Chiropractors in Victoria.
Four chiropractors on Fort St. Early and Saturday appointments, with direct billing.
Book a chiropractor
Four chiropractors on Fort Street, with early-morning and Saturday appointments — and direct billing to most extended health plans.
- Four Doctors of Chiropractic
- Direct billing
- Open from 7am weekdays
- Saturdays 9am–4pm
Why choose chiropractic at Diversified Health
Thorough first visit
Your chiropractor takes a full history and examination before recommending any treatment.
More than adjustments
Our chiropractors also offer shockwave therapy, custom orthotics and vestibular (dizziness) care where appropriate.
Direct billing & MSP assistance
We bill most extended health plans and ICBC directly. If you qualify for MSP premium assistance, MSP covers $23 per chiropractic visit.
A whole team under one roof
Physiotherapy, massage therapy and kinesiology are available in the same clinic if you need them.
What to expect at your first visit
- Book online or call — choose your chiropractor and an initial appointment.
- Fill out a short health history form before your visit (sent by email).
- Your chiropractor takes your history and performs an examination.
- You get a clear explanation of the findings and your options, and treatment can begin the same visit if appropriate.
- We bill your insurance directly at checkout.
Our chiropractors
Hours
Monday–Friday from 7am
Saturday 9am–4pm
Times vary by chiropractor — see online booking for availability.
Location & parking
1063 Fort Street (Mosaic Building), downtown Victoria. Free 1-hour street parking on Meares St, the Robbins lot on Meares St, or paid parking on Fort St.
Ready to book your chiropractic visit?
Pick a time online in under two minutes, or call and our front desk will find a spot for you.
Direct billing to Blue Cross, Medavie Blue Cross, insurers on the TELUS Health network (such as Canada Life) and ICBC. Coverage depends on your plan.
Chiropractic care in Victoria, BC
Back pain, a stiff neck or headaches that keep coming back? Our four chiropractors find what’s causing your pain and treat it with hands-on care, exercise and advice you can use at home. Diversified Health is at 1063 Fort St, between Downtown Victoria and Fernwood. We’re open from 7 a.m. on weekdays and on Saturdays, and we bill most insurers directly.
Book a chiropractic appointment online · Call (250) 382-0018 · 1063 Fort St, Victoria
What our chiropractors treat
- Low back pain and sciatica
- Neck pain and stiffness, including whiplash
- Headaches related to the neck and jaw
- Sports injuries, including shoulder, elbow, hip and knee problems
- Posture strain from desk work and phone use
- Pregnancy-related back and pelvic pain
- Concussion recovery and dizziness
- Car accident (ICBC) and workplace injuries
- Repetitive strain, like carpal tunnel and tennis or golfer’s elbow
How we treat
- Chiropractic adjustments. Manual adjustments, plus gentler low-force and instrument options (Impulse adjusting instrument) if you prefer.
- Spinal decompression. Cox table flexion-distraction for disc problems and sciatica.
- Soft tissue therapy. Graston instrument-assisted therapy, cupping and nerve flossing.
- Laser and shockwave therapy. Class IV K-Laser and shockwave for stubborn pain and tendon problems.
- Custom orthotics. Assessed and fitted by our chiropractors.
- Taping and exercise. Kinesiology taping and a home exercise program built for you.
Meet our chiropractors
Dr. Matthew Bryan, DC trained at Macquarie University in Sydney, graduating cum laude, and holds a FIFA Diploma in Football Medicine. A former college baseball captain and Victoria HarbourCats outfielder, he was team chiropractor for the Central Coast Mariners pro soccer club. His focus is sports injuries, low-force techniques and care for kids.
Dr. Tessa Bryan, DC trained at New York Chiropractic College after an honours kinesiology degree at Western. She has advanced training in clinical neuroscience through the Carrick Institute, plus FAKTR, RockTape and custom orthotics certifications. Her focus is concussion, dizziness and neurological rehab.
Dr. Krisjan Gustavson, DC graduated from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in 1986 and has practised in Victoria since 1996, when he opened Fort Street Family Chiropractic. He brings decades of experience with back and neck pain and preventive care.
