You have contacted your casework or employment facilitator about the Health2Work program. Now what?

1. Your caseworker or employment facilitator will work with you to see if the Health2Work program is a good fit for you. They will ask you to complete referral and consent forms and questions to better understand your pain. 
2. You will be assigned a chiropractor based on your location and any other preferences. 
3. Your chiropractor will contact you to schedule your first appointment and will continue to work with you based on your treatment plan.
4. You can choose to participate in an evaluation to share your experience so that others like you can benefit from the program. 

Preparing for your appointment: What to expect during your first visit

Your chiropractor may be treating your back pain, neck pain, headache, or other aches and pains, but they need a complete picture of your health history in order to provide the best treatment for you.

On your first visit your chiropractor may ask about the following:

• A description of your current pain
• How your condition is affecting you
• Personal and family medical history
• Major illnesses you have experienced
• Surgeries or operations you have had
• Medications you are taking
• Your diet and exercise
• Your sleeping habits, daily activities, stress level and home life

We understand unexpected situations can happen in day-to-day life. If you need to cancel your appointment, please contact your chiropractor as soon as you can to let them know you will have to reschedule.

Your chiropractor may ask you to complete exercises as part of your treatment plan. These exercise videos were developed by the Canadian Chiropractic Guideline Initiative and may be prescribed to you for neck or low back pain. 

Neck pain

Click on the following links to go the patient exercise videos for neck pain:
Neck mobility
Posture, neck stretching and shoulder stretching
Neck motor control and strengthening
Shoulder blade motor control, strengthening and shoulder strengthening

Low back pain

Click on the following links to go the patient exercise videos for low back pain:
Low back mobility  (level 1)
Low back strengthening (stability) and motor control (level 2a)
Low back stretching (level 2b)
Low back strengthening/endurance (level 3)
Yoga exercises for low back pain

What is the Health2Work program?

Sometimes pain, stiffness or an injury can stop you from being able to work. To help with this, chiropractic care is being offered to people receiving Ontario Works or non-disabled family members of a person receiving Ontario Disability Support Program in Waterloo Region. This new program will also assist with making sure that training programs are a good fit for your physical abilities. The goal is to treat your pain so you can work or enter job-related training.

What is chiropractic care? 

Chiropractic is an evidence-based, non-invasive, hands-on health care that focuses on the musculoskeletal (MSK) system. The MSK system includes bones, muscles, tendons, joints and ligaments – it supports every movement you make. Chiropractic care is a safe approach to pain management.

Chiropractors will identify sources and causes of your pain and use a number of treatments that may include a combination of:

• Education on how you can improve and prevent pain or injury  
• Exercises for at-home and on-the-go that help reduce pain and improve function  
• Soft tissue therapy, which involves using hands to work on muscles, tendons or ligaments 
• Chiropractic adjustments: hands-on joint movement to relieve pain and improve motion  
• Nutrition education: diet recommendations that can help with injury recovery and muscle and joint health

Where in Waterloo Region is this program available?

We are rolling out the program throughout Waterloo Region in several phases. As of December 2018, the program is available in Cambridge. The program is expected to expand to Kitchener and North Dumfries in November 2019. By September 2020, it is anticipated that the program will be available throughout Waterloo Region.

Am I a candidate for this program?

If you are receiving support from Ontario Works or are a non-disabled family members of a person receiving Ontario Disability Support Program in Waterloo Region and are experiencing MSK pain (e.g., back, neck, shoulder, arthritis, work-related injury), then you may be a candidate for this program. Your caseworker or employment facilitator can work with you to help determine if this program is a right fit for you.

How do I get referred?

You can be referred to the program by discussing it with your caseworker or employment facilitator. If you are part of local community agencies, such as Small Steps to Success, the Refugee Sanctuary Clinic, or Project Read, staff can also refer you to the program.

What is the wait time to see a chiropractor?

Our goal is to have you see a chiropractor within a week of your referral. We know how it feels to be in pain and want to get you in to see your chiropractor as soon as possible.

What do I need to do before my appointment?

It is recommended you wear comfortable clothes and shoes for your visit to the chiropractor. You may also want to think about where your pain is, how long you’ve been in pain and what your goals are for future careers or job training programs. It is also recommended you arrive ten minutes before your appointment so that you have time to complete the intake form, where these types of questions may be asked.

What if I need help with travelling to and from appointments?

If you do not have a way of getting to and from appointments, speak to your caseworker or employment facilitator. They can help with the travel cost of getting you to and from appointments.

What if I don’t have child care during my appointment?

If you are unable to schedule child care, you can discuss this with your caseworker or employment facilitator. They can assist you with costs related to child care through Employment Related Expense Funding.

What if English is not my primary language?

Chiropractors will have access to a translation service for most languages and will do their best to accommodate if you wish to communicate in a language other than English.

Will my primary care provider (e.g., family doctor) be informed about my assessment?

During your first visit, your chiropractor will ask if you are comfortable sharing your assessment and treatment information with your primary care provider. If comfortable, your chiropractor will reach out to your primary care provider and share your assessment and treatment information with them.

Is there an evaluation?

Your involvement in the Health2Work program can benefit others like you. You have the option to participate in a program evaluation. For more information on the evaluation speak to your caseworker or employment facilitator.