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Improve Your Health with Chiropractic Care!

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Chiropractic Wellness Care

You have just visited an allied health professional and your feeling allot better now! But, question is…. Will you be doing anything different to what you were doing before? If your answer is No then it may be ideal to keep an appointment for later on in the month to combat these pain episodes that have been bringing you down!

Pain is a signal coming from the body that alerts us that we are doing something wrong. Hence why we should aim to make changes to combat pain by altering our lifestyle (especially those bad habits!)

Chiropractic Care and How It Can Improve Your Wellbeing?

At The Melbourne Chiropractor we acknowledge that continuous episodes of pain are to be managed over a period of time. This can be done with Chiropractic adjustments, Remedial Massage, Cupping or Dry Needling just to name a few although with allot of these issues exercises and stretches are implemented to help maintain the best of postures and pain free activities overtime. Most commonly patients seek chiropractic care for neck pain, back pain, headaches and repetitive strain injuries/overuse.

Our team of practitioners offer wellness care for those who are willing to take their wellbeing to the next level. This incorporates a plan that helps to reduce reoccurrences of episodes from pain and increase overall mobility and function of the body. Advice on daily living activities such as work posture, lifting biomechanics and sleeping are all things our team look into to improve your wellbeing for many years to come.

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Chiropractic Care

What Is Chiropractic Care?

Chiropractic Care involves the movement of joints back to a normal position where the body is then able to move effectively. Tension is also decreased from the area as tight muscles are relieved and an increase in mobility and flexibility can be seen almost instantly. There are many different techniques that a chiropractor may use including manual adjustments, low force techniques, trigger point therapy, dry needling, prescribe exercises, prescribe stretching or mobilisations in the area of complaint.

Our team of practitioners at The Melbourne Chiropractor strive to get functioning to the best of your abilities. By getting to the bottom of the problem early on it will be easier to tackle the complaint in a shorter period of time.

Our Broadmeadows, Westmeadows and Fawkner Clinics are Open Weekends and Bookings are available online!

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Broadmeadows Health Clinic
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Dry Needling and Its Benefits!

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Dry Needling

Our daily routines effect the way our bodies adapt to stresses, at times these adaptations can turn into episodes of pain and create unwanted postural changes or even irritations of certain areas under stress. The 3 key factors that usually cause a decline in musculoskeletal health include a difficult/stressful working environment, bad sleeping routine and limited physical activity.

The body can only keep up for so long before it crashes. When it does you may begin to feel sore and tight, maybe even get headaches or unwanted low back tension. Therefore it is ideal to keep yourself in check to help maintain areas that are not able to keep up with the demands needed daily.

Dry Needling comes into play here as it helps to relieve pain and soreness in the affected muscles. Usually they are placed in areas where there are trigger points and they can be reduced to give relief!

About Dry Needling

Dry needling can be used for a variety of musculoskeletal problems, neuromuscular dysfunction, muscle imbalances and pain syndromes. Therapy is specifically aimed to help with muscular pain, myofascial pain syndrome, hypertonic and tender muscles, overuse injury, painful tendons, tender ligaments and more.

Many muscular related conditions are thought to be a primary contributing factor to pain and other related symptoms. These conditions include, but are not limited to neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain, arm pain, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel, golfer’s elbow, headaches, migraines and tension-type headaches, jaw pain, buttock pain, pelvic pain, leg pain, sciatica, hamstrings strains, calf tightness/spasms.

Benefits of Dry Needling?

  • Pain relief
  • Decreased Stress
  • Promotion of healing
  • Increased range of motion
  • Increased Flexibility
  • Increased circulation of blood
  • Allows for muscle release
  • Helps with the bodies biomechanics
  • Increased strength and overall function of the area
  • Can be used on hard to release muscle areas (muscle strain, tendon injuries, TMJ)
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Able To Enjoy Daily Activities (Decreased Tension)

What Is Trigger Point Dry Needling?

Dry needling is the use of either solid filiform needles or hollow-core hypodermic needles, to be inserted directly into the trigger points and muscle bundles to act as a stimulant from underneath the skin.

The process of dry needling, either with or without Myotherapy Massage will help to increase circulation and blood flow, thus speeding up repair of the area and its surrounding tissues.

What Does Trigger Point Dry Needling Do?

