Blog Page – Page 15 – Precision Health Spine and Sports Clinic

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!

By phcadminpodiatry0 Comments

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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10AprApril 10, 2017

The Goods on Chocolate

Everyone loves chocolate, right? Well, almost everyone. And no wonder. Chocolate is made from the fruit of Theobroma Cacao – Greek for ‘Food of the Gods’. Who could resist that? The general pervading belief, however, is that chocolate is bad for you. But is it really? The good news is, there are plenty of reasons to indulge in the food of the gods. In moderation. Consuming chocolate causes the release of serotonin, dopamine and endorphins – happiness neurotransmitters. So chocolate makes you happy. We knew that. But these mood improving chemicals can also combat mental fatigue and improve cognitive performance A potent source of anti-oxidants, chocolate contains Flavonols that can protect the skin against sun damage and help contribute to a healthy-looking skin glow by modulating a healthy blood flow. Speaking of blood, chocolate creates higher levels of nitric oxide, which improves the inner linings of the blood cells. Still not convinced? Chocolate contains polyphenols, which increase the good kind of cholesterol, and in fact also improves vascular function, helping to modulate insulin and regulate glucose uptake. A small piece of chocolate, melted on your tongue will trigger the hormones that tell your brain you are full – thereby helping to control hunger. I could go on, but you get the idea. The food of the gods can be very good for you. But? Milk chocolate also contains a great deal of sugar and fats in the form of mild solids. And I don’t need to tell you why they are bad. These sugars and fats can reverse many of the health benefits of the food of the gods. Dark chocolate, however, has a much lower sugar and fat content. So along with your apple a day to keep the doctor away, try a small piece of dark chocolate. You might be surprised by the results.

By phcadminwellbeing0 Comments

05AprApril 5, 2017

We’ll Give you 5 Good Reasons

There are dozens of Chiropractic clinics, Podiatrists and Massage Therapists in the Baulkham Hills area. So why choose Precision Health Spine & Sports Clinic? Here are 5 good reasons to choose to trust us with your health: 1. Care - At Precision Health Spine and Sports Clinic our focus is our patients. From the moment you make a booking, your wellbeing is our first priority. Our appointments are set for 30 minutes, so you will never feel rushed or that you didn’t receive the treatment you needed. 2. Flexibility – we are open extended hours to ensure you can always get an appointment at a time that suits your busy schedule. We will even send you an appointment reminder so taking care of yourself doesn’t slip through the cracks. And should you need us in an emergency – we will be there for you. 3. Teamwork - Our team of Chiropractors, Massage Therapists, Podiatrists and Dieticians work closely together to develop a unique treatment plan that will optimize your recovery from injury or provide relief from chronic conditions. 4. Education - All our practitioners undertake continued education, so we are always up to date with the latest developments in chiropractic, massage and podiatry treatment. 5. Hands On - Our practitioners believe in a very ‘hands on’ approach to Chiropractic, and will use a wide variety of modalities designed to provide you with the best outcome. All are evidence-based, and our practitioners will explain how and why they are being used during your treatment. So, if you have a chronic condition, an acute injury, or you just feel your body is not working at it’s best, Precision Health Spine & Sports Clinic Baulkham Hills can help you restore your health.

By phcadminchiro, wellbeing0 Comments