I’m pleased to announce that Dr. Sophie Pesant, DC, has joined our team as a chiropractor. Contact us to book an appointment!

A Well-Rounded and Diverse Education

Dr. Pesant earned her **undergraduate Doctorate in Chiropractic** from the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières in 2015. She also completed additional training in **muscle and joint therapy**, including Kinesio Taping, Active Release Technique (A.R.T.), and Selective Functional Movement Assessment. In addition, she pursued university studies in **gerontology** to provide specialized care tailored to the needs of older adults. Today, she’s offering her first article on the **sports chiropractic approach**.

Happy reading!

Geneviève Dubé
Director, PRAXIS Family Health Clinic

CHIROPRACTIC: MUCH MORE THAN JUST YOUR BACK!

The role of a chiropractor is to help the body maintain its innate ability to heal itself. To do so, chiropractors focus on the biomechanics and proper functioning of the spine and all joints in order to reduce nervous system irritation. This approach empowers individuals with the tools they need to reach their full health potential.

A Proven Natural Approach

This natural approach uses manual therapy to relieve various aches and pains—whether caused by daily life, work, or physical activity. A tailored approach is used depending on the issue: joint mobilization/manipulation, deep muscle work, and exercise prescriptions related to the condition being treated.

A Sports-Oriented Chiropractic Approach

I use a sports-based approach in certain chiropractic treatments I provide. This approach isn’t only for elite athletes or hockey stars like Sidney Crosby. It’s also ideal for workers with repetitive movements or individuals with injuries stemming from daily activities (like fall leaf raking!). The sports chiropractic approach addresses all muscle and joint injuries—whether caused by sports, work, sleep posture, or even car posture.

Active Release Technique (A.R.T.)

The primary method I use in my sports approach is **Active Release Technique (A.R.T.)**. This manual treatment helps break down adhesions and restrictions in muscles, tendons, and ligaments. This allows soft tissues to regain their original quality—flexibility, suppleness, and normal movement. These treatments speed up the healing process and help optimize performance.

Muscle-Specific Protocols

Using A.R.T. protocols, I can precisely target deep, dysfunctional muscles in athletes and even office workers who perform repetitive motions every day.

Each muscle has a specific action. When we talk about muscle action, we refer to the specific movements a muscle produces. For example, in the forearm and elbow, we may diagnose “**golfer’s elbow**” and “**tennis elbow**.” These are two different conditions because they involve different muscles and movement patterns. – **Golfer’s elbow** (medial epicondylitis) affects the inner elbow and involves muscles that flex the wrist and fingers and rotate the palm downward. – **Tennis elbow** (lateral epicondylitis) affects the outer elbow and involves muscles responsible for wrist and finger extension and rotating the palm upward.

Effective and Safe Treatments

Although this therapy might resemble massage, **A.R.T.** specifically targets soft tissue dysfunctions, while massage focuses more on superficial and deep muscle relaxation. In A.R.T., the patient is active during the session and in motion throughout. Some mild discomfort may be experienced during the procedure.

In conclusion, this technique is safe, effective, and well worth exploring for the treatment of many conditions. Don’t hesitate to consult me for an assessment!

Dr. Sophie Pesant, Chiropractor
PRAXIS Family Health Clinic