The Role of the Sports and Spine Physiotherapist

Physiotherpy Sports InjThere is no doubt that sporting activities are rampant at applying pressure on muscles. As such, this often leads to various injuries across different muscles and even the spinal cord. Luckily all these injuries are easy to avoid, with the help of a good sports physiotherapist. On the other hand, not all is as easy as it sounds since the mention of a sports and spine physiotherapist is a source of mixed fillings for many. So, to help with is, here is an article on the role of the sports and spine physiotherapist.

Roles of a sports physiotherapist

The role of most sports physiotherapists is mostly misunderstood to injury diagnosis. However, this is not the case since a good physiotherapist serves to assist, diagnose, and treat athletes with physical problems. Here is a list of roles of a sports physiotherapist:

  • Prepare athletes mentally and physically.
  • Advice athletes on the various stretching and warming exercises, thus avoiding muscle strain or tear.
  • Generate athlete reports based on their recovery progress.
  • Offer muscle massages and providing muscle support with the use of tapes and straps.
  • Offer first aid when called upon.
  • Injury diagnosis and prevention.
  • Aid athletes in unlocking their performance potential.
  • Rehabilitation of athletes back into fitness.

Qualities of a good sports physiotherapist

A good sports physiotherapist is only as good as the personality and the skills they display. He/she should have the following character traits

  • Must have an interest in clients well being.
  • Must establish a good relationship with his/her patients.
  • A good therapist must work under pressure and meet schedules on time.

Examples of common sports injuries

  • Joint sprains: Joint sprains can occur along joints such as ankles, knees, fingers, and even shoulders.
  • Muscle strains: Muscle strains occur when muscle tissues are over-stretched. As a result, this may result in hamstring injuries, calf injuries, and quadriceps.
  • Tendon injuries: Tendons are connective tissues that connect the muscles to the bones. Tendon injuries occur when a tendon is torn or worn out. As such, it may lead to injuries on the Achilles, and the patella.
  • Bone injuries occur when a bone is fractured or overused, thereby causing injuries such as shin splint injuries or even a compression. Note that sustaining a bone is as easy as any other injury in sports.
  • The last type of injury can occur during rehabilitation from surgery and can occur on the knee, shoulder, and ankle.

Sports and spine physiotherapy treatment techniques

Sports physiotherapy treatment uses various techniques to help in their quest for physical fitness. These include the use of:

  • Massage: Most sports therapist work their magic using massages to help reduce muscle tension and help in blood circulation on the respective tissues.
  • Use of Ice and ultrasound: Ice is applied for 15 minutes on damaged muscles, thus reducing inflammation. Ultrasound works its magic the same way as Icing; the only difference is that this method uses heat to improve blood circulation.
  • Stretching: Surprisingly, a guided stretch from your physiotherapist helps to unlock muscles, thus increasing range of motion.
  • Use off tappings to support muscles.

The bottom line

As seen above, various types of injuries can affect any athlete. Luckily, finding a good sport and spinal physiotherapy will reduce your chances of injury on the field. To spice things up, sports physiotherapists perform their practices based on biological research and backed by successful practice. So, if you ever incur such an injury, then you should call 9144-1510 now to schedule an appointment with one of our physiotherapists.

Gordon

The Relationship Between Poor Sleep and Neck (Cervicogenic) Headaches

nckheadObtaining enough sleep on a regular basis is critical in order to maintain our physical and mental health. Those who sleep poorly or who constantly awake throughout the night can often suffer from neck and back pain. This may lead to chronic headaches. Referred to as a “cervicogenic headache”, such a condition can be debilitating and downright painful. This is why it is important to understand the correlation between headaches and insufficient sleep. Let us take a closer look at how these two scenarios are related.

Why Could Sleep Trigger This Type of Headache?

The muscles within the shoulders and the neck are highly complicated and inextricably related to one another. If this region is placed under strain (such as sleeping incorrectly), the associated nerves can send pain signals to a portion of the brain stem known as the trigeminalcervical nucleus (often abbreviated as TCN). These electrical impulses are thereafter interpreted as a headache by the brain. In the majority of cases, the upper three neck joints (C1, C2 and C3) are involved. To put it simply, instances when these joints are placed under strain or remain at an awkward position for a long period of time can often lead to a headache.

