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Should I Use ICE or HEAT?

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Ice Vs Heat

Ice and heat have been seen to be of comfort and substitute as a form of analgesia by altering body temperature in the area. Both Ice and Heat are great but what are the differences?

How does Ice and Heat help?

Ice helps to eliminate inflammation by reducing blood flow to the area of application. Usually heat works best when using it within a 48 hour window after an injury has occurred.

Heat treatment Increases blood flow and works almost as a relaxant to help reduce stiffness in muscles that are suffering within the area. Heat is great for ongoing issues which are chronic and stiffness.

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Ice Or Heat?

What Does Ice Help With?

Ice helps in cases of:

  • Osteoarthritis
  • Recent Injuries
  • Gout
  • Strains and Sprains
  • Tendinitis, or irritation/inflammation of joints after strenuous activity

When Not To Use Ice?

  • When cramping (cold exacerbates this)
  • Already feeling cold or area is numb
  • Open wound or blistered skin
  • Vascular diseases
  • Sympathetic dysfunction (Where blood flow is affected)
  • Hypersensitivity to cold
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What Does Heat Help With?

  • Osteoarthritis
  • Strains and Sprains
  • Tendonitis, or chronic irritation and stiffness in joints
  • Increasing blood flow to stiff muscles or soft tissue before activity
  • Decreasing pain or spasms relating to neck or back pain

When Not To Use Heat?

  • Skin is hot, red or inflamed
  • Dermatitis or an open wound is present
  • Area is numb
  • Peripheral neuropathy or a similar condition that dulls the feeling of heat
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Can You Use Ice and Heat Together?

Yes! Heat and ice can be used together to create a change in blood flow by first restricting circulation to reduce swelling by using Ice and then increasing circulation by using Heat on the affected area.

How to use Ice or Heat

The most common method is to apply Ice or Heat for 5 minutes, then off for 5 minutes, repeated 3 times in total should be 30 minutes including the breaks!

*Note: If you are suffering from severe aches and pains, shooting pains down the arms, difficulty deep breathing, troubles lifting limbs due to soreness, headaches, migraines sciatica, low back pain or joint pain and need more than just a good Ice or Heat protocol our team of practitioners are always happy to help and bookings are available online 7 days a week!

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Top 3 Back Exercises For Low Back Pain

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Low Back Exercises

Low Back Pain is a condition that negates even some of the strongest painkillers due to its unpredictable nature and dramatic change that it can cause in short periods of time. The exercises below are Our Teams Top 3 Exercises that may help with your Low Back Pain.

*Note: If you are suffering more than what you think and exercise isn’t going to help you break this back pain, give our practitioners are call anytime to book in an appointment or just simply book online @ https://themelbournechiropractor.com.au/book-now

Lumbopelvic Mobilization – Supine Knee to Chest

Procedure:

  • Lay on your back (both hips flexed, with feet under knees)
  • Gently bring one knee to your chest(using your arms for assistance)
  • Return to the start position and repeat on the other leg.
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Knee to Chest Exercise Diagram

Instructions

Perform 3 sets of 10 repetitions each side.

Rest for 30 seconds between sets.

Complete this exercise twice per day.

Progressions:

  • Perform with both legs starting from an extended position
  • Perform double knee to chest mobilization

Special Instructions:

• Breathe normally throughout

• Stay in a pain-free range of motion

Supine Bridge

Procedure:

  • Lay on your back (feet under knees with a resistance band around the thighs)
  • Slightly push thighs out into the band.
  • Squeeze the gluts and slowly raise the pelvis up.
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Supine Bridge Diagram

Instructions

Perform 3 sets of 10 repetitions.

Hold each repetition for 2-5 seconds.

Rest for 30 seconds between sets.

Complete this exercise twice per day.

Progression:

  • Perform a single leg bridge

Special Instructions:

• Focus on squeezing the gluts

• Do not hold your breath

Wall Slide

Procedure:

  • (Standing) Position your feet shoulder-width apart, slightly forward of a wall with your back towards it.
  • Place your hands overhead (the “under arrest” position)
  • With the fingers spread (abducted)
  • Slowly squat down
  • Ensure to keep the arms elevated, while “actively” exhaling.
  • Then return to the start position during inhalation.
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Wall Slide Diagram

Instructions

Perform 3 sets of 10 repetitions.

Each repetition should occur over 5-8 seconds.

Rest for 30 between sets.

Complete this exercise twice per day.

Special Instructions:

• Keep the head, shoulders, arms, mid-back and pelvis against the wall always.

