Dr. Michael Miller, DC
"Complete Care for the entire family!"
Dr Michael Miller is a evidence based chiropractor in Barrie, Ontario. He is also double registered as a manual osteopath. Dr Miller focuses on the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of neuro-musculoskeletal disorders. Dr Miller is well versed in a variety of therapeutic techniques including spinal and peripheral joint adjustments/mobilizations, soft tissue and myofascial techniques, exercise prescription, custom orthotics and additional passive modalities. He follows evidence based practice guidelines to get you better, faster.
Practice Details
Complete Care Chiropractic
4 Alliance Blvd, Suite 1A
Barrie, ON
L4M 5J1
English
Chiropractic Education
2014
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Areas of Focus
Back Pain
Back pain is a symptom rather than a condition but it is an issue that most Canadians will suffer with at some point in their lives. There are many possible causes for back pain and for this reason it is best to have thorough assessment with your chiropractor in order to arrive at the correct diagnosis. While one person’s back pain may be caused by poor posture, another person’s may be caused by a muscle spasm or a herniated disc. Back pain is a condition which chiropractors treat very frequently and effectively.
Disc Herniation
The spine is a large and complex series of joints. Between each pair of vertebrae sits a soft but firm cushion called the intervertebral disc. This disc cushions impact between the vertebrae and protects them from damage. The most common symptom of disc herniation is pain which travels down the path of the spinal nerve which is impinged. For example, when the L5-S1 disc herniates pain is often felt down the sciatic nerve distribution of the buttock, thigh, leg and/or the foot.
Migraine & Tension Headaches
While migraines and tension headaches have some similarities, they each have unique symptoms. A tension headache is usually experienced as a chronic, even daily, nagging headache, while a migraine typically lasts for a day or two and then is gone for weeks or months. Tension headaches are a lower intensity pain that may rarely go away. They become a part of the sufferer’s life and are often misdiagnosed. Migraine headaches are typically shorter bursts of intense pain which may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting and light sensitivity.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (commonly called simply “arthritis”) is a degenerative condition of the joints which affects most Canadians as they age. Osteoarthritis is a process of wearing down of the cartilage of our joints which generally progresses with age and can become debilitating in some cases. People with past injuries and people carrying extra body weight are at an increased risk of developing osteoarthritis. The symptoms that people with osteoarthritis experience most are pain, stiffness, weakness, swelling and poor mobility of the affected joint.
Piriformis Syndrome
The piriformis is a small muscle located in the buttock under the gluteus muscles. It acts to assist in rotation of the hip and leg outward. Piriformis syndrome is suspected to be caused by a muscle spasm in the piriformis muscle, causing pain in the buttock. The sciatic nerve may also be affected by the piriformis muscle leading to pain, numbness and tingling which is felt down the leg. Siting for extended periods of time or an acute injury to the hip or buttock can increase the risk of developing piriformis syndrome.
Pregnancy-Related Pain
During pregnancy a woman’s ergonomics will change considerably due to the extra weight she carries which can lead to pain in the low back, hips, pelvis and more. As her body gradually prepares for giving birth at the 9 month mark she may become more uncomfortable due to progressive relaxing of ligaments throughout her body. Daytime ergonomics, sleep ergonomics, exercise and chiropractic treatment are all important factors in helping to alleviate pregnancy pain.
Sciatica
The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve of the body and runs from the hip down the thigh and leg, providing sensation and motor control to the thigh and lower leg. Sciatica is a common condition which is caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve. People with sciatica usually will experience pain in the buttock which extends down the back of the thigh and leg. The pain can vary in intensity, being a nuisance for some and being unbearable for others. While sciatica is a common problem which is often chronic, it tends to respond well to proper treatment and lifestyle modification.
Sprains and Strains
While sprains and strains are both acute injuries with similar symptoms, they actually involve different bodily structures. A “strain” is a condition where a muscle or tendon is stretched or torn, while a “sprain” happens when a ligament is stretched or torn. Both sprains and sprains can lead to pain and poor mobility of the affected area. A strain may lead to even more limited movement, while a sprain is more likely to lead to bruising and swelling.
Services Offered
- Active Release
- Active release is a patented form of soft tissue treatment which was originated by Dr. P. Michael Leahy DC. This treatment treats muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves through a gentle but specific hands-on manipulation of these tissues. Through restoring free movement of the tissue, active release restores order and balance to the body and helps to eliminate pain.
- Ergonomics
- Ergonomics is the science of fitting a job or task to the individual rather than expecting the individual to conform to whatever the task may demand. In an office setting this can be seen as adjusting the heights and angles of chairs, electronic devices and other reading and writing materials. Healthy ergonomics goes a long way to prevent work-related repetitive stress injuries and ideally would be applied to workplaces in every field to optimize injury prevention.
- Orthotics
- Orthotics is a discipline of medicine which focuses on designing and prescribing a medical device which is used to improve a person’s posture and movement. The most common form of orthotics used by chiropractors is in the form of custom shoe inserts (or custom shoes) which are designed based on patient’s individual bio-mechanics. These orthotics help to correct gait imbalances and improve overall body ergonomics.
- Rehabilitative Exercise
- While many treatments exist for painful conditions, few are as pivotal to a person’s recovery as rehabilitative exercise. While your chiropractor will provide you with necessary treatments in their office, they will also likely recommend specific exercises aimed at aiding recovery and preventing reoccurrence. These exercises aim to strengthen the affected area, as well as strengthening supporting musculature, in order to optimize your recovery.
- Soft Tissue Mobilization
- Chiropractors have extensive training in soft tissue manipulation and mobilization. Your chiropractor will likely perform some soft tissue work on you if you are suffering with a painful condition or joint restriction.
- Traction
- Traction is a treatment which involves gentle manual tension of a specific joint in order to temporarily create space in the joint. This tension relaxes the joint if it is overly rigid and will have the added benefit of easing the surrounding musculature and increasing blood flow to the region.
- Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a treatment which uses a low intensity electrical impulse in order to stimulate a certain nerve or group of nerves. The stimulation which TENS provides is an effective means of loosening tight muscles, increasing blood flow to an area and encouraging healthy lymphatic flow. Your chiropractor may use TENS to treat a broad range of conditions as it is a versatile treatment which can help many painful conditions.
- Ultrasound
- Although ultrasound is used as an imaging tool to visualize tissues within the body, it is also used for many other medical applications, including treating painful conditions. Ultrasound may be used by your chiropractor to speed recovery of an injury such as tennis elbow or plantar fasciitis, among many others. The result of ultrasound therapy is increased blood flow and reduced restrictions at the site of treatment, leading to improved recovery time.