Conditions
Common conditions helped with chiropractic and physiotherapy include:
- Headaches/Migraine
- Neck, shoulder and arm pain
- Whiplash injuries
- Low back pain
- Sciatica / Disc problems
- Joint pains
- Sport injuries
Spinal problems can also interfere with the nerve supply to specific internal organs and glands causing dysfunction. Often chiropractic care has helped with other conditions such as…
- Asthma
- Menstrual pains
- Digestive disorders
- Sinus problems
- Low immune system
…and an overall feeling of lack of health.
“Pain is a warning that should not be ignored”
Headaches / Migraine
Tension headache is a very common type of headache.These headaches usually develop due to stress and often involve the entire head, neck and shoulders. Chiropractic may help to relieve the tightness in your neck muscles resulting in a reduced frequency of headaches.
Cervicogenic headaches are usually the result of an injury or repetitive strain to the neck, causing dull or aching pains at the base of the skull or either side of the head. Chiropractors commonly treat these types of headache ensuring your spinal vertebrae are moving correctly and eliminating nerve interference.
Migraine is a severe form of headache. It is usually one sided with a throbbing nature and is often accompanied by nausea, an increased sensitivity to light and noise and visual disturbances. They can last from hours to even days. Chiropractic can help identify if your spine is a contributory factor to your headache and help reduce stresses on the muscles, joints and nerves which may be causing the problem.
Neck, shoulder and arm pain
Over many years, our necks are subjected to repeated stress and minor injury. Modern day living involves a lot of time sitting at desks, working on computers, driving long hours or performing repetitive tasks. This can lead to loss of joint movement in your spinal vertebrae causing irritation to the nerves. The nerves that exit from your neck supply the structures of the shoulder, arm, wrist, hand and fingers, and pain in any of these areas may be a direct result of a neck problem. Symptoms may include, numbness, tingling or pins and needles.
Chiropractors will often examine and treat the neck when complaining of shoulder or arm problems due to the nerve supply from the top of your spine to the fingers. Unlike pain killing drugs, chiropractic treats the cause of the pain, not just the pain itself.
Whiplash injuries
Whiplash is a general term to describe any injury (including car accidents and falls) where the neck has undergone sudden flexion and extension. Although x-rays may be taken, the cause of the problem may be in the muscles and ligaments which do not show up on x-ray. Symptoms may not even be apparent straight away and may take months or even longer to appear. Consult your chiropractor who may help you achieve a full recovery rather than wait until the problem is chronic.
Low back pain
Low back pain is very common, costing millions in lost work, as well as millions in medical, state and insurance resources every year. The pain varies from a constant, dull ache to a sporadic, sharp twinge on certain movements. You may also experience “referred” pain into the buttock. Back pain may be accompanied with symptoms into the legs and feet caused by irritation to the nerves exiting from your spine. This is known as sciatica. Your chiropractor is trained to identify the specific cause of your back pain and once you have been treated, they will advise you on appropriate rehabilitation and maintenance care to prevent a recurrence.
Sciatica / Disc problems
Sciatica is a general term used to describe pain extending from the base of the spine down the back and side of the leg. The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body and irritation to this nerve can lead to severe pain and symptoms such as pins and needles, heaviness or numbness down the leg, calf or foot. Your discs lie in between each of your vertebrae allowing flexibility and absorbing shock throughout the spine. A slipped disc is an inaccurate term to describe damage to the outer portions of the disc causing a bulge which can irritate the spinal cord or the nerves exiting from the lower lumbar spine. This can result in excruciating pain in the back, weakness in the leg and also referred pain into the lower leg and foot. Chiropractors commonly treat sciatica and disc problems and most individuals find a remarkable improvement with conservative care, avoiding unnecessary surgery.
Sports injuries
Enthusiastic amateurs and professional sports players are both exposed to the same kind of injuries through the possibility of overtraining, overuse or repetitive strain injuries. These repeated stresses can lead to a loss of proper spinal motion and alignment, which in turn can have a negative affect on the function of your muscles and nerves, hence compromising your performance. More often, sportspeople are consulting chiropractors not only for injuries, but also to enhance their performance and prevent future problems.