What Poor Sleep Habits Can Cause a Headache?

As we have seen above, neck headaches can be the direct result of a poor body position while asleep. Some situations which can contribute to this condition include (but might not always be limited to):

  • A pillow that does not offer a sufficient amount of neck support.
  • Sleeping in an awkward position.
  • A mattress that is either too hard or too soft.

It should also be mentioned that psychological stress may manifest as neck pain and stiffness in some individuals. This can lead to sleep issues that will increase the chances of developing a headache.

What are the Main Symptoms of a Neck Headache?

One of the first steps in diagnosing the presence of this condition is to appreciate a handful of the most common symptoms. These will often include:

  • Feelings of tenderness at the base of the skull and around the top of the head.
  • A dull pain that may radiate to the face on occasion.
  • A generally stiff neck or a slight lack of mobility.

Those who experience headaches in the middle of the night or upon waking might also be suffering from this condition. The good news is that you have numerous treatment options after a diagnosis has been provided by a health professional. Furthermore, relief can generally take place within a short period of time. This is one of the main differences between a neck headache and a migraine.

Do you suspect that you may encounter cervicogenic headaches from time to time? Is it difficult to obtain a sound night of sleep? If so, please contact Turramurra Sports & Spinal Physiotherapy in order to determine the best treatment options.

Gordon

Chiropractic and the Brain

Chiropractic-ClinicNeurons that Fire Together, Wire Together

Cells in the brain communicate with one another through synaptic transmission. The process involves one cell releasing a chemical, and the next cell absorbing it. That process is called ‘neuronal firing.’ Frequent communication between brain cells strengthens their connection. When messages travel within the same path, again and again, they begin to transit faster and faster. And through the repetitions the process becomes automatic. For instance, that’s why when practicing things like hitting a golf ball, with enough time and practice, a person becomes a pro golfer.

The Brains Role in Pain

Our understanding of pain involves various underlying mechanisms such as activation of neural systems, neuroimmune interactions, tissue level damages, social and also psychological domains. All these mechanisms play a potential role in sensorimotor detection to pain. The work of the brain is to detect how severe a condition is and then it makes a decision on which course of action to take. If the brain finds the situation potentially harmful, it will react by producing pain. When we experience pain, we will draw our full attention to it. Alternatively, if the brain finds there is no harm, it will not produce any pain. It means that it is not our bodies that produce the pain, but our brain. For instance, if you are experiencing pain, such as aching joints or muscle pain chiropractic care may help. This type of care also helps in maintaining a healthy spine and properly functioning joints, even if you do not feel any symptoms of pain.

Chiropractic Care

A chiropractor is a health care professional who treats the musculoskeletal system through manual manipulation of spinal vertebrae. Chiropractic therapy involves the use of hands and focuses on body parts and joints. A chiropractor uses adjustments to restore the functionality of joints and body parts. This type of manual manipulation helps the body to heal itself. Pain sensation is real, and no one can imitate it. It comes from the brain. Application of chiropractic adjustments reduces pain, thereby increasing movements hence improving body performance. Examples of things that can cause painful joints or back problems are:

  • Office work
  • Office work
  • Accidents
  • Work injuries
  • Household chores

For people who are experiencing neck, back pain, and some types of headaches, chiropractic care can be more effective than other treatment options like drugs.

Spinal Manipulation

Chiropractic care is based on spinal manipulation, but can also involve other types of treatments such as:

  • Manual therapies like acupuncture and heat therapies
  • Postural education includes learning how to sit, walk and stand
  • Exercise training in our working environments
  • An ergonomic practice that involves proficiency in the working environment

Those experiencing other types of musculoskeletal pains can also benefit from spinal manipulation. Spinal manipulation is the use of quick and robust hand pressure on the joint located between the two vertebral spinal columns. Chiropractic adjustments are meant to help patients get pain relief and be able to manage their condition comfortably at home.

Gordon

Ever Heard of Degenerative Disc Disease? Let’s Learn More About It

ddskA disease robs our joy and heightens tension to close friends and family. It becomes more daunting when the disease is rare and not well known by people. Degenerative disc disease is an infection that attacks your spine. The disease occurs when normal changes that take place in the spine causes pain.