Dry needling of a trigger point will elicit an involuntary reflex in the muscle fibres which forces blood, oxygen and inflammation into the muscle. In turn, the nerve endings in the muscle will be stimulated, resulting in a reduction in pain and release of tension in the muscle.

It elicits the same response as with non-invasive trigger point therapy and deep tissue massage. Please ask one of our friendly staff for more information or book online today!

What Can Dry Needling Be Used For?

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Dry Needling Of The Knee

The Melbourne Chiropractor in Broadmeadows, Westmeadows and Fawkner is here to help!

Our team of practitioners are fully equipped to perform dry needling and have also done courses in dry needling so that you have peace of mind during the session. All of our services are claimable through private health. Our clinics are Open Weekends, Online Bookings Available Now!

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Why Does My Pain Keep Coming Back?

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Neck Pain

Are you experiencing continuous neck or back pain that seems to come and go? If so, this is a chronic issue that can be very common as the body likes to adapt to certain stressors put upon it that forces the body to change in a way to avoid pain or further damage.

The body developing changes occurs over a period of time in small instances. Patterns begin to develop and this can be from injuries in the past, poor posture, daily activities, work related issues or lack of mobility in an area. 

Your musculoskeletal system creates new patterns to help decrease pain although in doing so it tightens up and creates stiffness around the spine in turn altering function. This then creates a problem that can cause postural changes and possible acute episodes of pain. As mentioned before many of these issues may be caused by work posture, lifting incorrectly, a poor pillow or poor sleeping conditions. This can usually cause issues such as neck pain, low back soreness and a decrease in both flexibility and mobility of certain regions of the body.

This can become an issue and should be addressed as soon as possible so that the source of pain can be addressed and a health professional can help correct the issue and influence the body in making the right changes to get back on track!

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Low Back Pain Causing a Shift In Posture

What can you do?

  • Seek advice early as it may help decrease the severity of your chronic episode and also prevent it from getting worse.
  • Relapses can be minimised by getting regular check ups to ensure mobility through the joints and tension throughout the muscle is decreased.
  • Being aware of acute episodes or tightness that continues to reoccur and finding a health professional early on before things progress.
  • Find the underlying cause of pain as at times you may find the source of the pain may not be in the area you are feeling it!

When should you seek help?

  • When Numbness or tingling occurs
  • Sharp or shooting pains down either arms or legs 
  • Occurrence of Migraines and Headaches
  • Continuous pain that’s on and off
  • Pain that’s getting worse over time
  • Joint pain or stiffness
  • Changes to posture or scoliosis
  • Pain becoming more frequent and more severe 
  • Pain that is not eased by rest 
  • Pain that’s waking you up at night 
  • Changes in urination
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Migraines and Headaches Caused by Tension

*Note – The longer you take to recognise your pain and do something about it the worse it may get. Getting to the root of the problem early on is ideal as it will help eliminate not only the pain but also enhance overall wellbeing. Get in contact with our team at The Melbourne Chiropractor today and lets get you back on track today!

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What Is the Best Pillow For Neck Pain?

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Good Pillow or Bad?

About Neck Pain –

There are three main types of neck pain which may include:

  1. Acute Neck pain = Neck pain that is usually severe and has been going on for the last 72 hours is considered acute
  2. Sub acute Neck pain = Neck pain that has continued for the last 2 weeks either on or off or consistently painful with movement.
  3. Chronic neck pain = Neck pain that has continuous episodes of pain over a monthly period.

Common causes of neck pain

  • Muscular dysfunction or tightness
  • Poor posture
  • Structural changes
  • Strains or sprains
  • Poor sleeping posture
  • Car accidents or sporting injuries that result in whiplash

Common symptoms of neck pain

  • Stiffness and pain in the neck
  • Difficulty moving your neck
  • Unexplained headaches
  • Tight Muscles within the area
  • Poor posture

If you are someone who is suffering with neck pain and are reading this blog then our recommendation would be to see a Chiropractor or another health care professional to see how you can be helped! The earlier you choose to make a change to your neck pain the better off you will be as being proactive to the causes of neck pain can limit the amount of degeneration and damage you could be causing!

Do pillows help you sleep better?

There are two important factors that determine a good night’s sleep!

