Category: chiropractor southend

Here at Cliffs Chiropractor Southend we are used to treating patients with bad backs. One of the main common causes of back pain is posture, however, it has been found that the clothes you wear can often do as much damage.

Some of the worst offenders are high heels, heavy handbags and tights jeans or skirts. Being a leading Southend Chiropractor, we have come up with some advice to make sure your fashion choices don’t harm your back.

•  If you like wearing high heels, try to wear a small heel if possible and alternate shoes everyday, to give you feet and back a break

• Skinny jeans can grip the waist and thighs, which can make walking normally, impossible. Try not to sit for long periods of time with phones or wallets in you back pocket. This can cause an imbalance with one buttock being higher than the other which in turn can cause back or hip pain

• We all know that carrying heavy bags can cause strain on neck and shoulder muscles. Don’t over pack your bag and try and not to carry it on the same shoulder, swapping sides regularly will help

If you are suffering from back pain or have any other concerns please get in touch with us as we offer a lot of help and advice to get you back up and running as soon as possible. You can contact us at Cliffs Chiropractor Southend on 01702 430430.

Here at Cliffs Chiropractor Southend we love to share and give advice on how to keep your back safe, with whatever you’re doing, whenever you’re doing it.

Posture, plays a big part in back care and new studies show that slouching and posture can put you at risk from back and neck pain. It has been found that slouching can give feelings of stress, which can then affect energy levels and sleep.

Here are some tips from Cliffs Chiropractor Southend, for when you are sitting at home or in the office:

• Let the seat take your weight and try to keep as much of your body in contact with the chair, so that your whole body is supported
• Drink lots of water, instead of tea and coffee, to keep your body hydrated
• Try not to sit for more than 30 minutes at a time
• Use the stairs as much as possible instead of the lift or escalator
• When sitting at a desk make sure arms are flat and elbows are level with the desk

If you are suffering from back pain or have any other concerns please get in touch with us as we offer a lot of help and advice to get you back up and running as soon as possible. You can contact us at Cliffs Chiropractor Southend on 01702 430430.

Surprisingly, it’s not strenuous exercise putting most people’s backs out!

As part of BackCare Awareness Week (6th – 12th October) Arif and the team at Cliffs Chiropractic Clinic are urging people to think about what they put their backs through during an average day, as research findings reveal that sleeping and sitting are two of the main culprits for triggering neck and back pain in the UK.

Three quarters (75%) of people surveyed in East Anglia say they are currently experiencing back or neck pain or have done in the past. More than one in five (22%) say they suffer on a daily basis*.

43% of UK respondents pin sleeping as their most common pain trigger and 44% said sitting is also a trigger

In the UK it seems modern lifestyle could be to blame; 82% of those surveyed say they spend up to six hours a day sitting in front of a computer screen and almost one in five (19%) spend more than 4 hours a day watching TV.

Arif cautions that inactive lifestyles could be causing unnecessary pain and is encouraging the nation to make small adjustments to daily routines, to help improve their back health.

Breakdown of a sedentary day:

• 73% spend more than six hours sleeping
• 28% spend over six hours sitting
• 33% spend between two and six hours looking at a laptop or tablet
• 49% spend between two and six hours watching TV or a film
• 82% spend up to six hours a day sitting in front of a computer screen

Arif comments: “As a nation we’re becoming increasingly sedentary and struggle to switch off – whether it’s sitting at a desk or lounging on the sofa, hunching over a mobile device or lying in bed for too long, the effects of modern lifestyles are taking their toll. Understanding how to sit properly and keeping active will help improve posture, strengthen muscles and therefore reduce neck and back pain.

With 35 million working days a year lost to back and neck related problems* it’s really important that people think about their back health when going about their daily business, and that they seek help from an expert if they are in pain to avoid more long term problems.”

The Cliffs Chiropractic Clinic has some TOP TIPS for maintaining a healthy back and neck:

• Sit up straight – keep arms relaxed and close to the body and place arms on the desk when typing. Make sure the top of the screen is level with the eyebrows and the chair is titled slightly forward, allowing for the knees to be lower than the hips and the feet to be flat on the floor.
• Keep moving – if sitting in the same position all day take regular breaks – ideally every 30 minutes. It’s good to stretch your arms, shrug your shoulders and move your fingers around – this helps to keep the muscles more relaxed.
• Switch off – try to limit the time you spend leaning over you mobile devices or with your laptop on your knees especially after a day spent in front of a screen, to help improve your posture and relieve neck strain.
• Sleep easy – test out your mattress before you buy it to find the perfect one and lie on your side rather than lying on your front with your neck twisted to one side.

For more information on how to maintain a healthy posture, the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) has developed ‘Straighten Up’ – a simple, three minute exercise programme for all ages, designed to help strengthen the spine and improve posture and help joints. You can watch the video here:

If you are suffering backor neck pain why not call Cliffs today and find out how our experienced team of chiropractors in Southend can help you.