Benefits of Chiropractic Treatment
 

Chiropractic can be beneficial for many conditions, however coming in to discuss your condition and your medical history, lifestyle and work related activities with us is the only way to determine if it is right for you.

Below is a summary of some of the most common conditions our patients have sought our help and advice with. We hope you find it helpful.

If you would like further information please contact us, or pop in for a chat at our clinic on Montgomery Street.

Arthritis

Arthritic pain afflicts many of us as we grow older- a sign that we have lived a physical life and used our bodies! Arthritis results from the wear and tear of our joints over the years. The muscles supporting the arthritic joints weaken and atrophy, aggravating the problem.

How Chiro helps
Chiropractic focus is on restoring as much normal range of motion as possible in your joints, to alleviate the pressure on aching muscles. By restoring normal range of motion, the muscles supporting the joint can function properly and distribute the force more evenly. With the joint and muscles functioning better, the result is less overall pain.

Back Pain

If you are suffering from a backache, it might help you to know where the problem is originating from, why it’s occurring and what you can do to minimise the effects. Back pain is one of the most prevalent conditions we see as Chiropractors and can be classified as

Lower back pain
Middle back pain, or
Upper back pain
 

Lower Back Pain
Lower back Pain is the most common, and affects the area between the two sacroiliac joints (hip joints). It can remain localised or it can refer into the buttock, hip, groin region, front or behind the leg. The pain you feel can vary; it can be sharp, deep or dull pain; and it can be constant or come and go. Low back pain is generally a side effect of sitting down all day, bending the body and lifting heavy loads, or as a result of sports injuries and weight bearing exercise.


Middle Back Pain
Middle back Pain presents in the mid back region and often travels into the shoulder blades, or can refer into the front of the chest. Slipped discs, muscle strain- particularly if sitting in an incorrect posture for long periods- incorrect exercise technique or overexercise are the typical causes.


Upper Back Pain
Upper back Pain affects the upper shoulder region, in the trapezius. This is typically caused by tightness in the neck or as a result of problems in the upper thoracic area. Poor posture and a sedentary lifestyle- sitting at a desk all day – are the usual suspects. Pain can also refer into the arms due to neck or shoulder tightness.

Each of these specific areas of back pain can be alleviated by chiropractic care. We’ll focus on the cause, then remove the interference in the joint and restore normal range of motion. The muscles supporting the area will relax and ease the feeling of tightness and pain.

Head Ache

There are many causes which can lead to headaches. One of those is due to misalignments in the neck region, with associated muscle tightness and spasms. This often leads to referred pain in various parts of the head: your temples, the top of your head, or behind your eyes.
 

How Chiro helps
We can help detect the primary problem, realign the problematic vertebra which will reduce muscle spasm and consequently headache pain will be reduced or may disappear completely.

Neck Pain and Whiplash

If you’ve experienced difficulty turning your neck on one side as compared with the other, the most likely reason is because of misaligned vertebrae. Misalignments in the neck inhibit the amount you can turn your neck, and causes tightness in this area, which in turn reduces your range of motion . Neck pain which is a result of misalignment can give off sharp pain or a deep, dull pain resembling a tooth-ache.

Your neck plays a pretty important role in the overall balance and support of your body; it supports and balances the weight of your head whilst also protecting your spinal cord and nerves. There are many causes for neck pain: poor posture, stress and tension, repetitive motions, accidents, whiplash, sporting injuries or non supportive pillows; all of which can damage or place great strain on your neck.
 

How Chiro helps
We’ll look at your condition holistically to determine what is causing your problem –if it’s lifestyle, work or exercise related, and base our treatment upon how we can get the best long term solutions for you. The core specialty of chiropractic is treating spine and neck problems to alleviate the pressure causing your pain. The most common treatment for neck pain is with a hand held instrument called a activator which allows us to precisely realign the vertebrae in your neck, resulting in better mobility, less stiffness and pain.

Whiplash is a result of an accident, typically at high velocity(most frequently rear end accidents )  causing a rapid distortion of the neck’s normal movement; usually in extension. In other words, your head is thrust backwards and forwards, throwing your neck out of balance and damaging its natural curve. This sudden movement creates a misalignment in the neck. If left untreated, it can lead to, or accelerate, deterioration of the spine. Symptoms can include pain and aching in the neck and back, referred pain to the shoulders, pins and needles to the arms and legs and headaches. They can appear immediately after the initial injury, but often are not felt until days or even weeks afterwards. Early detection is paramount to the rate of your recovery. X-Rays will help us to determine the extent of your problem, along with any additional tests that will assist us in getting the whole picture to treat your injury.

Poor Posture

How long have you been sitting at your desk today? What about on a weekly basis? Are you aware of your posture as you do so? If you do sit at a desk all day, chances are your posture is not as good as it should, or could be and you are placing excessive stress on your spinal tissues. Typical signs of poor posture are rounded shoulders, your head stooping forward and the top of your back curving forward. You might also feel tension in between your shoulder blades. Poor posture can lead to the development of chronic back and neck pain.