• Keep the knees in line with the middle of the foot, but not forward of the toes

Still Worried and need more 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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About Low Back Pain

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Low Back Pain

Low Back Pain is a condition that can be caused by various different stressors of our daily lives which can include:

  • Prolonged sitting
  • Muscle tightness
  • Fractures
  • Inactivity
  • Poor sleeping posture
  • Physical trauma (accident)
  • Sporting injuries
  • Stress
  • Underlying medical conditions

At times Low back pain may present differently and can change dramatically from the beginning of when its first felt. This can be due to Soft tissue swelling, tenderness of the joints in the area, nerve pain or changes in movement patterns such as limping due to the affected muscles in the area of concern!

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Joint Pain in the area

Some of the symptoms you may experience may include:

  • Numbness or tingling in your buttock or down your leg?
  • Pain or difficulty getting out of bed?
  • Muscle spasms or tight muscles?
  • Slouched posture?
  • Pain when you sit or stand for long periods?
  • Stiffness or painful restriction in the back?
  • Pain in between your shoulder blades?
  • Difficulty with various movements like putting on your socks?

How Can You Help Yourself?

  • Ice/Heat
  • Exercising
  • Stretching
  • Voltaren Gels/Fisiocreme
  • Pain Medication (If Needed)
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ICE Pack or Heat Pack are great for inflammation!

*Note: If you are suffering from severe Low back pain, shooting pains down the legs, troubles lifting limbs due to soreness, sciatica or joint pain 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 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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Types of Knee Tears and How We Can Help!

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Knee Pain

Knee tears can be caused by multiple changes due to degeneration or impact due to its complex structure. The knee consists of ligaments, muscles, bones, cartilage and several different nerves which pass through it to create feeling, movement and sustain pressure through the joint.

The most common knee tears include but are not limited to:

Tear of Posterior Cruciate Ligament

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

  • Knee region has constant pain and is not improving with a notable weakness in quadricep muscle
  • Aggravated by physical activity
  • Caused by sliding forward
  • Can cause redness and possible swelling in the area
  • Affected ADL’s and/or decrease concentration due to pain
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PCL Tear of the Knee

Knee Meniscal Tear


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

  • Knee region has constant pain and is not improving after rotational injury
  • Aggravated by physical activity
  • Can cause redness and possible swelling in the area with locking and a feeling of giving way
  • Affected ADL’s and/or decrease concentration due to pain
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Tear of the Meniscus

Tear of Anterior Cruciate Ligament


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

  • Knee region has constant pain and is not improving with notable weakness in hamstring muscle
  • Aggravated by physical activity
  • Caused by sliding backwards
  • Can cause redness and possible swelling in the area
  • Affected ADL’s and/or decrease concentration due to pain
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ACL Ligament Tear

What Can The Melbourne Chiropractor Offer?

Depending on the severity of the tear our practitioners will treat accordingly to your complaint. Treatments that may be provided but are not limited to include:

  • PNF/PIR/prescribed stretching – Stretching has shown to reduce pain, improve functionality and overall wellbeing in patients in both long- and short-term outcomes. (Maffulli et al., 2019)
  • Prescribed exercises – produce more beneficial outcomes in terms of increased strength, improved function and reduced pain scores. (Fernandes, Pedrinelli & Hernandez, 2015)
  • Spinal adjustments for posture correction and soft tissue therapy to reduce tension and aid with weight bearing
  • Dry Needling or Cupping to the surrounding musculature to help decrease tension and inflammation around the area
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How Can a Chiropractor Help with Joint Pain?

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What causes joint pain?

Joint pain is a common complaint that refers to discomfort, aches or soreness in joints of the body. Joint pain most commonly is a cause of arthritis, which is inflammation or pain coming from within the joint. Joint pain varies in severity from mild pain (causing discomfort or soreness only after certain activities) or more severe which limits movement or causes weight bearing to become extremely painful.

Joint.Pain
Areas effected by joint inflammation

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and the main cause of joint pain. Osteoarthritis occurs when cartilage at the ends of bones wears down over time. This can happen in any joint but the most common areas include the fingers, thumbs, neck, elbow, lower back, hips, knees and big toes. Like joint pain, Osteoarthritis can range in severity from mild to severe. Common symptoms of Osteoarthritis includes inflammation of the joint, pain and stiffness in the joint. Activity usually increases the severity causing joint swelling, decreased range of movement and muscle weakness. 

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis is the second most common form of arthritis. It is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the lining of the joints causing inflammation and joint damage. Rheumatoid arthritis usually attacks smaller joints of the body, such as hands, feet and wrists. Larger joints including the knees and hips can also be affected depending on the severity. Common symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis include throbbing or aching pain that is worse in the morning or after sitting for a while, joint stiffness especially in the mornings, inflammation causing the joints to swell, become hot and tender to touch.

Injury/trauma

This is caused by the wearing out of a joint after any kind of physical injury. The injury could be from sport, a car accident, a fall or any other source of physical trauma. These injuries can cause damage to the cartilage and/or the bone, changing the mechanics of that joint and causing it to wear out quicker. The process of the joint wearing out can then be accelerated by further injury. Common symptoms include joint pain, swelling, joint stiffness and limited range of motion. 

