Please watch Andy’s latest video called Chiropractic – A Video:

Migraine Awareness  Week  –  Chiropractic Alternative

Migraine is not just a headache, it can be relentless; an intense pounding and throbbing pain that can steal your energy and ability to function.

Migraine is the most common neurological condition affecting people of all ages, social classes, races and culture. During Migraine Awareness Week 07^th – 13^th September 2014, the United Chiropractic Association is highlighting the benefits of Chiropractic care in both the prevention and treatment of migraine headache.  Migraine is usually managed by medication but some patients do not tolerate acute and or prophylactic medicine, whilst other people may wish to avoid medication, Chiropractic is an alternative that should be considered.

 A clinical trial (1) in Australia found that 75% of migraine sufferers experienced either ‘substantial’ or ‘noticeable’ improvement after a period of chiropractic treatment.  One of the authors of the research, Dr Peter Tuchin said

“Around 22% (of patients) had substantial reduction which means that more than 60% of their symptoms reduced during the course of the treatment”  “What makes this a really strong result is that this was a chronic group – the average length of time they’d had migraines was 18 years.  To get a change of that sort of magnitude in a really chronic group was amazing”

Chiropractic treatment appears to affect the changes in the function of the blood or nervous system in specific areas of the brain and chemical balances within the body have been related to the cause of migraine attacks.  The cervical spine – the neck was designed to have a C-shaped curve (known as lordosis).  This design serves a specific purpose as the neck is responsible for bearing the considerable weight of the head.  A subluxation, or misalignment in the neck can irritate the nerves that travel between the brain and the spine.  Such a misalignment can interfere with the normal workings of the central nervous system and leave the body vulnerable to chemical imbalances in the brain.

 Migraine triggers vary but can include periods of stress, foods (such as chocolate, caffeine, processed meats, cheese, nuts, wine and many more) poor sleep, medication and  or even hormonal changes. (e.g. menstrual cycle).  For most people there is not just one trigger but a combination of factors which individually can be tolerated but when they all occur together a threshold is passed and a migraine is triggered.

Chiropractic treatment can help with many contributory factors and after effects including relieve of restriction in movement of the neck, muscle tension in the neck, upper back and shoulders and helping correct any postural issues that may influence the occurrence of both migraine and tension headaches.  Chiropractors can also offer advice on lifestyle issues, exercise, nutrition and managing stress.

For a half price assessment  quote code MigraineRelief and call us on 0145237 2222

National Bike Week  – Pedal your way to better health

To coincide with National Bike Week 14^th – 22^nd June 2014, the United Chiropractic Association is encouraging people to incorporate cycling into their busy schedules. To be fit and healthy you need to be physically active, cycling is a low-impact aerobic exercise that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, from young children to older adults. It gives your heart, blood vessels and lungs a good work out; it is fun, cheap and good for the environment.

Did you know………..

 Research by the car maker Citroen found that the average speed of a car in London during rush-hour (which is nearly all the time in London!) is just 7mph, and that motorists waste up to half of their commute time going nowhere, stuck in jams. The company commissioned some ‘gridlock’ research to promote a car designed for such conditions, a car that shuts off its engine when stuck in jams. Motorists may be grinding to a halt, but the average cyclist can travel at 12-15mph, twice the speed of a car in rush-hour London.

So, not only is cycling good for your health, but it can also cut your travelling time if you work in the City. Cycling can also improve your sleep, help reduce signs of ageing, boost motivation, reduce stress, and is great for weight management.

Whether you are a recreational cyclist, commuter or competitive cyclist, it is important that you are aware of common cycling injuries – how to avoid them and how chiropractic care can help.

Be aware of cycling posture! As with any form of exercise, proper posture will not only enhance your performance, but will also minimise the risk of injury:

• Keep a light, comfortable bend in your elbows instead of locking them
• Keep your shoulders low and set
• Feet should point forward
• Engage your core muscles as you ride
• Ideally, have your bike professionally fitted as this can make a big difference in optimising your body’s alignment

Certain types of musculoskeletal injuries and imbalances are common among cyclists due to the position and posture adopted when riding a bike, as well as the repetitive use of certain muscles. Neck pain and back pain among cyclists is often attributed to poor body posture; such as: hyperextension of the neck and forward bending of the low back. This alteration in optimum body posture can cause certain muscles to become tight and irritated and spinal joint restriction and irritation to develop. If you experience tightness in your shoulders or neck, low back pain, or even numbness in your hands and fingers, rather than waiting till the pain or problem gets worse, visit your local UCA chiropractor. Many cycling injuries respond very well to Chiropractic adjustments, the aim of which is to encourage efficient joint motion, increase flexibility, reduce muscle tightness and improve alignment.

