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WHO CAN
BENEFIT FROM CHIROPRACTIC CARE
Everyday activities and events—car accidents, sports
injuries, repetitive stress activities, even
prolonged sitting—can result in painful joint,
muscle and nerve dysfunction. In attempting to
compensate for such dysfunction, many people worsen
their pain and discomfort by putting unhealthy
stress on other joints, nerves, and muscles. This is
one of the most common and underestimated sources of
health problems. Chiropractic care aims to correct
the underlying causes of pain and
dysfunction—without the use of potentially harmful
drugs or surgery.
The goal of chiropractic care is the detection,
treatment, and prevention of these problems. Dr.
Goosen’s goal is to have you leave our office
feeling better than when you walked in.
Each patient’s treatment plan is unique, and will
generally involve a combination of modalities, which
may include:
• Chiropractic Adjustments
• Active Release Technique Therapy
• Massage and Deep Tissue Work
• Dry Needling
• Ultrasound
• Interferencial Current (IFC)
• Traction
• Mobilization
• Stretching Regime
Because Chiropractic is a non-invasive treatment
option, virtually anyone can benefit from
Chiropractic care. More specifically:
• Babies and Children:
Who is suffering from spinal problems, as they grow
older and their nervous system which constantly need
to adapt.
• Pregnant woman:
Chiropractor can help with an easier delivery and
minimize backache.
• Office-bound workers
Individuals sitting in front of a computer for a
prolonged period of time. Extended computer work
often results in back and/or neck problems due to
poor posture.
• Factory workers
Individuals performing repetitive activities for
most of the day
• The Elderly
With years of wear and tear on the body
• Athletes
Constantly striving to improve their performance and
who often push their bodies to the limit in order to
achieve their goals
WHIPLASH
Whiplash is most commonly received by passengers in
a motor vehicle that is struck from behind by
another vehicle. When the head is suddenly “jerked”
back and forth beyond its normal limits, the muscles
and ligaments supporting the spine and head can be
overstretched or torn. The soft, pulpy discs between
spinal bones can bulge, tear or rupture. Vertebrae
can be forced out of their normal position causing
stiffness, pain and nerve damage. The spinal cord
and nerve roots in the neck can become stretched or
irritated. This is all possible even with little
damage to the vehicle. In fact, research shows that
increased “crushing” (as seen with higher-speed
impacts) of the vehicle actually absorbs some of the
shock of the impact and can lessen injury to the
car’s occupants. When “crushing” does not occur (as
seen with lower-speed impacts), nearly all of the
shock is transferred to the driver and passengers.
Symptoms Associated With Whiplash
Whiplash symptoms may include headache, dizziness,
blurred vision, pain in the shoulder, arms or hands,
reduced ability to turn and bend, and even low back
and leg problems. These symptoms may appear
immediately following the accident or as much as 2
weeks after the injury.
The human body will attempt to immobilize injured
areas following a trauma. This usually begins with
“protective” muscle spasm (as the name implies, the
spasm is attempted to prevent further harm by
immobilizing damaged joints and muscles). If
function is not restored within 4-8 weeks, then scar
tissue will be laid down at the site of injury
hampering the return to full function. This will
eventually lead to increased bone growth with the
joint causing joint degeneration. All of this,
however, can occur with little to no pain.
A study stated that an individual involved in a
motor vehicle accident is nearly 7-times more likely
to suffer neck degeneration within 7-years of the
accident, than individuals that have not been
involved in an auto accident. The goal of
chiropractic care is to return the injured joints,
muscles and nerves to complete, healthy function
thereby reducing this increased risk of
degeneration.
Common Problems Associated with Whiplash
• Headaches
• Neck Pain
• Low Back Pain
• Disc Injuries
• Shoulder Pain
• Rotator Cuff Impingement
• Tendonitis
COLIC
Research shows that 90% +, of all babies with ,"
Colic-type " , symptoms, which include cramping,
difficulty passing winds etc, that was not the
result of infection or congenital conditions
responds to chiropractic treatment within two weeks.
In three recent international studies, 10 000
children with colic showed that spinal adjustment
with parental education on postural care and
activity modification had remarkable positive
results.
For 80-90% of all babies, the birth process, the
position in the womb during the last trimester of
pregnancy and the first three month's of being
nearly human could be very traumatic.
The trauma puts the spine out of alignment which in
turn causes a breakdown in communication in the way
that the brain talks to the body through the spinal
cord. One possible symptom is crying and discomfort
without any medical explanation.
We start treating babies when they are 10 days old
and have been privileged to experience miraculous
results. By manipulating the spine in symptomatic
babies, movement in the affected area of the spine
is restored which in time allows free communication
between the brain and dis-eased structures and
organs.
