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Shoulder Injuries and How We Can Help!

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Shoulder Pain

Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy


Reasons for diagnosis: (Varacallo & Mair, 2019)

  • Due to trauma or overuse which is usually unilateral (can be bilateral)
  • Localized shoulder pain with an associated muscle weakness of supraspinatus, subscapularis, infraspinatus and teres minor
  • Affected ADL’s and/or decrease concentration due to pain
  • Aggravated by movements involving the shoulder (can be a pinching / stabbing sensation)

Myofascial Pain Syndrome of the Shoulder


Reasons for diagnosis: (Alvarez & Rockwell, 2019)

  • Localized pain at the shoulder with possible radiations
  • Aggravated by movements involving the shoulder or when the affected muscle is palpated
  • Due to trauma or overuse on the affected side
  • Affected ADL’s and/or decrease concentration due to pain

Subacromial Bursitis (Shoulder)


Reasons for diagnosis: (Faruqi & Rizvi, 2019)

  • Aggravated by movements involving the shoulder with a reduced range of motion
  • Due to trauma or overuse which is usually unilateral (can be bilateral)
  • Localized shoulder pain with a possibility of both redness and swelling in the area
  • Affected ADL’s and/or decrease concentration due to pain

Subacromial Pain Syndrome


Reasons for diagnosis: (Diercks et al., 2014)

  • Non traumatic and usually unilateral (can be bilateral)
  • Localized pain around the acromion with multiple muscles that are hypertonic
  • Affected ADL’s and/or decrease concentration due to pain
  • Aggravated by lifting the affected arm

Supraspinatus Tendinopathy


Reasons for diagnosis: (Spargoli, 2018)

  • Non traumatic and usually unilateral (can be bilateral)
  • Localized shoulder pain with supraspinatus muscle weakness
  • Affected ADL’s and/or decrease concentration due to pain
  • Aggravated by lifting the affected arm

Biceps Tendinopathy


Reasons for diagnosis: (Varacallo & Mair, 2019)

  • Localized pain with possible radiation of pain into the shoulder
  • Aggravated by movements involving the biceps with pain on range of motion
  • Due to trauma or overuse which is usually unilateral (can be bilateral)
  • Affected ADL’s and/or decrease concentration due to pain

How can The Melbourne Chiropractor help you?

Our practitioners offer various treatments and techniques which include:

Depending on your needs and situation our practitioners will guide you in the right direction when it comes to achieving your goals. Examination and diagnosis will have to be done before going ahead with a plan that best suits your complaint!

Bookings available online 24/7 using the link below https://themelbournechiropractor.com.au/book-now

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What is Scoliosis?

TMC.Scoliosis

Scoliosis is an abnormal S or C shape curve of the spine which develops in infancy or early childhood. Usually, scoliosis is seen in teenagers as the curve tends to become more prominent due to lifestyle choices such as prolonged sitting and slouching. Unfortunately both genders are affected by this change of the spine although it is more common in females and they are over 5 times more likely to continue to evolve into more severe angles of spine curvature.

Scoliosis Picture
Normal vs Scoliotic Spine Diagram

What Causes it?

Idiopathic – Most common type of scoliosis. There is no known cause of this type.

Congenital – This is due to an anomaly or change in the formation of bones in the spine.

Neuromuscular – muscle and nerve imbalances in your spine. This form causes much quicker changes than other types of scoliosis.

Degenerative – Known as adult scoliosis. This develops overtime due to uneven wear and tear of discs and joints of the spine.

Signs and Symptoms to Look Out For:

  • Head tilt
  • Prominent rib cage on one side
  • Uneven shoulders
  • Uneven hips
  • Loss of height
  • Back pain
  • Changes to gait / walking
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Numbness, weakness or pain in legs
Types of scoliosis
Types of Scoliosis in the human spine

How does chiropractic treatment help?

