Blog Page – Page 14 – Precision Health Spine and Sports Clinic

23MayMay 23, 2017

Soliosis – a matter of degrees

It’s spinal health week, so let’s talk some more about spines. When we look at a spine from the back, we usually see a straight line from the neck to the hips. Scoliosis is an abnormal side-to-side curve of the spine that appears as either a C shape or an S shape. These curves vary in degree – some so subtle they cannot be seen with the naked eye, others very pronounced. Generally, these curves happen in the thoracic spine – the middle area of the back, or the lumbar spine – the lower back. Types of Scoliosis There a number of different types of Scoliosis, but generally they fall into two main categories. Idiopathic Scoliosis Idiopathic Scoliosis is generally found in infants, children and adolescents, and affects about 2% of the population. It is often diagnosed during adolescence, when rapid growth occurs. Idiopathic Scoliosis rarely causes pain, but should be observed and monitored for increasing curvature. Degenerative Scoliosis Degenerative Scoliosis starts in adulthood and affects up to 68% of the population. It is most common in people over 65. Degenerative Scoliosis is caused by the degeneration of the facet joints – small bones that stabilize the vertebrae, which is the same process that causes osteoarthritis of the spine. How do we diagnose Scoliosis? In children and young adults the Adam’s Forward Bend Test is used to check curvature. The patient bends from the waist to touch the toes. The health professional assessing them looks for either a hip or shoulder that appears higher or more prominent than the other, an uneven waist or a tilt to the side. The Cobb method is used to measure the curvature of the spine so that progression can be carefully monitored. Diagnosis of Degenerative Scoliosis is generally made by x-ray. What are the symptoms? People with Idiopathic Scoliosis generally experience no pain, although the condition may progress over time. Degenerative Scoliosis does cause pain, although not all patients suffer from this. People who do, experience pain similar to osteoarthritis of the spine. They may also feel stiffness in the mid to lower back and numbness, pain and weakness in the feet and legs. Generally, the pain is caused by inflammation of the degenerating facet joints, but may also be caused by muscle strain. How do we treat Scoliosis? Treatment for Idiopathic Scoliosis generally involves monitoring the progression of the problem. Because there is usually no pain, intervention is only made when the curvature of the spine reaches a point where progress may lead to disfiguring deformity, or in rare cases where the curve might compromise lung and heart function. In treating Degenerative Scoliosis the key to relieving pain and preventing future pain is to maintain strength and flexibility in the back. Chiropractic adjustments and manipulation will help to keep the facet joints mobile. Your chiropractor may also prescribe therapeutic and functional exercises to assist the treatment. Massage is also used to keep soft tissue flexible and mobile. Anti-inflammatories may help to reduce the inflammation between the joints. Maintaining a health weight is also important, as this will reduce the pressure on the degenerating joints. In very rare cases a custom fitting brace may be recommended to limit movement in the back, which can reduce pain. If you have scoliosis it is important to understand the treatment options. At Precision Health Spine & Sports Clinic we can provide chiropractic, massage and dietetic help that will allow you to manage your condition. Call us for more information or to make an appointment.

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17MayMay 17, 2017

Can you say Onychomycosis ten times really fast?

If you can’t you’d better take care of your toenails! Fungal nail infections are no fun, and neither is their name – onychomycosis. Not only can they be painful, but they can be really unsightly, making wearing sandals and thongs embarrassing. Fungal infections can be the result of trauma which often causes microfractures in the nail, providing an entry point for the infection. Diabetes, a compromised immune system or working in a wet environment can also be contributing factors. Constantly wearing shoes that create a humid environment can make the infection worse as they provide the perfect breeding ground for the fungi. If you have a fungal infection you may notice your nail thickening or discolouring, crumbling, or splitting. Often, there is no pain associated with fungal infections, meaning that they can go unnoticed if we are not careful. Since toenails grow at only half the rate of fingernails, it can take a while to be rid of fungal infections. Treatments often include daily application of an anti-fungal liquid or cream, which you may need to continue for up to a year. In some cases oral medication may be prescribed. So, check your toes and make sure your nails are strong and healthy. If you do notice a problem, see a podiatrist quick smart to get moving on recovery!