1. The position you sleep in

It is recommended to either side sleep or sleep on your back. Sleeping on your stomach is not ideal as it puts allot of strain in the neck area and can cause issues.

2. The pillow you use

The pillow you need is one that allows you to lay your head on to it without bending your neck or tilting it either side. There are allot of pillows around that can support your neck although finding the right one can be hard to do. If you are struggling and need assistance our team are more than happy to help you in the clinic to fit you out with the correct pillow for your posture.

What is the correct height for a pillow?

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Diagram of Correct Pillow Height

All pillows are different and the correct pillow for you will not be the correct pillow for someone else as people sleep differently and may have broader shoulders than someone else.

What Makes A Good Pillow?

The most important factors when looking for a pillow include:

  • Head and neck support in a neutral position
  • No space between the neck, shoulder and pillow
  • Dense materials are great like memory foam although to hard can be problematic
  • A contoured pillow that is comfortable is ideal for sleeping on
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Contoured Pillow For Side Sleeping

What Makes A Bad Pillow?

  • Pillow offers no support for your head and neck
  • Pillow moves you out of neutral spine posture when sleeping
  • Pillow is not breathable or dense.

Pillows usually last up to 2 years as they begin to sag and begin not to hold as well as before. Washing your pillow regularly also helps maintain its freshness and allows it to reman hygienic for many more sleeps.

Do Bad Pillows Cause Neck Pain?

A “Bad Pillow” is a primary cause of neck pain as sleeping in a position that strains the muscles in your neck for hours at a time can do more damage to you then sleeping on a couch! The reasoning behind this is that poor sleeping posture for prolonged periods will aggravate just about anything in your body let alone the neck. Changing your pillow is just an extra step to help correct your poor posture as this is a habit that becomes continuous and may be bringing at risk for episodes of neck pain.

Should You Get A New Pillow?

A new pillow may be a drastic change although if you are someone who is experiencing neck pain this may be the change you need to kick start your journey to better health. It is important that you look around for the best quality pillow and don’t cheap out on something that is there to support your neck for years to come! If you are having trouble finding something that best suits you our team at The Melbourne Chiropractor have various pillows in stock that can be fitted before buying.

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Chiropractic Care and How Does It Help?

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Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care is recognized as being a way to help decrease pain and increase overall functional well-being. Chiropractor’s may help you achieve a healthier lifestyle by giving you strategies to overcome stress, injuries, pain, and other musculoskeletal conditions. This can all be done with various methods and not one person is treated the same to the other hence why many modalities are used to make the changes needed to make a difference!

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Chiropractic Mobilisation

What Are The Benefits?

Chiropractic care may help improve

  • Flexibility
  • Overall Energy
  • Coordination
  • Mobility
  • Decreased stress
  • Increased productivity and concentration
  • Better emotional wellbeing
  • Increased athletic performance
  • Better sleep (relaxation)

Chiropractic care may help with

Our Chiropractic Approach

At The Melbourne Chiropractor we bring out the best from our patients by striving to achieving health and wellbeing. Our aim is to reach patient goals and from there do our best to continue to exceed our patients expectations. We always try to offer various treatment modalities and our clinic offers that. Some of the things we bring to the table include both Manual adjustive techniques and low force techniques such as drop piece and activator methods. We also offer dry needling and cupping therapy including remedial massage, soft tissue and trigger point therapies. Our clinic not only offers passive care but we also involve the patient into their own care by creating thorough plans to get them back on their feet long term. We do this by supplying the patient with exercises and stretches and we give various options depending on the situation. Usually to get to such a stage we do a thorough examination which enables us to make an accurate judgment of how to guide you through your healthcare journey.

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The Melbourne Chiropractor Treatment Room (Broadmeadows Clinic)

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 at the The Melbourne Chiropractor are here to help get you back on track! BOOK NOW

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Best Neck Stretches in 2022 for Neck Pain!

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Neck Pain

Neck Pain can become debilitating and extremely annoying when it continues to annoy you throughout the day. Our practitioners have put together for you the Top 3 Neck Stretches that will help alleviate and minimise your neck pain!