The Chiropractic team at the The Melbourne Chiropractor understand that pain is best managed by creating long term changes! Firstly, the pain needs to be alleviated with adjustive techniques or low force techniques to the spine, soft tissue massage to the surrounding musculature and then be accompanied with an exercise regime to help make the changes needed to influence bad habits and behaviours! Many of our patients seek.

By creating a change to your musculoskeletal system, it will help decrease muscle tension and restrictions through the spinal segments which in turn allow you to use your spine to further strengthen it! If you are seeking treatment which will help restore your structural and functional health our chiropractors and osteopaths at the The Melbourne Chiropractor are here to help get you back on track! BOOK NOW

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Are Massage Guns Worth The Investment?

About Massage Guns

The massage gun has become a quick an easy recovery tool among athletes and non-athletes alike. Because of the current range of prices we will be writing about the majority of massage guns you will see online in this post! So below are some points that show its effectiveness!

Can improve blood flow and release lactic acid build up

Lactic acid build up is caused by low oxygen levels in the muscles. After any strenuous activity, the body has a hard time breaking off this build up which causes cramps and soreness. The percussive force from massage guns improves blood flow and helps the body release lactic acid.

Quickly relieve muscle pain

Athlete or not using a massage gun can provide easy and quick relief as you can use the device wherever and whenever you need it!

Can help to prevent injuries

Sports injuries are often caused by cramps because the muscles haven’t been given enough time to warm up and get blood throughout the area. Using a massage gun for a few minutes before a workout or a sporting event can help blood and oxygen circulate better, preparing muscles for the activity.

Can help improve flexibility and range of motion

Using a massage gun increases blood flow and circulation to the regions it is used on this means that joints become more flexible and any foregoing soreness eliminated.

Can a massage gun replace allied health services or traditional massage therapy?

There is no denying the benefits of using a massage gun it’s portable and easy to use. However, the fact still remains that these devices, while powerful and effective, can’t replicate what trained professionals can do. If for example, you’re experiencing excessive muscle pain trained health professionals such as remedial massage therapists are able to isolate the problem areas and are able to adapt their treatment protocols to suit your needs. This is something that no gadget would be able reproduce!

Are they worth it?

Well if you are someone that is suffering from only mild soreness from working out and looking for a quick “drug free” pain alleviator then a massage gun may be of use. Although if you are suffering from acute or chronic episodes of pain it would be best to come in and see your local Chiropractor or Remedial Massage Therapist to see how we can improve your quality of life!

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Can a Chiropractor Help With Flexibility?

About Flexibility

Flexibility is usually taken for granted since it is only when you realise you aren’t as flexible as you used to be that you decide to work on your range of movement. The truth is; there are multiple factors that affect your flexibility and they go from being overweight to mobility issues. Your profession or chosen lifestyle can also affect your overall flexibility. You can address this problem in numerous ways and chiropractic care is one of them.

Does chiropractic really help?

Chiropractic aims to improve your flexibility in a completely natural manner without medications and using products that promise miraculous results. It’s a holistic approach towards a more flexible you.

If you’re wondering whether chiropractic can really help you, then you’ll be glad to know its benefits for flexibility have been scientifically proven.

Improving flexibility

The reason you should work on improving your range of motion is because poor flexibility affects strength, endurance, and overall quality of life. You can improve flexibility in a number of ways including:

  • Eating a Healthy Diet                           
  • Getting Enough Sleep
  • Losing Weight
  • Staying Active
  • Visiting a Chiropractor
  • Stretching and Exercise

What does a chiropractor do to improve flexibility?

Chiropractic care involves spinal adjustments and manipulation to other parts of one’s body to adjust the joints, bones and muscles in order to relieve the pain, improve flexibility, and restore range of motion. The adjustments can be performed manually or with various techniques such as electrical stimulation, trigger point therapy, ultrasound etc. Your chiropractor can also recommend exercises you should do to improve your range of motion successfully.

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How Can Chiropractors Help With Posture?