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16MayMay 16, 2017

Muscling in on the Spine

The final installment of our Spinal Series – from the Chiropractors at Precision Health Spine & Sports Clinic. If the bones of the spine are what holds us upright, it’s the ligaments, muscles and tendons that control movement of our body and limbs. Ligaments are sheets of fibrous tissue that link bones and hold them together in joints, allowing for both movement and stability. Some ligaments prevent joints from moving in the wrong direction – such as a hyperextension (backward) of the knee or elbow. Spinal ligaments – there are more than 14 of them – have a range of different roles and allow for sideways, forward and backward motion, as well as providing stability to the delicate bones and nerves of the spinal column. Whilst ligaments attach bones to each other and form joints, tendons attach muscles to bones and are made up of densely packed collagen fibers. The muscles of the spine have the fastest contraction rate of any muscle in the body. There are four types of spinal muscle – forward flexors, lateral flexors, rotators and extensors. There are over 30 different muscles that connect to the spine and they are named according to their location, shape and the type of movement they control. These muscles are densely innervated – in other words they contain a large number of nerves – to control their movement. As you can probably see if you have read all our articles about the spine – it is an extremely complex and delicate structure that works incredibly hard 24 hours a day, seven days a week just to keep us upright and mobile. Shouldn’t you make sure take care of it? Taking care with lifting, watching your posture and getting the right kind of exercise will all help with spinal health. And the occasional visit to the Chiropractor – just to make sure all is in order – doesn’t go astray either!

By phcadminchiro, spine0 Comments

11MayMay 11, 2017

Warts and All!

Warts don’t really come from toads, but they can be pretty nasty. Our Podiatrist can tell you how to avoid them and what to do if you have one! Plantar Warts – more technically known as Verruca Plantaris – are often painless, but they can be very unpleasant. Especially when left untreated. A Plantar Wart is caused by HPV, and can be picked up when a cut on the foot comes into contact with the virus – communal changing rooms and showers are notoriously dangerous! They appear as hard, grainy or fleshy growths on the soles of the foot. Sometimes they even come with a callous. Running, jumping and even walking can become uncomfortable because they can press on the nerves in the soles of the feet. If left untreated, this can sometimes affect the way you walk, causing problems with the legs, hips and backs. Plantar warts can also spread to other parts of the body, like the hands. So, whilst they are not dangerous in themselves, it is important to get them treated. Over the counter treatments are rarely successful because of the callouses which form over them. A Podiatrist will treat Plantar Warts in one of two ways:

Salycilic Acid will remove the viral cells slowly and allow health skin to replace them. This may require multiple treatments over several weeks.
Cryotherapy freezes the warts with a cold solution. This treatment depends on the depth of the wart.

And to avoid Plantar Warts in the future – wear thongs in communal pool areas, changing areas and shower rooms. Keep your feet clean and dry, avoid contact with warts on other parts of the body and check your feet regularly. Your feet take a heck of a beating on a daily basis, so it is important to look after them. Don’t ignore pain or changes in the skin. Drop in to your local podiatrist and get those things checked out right away!

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09MayMay 9, 2017

You’ve got a nerve!

Some more about spines from the Chiropractors at Precision Health Spine & Sports Clinic So, last week we learned all about the bones in the spine. Along with keeping us upright and allowing us to move, our spine protects one of the most important and delicate systems of the body – the central nervous system. Without it, we could not function. So, how do the nerves in and around our spine work? The spinal cord runs from the brain, between the vertebrae and the vertebral foramina, ending around the top of the lumbar spine – around T12 or L1. This cord houses the nerves of the spine. There are 31 segments in the spinal column that broadly coincide with the vertebrae. The center of the spinal cord contains grey matter – much like the brain. Many of our involuntary reflexes are made here rather than the brain. The key nerve structure running through the spine is the Central Nervous System. These nerves, which connect to the brain, also connect to the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), which serves all our internal organs, and the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS), which as you might expect, extends down our limbs to our hands and feet. These nerves spread in the spinal cord like the roots of a tree. Unlike some other nerves, spinal nerves contain both sensory and motor neurons. This means that messages pass both ways along these nerves – travelling both to and from the CNS and the brain. Since the nerves run through the spinal column, which sits protected between two bony structures, you can imagine what happens when one of these bony structures, or the discs in between is not properly aligned, or is damaged. As you can see, spinal health and good posture are essential to the optimum performance of the entire body – even our organs! And it is never too late to start taking care of it. In our next and final installment on spines we will talk about all the muscles and ligaments that surround the spine, and how the help keep us upright and moving. If you have any questions about your spinal health and how Chiropractic can help you, Precision Health Spine & Sports Clinic are always happy to hear from you.