Upper Trap Stretch (Neck muscles)
Procedure:

  • (Seated) Reach one hand down by your side to hold onto the edge of the chair (or sit on your hand).
  • With the other hand, pull your head forwards and across to the armpit – “ear to armpit”.
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Trap stretch

Recommended Tasks:

  • Hold the stretch for 30 seconds.
  • Perform the stretch 3 times.
  • Rest for 15-30 seconds between stretches.
  • Complete this stretch twice per day.
    Special Instructions:
    • Take the muscle to a point of gentle and comfortable pulling
    • If you feel increasing tightness, discomfort or pain, ease off the stretch until you find a point your muscle can relax
    • Breathe normally throughout, focusing on relaxation

Suboccipital Stretch (Neck Stretch)
Procedure: 2 ways to complete

  • (Seated/Standing) fingers apply pressure just under the back of the skull
  • Pull your chin towards the back of your skull whilst maintaining pressure with fingers
  • (Laying on your back) with a low pillow/support under the back of the skull.
  • Place the tongue on the roof of the mouth, just behind the front teeth.
  • Gently pull your chin in – like nodding “yes”, without dropping your head or looking down.
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Suboccipital Stretch Laying On Back

Recommended Tasks:

  • Hold the stretch for 30 seconds.
  • Perform the stretch 3 times.
  • Rest for 15-30 seconds between stretches.
  • Complete this stretch twice per day.
    Special Instructions:
    • Take the muscle to a point of gentle and comfortable pulling
    • If you feel increasing tightness, discomfort or pain, ease off the stretch until you find a point your muscle can relax
    • Breathe normally throughout, focusing on relaxation

Sternocleidomastoid (SCM) Stretch (Side Neck Stretch)
Procedure:

  • (Seated/Standing) Rotate your head to the opposite shoulder
  • Tilt your chin up slightly
  • Push your head just above your ear backwards gently until you feel a stretch
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SCM Stretch

Recommended Tasks:

  • Hold the stretch for 30 seconds.
  • Perform the stretch 3 times.
  • Rest for 15-30 seconds between stretches.
  • Complete this stretch twice per day.
    Special Instructions:
    *STOP if any nausea, dizziness, feeling of spinning or light-headedness occur
    • Take the muscle to a point of gentle and comfortable pulling
    • If you feel increasing tightness, discomfort or pain, ease off the stretch until you find a point your muscle can relax
    • Breathe normally throughout, focusing on relaxatio

*Note: If you are suffering from severe neck pain, headaches or migraines and need more than just a good stretch our team of practitioners are always happy to help and bookings are available online 7 days a week!

https://themelbournechiropractor.com.au/book-now

What Can Our Team Do To Help?

Depending on the severity of the Sprain or Strain our practitioners 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 ribs and spinal segments (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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Am I Suffering From Tension Headaches?

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Tension Type Headache


About Tension Type Headaches: (Chowdhury, 2012)

  • Usually bilateral pressing or tightening sensation around the head
  • Spinal joint dysfunctions found in cervical spine including tight musculature such as Suboccipital muscles and Traps
  • Affected daily activity and decreased concentration due to pain or photophobia
  • Headache worse in the afternoon, due to stress or tiredness
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Various headache types

Factors that could be contributing to the problem: (Ahmed, 2012)

  • Smoking Stress/Alcohol Sedentary Lifestyle
  • Psychopathology Strenuous activities
  • Trauma/Previous Neck Injury Forward head posture
  • Low Work Satisfaction Environment

Can a Chiropractor Help?

Yes! Some ways in which our chiropractors can help include but are not limited to:

  • Spinal manipulation/activator and drop piece techniques, also known as adjustive techniques, have been shown to decrease pain and increase range of motion
  • Trigger point therapy, dry needling and handheld massagers have shown to decrease pain and tenderness, enhance both range of motion and quality of life whilst influencing flexibility.
  • Prescribed stretching and exercise! Stretching has been shown to reduce pain and improving functionality and overall wellbeing in patients in both long- and short-term outcomes

Ahmed, F. (2012). Headache disorders: differentiating and managing the common subtypes. British Journal Of Pain, 6(3), 124-doi:10.1177/2049463712459691

Chowdhury D. (2012). Tension type headache. Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology, 15(Suppl 1), S83–S88.
doi:10.4103/0972-2327.100023

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Check out our Blog on our Top 3 Neck Stretches that you could be doing to help alleviate your symptoms today!

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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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