Dr. Alexia Grelson, DC trained at Palmer College of Chiropractic after a science degree at UVic, and grew up in Shawnigan Lake. With a background in personal training, she uses manual, instrument and drop-table techniques. Her focus is prenatal chiropractic, dizziness and stress-related tension.
What to expect at your first visit
- Assessment (30 or 45 minutes). Your chiropractor asks about your pain and health history, then checks your posture, movement, joints and nerves.
- A clear diagnosis and plan. You’ll know what’s going on, what treatment involves and roughly how many visits to expect.
- Treatment on day one, if it’s appropriate. You’ll leave with a few things to do at home.
Wear comfortable clothes. Bring your insurance details and, for an ICBC claim, your claim number. You don’t need a doctor’s referral.
Direct billing, MSP, ICBC and WorkSafeBC
- Extended health. We bill Blue Cross, Medavie Blue Cross and insurers on the TELUS Health network (including Canada Life) directly, so you only pay any amount your plan doesn’t cover.
- MSP. If you have MSP premium assistance, MSP covers $23 of each chiropractic visit.
- ICBC. Hurt in a car accident? All you need is your claim number, and we bill ICBC directly.
- WorkSafeBC. Injured at work? We’re not a registered WorkSafeBC provider, but we can still treat you. You pay at your visit and WorkSafeBC reimburses you directly.
See current rates on our booking page.
Chiropractic plus a full team
Your chiropractor can bring in our physiotherapists, registered massage therapists, acupuncturists, kinesiologists or medical doctor when that will help you recover faster, all under one roof.
Find us
Diversified Health Clinic · 1063 Fort St, Victoria, BC V8V 3K5 · (250) 382-0018
Mon–Fri 7 a.m.–7 p.m. · Sat 9 a.m.–4 p.m. · Sun by appointment
We’re a short walk or drive from Downtown, Fernwood, Rockland, Fairfield, James Bay and Oak Bay. Parking: 1 hour free on Meares St, paid parking on Fort St in front of the clinic, or the Robbins lot on Meares St.
Chiropractic FAQs
Do I need a referral to see a chiropractor in Victoria?
No. You can book directly. Some extended health plans ask for a referral before they’ll pay, so check your plan.
Is chiropractic covered by my insurance?
Most extended health plans cover chiropractic, and we bill Blue Cross, Medavie Blue Cross and TELUS Health network insurers directly. ICBC covers chiropractic after a car accident, and MSP premium assistance covers $23 per visit.
Does an adjustment hurt?
Most people feel little or no discomfort. Some feel mild soreness for a day, like after exercise. If you’d rather not be adjusted manually, we offer gentler low-force and instrument options.
How many visits will I need?
It depends on your condition and goals. Your chiropractor gives you an estimate at your first visit and checks your progress as you go.
Is chiropractic safe during pregnancy?
Yes. Dr. Alexia Grelson has training in prenatal chiropractic and uses techniques adapted for each stage of pregnancy.
What’s the difference between a chiropractor and a physiotherapist?
Both treat joint, muscle and nerve problems. Chiropractors focus more on adjusting the spine and joints, and physiotherapists focus more on exercise and rehab. Many of our patients see both.
Do you have early morning or Saturday appointments?
Yes. We’re open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Book your chiropractic appointment online · Call (250) 382-0018 · 1063 Fort St, Victoria
History of Chiropractic Care.
And here’s how it all began…
Used by ancient Chinese, Indian, Roman and Egyptian cultures, forms of Chiropractic have been around for thousands of years. Hippocrates, the father of medicine once wrote “Look well to the spine, for many diseases have their origin in dislocations of the vertebral column.” Even with such a long history, Chiropractic wasn’t introduced into Canada until the early 1900s.
In Canada, Chiropractic initially was introduced by Daniel Palmer of Davenport, Iowa, a long time student of anatomy and physiology. Like many physicians of the time, Palmer was practicing prior to licensing laws and the establishment of medical education requirements.