By phcadminchiro, spine0 Comments

04MayMay 4, 2017

Growing can be a Pain!

Growing up can be a pain in the neck – or should I say legs? Many children experience “growing pains”. But what are they? Do they really exist? And what can we do about them? Firstly, ‘growing pains’ is a bit of a misnomer. Whilst we don’t know for sure what causes them, it seems unlikely that the pain is due to growing. More likely it is overuse of muscles during the day in active kids. But, whilst the name is incorrect, the pain is certainly real. Growing pains affect children between the ages of 3 and adolescence. Generally, they present as pain in both legs – in the thigh, calf or behind the knees. They always occur in the afternoon and evening. Sometimes they can be quite severe, and children may wake in pain during the night, disturbing everyone’s sleep. Some children will even suffer headaches and abdominal pain. The good news is these pains should not be severe enough to affect your child’s daily activity. If your child is only experiencing pain in one leg, if there is swelling, redness or tenderness, or if your child is still in pain in the morning – it is not growing pains, and we would advise a visit to a health professional. Growing pains will eventually resolve themselves, but in the meantime light stretching, massage and heat packs can help relieve the symptoms. If you think your child is suffering from growing pains, Precision Health Spine & Sports Clinic have an information sheet that will show you both how to help get some relief!

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02MayMay 2, 2017

If you would seek health, look first to the spine – Socrates

A little about spines from the chiropractors at our Baulkham Hills Clinic. There are lots of sayings about the spine. “Grow a backbone”, “put your back into it”, even, famously, “a shiver waiting for a spine to crawl up”. But we often don’t give much thought to the structure that holds us upright, allows us to move and keeps us strong. May is Spinal Health Month, so – being chiropractors – we are going to talk about spines. Firstly, lets talk about the bones. We’ll leave the nerves and muscles for another day. The spine consists of 26 bones – 24 vertebrae, the sacrum and the coxcyx – or tailbone. These bones can be divided into 5 parts:

The Cervical Spine – there are 7 vertebrae in the upper part of the spine, or neck. These are the thinnest and most delicate of the vertebrae, despite the fact they hold up a head which weighs around 4.5-5kgs!
The Thoracic Spine – these 12 vertebrae each provide an anchor for a pair of ribs, so they are strong and stable
The Lumbar Spine – this is the lower back and consists of 5 vertebrae. The whole weight of the upper body rests on these vertebrae
The Sacral – a flat triangular bone that is wedged between the two hip bones
The Coccygeal – the human tailbone, which is an evolutionary left-over from when we actually had tails! This bone is the anchor point for the pelvic and gluteal muscles.

In between each of the vertebrae are discs of soft pulpy tissue and cartilage that act as shock absorbers to protect the bones. The spinal column runs down the spine through these vertebrae and discs. The majority of back related problems relate to either the Cervical Spine – because of the delicate nature of the bones there – or the Lumbar Spine – due to the weight it supports. Whilst we do see some Thoracic Spine issues, the support of the ribs they are linked to gives them some protection and stability. So that’s it for the bones. Next time we will talk about the nerves and later about the muscles and ligaments, and you will begin to understand why back problems can cause so much pain, and why taking care of your back is so vital to your overall well-being. At Precision Health Spine & Sports Clinic Baulkham Hills we take backs very seriously – and we take care of them with Precision.

By phcadminchiro, spine0 Comments

26AprApril 26, 2017

Study up on Desks

Between school, travel, homework, and the inevitable computer games, studies have shown that children sometimes sit for up to 7.5 hours a day. Whilst you can’t control where and how they sit at school or on the bus, there is plenty you can do to ensure good posture while they study and play at home. Children’s bodies are much more malleable than adults. Poor posture during childhood and the teen years can create problems both now and in the future. Some immediate results of poor posture include:

decreased core stability
discomfort and pain in the lower back, neck and shoulders
greater difficulty in fine motor tasks
increased fatigue
reduced ability to concentrate, and
headaches

Selecting the right desk and chair can help alleviate many or all of these symptoms and the key word in furniture for children and teens is adjustability. When looking at chairs, try and find one that has both an adjustable seat height and adjustable back, so that your child’s lumbar region is supported, and the chair ‘grows’ with the child. It should be easily adjustable by the child. Desks are a little more difficult, but there are some key things to look for:

