Your sleep position can either support or sabotage your spine. Many people wake up with tight backs or necks without realizing their sleeping posture is the culprit. Here’s how to make sure your sleep is helping—not hurting—your spine.
Best Sleep Positions for Spinal Health
On Your Back
Use a small pillow under your knees to reduce lower back strain.
Choose a pillow that supports the natural curve of your neck.
On Your Side
Place a pillow between your knees.
Keep your spine in a straight line.
Avoid Sleeping on Your Stomach
It twists the neck and flattens spinal curves.
Mattress and Pillow Tips
Choose a medium-firm mattress.
Replace your pillow every 1–2 years.
Memory foam pillows often offer better neck support.
Headaches are one of the most common health complaints, and when they strike, they can significantly derail your life. While medications can help ease the pain, they don’t always tackle the root causes. That’s where chiropractic care may step in.
How Chiropractic Care May Help
Chiropractic care focuses on the spine, muscles, and joints, the areas that play a big role in headache pain. By improving movement, easing tension, and supporting overall function, chiropractic treatment may offer relief by:
· Improving spinal and joint function
· Reducing muscle tension
· Supporting posture and movement, including guidance on ergonomics, posture tips, and exercises to help prevent triggers
What to Expect During a Visit
When you visit a chiropractor for headaches, you can typically expect:
· A full assessment of your spine, posture, and movement
· Spinal adjustments and soft tissue techniques (if appropriate)
· Personalised advice on exercises, posture, and lifestyle habits to help reduce headaches
Chiropractors often take a holistic approach, helping you consider factors like workstation setup, sleeping positions, and daily habits that may impact your health and comfort.
What This Means for You
By focusing on spinal health, muscle balance, posture, and movement, chiropractic care may help cut down the frequency and intensity of headaches. If headaches are interfering with your daily routine, consulting our chiropractors could be an effective step in your care plan.
With our lives increasingly glued to screens, “tech neck” has become a widespread issue. This condition, caused by prolonged forward head posture, results in stiffness, tension, and pain around the neck and shoulders. The good news? You can combat it—right from your desk.
What is Tech Neck?
Tech neck refers to the strain on neck muscles caused by looking down at phones, tablets, and laptops for extended periods. Left unchecked, it can lead to headaches, shoulder tension, and even long-term spinal issues.
Desk Exercises to Fight Tech Neck
Here are 3 quick exercises you can do at your desk:
Chin Tucks Sit upright and gently pull your chin back (like you’re making a double chin). Hold for 5 seconds. Repeat 10 times.
Neck Rolls Slowly roll your head in a circle, then reverse direction. Do this for 30 seconds each way.
Shoulder Blade Squeeze Sit or stand tall. Squeeze your shoulder blades together and hold for 5 seconds. Repeat 10 times.
Did you know dehydration can cause muscle aches and back pain? Your muscles and joints need water to function properly. When you’re not drinking enough, your body lets you know—through pain.
💧 How Water Helps Your Body
Muscles are 75% water. Dehydration = tight, crampy muscles.
Joints rely on fluid for smooth movement.
Even mild dehydration can cause fatigue and body aches.
🚰 Hydration Tips
Aim for 2–3L of water per day.
Increase water intake in hot weather or after exercise.
Limit caffeine and alcohol, which can dehydrate you.
Long hours. Heavy lifting. Constant motion. Sound familiar? If you work in hospitality, chances are your body feels it by the end of the shift. Chiropractic care can help you recover—and stay pain-free.
🤕 Common Hospitality Injuries
Lower back pain from standing all day
Neck and shoulder tension from poor posture
Wrist or joint pain from repetitive tasks
🩺 How Chiropractic Can Help
Spinal adjustments improve posture and reduce pain.
Winter is tough on your body. If your joints feel stiffer in the cold, you’re not imagining it. Lower temperatures can tighten muscles and restrict blood flow—making everyday movements more uncomfortable.
🥶 Why Cold Affects Your Joints
Muscles tighten in the cold.
Blood flow slows down.
Inactivity increases stiffness.
🏡 Easy Home Care Tips
Start With a Warm Shower It boosts circulation and loosens up muscles.
Stretch Gently Every Morning
Neck rolls
Shoulder circles
Light forward bends
Stay Active (Even Indoors!) Try yoga, stretching, or even walking around the house.
Dress in Layers Keep your joints warm to avoid stiffness.
Most of us spend more time sitting than we should, whether it’s working at a desk, commuting, or relaxing on the couch. While it may seem harmless, prolonged sitting can quietly take a toll on your spine and overall health.
Your Spine Was Made to Move! If you feel stiff, sore, or drained after a day of sitting, it’s your body’s way of saying something’s off. Don’t brush it off, your spine needs attention. Chiropractic care can help restore mobility, reduce pain, and support long-term spinal health. Book an appointment and give your spine the support it deserves.
As the temperature drops, many people notice a familiar ache in their joints. Whether it’s stiffer knees in the morning or a dull ache in your lower back, colder weather can genuinely affect how your body feels.
Why Does Cold Weather Affect Joints?
Factors that may contribute:
• Barometric Pressure Drops – When the pressure in the atmosphere drops, it can cause tissues to expand slightly, putting more pressure on your joints.
• Reduced Blood Flow – Your body prioritizes core warmth in the cold, which can reduce circulation to extremities, making muscles and joints feel tighter.
• Less Movement – Cold weather tends to make people more sedentary, and less movement means joints become stiffer.
