About Us

National Spine Care was established in 2002 as an initiative of the University of Calgary Spine Program. Initially, the program was created to address the problem of long wait lists that existed for spinal neurosurgeons. An integrative health team, consisting of spinal neurosurgeons, a physiatrist (physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist), a chiropractor and a physiotherapist was formed. By working alongside the specialists, the chiropractor and physiotherapist received the additional training necessary to gain expertise in the diagnosis and management of a broad spectrum of spine-related health concerns.

This team  began training together and seeing patients collaboratively at the neurosurgical clinic in the Foothills Medical Centre. This program quickly outgrew the confines of hospital setting and was moved into the community. The immediate goal of improving access to specialists was quickly realized. Wait lists for a focused surgical consultation were shortened by 70%.

It quickly became obvious that the vast majority of people’s back and neck problems were not something surgery could help. The additional training the chiropractors and physiotherapists had received through working with these specialists allowed them to begin offering treatment and management solutions for these patients with non-surgical back and neck problems.

Since the early days, National Spine Care has always lobbied on behalf of its patients to pursue the most effective and non-surgical options. This quest for truly integrated care has fostered ongoing relationships with other health care providers including orthopedic surgeons, spinal neurosurgeons, physiatrists, pain management specialists, physiotherapists and other chiropractors. To the benefit of patients, the streamlined and integrated treatment allowed National Spine Care to evolve into a true multidisciplinary clinic.

While our relationship with the spinal neurosurgeons at the University of Calgary Spine Program remains strong, the current focus of National Spine Care is to bring knowledge and expertise to the active, Calgary community. Our unique integrated health care approach provides timely access to the most appropriate conservative, non-surgical treatments for back and neck pain.  More information about these various treatment approaches can be found under Treatments or Back2Back rehabilitation solutions.