Can Chiropractic care help with joint pain?

Chiropractic care is considered a safe practice that works to optimise the function of your joints, therefore making it possible to improve your motion with less pain. Chiropractic adjustments aim to realign the spine and improve the function of the nervous system in order to:

Reduce nerve impingement

If joints of the spine become misaligned they can apply unwanted pressure on the nerves causing pain, tingling, shooting pains and/or burning sensations. A Chiropractic adjustment aims to realign the spine in order to remove the pressure from the nerves so that they are no longer being irritated and therefore decreasing the pain felt by the patient. 

Improve joint mobility

Mobility within the joints is essential when dealing with joint stiffness and pain. The adjustments performed by a Chiropractor may help to regain mobility of the joints and optimize function within the body. As you progress through your treatment, you may notice that you have more ease of mobility and flexibility. The Chiropractor may also teach you new posture exercises so that you are able to keep your spine in better alignment at home in between adjustments. 

If you are having troubles with joint pain, consider seeing your local Chiropractor or and tell them about the issues you are experiencing so that they can create a tailored plan to reach your health goals. Explaining the problem to the best of your ability with adequate information of your problem to a health professional enables you to enhance your overall care as health care professionals are able to take a thorough history and complete a physical exam based on your ongoing complaint.

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Top Exercises in 2022 for Disc Bulges

Disc bulge

What is a disc Bulge?

  • Intervertebral discs have a thick outer layer called the annulus which surrounds the soft gel-like centre also known as the Nucleus. This sits between each of your vertebrae and creates a shock absorber during forceful activities such as walking, running and jump.
  • A bulging disc or herniated disc is when the disc starts to protrude out. The soft gel-like centre pushes through the outer ring. This puts pressure on the spinal cord and nearby nerve roots. This can also cause inflammation in the area.
  • When this process happens, nerve roots get irritated, this can cause numbness and tingling down the lower or upper limb on one side and/or weakness in your legs. This is commonly known as sciatica.
Disc bulge diagram

Signs/symptoms of a bulging disc?

  • Numbness and tingling down the upper or lower limbs (i.e arms or legs)
  • Sharp or stabbing pain in the spine
  • Shooting pain down the arms or legs, generally affects only one side (Sciatica)
  • Weakness in the leg and/or foot on one side. This can cause difficulty in walking
  • Restricted range of movement
  • Constant lower back or neck pain
  • Pain can last up to anywhere between days or weeks
  • Loss of bowel and bladder control. This is extremely rare but if this occurs it is a condition called Cauda Equina Syndrome. This condition is caused by spinal nerve roots being compressed in the lower back, cutting of sensation and movement. This requires immediate medical attention.

Where do bulging discs commonly occur?

  • Disc bulges can occur anywhere along the spine, but most often occurs in the lower back (lumbar spine). However, they can also occur in the neck (cervical spine).

What causes a bulging disc?

  • A bulging disc most often occurs from age-related wear and tear on the spine. This is often called disc degeneration. As people age the disc in between the bones decreases, becomes less flexible and weakens. The disc, therefore, begins to shrink and the spaces between the vertebrae get narrower. Leading the disc to be more prone to tearing or rupturing. This can be due to repetitive stresses to the spine overtime. It is most common to see males ages between 20-50 years old likely to have a herniated/disc bulge.
  • A traumatic event, such as a fall or motor vehicle accident causes a herniated disc.
  • Lifting something incorrectly/improper and repetitive heavy lifting. Using your back to bend over and lift something heavy can cause a disc bulge.
  • Increased weight gain can cause more pressure and stress on the discs in your lower back.
  • Repetitive activities that strain your spine. Constant lifting, pulling, bending or twisting can add a lot of stress to your spine, affecting your discs.
  • Frequent long drives or sedentary lifestyle can put pressure in your back, compressing your discs, especially in the lower back.
  • Smoking can lessen the oxygen supply to the discs and cause faster degeneration to occur in your spine.

What exercises should you avoid if you have a bulging disc?

  • You should avoid heavy lifting of weights/deadlift. This adds more pressure to the intervertebral discs.
  • Sit-ups or crunches. Repetitive bending and pulling of the neck, will cause more aggravation to the disc bulge.
  • Running or jumping type of exercises, causes repeated stress and force on the spine.
  • Stretching exercises (stretches that involve bending at the waist, twisting or turning), this places a lot of pressure and stress on the inflamed bulging disc.