Chiropractic care is great because it is non-invasive, drug-free and effective.

Now is the perfect time to get outside and enjoy yourself, and riding a bike is the ideal activity with the warm weather approaching. It also gives you the opportunity to explore the area around you, which we often don’t appreciate in a car. You could also use this new-found activity to raise money for charity and meet new people. For more information and some great activities taking place during Bike Week 2014 visit www.bikeweek.org.uk

Warning that bad posture caused by mobile device use could shorten your life

Texting and using mobile devices for long periods of time could lead to lower life expectancy, according to the United Chiropractic Association(UCA).

Forward-leaning posture increases the risk of an early death in elderly people and there are fears that younger people might be knocking time off their lives by using this posture when they text, go online, send emails or play games on phones and other mobile devices.

The UCA, which has around 600 members across the UK, says that poor posture is as big a health risk as obesity and is highlighting the dangers as part of its Spinal Awareness Week on 12-16 May.

The UCA points out that elderly people with even a small degree of hyperkyphosis have a 1.44 times greater risk of mortality than those without. This is a similar figure to increased risk of death presented by a body mass index greater than 30.Studies suggest a link between forward-leaning posture in older people and hyperkyphosis, which is associated with pulmonary disease and cardiovascular problems.

UCA executive member Estelle Zauner-Maughan, explained why using mobile devices could prove such a risk: “We tend to drop our heads forward which rounds the shoulders and this is what we term forward-leaning posture.

“People are now definitely at an increased risk of having problems through the top of their neck and back because of their posture, which is causing a change in the curve of the back. And there is an increased risk that they will develop this earlier on in life because of the length of time they’ve been sitting at computers or using mobile devices.”

Estelle added: “The problem is that when someone drops their head forward and rounds their shoulders, it becomes impossible for them to take a full breath in because of the restriction through the muscles and because the ribs can’t move properly. So the heart and lungs can’t function to their full effectiveness. Research is suggesting that the decrease in life expectancy comes from this.”

UCA chiropractor Edwina Waddell has noticed forward-leaning posture becoming more of an issue at her practice in Putney: “It’s something I notice every day and use of mobile devices is a factor,” said Edwina. “So many of us have structured our lives in a way that means we use computers, mobile phones, tablets and laptops at work and in our leisure time as well.

“Posture has been an overlooked factor in our health but research is helping us to raise awareness of it and people are now beginning to realise that good posture is more than about how it makes you look; it’s important for your health on a day to day basis and it can be important in terms of your life expectancy.

“This isn’t alarmist or scaremongering; it’s what more and more research is telling us. And the good news is that it doesn’t have to happen because it’s something we all have a degree of control over. We can change our habits. For example, restrict the amount of time you spend on mobile devices. And bring them up to your eye level, so that you’re not looking down.”

The UCA is urging people to have their posture checked by a registered chiropractor and to take steps to safeguard their posture and health: Edwina said: “A lot of people might not even realise anything is wrong with their posture. A check-up enables potential problems to be corrected before aches and pains begin and before risks are allowed to develop further.”
www.unitedchiropractic.org

Watch this great video on Forward Leaning Head Posture

Reproduced with permission from the UCA

References for this story:

Journal of American geriatric society Hyperkyphotic Posture Predicts Mortality in Older Community- Kado, Huang, Barrett-Conner, Greensdale Hyperkyphosis Predicts Mortality Independent of Vertebral Osteoporosis inOlder Women- Kado et al J Am Geriat Soc 2004 Oct;52(10):1662-7.

Narrative Review: Hyperkyphosis in Older Persons- Kado et al. Ann Intern Med. 2007 Sep 4;147(5):330-8.

New England Journal of medicine, Overweight, Obesity, and Mortality in a Large Prospective Cohort of Persons 50 to 71 Years Old Kenneth F. Adams, Ph.D., Arthur Schatzkin, M.D., Tamara B. Harris, M.D., Victor Kipnis, Ph.D., Traci Mouw, M.P.H., Rachel Ballard-Barbash, M.D., Albert Hollenbeck, Ph.D., and Michael F. Leitzmann, M.D.

N Engl J Med 2006; 355:763-778August 24, 2006DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa055643