Generally, spinal disks can be viewed as shock absorbers in the spine of vertebrae. They help the back of vertebrates remain flexible in a way that they can twist and bend comfortably. Normally the spinal disks wear and tear as one gets old. They become less flexible and one cannot bend or twist comfortably like before. The breakdown of these spinal disks causes pain in your back.

What brings about this disease?

The spinal disks of a vertebrae consist of a soft inner core and a sturdy outer core. One of the major causes of this disease is drying out. when one is young and tender, the disks have a lot of water. As one grows older, they get thinner and dry. Loss of water means that there will be less padding in the spine of vertebrae.

The second cause is injuries and stressing of the spine as a result of everyday movements. Since the spinal disks are always in use, the tear over time especially near the nerves which results in pain. Tear and wear may force disks to slip out of place a condition known as a herniated disk.

Symptoms of degenerative disc disease

This disease always brings about sharp or constant pain in your spine or neck. The pain differs from one person to another depending on where the weary disk is located. The common symptoms are pain on your:

  • Upper thighs, buttocks or even on your lower back
  • Pain that is not consistent. The pain comes and vanishes over time. It may last for days or even months
  • The pain gets worse when your lift or bend to pick something
  • The pain is more severe when seated and calms when you start to move
  • The pain ceases when you lie down or change positions

Are there back treatment options?

Chiropractic care is one of the popular successful remedies for degenerative disc disease. The genesis of this back pain treatment is to identify whether you are suffering from a disc-related problem.

The chiropractor examines your back by identifying whether:

  • Your spinal joints are stressing the functions of your spine.
  • The pain is being caused by spinal stenosis which results in leg and back pain.
  • The pain is a result of thinning of degenerative discs which cause bulging and puts pressure on spinal nerves.

How a chiropractor goes about it

The chiropractor starts by reviewing your medical history. He then discusses the symptoms with you to identify the potential causes of the disease. He blends both a neurological and physical exam to pinpoint the joint motion which might be have been restricted. All these examinations are geared towards understanding your body mechanics and come up with a tailor made back pain treatment.

Conclusion

The primary symptom of degenerative disc disease is back pain. However, pain in your back and neck might not necessarily mean you have the disease. If you are experiencing back pain, the best thing is to visit a physician who will examine you to identify the source of the pain.

Gordon

The Wonder of Green Tea

What is green tea?

Tea is, worldwide, the most drunk beverage after water. All tea, apart from herbal teas, comes from the bush, Camelia sinensis, with around 78 per cent being black tea and around just 20 per cent producing tea green in colour. The difference between the two types of tea is that green tea is made from brewing unfermented, unprocessed leaves rather than the fermented ones used in black varieties. Green tea has been drunk in Asia for five thousand years but has only recently been drunk in sizeable quantities in the western world.

Varieties of green tea

These days you can buy green tea in your local supermarket either as leaves or in tea bags. It is often blended with ginger, lime or lemon. There are many grades available including the high status ones in Japan such as the yellow-green slightly astringent Sencha and the green Matcha now used in several desserts and drinks. If buying leaves it is best to use ones which are less than four months old.

Health benefits of green tea

In the mountainous areas of Asia, where tea bushes used to make green tea are grown, the population seems to develop fewer cancers. There has, therefore, been a great deal of interest in the West as to what protective properties green tea may have. Traditionally, green tea was used to regulate body temperature, improve both heart and mental health, aid digestion, control bleeding and facilitate wound healing. According to the US national cancer institute several Western studies have shown positive effects of green tea on a variety of cancers including the reduction of tumour size. In 2006, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found an association between green tea and reduced mortality (particularly from heart disease). Other studies have shown an association between green tea and a reduction of both total and of bad (LDL) cholesterol, a reduced risk of stroke and of Type 2 diabetes. Other studies suggest that green tea may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and, even, arthritis. Because of all these potential health benefits chiropractors such as Sunbury Chiropractor would like their clients to regularly drink green tea as part of their treatment.

How does green tea create these health benefits?

As green tea is much less processed than black tea it contains far more polyphenols which contain antioxidants that reduce inflammation (caused by oxidation) at the root of so many health problems. Green tea contains between 25 and 45 per cent of polyphenols by weight, 60 – 80 per cent of which are catechins – the antioxidants which prevent the cell damage that causes the inflammation which eventually leads to disease. With so many health benefits associated with green tea it can be a beneficial part of a health stratagem using chiropractor medicine.