This may sound extreme, but due to the spine's
flexibility, the treatment is gentle, safe and
remarkably effective.
Colicky babies show a variety of symptoms depending
where the limitation in movement in the spine is
found. Adjusting the neck normalizes muscle tone and
reduces inflammation. This helps to reduce mucous
production and allows the baby to breathe normally.
Manipulation of the thoracic spine reduces stomach
cramps and bloating. Adjusting the lower spine frees
movement in that area and reduces constipation.
Colic however is not the only reason why babies and
children should be treated chiropractic. Babies with
sleeping problems are often the result of an,
"uncomfortable body", due to chronic low grade
inflammation. Ear infections that do not respond to
medications, are often the result of limited
movement in the neck causing inflammation and tight
neck muscles which in turn has a negative impact on
the eustacean tube preventing it from clearing
properly. These are but a few examples.
The use of chiropractic in infant care, is part of a
cost-effective international trend to replace
reactive disease management with proactive
healthcare. Many ailments, even in children, are
caused by bad repetitive posture and chronic overuse
and abuse of the spine and related structures.
WHAT IS GOOD POSTURE?
Posture is the position in which you hold your body
upright against gravity while standing, sitting or
lying down. Good posture involves training your body
to stand, walk, sit and lie in positions where the
least strain is placed on supporting muscles and
ligaments during movement or weight-bearing
activities.
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Proper
posture:
• Keeps bones and joints in the correct
alignment so that muscles are being used
properly.
• Helps decrease the abnormal wearing of
joint surfaces that could result in
arthritis.
• Decreases the stress on the ligaments
holding the joints of the spine together.
• Prevents the spine from becoming fixed in
abnormal positions.
• Prevents fatigue because muscles are being
used more efficiently, allowing the body to
use less energy.
• Prevents strain or overuse problems.
• Prevents backache and muscular pain.
• Contributes to a good appearance.
Proper Posture Requirements
Correct sitting position
• Sit up with your back straight and your
shoulders back. Your buttocks should touch
the back of your chair.
• All three normal back curves should be
present while sitting. A small, rolled-up
towel or a lumbar roll can be used to help
you maintain the normal curves in your back.
• Distribute your body weight evenly on both
hips.
• Bend your knees at a right angle. Keep
your knees even with or slightly higher than
your hips. (use a foot rest or stool if
necessary). Your legs should not be crossed.
• Keep your feet flat on the floor.
• Try to avoid sitting in the same position
for more than 30 minutes.
• At work, adjust your chair height and work
station so you can sit up close to your work
and tilt it up at you. Rest your elbows and
arms on your chair or desk, keeping your
shoulders relaxed. |
• When sitting
in a chair that rolls and pivots, don't
twist at the waist while sitting. Instead,
turn your whole body.
• When standing up from the sitting
position, move to the front of the seat of
your chair. Stand up by straightening your
legs. Avoid bending forward at your waist.
Immediately stretch your back by doing 10
standing backbends. |
Correct driving position
• Use a back support (lumbar roll) at the curve of
your back. Your knees should be at the same level or
higher than your hips.
• Move the seat close to the steering wheel to
support the curve of your back. The seat should be
close enough to allow your knees to bend and your
feet to reach the pedals.
Correct lifting position
• If you must lift objects, do not try to lift
objects that are awkward or are heavier than 30
pounds.
• Before you lift a heavy object, make sure you have
firm footing.
• To pick up an object that is lower than the level
of your waist, keep your back straight and bend at
your knees and hips. Do not bend
forward at the
waist with your knees straight.
• Stand with a wide stance close to the object you
are trying to pick up and keep your feet firm on the
ground. Tighten your stomach
muscles and lift the
object using your leg muscles. Straighten your knees
in a steady motion. Don't jerk the object up to your
body.
• Stand completely upright without twisting. Always
move your feet forward when lifting an object.
• If you are lifting an object from a table, slide
it to the edge to the table so that you can hold it
close to your body. Bend your knees so
that you are
close to the object. Use your legs to lift the
object and come to a standing position.
• Avoid lifting heavy objects above waist level.
• Hold packages close to your body with your arms
bent. Keep your stomach muscles tight. Take small
steps and go slowly.
• To lower the object, place your feet as you did to
lift, tighten stomach muscles and bend your hips and
knees.
What is the best position for sleeping and lying
down?
No matter what position you lie in, the pillow
should be under your head, but not your shoulders,
and should be a thickness that allows your head to
be in a normal position.