Top exercises in 2021 for bulging discs

  1. Prone Lumbar Extension / Half cobra pose
Half Cobra Pose
Half Cobra Pose
  • Firstly, lay on your stomach on a flat surface and then slowly prop yourself up onto your elbows while keeping your hips in contact with the floor.
  • Hold this position for 5-10 seconds
  • Gradually build up the hold for 30 seconds.
  • Aim for 6-12 repetitions.
  • Make sure you perform this slowly and carefully.
  • How it helps:
  • Relieves pressure on the herniated disc by opening the intervertebral disc spaces.
  • Helps push the disc bulge back towards the centre more, helping to alleviate some pain in the lower back.

2. Full Prone Extension / Full Cobra pose (more advanced stretch)

Full Cobra Pose
Full Cobra Pose
  • Firstly, lay on your stomach on a flat surface and then slowly press up on your hands while keeping your hips in contact with the floor and lower back relaxed.
  • Hold this position for 5-10 seconds
  • Gradually build up the hold for 30 seconds.
  • Aim for 6-12 repetitions.
  • Make sure you perform this slowly and carefully.
  • How it helps:
  • Relieves pressure on the herniated disc by opening the intervertebral disc spaces.
  • Helps push more of the disc bulge back towards the centre more, helping to alleviate some pain in the lower back.

3. Spinal Decompression

Decompression
Hanging from a bar
  • Use a pull up bar or the top of a door (something you can hang down from) and allow your body to just hang down.
  • Hold for 30 seconds and for 2 sets
  • Release slowly from this position. Do not jump straight down (you can use a stool/chair underneath your feet to stand back on)
  • How it helps:
  • Opens up the intervertebral spaces, taking some pressure off the bulging disc. Therefore, it decreases pain intensity and quicker recovery.

4. Cat/Camel Exercise

Cat Camel Exercise
Cat Camel Exercise
  • Go on your hands and knees (all four positions). Inhale and let your stomach drop towards the floor while looking up with your head. Then exhale and slowly round your spine while pressing into the floor with your hands whilst bringing your chin to your chest
  • Aim for 10-12 repetitions, 2-3 sets.
  • How it helps:
  • Relieves pressure on the herniated disc by opening the intervertebral disc spaces.
  • Helps improve mobility of the whole spine.

Please stop any of these exercises if they cause any increase or any type of pain!

It is also important to have relative amounts of rest to help decrease the intensity and severity of the pain caused by a disc bulge.

Disc bulges or herniations improve on their own with relative rest within a couple of days and completely resolve between 12-16 weeks. However, it is important to prevent this from occurring by getting your spine checked by a chiropractor to help prevent wear and tear from happening too quickly in your spine. Spinal health is important to maintain. A chiropractor will be able to assess your spine thoroughly to see if there are any signs of joint restrictions that may impact your intervertebral disc spaces and may also send you out for x-rays to see how healthy your disc spaces are. Our Chiropractors see many cases of disc bulges and are able to give you appropriate advice on what to do to help alleviate the pain conservatively, if unable to do so, we will refer you to a GP for further investigation if needed.

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How Do Chiropractors Find Where To Adjust?

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How Do Chiropractors Find Joints To Adjust?

What Is a Chiropractic Adjustment?

A Chiropractic Adjustment is a force that is placed through a joint in a specific direction to help alleviate pain within the area and restore movement back to the restricted joint. Usually after a joint does get adjusted it may feel like there is more mobility in the area, increased flexibility and overall just feeling allot better in the area of previous concern.

There are a number of people who try to “self-adjust” themselves to try and get the same effects from what they receive from the chiropractor. Most times people find that the ease of tension only last for short periods as they are not moving joints that are restricted, in fact, they are moving joints above and below the restriction hence why the pain continues to come back and progress. It is common also for people who crack their joints to overstrain themselves from forceful cracking. This can also lead to hypermobility of the joints and cause issues with muscles and ligaments moving further than they naturally should causing risks of harm.

How Does A Chiropractor Know What To Adjust?

Chiropractors are trained professionals with over 5 years of university experience at university completing a double degree in Health Sciences and Applied Sciences (Chiropractic). The degree gives our qualified and experienced health professionals the ability to use various treatment modalities and an understanding of how the musculoskeletal system and neurological areas work within the body.

Manual adjusting is just one of the tools that chiropractors use. When applying this technique usually chiropractors will check for areas of restriction and tenderness by using a physical examination. Things such as posture, walking stance and joint mobility are some factors that come into play when considering where to adjust. Once the patient is on the table relaxed our chiropractors will use use their hands across the spine to check for any inconsistencies throughout the spine and to see where tension and restriction is present.

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Finding Areas to Adjust and Treat

At The Melbourne Chiropractor our Chiropractors use a holistic approach meaning that most of the time a full body adjustment will be completed although in some cases restrictions in areas may not be present.

Note* If you are suffering from any aches or pain and want to know more about how we our team at The Melbourne Chiropractor can help you contact us today or book online @ https://themelbournechiropractor.com.au/book-now

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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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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.