Gordon

Tips to Avoiding Headaches This Holiday Season

holidayHeadacheHolidays are a time for friends, family, and happy memories. However, the joyful moments can be associated with a lot of stress from travelling, shopping and preparing for the celebrations. Stress and other stimuli may significantly increase or trigger your headache. Most individuals consider this illness as a temporary irritation that does not have significant impacts on their daily life and enjoyment.

For some individuals, however, facial and head pain may be a daily struggle that may significantly affect their daily activities and quality of life. Due to the effects of the head and facial pains, experts recommend the following tips to avoid them this holiday season.

 

Moderation

Moderation is the key to minimizing facial and head pains. If you are planning to have that festive cocktail at your free time, you should sip it slowly to minimize head pains. Mixed drinks containing vegetable and fruit selections can have fewer effects compared to the straight alcohol.

For individuals suffering from migraine conditions, white wine is ideal for them. And if individuals do experience the famous over-served migraine, they should consider black coffee with some honey instead of sugar to relieve their pain in the morning.

 

Maintain Your Regular Sleep and Meal Schedule

If you and your family cannot stop for regular meals, you should try packing nutritious snacks. While preparing for the holidays, you should remember to maintain regular sleep. The late night parties can result in health issues, especially to those with migraine conditions. Try your best to have enough sleep each day to minimize this problem. During this holiday season, you should ensure that you get a regular sleep of approximately eight hours a day to avoid head and facial pains.

 

Avoid Odors in Crowded Stores

As you pass through crowded stores, you should be aware of the odours that may lead to head pains. The perfume scents wafting through the surrounding air may result in head pain. Also, some individuals may be susceptible to the smell of balsam trees and pine boughs.

Other people may also be affected by the odours and scents of freshly baked treats like the chocolate chip cookies. With the establishment of the no smoking regulations, public places are safe if you are sensitive to smoke. But private parties can be a haven for smokers, especially for those enjoying the celebratory cigar. You should try to find an area free of perfume and smoke.

 

Have Sufficient Amounts of Medicine

If you are travelling with your family, you should ensure that you have sufficient amounts of prescription medicine. You don’t want to find yourself without the prescription medications, both on Christmas and the New Year’s Day. For individuals who experience this type of illness when vacationing in mountainous areas or travelling by plane, they should discuss the issue with their physician. Preventive measures are available to minimize the altitude headaches.

If you have head pain, no need to worry since the only thing you need is to call 9144-1510 now to schedule an appointment with one of our physiotherapists.

Gordon

Top 3 Tips for Better Foot Health

foot-healthIf you give time and attention to foot health activities and concepts, you can get the most fantastic foot health benefits. These benefits include foot injury prevention and an improved lifestyle. If you care for your feet and let them work as nature planned, you can avoid pain and be able to perform your desired activities. In many situations, the key to long-term foot health is straightforward and includes the removal of impediments to optimal functioning, and maintaining discipline in your foot health routine. Some of the best ways of improving your foot health are discussed below:

Wear Healthy Shoes

Make sure you wear healthy shoes at all times. This strategy can help you prevent or treat some foot and toe problems, such as hammertoes, bunions, ingrown toenails, plantar fasciosis, neuromas, and shin splints. Healthy shoes will help your feet to walk normally; that is, the toes spread and the heel and forefoot on level ground. Healthy shoes do not alter your feet posture or interfere with your walking style. Wearing healthy shoes is vital for your weight-bearing activities in casual and athletic events. Wearing footwear with many injurious features for activities such as running and walking can lead to toe defects and also lead to prolonged foot and toe complications.

Carry out Foot Stretches Regularly

Some foot stretches can help to improve your foot health, particularly if you do them regularly. There are many feet and toe stretching techniques that are helpful, such as the toe extensor stretch and practising a better posture. These techniques help to lengthen the tight toe extensor tendons and muscles. Tight toe extensors lead to a range of foot and toe complications, and stretching the toe extensor can help you to balance the pull of toe flexors with the extensor tendons of your toes. Other foot exercises include the hacky sack grab and the big toe stretch which are easy to perform at home.