About Posture

Posture is the position of your body while sitting, standing or lying down. Good posture has several health benefits and helps avoid back and neck pain. Chiropractic care can help you improve and maintain your posture. There are several reasons why good posture is important:

  • Help Minimise Stress on your Ligaments, Reducing the Risks of Injury
  • Help Maintain Correct Alignment of Joints and Bones
  • Reduce Abnormal Joint Wear
  • Help Prevent Muscle Pain, Overuse and Strain
  • Conserve Body Energy Since Muscles Are Used More Efficiently

*Research shows that poor posture can increase feelings of depression, influence stress and confidence levels, and affect your digestive track.

Sitting at the desk

If you spend excessive hours behind a computer it can lead to arm, shoulder, neck and hand problems. It also creates problems with coordination and balance. Most office workers experience neck issues and back problems that lead to a decrease in productivity.

Low back pain is among the most common contributors to disability among individuals of working age and its effects on industry is enormous. Most health experts report that after colds and headaches, back pain is a third reason for taking time off work.

Also, the work-related activities that are associated with the onset of the lower back symptoms include, bending and twisting, lifting heavy weights and of course performing your duties while in the same position for long periods.

Other factors that lead to poor posture included obesity, stress, pregnancy, high-heeled shoes, abnormally tight muscles, and weak muscles.

Signs of poor posture and common problems

There are several indicators of poor posture, but some of the most common include hunched shoulders, rounded upper back, rounded shoulders, forward head carriage, rotated hips and the arched lower back. Also, another common indicator is back pain. If you are not sure that you are sitting in a position for optimal posture, schedule or talk to your chiropractor to arrange for a FREE posture examination and you can discuss options to go forward and improve!

How to correct your posture

Most posture issues can be corrected and in many cases reversed. When you are in a working environment that needs a lot of computer and desk work, you should ensure that your workstation equipment is naturally and ergonomically sound. You should also be in the position to take regular breaks of about one to two minutes standing up and moving around, for every 30 minutes you spend on your working desk or workstation. You may want to consider a desk that can be converted to a standing desk which breaks up the prolonged sitting effects.

Importance of chiropractic care and therapies

The Melbourne Chiropractor can easily assess your spinal health and provide you with the chiropractic care you need in order to make the changes needed to improve! Your chiropractor can also offer guidance throughout the course of treatment which may include various exercises or stretches which when done on a regular basis, can help you strengthen your body muscles and maintain good posture.

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The Melbourne Chiropractor in Broadmeadows

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Broadmeadows Health Clinic

The Melbourne Chiropractor Broadmeadows aims to provide the best in evidence based chiropractic care to help with all types of musculoskeletal problems. We strive to decrease patient pain, enhance function and create a long-term solution to your problems. Our goal is for patients to live life to the fullest, no matter how challenging their situation may be.

Our clinic offers both remedial massage and chiropractic services which also include modalities such as dry needling, cupping, shiatzu, sports taping, trigger point therapy, Stretching and exercise prescription.

Our Broadmeadows chiropractic practice also accepts referrals from GP’s for chiropractic services. If you are given a CDM or EPC plan you are eligible for up to 5 chiropractic visits per year!

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Chiropractic Room in Broadmeadows

Chiropractors Education

Five years of university training, along with ongoing research and training has increased our teams ability to give you the right advice. Evidence based practice increases our safety and effectiveness.

What Is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic Care is internationally recognized as being a way to help alleviate pain and increase a person’s functional well-being. A chiropractor may help you achieve a healthier lifestyle by giving you strategies to overcome stress, injuries, pain, and other musculoskeletal conditions.

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Chiropractic Room in Broadmeadows

What Can Chiropractic Help With?

Our Broadmeadows Chiropractors Can help you with various conditions including:

What Can You Expect On Your First Visit To Our Clinic?

First Visit or First Treatment includes a case history, posture scan, movement analysis, pain assessment, orthopaedic testing and a full body treatment.
Referral for X-ray imaging (if required) is bulk-billed through Medicare.