How Chiro helps
Our approach with posture- related conditions is to straighten your back, in conjunction with appropriate stretches and advice on how you can minimise these issues from arising while you are at work, rest or play.

Pregnancy

Lots of hormonal changes occur in your body in order to prepare for the arrival of your newborn. Hormone release can lead to your ligaments loosening. This places stress on your body and can lead to upper back pain, lower back pain and problems in the pelvic area. The added weight of the fetus pulls your body forward, placing extra stress on your back which affects the spinal discs and joints. You may notice other aches and pains as your body tries to compensate for the changed centre of its gravity due to an increase in weight. Many women accept these pains as part of the pregnancy cycle. But this is actually an indication that your body needs some help to ease the discomfort.

How Chiro helps
Our aim is to ease your discomfort by strengthening your back, so your body will be as strong as possible for the duration of your pregnancy. We’ll focus on the misaligned pelvic and lower back area, which will help to distribute forces in your lower back more evenly. The highest priority is given to safety and gentleness with specific methods that allow you to be treated right up to labor. With regular chiropractic care during pregnancy, your nervous system will function at its best which aids in the development of your growing fetus.

Sciatic Pain

Your sciatic nerve is the is the longest and widest single nerve in the human body.The nerve begins in the lower back and runs through the buttock and down the lower limb. This nerve can become compressed, pinched or choked by various issues such as misaligned vertebra, herniated or degenerated discs, or bony outgrowth. Sciatica is characterised by a deep pain in the buttock which often radiates down the back of the leg along the sciatic nerve. Paincan also be felt in the lower back and/or various parts of the leg and foot, accompanied by numbness, tingling and muscle weakness.

How Chiro helps
It’s essential to investigate the root cause of the nerve irritation as Sciatica itself is not the diagnosis; it’s the set of your symptoms. Scans will be required to determine the underlying cause and will assist in our diagnosis and subsequent treatment plan to remove the irritation. If the irritation is severe, referral to an orthopedic specialist may be required.

Chiropractic and Children

Frequent childhood conditions like scoliosis,chronic ear infections,colic,asthma,growing pains can benefit enormously from chiropractic. From the stress on your newborn’s spine during the birthing process to learning to walk, run (and fall! ) as toddlers, misalignments of vertebra often occur. Regular check ups can restore your child’s spinal health, and help to prevent these problems escalating to a more serious condition.

Scoliosis

Refers to a curvature of the spine. Viewed from behind, it gives a distinct S or C shaped curve rather than a straight line. What causes scoliosis remains unclear; it is generally believed to be due to a number of different factors, with genetics the most widely accepted. Treating Scoliosis with Chiropractic requires an x-ray to determine whether the condition is functional or structural Scoliosis.

Functional Scoliosis can be treated effectively with Chiropractic, as it is often a result of leg length inequality or misalignments. The key to effective treatment is early detection, before the body has stopped growing. Most problems occur around puberty due to hormonal changes and growth spurts, which is why Scoliosis screening at school is so crucial. As the body is growing and developing in children, a chiropractor can adjust the spine and reverse the effects of curvature, training the body to grow properly.

Sports Injury

Professional athletes and sporting teams are increasingly turning to chiropractic care before and after activity to help manage and prevent injuries. This includes stretching of tight muscles before games, soft tissue work on damaged tissues to assist the healing phase and minimising inflammation, strapping of joints for prevention and adjustments of restricted joints to restore the muscle back to its normal length.

If you play sports either competitively or recreationally, your goal will be a great athletic performance without injuring yourself- which isn’t always possible. Chiropractic care is a natural fit in this area as many sports injuries involve the spine; causing pain, restricting your range of motion and slowing your reflexes . If your spine isn’t functioning properly, your nervous system won’t be able to perform at its best. This will affect the ability of your muscles to be stimulated by your nerve supply and decrease your endurance and strength.

Sports injuries affect both children and adults and can result from a freak accident on the field, or from a build up of tension in a specific area of your body. This is commonly due to an existing problem which has not been fully treated and therefore likely to re-occur. If you consider that every one of your muscles, tendons and ligaments is connected to a joint, a restricted joint can sometimes lead to an overworked muscle or tendon, leaving it vulnerable to injury. For eg, lower back conditions significantly contribute to hamstring overuse.

 
How Chiro helps
Restoring function to the spinal joints so you have full range of motion is key. Correct spinal alignment not only keeps your nerves and muscles functioning optimally, it speeds up the healing process for soft tissues injuries, and significantly reduces the biomechanical and musculo-skeletal faults that can lead to injuries in the first place.

Pins and Needles

Is a result of the sensory part of your nerve being irritated, referring pain down the nerve’s distribution channel. For eg, a problem which occurs at the base of your neck can irritate the nerve and cause pain down your arm. Sensory pain is the first sign of damage to a nerve. Leaving it untreated can result in muscle weakness and further irritation. Early detection and treatment is imperative in order to remove the interference on the nerve in the first instance. We’ll examine the area, arrange medical imaging x-rays or scans accordingly ( if required ) and administer the appropriate treatment to free up the irritated nerve.

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