Your guide to Spondyl-related conditions
Spondyl this and spondyl that… Spondylosis, Spondylolysis, Spondylitis, Spondylolisthesis, Spondyloarthropathy… What is this word spondyl? Whatever it means, it sounds a bit scary, particularly since you already know that you're in pain! But knowledge is power so let’s see if we can help you understand what it means. Like so many medical terms, it comes from Greek. Spondyl just means vertebrae. So, all these words simply relate to the spine. But...
What is Hypermobility and What Should I Do About It?
What is Hypermobility and What Should I Do About It? It sounds a bit scary, but hypermobility (aka being ‘double-jointed’) is actually pretty common and not normally something to worry about. In fact, it’s estimated that one in ten people have some degree of hypermobility in their joints; that is, they have more than the usual range of motion in one, some, or many of their joints. And for most, their...
What Is “Tech Neck” Anyway?
You’ve probably heard this phrase bandied about a bit lately. But what does it mean? It’s a new name for an old phenomenon. But, as chiropractors, we can confirm that it’s more prevalent now than ever. When the head is pushed forward, straining beyond the shoulders and past the balance point where it should naturally rest, it creates tension through the neck, shoulders and back. Headaches, muscle pain, tenderness and...
All About TMJ Dysfunction
Headaches? Grinding your teeth with stress? A weird clicking noise when you open your mouth? A locked jaw? Or ringing ears, dizziness, blurred vision, nausea, or swollen, painful cheeks? It’s possible that TMJ dysfunction is the cause. What is the TMJ? The temporomandibular joints (TMJs) are hinge-like joints connecting your skull and your jaw. These joints allow for the extraordinary range of motion necessary for eating and talking. The jaw moves up...
MASSAGE AND MOBILISATION
There are many treatment techniques we use as chiropractors to help you feel your best. Soft tissue massage and joint mobilisation are two common techniques we use to treat patients. Read on to learn more about massage, mobilisation, and the benefits of each. What is massage? Massage is a form of manual therapy that includes rubbing and applying pressure to manipulate muscles, tendons, and ligaments. It is one of the oldest...
Concussion: signs, symptoms and solutions
If you play or watch sport regularly, especially contact sports like rugby, you have probably heard about concussions. It can cause serious effects, but these aren’t always immediately recognisable. So how can you tell if you, or someone close to you, has a concussion, and what can you do about it? What is a concussion? A concussion is a brain injury caused by trauma to the head. When the brain moves suddenly...
Attention students with back pain!
Are you a student? Whether you’re studying at school, uni, part-time or doing home-study, this blog is for you! Looking at the research, we know that back pain in students is higher than desired, so read on to find out what you can do to take care of your back while studying in 2020. Did you know that poor back health can lead to headaches, pain and fogginess? Back pain can...
Stress: How your fight or flight mode could be dangerous!
The subconscious reaction called the fight or flight mode is a primal mechanism that served ancient civilisations with the stamina needed to escape the jaws of a dangerous predator. Now, us humans are the most dangerous species! So why do we still have a need for this fight or flight response? Welcome to our September blog, where we investigate this Autonomic Nervous System response that may be doing more harm than...
How breathing difficulties affects your muscles
Have you ever noticed that after a having a cold where coughing is present, or an attack of hayfever or asthma, that your neck feels tight and stiff, or you chest and shoulders feel restricted? This is caused by certain muscles constricting and tightening as we are forcing air in and out of our lungs. This can result in headaches, muscle pain or burning, even some restricted movement. Breathing difficulties can...
Chicken Bone Broth
Ingredients 4 pounds chicken necks/feet/wings 3 carrots, chopped 3 celery stalks, chopped 2 medium onions, peel on, sliced in half lengthwise and quartered 4 garlic cloves, peel on and smashed 1 teaspoon Himalayan salt 1 teaspoon whole peppercorns 3 tablespoon ACV 2 bay leaves 3 sprigs fresh thyme 5-6 sprigs parsley 1 teaspoon oregano 18-20 cups cold water Method Place all ingredients in a 10 quart capacity crock-pot. Add in water. Simmer for 24-48 hours, skimming fat occasionally. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly. Discard...
What are Weight Bearing Exercises?
Weight bearing exercises are exercises that force our bodies to work against gravity. They encompass any exercises that involve using body weight against the ground in an upright position- walking, running, dancing, tennis, climbing stairs and more. Why are they important? Weight bearing exercises are “osteogenic”- this means that they help bones to grow, which provides better strength and stability for our bodies. Stronger and healthier bones reduce the risk of developing...
Back Injury In The Workplace: Avoiding Back Pain
Did you know that the workplace can be a potential high-risk environment for back injury? It’s true. Countless claims year after year for accidents that could easily be avoided by considering the risks, taking more time and making the company aware of any safety hazards. Back injury or neck injury that result in chronic back or neck pain are the most common workplace injuries. Injuries include muscle, tendon and ligament strains and...
3 Easy Core Exercises to Support Your Low Back
Your core muscles are essential for supporting your back, stabilizing nearby joints, and reducing the risk of injury. A stable core helps to maintain the integrity of the spinal column and if it isn’t stable, you may experience low back pain. The good news is that there are a few exercises you can do to help reduce or even prevent low back pain. Below three are core exercises developed by Dr....