Arif Soomro Archives - Cliffs Chiropractor Southend

Common Myths About Back Pain That May Not Be Helping You

Posted on 27th November 20182nd March 2020

sports injuries treated by our southend chiropractor At our busy chiropractic clinic in Southend, our chiropractors treat many patients each week. Our patients come from all different types of back grounds and all different age groups. We treat the very young through to patients who are in their 80s. Whilst our patients are diverse the one thing many of them have in common is back pain.

Speaking with patients, our chiropractors often hear patients repeat common myths held about back pain. Some of the most common myths held about back pain can slow down a patient’s recovery time and some may prevent a complete recovery from back pain.

Some of the most common myths shared with our chiropractors include:

Myth #1: I didn’t think I would suffer back pain

Some patients find it surprising that they are suffering from back pain. They have fallen for the myth that back pain doesn’t happen to everyone. Unfortunately this is not the case.

Back pain is on the increase. It is highly likely that most people will suffer back pain in their lifetime. A contributory factor to the increase in incidents of back pain is the sedentary lifestyle that more and more people are living.

If you are suffering back pain then our chiropractors recommend that you seek professional medical advice from a chiropractor, GP or other health care professional.

Of course prevention is better than cure which is why our chiropractors proactively seek to educate people in ways to maintain a healthy back and help avoid back pain. The Back Story programme developed by one of leading chiropractors, Arif Soomro, provides information, segmented by age group, that will help build strength and flexibility and also increase energy levels.

Myth #2: Rest is what I need

Many back pain sufferers fall into the trap of believing that if they rest up for a few days and give their back a rest their back pain will disappear. In many instances rest is not going to help. In fact it can make the situation worse.

Research published in the Lancet earlier this year shows that exercise and manipulation with a move away from drugs to be the most effective treatment for low back pain.

Which leads us onto the third myth …

Myth #3: I just need some painkillers

Reaching for painkillers may seem like a good option but unfortunately is unlikely to provide a long term solution to your back pain. The research published in the Lancet suggests we are over medicalising low back pain.

Perhaps one of these myths has held you back from seeking help with your back pain.

The good news is that chiropractic offers an effective, safe and gentle treatment for back pain. In addition to spinal manipulation our chiropractors at Cliffs Chiropractic provide a package of care which includes:

chiropractic
medical acupuncture
remedial massage
exercise
nutrition and
lifestyle advice

Our chiropractors aim to find the underlying cause of your back pain and provide you with a long term solution for managing your back and overall health and well being.

If you are suffering back pain or want to maintain a healthy back our chiropractors are here to help you.

Is Your Back Pain Making You Feel Old?

Posted on 12th October 20182nd March 2020

It’s not uncommon for our chiropractors at our busy chiropractic clinic in Southend to hear patients tell them how their back pain is making them feel old.

Back pain can have a tremendous impact on your life and can be quite debilitating for some. For many back pain sufferers simple day to day tasks which we take for granted suddenly become monumental tasks.

Given that at least 4 our of 5 adults will at some time in their lives experience back pain, our chiropractors at Cliffs Chiropractic Clinic, do all that they can to help educate people on actions that they can take to help keep their back and spine healthy.

One such initiative has been developed by our chiropractor, Arif Soomro. The Back Story programme has been developed by Arif to help people at different ages to be healthy and to counter balance the effects that modern day living in particular are having on us. By selecting your age group, you will find out about your body, the food and nutrients and exercise that will be beneficial for you at this age.

If you are currently suffering back pain then our chiropractors recommend that if you have been experiencing the pain for some time that you seek professional advice.

Chiropractic is a gentle, safe and effective treatment for many types of back pain. Low back pain is one of the most common conditions our team of experienced chiropractors treat.

If you would like to book an appointment you can call us on 01702 430 430.

Take Care of Your Back During Pregnancy

Posted on 14th August 20182nd March 2020

pregnacy posture advice, cliffs chiropractic clinic, back pain, arif soomro During pregnancy your body goes through significant changes some of which will affect your posture. Unfortunately it’s not uncommon for these changes to result in back aches and pains. Some of the more common changes which can result in back aches and pains during pregnancy include:

Lumbar curving increasing due to the increased weight being carried at the front of the body. In turn more pressure is put onto the spinal joints which can cause discomfort mad for some pain.
Increased pressure put on the upper back as a result of an increase in breast size can result in upper back aches and pain.
During the final stages of pregnancy the releasing of relaxin to soften muscles, ligaments and tendons can cause more problems when over stretching and lifting.