Be Active and Smart

Maintain a physically active lifestyle is an excellent way of ensuring you have a natural foot health. You can also decide to be active in the footwear which helps you to be in line with nature’s excellent foot design. It is wise to engage in an activity that you enjoy while helping to put your feet in the proper use and a better posture. It is recommendable that you set fitness goals in a SMART manner;

  • Specific
  • Measurable
  • Attainable
  • Realistic
  • Time-Bound

For example, you can set a goal to be able to able to run more than 5 miles in 40 minutes by the end of the year. A SMART approach to foot health will keep you active as you attain healthy feet, and experience recurrent accomplishments to keep you inspired.

Conclusion

Enhancing your foot health is a worthy course! In most situations, you can address chronic foot complications using the tips we have discussed. However, it is essential to consult with a foot care expert before you adopt any foot care routines. Each person’s foot health needs are unique.

Gordon

Ho to Effectively Treat Lower Back Pain

Lower-BPAnyone can experience lower back pain, but mostly it occurs in adults. There are different types of lower back pain: it can be acute or chronic. Acute pain is, and it only lasts for a few days or weeks while chronic back pain is long-term, and it may last for several months. Acute pain goes away on its own while the chronic back pain has to be treated.

If you think that all a chiropractor does is cracking your back, and you are good to go, then you are wrong. The primary goal of a chiropractor is to relieve the pain and help you keep patients pain-free. The most important thing is that you have to maintain wellness and the following tips can be used to keep both your neck and back aligned which will reduce pain.

The Top Best Tips

Stretching-this is the best way to start your day, and it can help reduce back pain with time if you make it a habit.

Avoid Sit-ups-the most important aspect when it comes to reducing back pain is having strong abdominals. Although there are advantages of doing crunches and sit-ups, these actually make the back pain worse. You can find some alternative exercises such as yoga plank pose. You can also try doing side planks which firm up the core.

Avoid staring at your phone-one thing about using a phone is that you have to curve your neck into a C-shape. When the head looks down, it strains your muscles. Your bones mash together, and you start experiencing pain. To prevent this, you can look at your gadget straight on.

Exercise the Hamstrings-some of the patients who experience back pain spent most of their days sited. A person’s hamstrings become locked up when they spent many hours sitting. By the time a person stands, the hamstrings tend to pull on the pelvis which results into misalignments of the spine and back pain. To avoid this, you can stretch your hamstrings on a regular basis.

Avoid lying on your stomach-this is the worst sleeping position because you have to turn your head to all directions. This results into neck pain due to straining of the muscles. Instead of sleeping on your stomach, you can sleep with a pillow under your knees. This position is known to maintain your spine’s natural curve.

Avoid crossing your legs-this can be tough especially for those people who sit for long hours. The best way to do this is to ensure that your feet are firmly planted on the ground and that they are parallel. In case your feet don’t reach the ground you can use a footrest to prop them.

Other Tips to heal Back Pain

  • Always stand and sit up straight
  • Perform back stretching and strengthening exercises severally a week
  • Avoid lifting heavy things and in case you are lifting anything, bend the knees and keep the back straight
  • Eat a balanced diet and stay active

For professional assistance, get in contact with a chiropractor at Spine Scan Chiropractic and schedule an appointment to get your lower back pain treatment.

Gordon

Chiropractic Care in Injury Prevention and Management

injury managementIntroduction

There is a lot of arguments held around the relationship between back pains and the poor posture for office staffs and such professionals. However, what if the working conditions involves manual works with a toolbox or even tractors? A considerable significant number of people work in an environment that requires quite a portion of physical labour. Be it in the carrying of loads when loading and offloading tracks, swinging a hammer, carpentry and such, the back pays the livelihood price. The damaged tendons, misalignment of backbones and muscle strains are some of the risks that manual labourers face. Most of them end up getting the musculoskeletal pains in their nerves, ligaments, muscles and bones. Nonetheless, chiropractic care serves as the best treatment option for most of such conditions exacerbated or caused by work injuries or manual labour.

Causes of Musculoskeletal Pains

Several risky activities expose manual labourers to injuries when doing them. Improper techniques of lifting cumbersome loads top the list. Such can lead to acute muscle contraction, disc tears, muscle strains and even subluxations.

