injuries simply require a little extra attention to fully resolve. Conditions such as Tennis Elbow, Plantar Fasciitis, Achilles tendon pain, and foot and ankle injuries like Sinus Tarsi Syndrome or Morton’s Neuroma often respond very well to our combination of IFC therapy, heat, and Shockwave Therapy. However, in certain cases, these stubborn injuries need an additional layer of treatment to heal within a time frame that is acceptable for both the patient and our chiropractors.
That’s where IASTT (Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Therapy) comes in.
IASTT uses a specialized stainless-steel “scraping” tool to target and break down surface adhesions and scar tissue that restrict proper movement and circulation. Over time, injured tissues can develop thickened, fibrotic areas that limit healing. By mechanically stimulating these tissues, IASTT helps improve blood flow, reduce adhesions, and restore normal tissue glide.
Dr. Steve often notes that Achilles tendon injuries and chronic plantar fasciitis cases tend to have some of the most stubborn adhesions. These areas can feel dense and resistant, which is why a more direct mechanical approach can make a significant difference in recovery speed.
IASTT is typically performed toward the end of the treatment session after tissues have been warmed and stimulated with other therapies. Because this technique increases local circulation and creates a controlled inflammatory response, all patients are strongly encouraged to ice the area at home afterward to help manage post-treatment soreness and optimize healing.
When combined with chiropractic adjustments, Shockwave Therapy, muscle release techniques, and corrective exercises, IASTT becomes part of a comprehensive, results-driven treatment plan designed to get you better — faster and more completely.
Treatment Plans and Expectations
At the end of your initial visit our chiropractors will give you a treatment plan. Treatment plans can vary from once a week for a month to 3 times a week for a month. Every case is different. Every patients goal is different. Our chiropractors recommendations are backs by years of practice. Patients who have been suffering from a pain for a decade will naturally take longer to heal than a patient who just injured themselves. If you follow our experts recommendations you will see improvement faster than most other clinics. If you have any questions about treatment or prognosis do not be afraid to ask!
If you would like to seek professional help or discuss treatment options, please contact our chiropractic clinic in Oakville directly at 905-827-4197.