Our Broadmeadows Clinic

Our Broadmeadows Clinic is spacious and easily accessible by car, bus and train. Onsite Parking is available with wheelchair accessibility and is within 10km of Melbourne CBD

7 Facts About Broadmeadows

  • Population 11,970
  • Broadmeadows was first established in the 1850s
  • Average age is 31
  • Broadmeadows area is 8.4km squared
  • Broadmeadows name came from a Hotel in the area at the time
  • In 1913 Broadmeadows was the site for military training during WWI
  • Broadmeadows is the epicentre for both transport and healthcare

Suburbs We Service

Predominately Northern Suburbs but not limited to:

  • Craigieburn
  • Roxburgh Park
  • Greenvale
  • Tullamarine
  • Essendon
  • Niddrie
  • Ascot Vale
  • Fawkner
  • Cambellfield
  • Mickleham
  • Wollert
  • Clarkefield
  • Airport West
  • Attwood
  • Westmeadows
  • Meadow Heights
  • Jacana
  • Glenroy
  • Pascoe Vale
  • Hadfield

What Can Our Team Do To Help?

Depending on the severity of the injury or area of concern our practitioners in our Broadmeadows, Westmeadows and Fawkner Clinics will treat accordingly to your complaint. Treatments that may be provided but are not limited to include:

  • Spinal manipulation, Activator Methods, Drop Piece, SOT and other adjustive techniques can help alleviate joints that have restriction such as spinal segments and joints (LeFebvre, Peterson & Haas, 2012)
  • PNF/PIR/prescribed stretching – Stretching has shown to reduce pain, improve functionality of the wrist and hand also maintains strength and improves patients in both long and short-term outcomes.
  • Remedial Massage, Trigger point therapy or use of handheld massager – Have shown to decrease pain/tenderness, enhance both range of motion and quality of life and influence flexibility (Shah et al., 2015) (Imtiyaz, Veqar & Shareef, 2014)
  • Advice on daily living activities/diet – This enables advice on how to change to make healthy        actions into habits and may offer a valuable alternative with potential for long-term   impact. (Gardner, Lally & Wardle, 2012)
  • Prescribed exercises – produce more beneficial outcomes in terms of increased strength, improved function and reduced pain scores. (Fernandes, Pedrinelli & Hernandez, 2015)
  • Dry Needling or Cupping to the surrounding musculature to help decrease tension and inflammation around the area of the hand and forearm.
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Can A Chiropractor Help With Migraines!?

About Migraines

What most people who suffer from migraines don’t recognise is that the pain you experience can indeed be relieved naturally. Although, visiting a chiropractor for your migraine probably hasn’t crossed your mind, it may be time for you to do just that. The team at The Melbourne Chiropractor have the skills and knowledge to help you combat and reduce migraines.

What is a migraine?

A migraine is a severe headache that can cause a pulsating sensation in a specific region of the head and is accompanied by sensitivity to light, vomiting, and nausea. Migraines are triggered by the enlargement of blood vessels in the head which is called vasodilation.

Migraine triggers

Migraines can be triggered by environmental factors, physical or emotional stresses. The most common migraine triggers include:

  • Hormonal Changes
  • Chocolate
  • Red Wine
  • Processed Foods
  • Artificial Sweeteners 
  • Caffeine
  • Stress
  • Medications
  • Weather changes
  • Changes in Sleep
  • Bright Lights
  • Perfumes, Paint or Smoke
  • Computer Screens
  • Dehydration
  • Vigorous Exercise

Who is prone to migraines?

Unlike a “general” headaches, migraines can have a detrimental affect on a person’s life. For example, some migraine sufferers aren’t even able to go to work. However, the pain isn’t the only thing that accompanies migraines. Migraine sufferers also report experiencing flickering in the nerves or seeing black spots before the migraine attack. Similarly, one of the most severe after-effects of migraines includes fear of noises, sounds and other environmental triggers.