In the course of his studies, Palmer offered healing therapy to a building janitor by adjusting a misaligned vertebrae and thereby restoring the man’s hearing.
Palmer began treating others with Chiropractic and his reputation grew. Many people experienced the healing of physical ailments after they received these Chiropractic adjustments.
Although many medical doctors lacked formal education at that time, Palmer’s techniques were espoused as dangerous and as a result, a backlash toward Chiropractic was created. This distrust continued for more than 100 years.
Doctors of Chiropractic are trained at Chiropractic colleges with similar educational requirements as medical schools and are now accepted as primary health care professionals; giving special attention to the structural, spinal, musculoskeletal, and neurological relationships.
An increasing number of primary care physicians are referring patients to Chiropractors and many insurance companies offer reimbursement for Chiropractic services. Chiropractic is now considered one of the most widely used forms of health care with more than 22 million people annually seeking treatment.
Consumers are finding that Chiropractors are an effective “fence at the top of the hill”, rather than the “ambulance at the bottom.” As health care costs rise and many conventional medicines offer impersonal care, people want positive alternatives to conventional medicine like the care Chiropractors provide.
Therapies & Techniques.
Graston Tool
Q: What is the Graston Tool?
A: The Graston Tool incorporates a patented form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization that enables clinicians to effectively detect and treat scar tissue and restrictions that affect normal functions.
The Tool:
- Separates and breaks down collagen cross-links, and splays and stretches connective tissue and muscle fibers
- Increases skin temperature
- Facilitates reflex changes in the chronic muscle holding pattern
- Alters spinal reflex activity
- Increases the rate and amount of blood flow to and from the area
- Increases cellular activity in the region, including fibroblasts and mast cells
- Increases histamine response secondary to mast cell activity
Q: Why is scar tissue a problem?
A: Scar tissue limits range of motion, and in many instances causes pain, which prevents the patient from functioning as he or she did before the injury.
Q: How is scar tissue different from other tissue?
A: When viewed under a microscope, normal tissue can take a couple of different fashions: dense regular elongated fibers running in the same direction, such as tendons and ligaments; or dense irregular and loose with fibers running in multiple direction. In either instance, when tissue is damaged it will heal in a haphazard pattern-or-scarring, that results in a restricted range of motion.
Q: How are the instruments used?
A: The Graston Tool Instruments are used to enhance Dr. Gustavson’s ability to detect adhesions, scar tissue or restrictions in the affected areas. Dr. Gustavson uses the stainless steel instruments to comb over and “catch” on fibrotic tissue that immediately identifies the areas of restriction. Once the tissue has been identified, the instruments are used to break up the scar tissue so the body can absorb it.
Q: Is the treatment painful?
A: It is common to experience minor discomfort during the procedure and some bruising afterwards. This is a normal response and part of the healing process.
Q: What is the frequency of treatment?
A: Patients usually receive two treatments per week over 4-5 weeks. Most patients have a positive response by the 3rd to 4th treatment.
Dr. Gustavson is a certified member of the Graston Network.
Cox Table
Nearly 38 years of research, experience, and technology have contributed to the development and evolution of the Cox technique. During a treatment, the patient lies prone while the chiropractor concentrates on one vertebral motion segment at a time.
Cox®Technic creates a “push, pull, pumping” effect on the intervertebral disc space and allows the following benefits.
1) Increases the intervertebral disc height to remove tension on the anular fibers and the spinal nerve by making more room and improving circulation;
2) Drops pressure within the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc;
3) Increases the area of the intervertebral foramen up to 28%;
4) Restores vertebral joints to their physiological relationships of motion (realigns your spine).
Impulse Adjustment
Impulse Adjusting Instrument®
This patented and FDA registered device was specifically created to deliver gentle and precise chiropractic adjustments to the joints of the spine and extremities to relieve pain and restore function.
Extreme Speed: Impulse® is twice as fast as other adjusting instruments and 100x faster than manual chiropractic adjustments.