Adjustability – again, the desk should ‘grow’ with the child. But it is also good to have adjustable sections on the desk. For instance, when writing it is important that the desktop is slightly higher than elbow level, but for computer tasks or using a keyboard, it should be slightly lower than elbow height. Consider a desk with a surface that can be sloped or tilted, as this provides the ideal angle for writing, especially in the early years of school.
Space – it is hard to maintain good posture in a cramped and cluttered workspace, so sufficient space for the varied tasks your child is doing is important
Storage – a clear workspace will help your child maintain posture, so having somewhere to store items that a not in use – pencils, rulers, spare paper etc is important.

In addition to the desk you may consider aids such as screen and laptop raisers to ensure the neck is not bent. Computer screens should be at eye level and about an arms length from your eyes. Footrests will support feet and legs helping with bloodflow, especially if the childs feet don’t reach the floor. With a little thoughtful planning you can provide your child up a study area that will see them through school and help them develop good posture for life.

By phcadminkids, tips0 Comments

24AprApril 24, 2017

Walk like an Egyptian

What do the ancient Egyptians and Hipporcates have in common? Well - apart from the fact they both lived a very, very long time ago – they both understood the importance of healthy feet! Podiatry is an ancient profession, first documented in bas-relief carvings in the tombs of Ancient Egypt around 2400BC. Hippocrates himself – the father of medicine – identified how important care of the feet is, and even invented scalpels in order to remove corns and callouses! These days there is a lot more to Podiatry than just corns and callouses – although a Podiatrist can certainly take care of those. And there are clinics much closer than Ancient Egypt and Greece – in fact, right here in the Hills District. Podiatry essentially comprises of three main areas

General treatment - including removal of corns & callouses to help reduce pain and discomfort, maintaining healthy nails to help prevent ingrown toenails, treatment fungal infections and the like.
Biomechanics – through gait analysis and assessment, abnormalities in joint motion, muscles and surrounding structures can be identified. These abnormalities can then be addressed and managed to help improve difficulty in walking and balancing.
Diabetes management – educating patients about the impact diabetes can have on the lower limbs and working with them to help manage the symptoms and side-effects they may be suffering

Essentially, if it affects your legs and feet, a Podiatrist can help! At Precision Health Spine & Sports Baulkham Hills Clinic our Podiatrist works closely with our Chiropractor and Massage Therapists to ensure an integrated treatment plan. In no time she will have you walking like an Egyptian!

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19AprApril 19, 2017

Some words about Chiropractic

The art, science and philosophy of Chiropractic began in the USA in 1895. Various forms of manipulation had been in use for hundreds of years, but Chiropractic brought these manipulations together and gave them structure. The word itself is derived from two greek words – cheir (hand) and praktos (done) – so Chiropractic can be described as Done by Hand. Initially Chiropractors worked almost exclusively on the spine. However, over the years the discipline has developed and expanded to include the entire neuromusculoskeletal system. The relationship between the skeletal and nervous systems is a delicate one, as nerves pass through most moving joints. The nervous system is a complex web that carries messages to and from the brain and other parts of the body via the spinal cord – so proper alignment of the spine is vital to regular transmission of nerve impulses, and therefore smooth and pain free movement of the body. Some people suggest that Chiropractic treatment – particularly in the area of the neck – can cause a stroke. However, a 2009 study found there was no connection between Chiropractic treatment and stokes. In fact, a visit to any health care practitioner was seen as associated with stroke, but this appears to be related to seeking treatment of the early indicators of an imminent stroke – such as headache or neck pain. Modern Chiropractic has also expanded to include a wide range of modalities and complementary techniques including dry needling, soft tissue manipulation, taping exercise prescription, shockwave therapy and many more, which enable Chiropractors to ensure better outcomes for their patients. Every chiropractor has his or her own technique and manner of treatment, and it is important for patients to understand what techniques will be used in their treatment and how it will benefit them. So, although Chiropractic started out as purely ‘done by hand’ the discipline has grown to encompass a wide range of treatments aimed at helping patients achieve an active, pain free life!

Cassidy JD, Boyle E, Côté P, et al. Risk of vertebrobasilar stroke and chiropractic care: results of a population-based case-control and case-crossover study. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 2009;32(2 Suppl):S201–S208. (Republished from Spine. 2008;33(4 Suppl):S176–S183.)

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