Although everyone can suffer migraines, including children, the below factors increase the risk:

  • 90% of migraine sufferers have a history of migraine attacks in their family
  • Females have an increased incidence of migraines than Males
  • Hormonal Fluctuations Like Pregnancy and Menopause 
  • Stress and Sleep Changes

How to treat and prevent migraines

Migraines are usually treated with medication. However, medications don’t work on any underlying issues, most of which can cause a number of side effects.

The best way to prevent migraines and their severity is through identifying the triggers. The easiest way to do this is to create a “headache diary” which contains the following information:

  • What and when you eat
  • Information about delayed or missed meals
  • Medication
  • Work and social activities
  • Bowel movements
  • Intake of any health products such as supplements or vitamins
  • Exercise
  • Amount of sleep
  • Environmental factors like weather changes
  • Menstrual cycle details
  • The onset of pain
  • The affected head area
  • The severity and duration of the migraine attack
  • Other symptoms that come with the attack like vomiting or nausea

You should review your headache diary after experiencing at least three migraine attacks. Keeping a diary regularly will tell you what factors repeat in association with the migraine attack, and you can identify your trigger.

Do you need a chiropractor’s help?

If you’re sick and tired of using medications that only mask the issues you are having and are not getting any significant results then our team at The Melbourne Chiropractor are here to help! 

Recent clinical studies confirm that chiropractic can help prevent and alleviate migraine attacks by alleviating stress in patient’s. Stress is a major migraine trigger, and with the crazy lifestyle people live today, it’s no wonder that migraine attacks have become more frequent than ever.

In some people, migraines can originate from the spine. Muscle tightness and immobility of the vertebrae with or without nerve irritation can have a detrimental affect on the brain itself. These changes to the human body increases the individuals chances of developing certain issues due to various chemical imbalances in the brain. Chiropractors can help mobilise, strengthen and alleviate tension within surrounding musculature and the vertebrae to decrease the pressure against inflamed spinal nerves and relieve the pain.

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How Your Chiropractor Can Help With Stress!

About Stress

We all become stressed at some time or another and it’s only when your stress levels remain high that it can be damaging to your health and cause pain. Different circumstances affect different people so what stresses one person might not be the same for another. No matter where your stress arises from, the good news is our team at The Melbourne Chiropractor can help.

Why am I so stressed?

Stress usually comes from three areas of life: work, relationships, money. But it can include health problems, pain and postural changes of the spine caused by injury or even stress itself. When we overthink and worry about things tension is built up in the spinal regions. Stress can also be caused by long lasting mental or emotional strain and pressure caused by adverse events, or very demanding life circumstances.

How Do I Know I Am Stressed?

If you are someone who is not coping with stress it can have an adverse effect on the whole body: emotionally, physically and mentally. The more common stress symptoms are:

  • muscle tension
  • chest pain
  • anxiety
  • pain in the lower back
  • lack of focus
  • problems sleeping
  • depression
  • indigestion/reflux
  • tiredness
  • headaches
  • feeling overwhelmed
  • over or under-eating

Can a Chiropractor Decrease Stress?

Chiropractic treatment is able to relieve you of the symptoms. As the body endures more stress it makes it a lot more sensitive to imbalances of a physical nature and to pain. Our Chiropractors can help you reach your functional goals by mobilizing the spinal joints and decreasing tightness in the surrounding musculature, thus relieving pain. When tension builds in your body, the outcome is more often than not soreness or a feeling of tightness in a variety of places.

How often do I need to visit a Chiropractor?

It depends on your circumstances which can include whether or not you are in acute or chronic pain, if you have been suffering from stress for a certain period of time and how often you have been treated in the past. It is always beneficial to have a burst of treatment to start as this enables you to get on top of the problem sooner and decrease its severity in a shorter time frame. Management protocols on a fortnightly or monthly basis can help eliminate stress and keeps you on track to live a better healthier lifestyle.

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How Chiropractic Care Can Benefit The Whole Family!?