  • Slippery or wet surfaces raises the risk of falls or slips when engaged in manual labours. Such an occurrence may lead to severe musculoskeletal injuries.
  • In cases where an individual is made to stand on solid grounds for a long duration, the likes of concrete, the legs and back muscles are likely to get tired. The person ends up taking a poor posture which increases the risk of getting a musculoskeletal injury.
  • When sited and operating high vibrating machines such as forklifts, tractors or backhoes, the muscles are likely to get fatigued. Musculoskeletal pains are likely to occur in an attempt to get a better sitting posture.
  • Some manual jobs require looking up and raising hands above the head. Others entail getting into squeezed spaces with awkward body postures. Used of hand tools and holding up a part means straining the muscles and spasms. Staying in such positions for long periods leads to musculoskeletal injuries.

The Essence of Chiropractic Care

The primary objective of going for the chiropractic care is to improve the flexibility and functions of the muscles and joints, relieve stress and tension accumulation within the painful area. Bathurst Chiropractor comes in with top-notch chiropractic care services. In preventing the injuries, the manual labourers need to start their days with a good body stretch. They should avoid doing traditional sit-ups, staring at the computer and smartphones, sleeping on their stomachs and sit with their legs apart and firmly on the ground. Additionally, the persons ought to use their car headrests and ensure that the hamstring is well stretched and relaxed. Always keep moving and jogging, use the proper lifting techniques and get some good work boots.

Bathurst Chiropractors start by undertaking a thorough assessment of the patient’s joints and spine. They then make an in-depth health history to identify the parts of their body that require accurate adjustment. These adjustments are risk-free and natural to help get back the joints and spine to their original or optimal alignment. As a result, the musculoskeletal pains gets reduced, and future injuries prevention happens.

Gordon

Body Balance Retraining

Improve BalanceBody balance is a state where our bodies are in perfect shape to handle every day’s activities. It also involves the response to external conditions with respect to physical movement and posture. Such features lead to healthy living, ease in handling daily chores and confidence in daily routine. Our feet, jaw, pelvis and feet are the major parts of the body that are responsible for body balance. Their work is to coordinate with the brain in finding this balance. Any slight disturbance on these organs significantly affects body movements and patterns, thereby affecting the body balance. Therein, a deformity needs routine retraining and work-outs to help restore normal bodily functioning.

Common Causes of Body Imbalance

  • Neck Pain – this might be due to carrying of heavy loads, straining, injury or degenerative disc disease.
  • Age – this may be due to wear and tear or long periods of poor posture. Others are vertigo, feeling weak, anxiety and unsteadiness.
  • Headaches – the dizziness causes the victim to feel unsteady. Other body balance effects due to headaches are strong headache medications, tension, sclerosis, stress, among others.
  • Back Pain – consistent back pain makes the victim to adjust his or her movement to subdue the pain.

Body Balance Retraining Methods

There are notable ways of retraining on body balance using chiropractic means. In Ealing chiropractor like Neuroworks Chiropractic Clinic are on standby to help you regain your balance through natural means. Some of these do-it-yourself methods are

  1. Feet stimulation – this is done at the bottom of the foot. Pick a hard ball (like a tennis or golf ball) and follow the following procedures
  • Sit on a chair and ensure your feet touch the ground.
  • Place the ball done and step on the ball.
  • Start moving the ball using your feet forward and backwards, then sideways.
  • Thereafter, try it in circles, clockwise and anticlockwise.
  • Repeat this routine between 5 to 10 minutes.
  1. Neck Straightening – this exercise is done around the neck down to the shoulders.
  • Sit straight up, relax the shoulders and the arms, and lengthen the neck out.
  • Tuck the chin in severally with the shoulders down. Repeat this routine for 5 to 10 minutes.
  1. Vestibular Rehabilitation Exercise – these exercises seek to acclimatize the body to situations or occurrences that keep the body dizzy. If you repeat the same movements that cause dizziness, the brain becomes familiar with this routine, thereby stabilizing body balance.
  2. Hearing and Visual Coordinating exercise – balance is a coordination of the ear nerve and eye muscles. Retraining exercises resolve the discoordination between the brain and the inner ear system to regain balance.
  3. Physical Exercises – tai chi and yoga exercises aids in building coordination of body organs so as to improve body balance. On the other hand, strength training exercises keep muscles and bones strong to support body weight and balance.

If the above methods do not work, feel free to call or visit us in our clinic. We are the best Ealing Chiropractor around.

Gordon