1. Pain is the last symptom

Most people that suffer pain would have had the restriction or instability there for months or years before they would even recognise it. Stiffness and reduced range of movement can be some of the first signs, but just like a hole in the tooth, the first sign you normally acknowledge is the pain when the nerve has become irritated and you are in need of a dentist asap. A lot of people have done repetitive movements on a daily basis for years, sometimes decades and have not even recognised they were doing damage until it is too late.

The biggest example is posture; especially working at a desk. This encourages forward head carriage and this in turn increases the load on the muscles, tendons, ligaments of the neck and shoulders to be strained and scar tissue to be laid down. If done long enough the neck will degenerate due to lack of movement. Headaches, pain, tightness in the chest, pins and needles or numbness in hands, neck tension, low energy, fatigue, poor concentration. The list is almost endless.

* Athletes know the benefits of chiropractic
Athletes from all around the world know that chiropractors can help them not just recover from injuries but also with injury prevention and enhancing their athletic performance. Chiropractors play an important role in ensuring an athletes body is functioning without biomechanical distortions. Well known athletes such as Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, Usain Bolt, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ronnie Coleman, Evander Holyfield and Michael Phelps are all proud chiropractic patients and advocates of its benefits.

2. Chiropractic can be used for all ages.

Chiropractic is beneficial from newborns to the elderly. Stick with me as I’m going to get technical for a minute: here at Neurohealth chiropractic we use an array of techniques from low force techniques that work on dural torque and cranial misalignments to high velocity low amplitude (manual adjustments) which restores the biomechanics, proprioception and neuromuscular facilitation from a restricted joint.

Many seniors aren’t aware of the benefits of chiropractic care, which can help them with pain relief, but also increase range of motion, balance and coordination and decrease the process of joint degeneration. With regard to infants, chiropractors can check their spines for restrictions moments after birth. The birth process does put stress on their spines and necks and this is even before any medical intervention might have been applied i.e. forceps or vacuum extraction. Restrictions on their spines can affect the way the baby can latch for feeding on the breast, cause sleeping problems, irritability, or even flat head syndrome.

3. Chiropractors don’t do the healing. You do!

Chiropractors restore function to your joints, which relieves tension on nerves and muscles and allows your body to do the healing that it is in inherently made to do.

4. Adaptation to injury can eventually cause pain elsewhere.

The body has a great ability to adapt to many situations of everyday life. But eventually these adaptations will cause stress elsewhere and the problem will begin there. If you present with low back pain, it is not uncommon for your chiropractor to look at your feet, knees and hips before he even looks at your back. This is due to the fact that chiropractors like to get to the root of the cause, what we call your primary restriction, and start to resolve that dysfunction. As only addressing your symptoms is like taking a panadol, it will mask the pain temporarily but once the drug has worn off your symptoms will return.

5. Chiropractors know more than just your backbone.

This can surprise many, but chiropractors through their extensive 5 year university degree study; nutrition, ergonomics, fitness, lifestyle patterns, and rehabilitation. They undertake neurology, orthopedic, differential diagnosis, radiology and full body anatomy studies. They learn to screen for unrelated musculoskeletal system problems and to refer to other practitioners when necessary.

The Chiropractors here at Neurohealth Chiropractic have done further study after our degrees into the areas of pediatrics and sports rehabilitation. The following is the classroom hours for basic science requirements complied and averaged following a review of curricula of 18 chiropractic schools and 22 medical schools.

Minimum Required Hours

Chiropractic College / Medical School
Anatomy/Embryology. 456 / 215
Physiology 243 / 174
Pathology 296 / 507
Chemistry/Biochemistry 161 / 100
Microbiology 145 / 145
Diagnosis 408 / 113
Neurology 149 / 171
Psychology/Psychiatry 56 / 323
Obstetrics & Gynecology 66 / 284
X-ray 271 / 13
Orthopedics 168 / 2
Total Hours for Degree 2,419 / 2,047
Adapted from: Chapman-Smith, D. The Chiropractic Profession. NCMIC Group Inc. 2000.

6. You need to take responsibility to get the most out of chiropractic.

When somebody says that they tried chiropractic and it didn’t help, I cringe. Of course their are cases where there are complicating factors, but I also hear this from other people that just tried it once or twice. In most cases, one doesn’t acquire back pain overnight, and its not going to go away over night.

If a weak core exists due to years of sitting at your desk, this is to blame for the additional stress on your joints. I can expect that a chiropractic adjustment will provide some relief to your ‘symptoms’, but when the condition is exacerbated, you regaining strength to your core muscles and adapting your environment to stop the aggravation will help provide long term restoration of your health.

When a person is in pain, they will do anything to get out of pain. They have that constant reminder to watch posture, bend correctly, sit well, take regular breaks, do their prescribed homework exercises, as the pain reminds them to do this. Once a person is feeling better and they don’t have the discomfort, they fall back into their old ways. ‘You only have one spine in your life, you need to look after it every minute of the day for life, otherwise it will literally bite in you the bum!’

7. Once you go, you have to go for life’ myth.

Here’s the reason behind this myth: Once you have been adjusted and have a body that is restored back to normal neurological function and can move better, you realise how great that feels and become aware of the early detection signs of your body not feeling right.

Generally, if you come in with pain, once you have been treated for your initial complaint, you will be scheduled for a few more appointments to make sure proper motion is being maintained. It will then be recommended you return occasionally to be checked just like you would go to the dentist for your teeth for tartar buildup and cavities or your cars 10,000km service and oil change. Of course, many people choose to see their chiropractor monthly for wellness and maintenance care. This type of care helps avoid the instances of severe pain and spasm.

8. Adjustments don’t hurt.

Chiropractors use a very specific, quick, small amplitude thrust to a specific spinal joint to help restore the biomechanics, proprioception and neurological receptors of that joint. The sound an adjustment makes is called a cavitation (popping or cracking noise) and is only space being created within the joint causing gasses to be released from the joint capsule. Most people after an adjustment describe feeling as being ‘lighter’, having easier movement in the body, and being able to stand up taller.

If you would like more information or would like to book an appointment at Neurohealth Chiropractic – please call the clinic on 9905 9099 or email us admin@neurohealthchiro.com.au or fill in the contact form from our website www.neurohealthchiro.com.au

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