About Chiropractic Care

It may be seen that chiropractic care is only there to treat the times when back pain becomes unbearable and affects your ability to work, move or sleep. Although while this is a key reason to see a chiropractor, this form of treatment can be used to treat the whole family. With an experienced practitioner from The Melbourne Chiropractor, this form of care can be factored into the family healthcare routine and your family can begin to benefit from this treatment.

What does it involve?

Our Chiropractors use a drug free way to make changes to a patients posture, acute or chronic pain issues and sports injuries. By using a hands on approach Chiropractors are able to decrease muscle tension, mobilise joints and stretch out the body to help restore mobility to joints, relieve pain and decrease the feeling of tightness.

Who can benefit from chiropractic care?

Sedentary Lifestyle/Senior Citizens

This applies to those who spend copious amounts of time in front of a computer/electronic device, or equally to a younger family member who is studying for exams. If most of the day is spent sitting down, either revising or working in a chair that is not ergonomically suited to the individual, the bodies posture will start to suffer from the stress its under. Even for seniors who have limited mobility by sitting incorrectly and not maintaining a good posture, the body becomes stiff causing pain and tightness. Thankfully chiropractic care can be beneficial in getting the body back on track and help decrease remissions in the future.  

Chiropractic care can benefits people by alleviating pain and increasing mobility which helps individuals to live a pain free lifestyle. Exercise is an effective tool for older people who are feeling stiff and sore as it enables the body to move and decrease overall pain. Chiropractic care can also help by creating a tailored program which can also help an older person with balance, thus avoiding falls.

Teenagers

Slouching in teenagers around the home is a familiar sight to parents. This is where they begin a lifetime of poor posture habits, meaning that by educating children at a young age about the benefits of chiropractic care and “postural awareness” they can combat the effects of postural strains (scoliosis) and future aches and pains!

Typically, sporting injuries occur around this time as well, so chiropractic care does have various benefits for teenagers. It can be used for pain relief, reduce inflammation. increase flexibility, relax muscles to prevent further sprains or injury and decrease or prevent headaches. More importantly, it does promote and boost the body’s natural immune system.

During these teenage years adolescents also have to deal with the pressure of exams and puberty, and stress plays an important role in physical and emotional wellbeing. Chiropractic care can help with stress management by improving breathing through relaxation techniques and boost the bodies immune system which is a great benefit for all teenagers!

Mothers and Support Workers

Pregnancy is a cause of fluctuated hormones in the body which cause the spines joints to become more flexible to cope with the growing baby. Once the body has recovered from childbirth, a mother spends a lot of time lifting and carrying the child. For those who also have to look after elderly parents or a child with a disability, there is a lot of bending, twisting and stretching. Back pain is quite common and a lack of sleep gives increases the chances of headaches. Thankfully our team at The Melbourne Chiropractor can help those suffering from these issues!

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When Should You See A Chiropractor

About

There are many different symptoms/problems that indicate it may be suitable to come in and see a Chiropractor. This post will recognize some of the most common we see and how Chiropractic care may help.

What are some common problems?

There are many different symptoms that people can experience before seeing a Chiropractor.  Here are some of the most common problems we see!

How can these signs impact you and your daily activities?

One of the most common problems Chiropractors see are individuals with low back pain and stiffness. This can affect how you perform at work.

Depending on the symptoms you are experiencing it can have an influence on other aspects of your life, including:

  • Sleep patterns
  • Exercise routines
  • Energy levels
  • Productivity

How can The Melbourne Chiropractor help with these signs?

At The Melbourne Chiropractor we provide evidence based treatment protocols that focuses on improving the musculoskeletal system to help with the pain and discomfort people experience. This is accomplished by using different techniques and modalities of treatment based on patient requirements. Our experienced Chiropractors will complete a thorough assessment of your condition/problem to ensure we know exactly how we are able to help. Our approach to treatment may include manual adjustments, hand held adjustments, manual assisted techniques, soft tissue techniques and rehabilitation exercises depending on your problem/s.

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