• Try to sleep in a position which helps you
maintain the curve in your back (such as on your
back with a pillow under your knees or a
lumbar roll
under your lower back; or on your side with your
knees slightly bent). Do not sleep on your side with
your knees drawn up to
your chest. You may want to
avoid sleeping on your stomach, especially on a
saggy mattress, since this can cause back strain and
can be uncomfortable for your neck.
• Select a firm mattress and box spring set that
does not sag. If necessary, place a board under your
mattress. You can also place the
mattress on the
floor temporarily if necessary. If you've always
slept on a soft surface, it may be more painful to
change to a hard
surface. Try to do what's most
comfortable for you.
• Try using a back support (lumbar support) at night
to make you more comfortable. A rolled sheet or
towel tied around your waist may
be helpful.
• When standing up from the lying position, turn on
your side, draw up both knees and swing your legs on
the side of the bed. Sit up by
pushing yourself up
with your hands. Avoid bending forward at your
waist.
• Supporting the spine in its natural alignment
while sleeping is important to let the back muscles
fully relax and to avoid overextending
the muscles,
ligaments and spinal joints. A supportive and
comfortable mattress is important and using a pillow
(between the knees for
side sleepers, under the
knees for back sleepers, or under the hips for
stomach sleepers) can also help take stress of the
spine.
• Lying on side with knees bent - pillow between
knees for support:
Lying on your side with the knees bent helps
counteract a sway back and can relieve back pain.
Using a pillow between the knees helps prevent
twisting of the spine.
• Lying on back with knees bent - pillow under
knees for support:
Lying on the back with straight legs can cause low
back pain. If you prefer to sleep on your back, bend
your knees slightly and place a pillow under them
for support.
• Lying on your stomach - pillow under the hips:
Lying on your stomach increases the curve of the
lower back, leads to shortening of the muscles in
your lower back and encourages sway back. If you
absolutely must sleep on your stomach, place a
pillow under your hips to help support the lower
back. However, sleeping on the stomach also can
strain the neck and is generally not advisable.
A good mattress will conform to the spine's natural
curves and keep the spine in proper alignment.
Computer posture
You will probably spend many hours sitting at your
PC and how you do this will have implications on
your health as well as your productivity.
Do you suffer from:
• neck pain
• a burning between your shoulder blades
• lower back pain
• headaches
• digestive problems
• breathing difficulties
• eye strain |
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All of the above could be related to how you sit at
your PC for hours at a time every day, barely
moving, eyes fixed on the screen with deadlines to
meet.
We all know that we should sit up straight, but what
exactly does this mean? Most people I see who try to
do it invariably end up making matters worse!
Why? Because we've forgotten how to sit properly
through years of doing it badly.
Sometimes the smallest adjustment to your desk
environment can make a huge difference to your
computer posture. Not only does finding the best
sitting position relieve your aches and pains, it
makes you more productive.
Most companies invest considerable sums of money in
ergonomic seating and chairs but even if you have
the latest and most expensive model available it
won't ensure that you will sit correctly.
So what can you do to ensure the best sitting
position?
DO
Check the position of your screen
Have your chair at the right height so your eyes are
level with your screen and your knees are slightly
lower than your hip joints
Let your wrists rest on the desk
Have you computer in front of you
Let your feet sit flat on the floor and not tucked
under your chair
Keep your shoulders back and relaxed
Your back should be relaxed
Take regular breaks away from your PC
DON'T
Try to sit up straight (more below)
Slouch
Fix your eyes on the screen
Lift your shoulders when typing or clicking the
mouse
Collapse your neck as you read the screen
Use your PC in low light conditions
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Compare the two photographs above. Even slight
adjustments in body position will make a difference
to how much stress is put upon the body. In the
good computer posture you will see the head is
sitting directly on top of the spine and its weight
is passed down to the pelvis and into the chair.
In the not so good computer posture, the neck
has dropped forward and the weight of the head is no
longer completely supported by the chair.
Because the spine is curved forward the muscles in
the middle of the back are required to do more
(inappropriate) work to keep the head up.
Also to look at the screen she has to pull her head
slightly backwards, this over time will cause the
spine to curve more.
Early warning signs that should not be ignored.
Any discomfort experienced at your computer is a
sign you are doing something wrong. You may not be
too concerned if the aches and pains you associate
with sitting at your computer disappear at weekends.
But prolonged periods (and we could be talking
years) of sitting in a poor position will alter your
posture gradually until you begin to suffer all the
time.
More serious signs that require you to take instant
action are tightness or numbness in your fingers,
hands, wrists, elbows or shoulders. This could soon
lead to upper limb disorders, also known as
repetitive strain injury (RSI).
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