Spinal Health Week, running from 26th May to 1st June 2025, is an initiative of the Australian Chiropractors Association (ACA), aimed at raising awareness of how spinal health impacts overall well-being and encouraging Australians to take proactive steps toward better musculoskeletal health.
Are you dealing with persistent neck or back pain? You’re not alone. More than 6.1 million Australians live with musculoskeletal disorders. Now in its 29th year, National Spinal Health Week is shining a light on Tension Neck Syndrome, commonly known as tech neck. This condition is driven by poor posture during prolonged screen time. As device use continues to rise, so does the impact of tech neck on spinal health and daily life.
Tech Neck: A Growing Concern for Your Spine
Tech neck refers to the strain on the neck, shoulders, and upper back from extended periods of looking down at smartphones, tablets, and laptops. As your body compensates for poor posture, stress on the spine increases, leading to pain and reduced mobility.
Back Pain: A Major Health Issue
Back pain is the leading cause of disability globally and affects four in five Australians at some point in their lives. In Australia, it costs the economy more than $55 billion annually. One of the most common forms is Chronic Primary Low Back Pain (CPLBP), which is persistent pain with no clear underlying cause. Without proper care, conditions like tech neck can evolve into chronic back pain, significantly interfering with work, social life, and daily activities.
The Importance of Holistic Care
The World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted the importance of holistic, drug-free approaches in managing CPLBP. These include physical activity, education, psychological support, and manual therapies, which are all central components of chiropractic care.
Why Chiropractic Care?
Chiropractors are health professionals skilled in diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal issues. Using non-invasive, evidence-informed techniques, chiropractors aim to reduce pain, improve spinal function, and support long-term well-being. Beyond hands-on care, we also provide personalised guidance on posture, movement, ergonomics, and lifestyle habits to help prevent recurrence and empower patients to take control of their spinal health.
Take Charge of Your Spinal Health
Spinal Health Week is your reminder to check in with your spine, whether you spend your day sitting at a desk, lifting on a job site, or glued to your phone. Small and mindful changes in posture and movement can make a big difference in preventing pain and preserving mobility.
Contact us today to book an appointment with one of our chiropractors and take the first step toward a healthier life.
A sudden back spasm can stop you in your tracks—bringing sharp pain, limiting your range of motion (ROM), and sometimes sidelining you for hours or even days. While it may feel like a simple cramp, a back spasm often signals that your body is protecting itself from deeper issues, such as strain, injury, or structural imbalance. In this blog, we’ll break down what back spasms really are, explore their most common causes, and share practical steps you can take—from professional care to home remedies—to manage and prevent them.
What Exactly Is a Back Spasm? A back spasm is an involuntary, sudden contraction of one or more muscles in the back. Unlike a fleeting muscle twitch, spasms can cause sharp or aching pain, stiffness, and even radiating discomfort into the hips or legs. They most commonly affect the lower back but can occur in other regions as well. Spasms can last anywhere from a few minutes to several days—or longer—depending on the cause and severity.
What Causes Back Spasms? Back spasms are usually the result of underlying strain, stress, or imbalances in the body. Common causes include:
Muscle Overuse Overworking your back muscles—especially without proper form or rest—can lead to inflammation and fatigue. Activities like lifting heavy objects improperly, repetitive motion, or intense exercise without recovery can all trigger spasms.
Acute Injuries Falls, sudden twists, or high-impact activities that push the spine beyond its natural range can result in strains or microtears in the muscles. The body often reacts with spasms to stabilize the injured area and prevent further damage.
Poor Posture Long hours spent sitting—especially with poor posture or in non-ergonomic setups—place extra stress on the muscles supporting your spine. Over time, this fatigue can cause spasms, particularly among those with sedentary lifestyles or desk jobs.
Nutrient Deficiency and Dehydration Low levels of key electrolytes—especially magnesium and potassium—can impair muscle function and increase susceptibility to cramps and spasms. Dehydration compounds the problem by reducing your muscles’ ability to contract and relax efficiently.
Treatment For Back Spasms
A licensed chiropractor can assess the root cause of your back spasms through a thorough examination and history. They’ll then develop a personalized treatment plan, which may include:
Soft Tissue Therapy: Precise massage techniques to reduce muscle tension and promote healing.
Spinal Adjustments & Mobilization: Gentle adjustments to restore joint mobility , decrease muscle and decrease the pain
Rehabilitation Exercises & Stretching: Tailored movements to strengthen weak muscles, improve endurance, and prevent future spasms.
Home Remedies to Help Manage Back Spasms
Heat and Cold Therapy: Apply a cold pack for 5–10 minutes, wait for your skin to return to normal temperature, then use a heating pad for 15–20 minutes. This helps reduce inflammation and increase blood flow.
Gentle Movement and Stretching: Slowly move through your spine’s range of motion. Gentle stretches can help release tight muscles and relieve tension.
Stay Hydrated: Drinking water consistently helps maintain muscle health and prevent electrolyte imbalances.
Over-the-Counter Pain Relief: Anti-inflammatory medications may offer temporary relief, but should be used sparingly. Rest, But Don’t Overdo It: Give your body time to heal, but avoid prolonged inactivity, which can worsen stiffness and delay recovery.
Back spasms are your body’s way of signaling distress—don’t ignore them. Whether caused by poor posture, overuse, or an underlying condition, getting to the root of the issue is key to lasting relief. With the right combination of professional treatment, lifestyle changes, and home care, you can relieve current symptoms and prevent future episodes. If back spasms are disrupting your life, consider consulting a chiropractor for a personalized assessment and treatment plan.