Controlled Force: Impulse® has three different force settings for different parts of the body and to treat patients of all ages.
Frequency Tuned Waveform®: Impulse is specifically tuned to the natural frequency of the body that joints, muscles and nerves respond to optimizing results for patients.
Theraputic Ultrasound & Muscle Stimulator
Hands-Free Ultrasound & Muscle Stimulator
The term ultrasound refers to acoustic vibrations above those frequencies that are not available to the human ear, those which penetrate into the deeper layers of the tissue. These effects may be summarized as follows;
- micro massage
- analgesic
- a breakdown of scar tissue
- increased oxidation
- microdestruction of tissue deposits
Cryotherapy
BIOFREEZE® is a product that can be lightly massaged into all sides of sore muscles. For joint pain, it can be applied to fully coat the area. When flexibility is decreased due to injury or arthritis, it can be massaged in and around the joint. BIOFREEZE® is particularly effective in lessening arthritis pain.
BIOFREEZE® can be used up to 4 times per day. When using tape, wraps or supports, be sure all materials are breathable. Never use nonporous materials when treating painful areas.
Click here to read all about BIOFREEZE® from their website.
Kinesiotape
Using the science of Kinesiology, the idea of treating the muscles in order to activate the body’s own healing process stirred the concept of Kinesio tape. Using an elastic tape, it was discovered that muscles and other tissues could be helped by outside assistance. Kinesio Taping is based on a philosophy that aims to give free range of motion in order to allow the body’s muscular system to heal itself bio-mechanically.
Kinesio tape is applied over muscles to reduce pain and inflammation, relax overused tired muscles and to support muscles in movement on a 24 hr/day basis. It is non-restrictive type of taping which allows for full range of motion.
Qualities of Kinesiotape:
- 100% hypoallergenic cotton
- Same thickness of the skin
- 130-140% elasticity (which does not allow the muscles to overstretch)
- Stays on for multiple days (waterproof)
- Latex Free
Uses of Kinesiotape:
- Headaches
- Foot problems
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Knee Conditions
- Shoulder conditions
- Hamstring
- Groin Injury
- Rotator cuff injury
- Whiplash
- Tennis elbow
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Patella Tracking
- Ankle Sprains
- Method for Support
- Pre and Post Surgical Edema
- Muscular facilitation in pediatric patients
- Muscle inhibition in pediatric patients
- Lower back strain/pain (subluxations, herniated disc)
- Athletic Preventative Injury
Muscles constantly extend and contract within a normal range however, when muscles over-extend and over-contract muscles cannot recover and become inflamed. When a muscle is inflamed, swollen or stiff due to fatigue, the space between the skin and muscle is compressed, resulting in constriction to the flow of lymphatic fluid. This compression also applies pressure to the pain receptors beneath the skin, which in turn communicates, “discomfort signals” to the brain and the person experiences PAIN. This type of pain is known as myalgia, or muscular pain.
Kinesio Tape is applied over the affected area with the muscles in a stretched position. Kinesio Tape is applied from one end of the muscle to the other with varying amounts of stretch to the tape. The tape is applied from the muscle origin to the insertion for muscle support / facilitation. For Rehabilitation / Muscular inhibition Kinesio Tape is applied from muscle insertion to the origin.
It may look like conventional athletic tape, but Kinesio Tape is fundamentally different.
Kinesiotape
- Allows for full range of movement
- No pressure on surrounding area
- Lymphatic flow uninhibited
- Remains on for a few days
Athletic Tape
- Restricts movements
- Significant pressure of taped area
- Obstruction of bodily fluid flow
- Applied before activity
- Removal after activity
Electrotherapy
TENS – transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
A procedure where an electrical current is passed across the skin. TENS is intended for the symptomatic relief of a large number of painful syndromes.
Class VI Laser
Benefits of Class IV K-Laser Therapy are:
- improved circulation
- reduced inflammation
- improved transport of nutrients across the cell membrane
- increased circulation
- influx of water, oxygen and nutrients to the damaged area
- reduced swelling, muscle spasms, stiffness and pain