Our chiropractors at Cliffs Chiropractic Clinic in Southend recommend that you take care of your back during pregnancy. Seeking advice from a healthcare professional to help advise you on exercises and stretches you can do to help support your spine is highly recommended.

Taking appropriate forms of exercise is important, especially exercises that will help strengthen the core. There are specialist pregnancy yoga classes that can be undertaken from 12 weeks. Swimming and aqua natal classes can also be beneficial.

Our chiropractors recommend that you seek the advice of a health care professional such as a chiropractor, your GP, midwife or other healthcare professional to advise you appropriately.

Cliffs Chiropractic Clinic in Southend s a leading chiropractic pregnancy care clinic. Arif Soomro, one of our experienced chiropractors, is a Fellow of the International Chiropractic Paediatric Association. He has helped many ladies through their pregnancies both patients and other chiropractors. Arif is also certified in the Webster Technique.

Arif says, “Caring for an expectant mother is an extremely rewarding experience. It offers an unique opportunity to positively influence two lives at once.”

If you are suffering back aches and pains during your pregnancy why not call us today and book an appointment with Arif.

Starting On A New Journey

Posted on 10th August 20182nd March 2020

Arif & Jason at Cliffs Chiropractic Clinic Southend And yet more to celebrate on our birthday … meet Jason, who is about to embark on an amazing journey to become a chiropractor.

Watch Arif and Jason get excited about this here.

How Baby Hugs & Sounds Can Help Expectant Mums Face Birth

Posted on 4th July 20182nd March 2020

As one of the UK’s first chiropractors to qualify as a Certified Chiropractic Paediatric Practitioner, Arif has extensive experience of helping expectant mums.

Arif has recorded a short video explaining two concepts that he hopes will help expectant mums who are going to go through labour – baby hugs and sounds.

You can also read a transcript of the video below it.

Baby Hugs …

If you think about it when we really cherish something and we are going to say goodbye what we often tend to do is to give it an embrace – a hug, to show how much we care, to show our compassion, our love and then, after the hug, we release and say goodbye.

Your body has for nine months been growing, nurturing and giving life to this embryo and now it’s about to send your baby into the outside world.

The uterus literally is a muscle. It will hug the baby from the top down, caressing it with contractions to bring it into the world.

Try and regard those contractions as baby hugs.

Literally your body for the final time hugging, loving and saying goodbye to your baby and helping it gently but firmly into the outside world.

The hormones you release during the birthing process are the same ones that you released when you were conceiving the child. If you think about that it’s a compassionate and passionate thing. During the birth you are passionately holding, hugging, loving that baby and releasing it to the world.

Sound …

When you’re giving birth, initially when the baby is high up in the birth canal, the sounds that you make, the breathing sounds and the groaning sounds, will be quite high pitched. As the baby resonates and passes through the birth canal theses sounds will tend to be deeper.

That vibration literally helps the baby pass through the birth canal into the world.

I hope those few concepts will help you as your go through those contractions.

Have a great birth.

Perfect Posture This Summer

Posted on 4th July 20182nd March 2020

Arif often gets asked by patients how they can improve their posture. He has made a short video, ably assisted by Susan, to demonstrate a very simple exercise you can do at work, at home or anywhere you like which will help you straighten up and improve your posture. Do this exercise 3 times a day and you’ll soon be on the way to a straighter taller you.

The Exercise

If you have a therapy band then use this to do this exercise or you can use an old pair of tights. However, don’t worry if you have neither, you can do it with just your arms, making sure you clench and squeeze the muscles between your shoulder blades whilst staying upright.

When doing the is exercise stand with your feet slightly wider than your hips apart – thinking of the shape of the Eiffel Tower will help.

Pull your chin into your Adams apple while still looking straight ahead.

Bend both elbows to 90 degrees. Keep your elbows tucked into your sides and gentle try and stretch your hands outwards to 90 degrees as far as you can and bring your hands slowly inwards.

Repeat about 5 times.

This exercise will help to strengthen your upper back and by keeping your chin into your chest it will strengthen the deep flexors in your neck.

If you want a straighter taller you then do this exercise 3 times a day and let us know how you get on.

Arif’s Intro

Watch Susan demonstrate the exercise

A Wonderful Sunday Lunch For A Wonderful Team

Posted on 31st May 20182nd March 2020

Arif hosted a Sunday lunch for the Cliffs’ team at the end of May. The company was fabulous, the food was abundant and the sun shined – what more could we ask for:)

Arif says “I am blessed to spend much time with a team I truly cherish. I was able to have them and their families for Sunday lunch. It was a small way to show my gratitude for the positive influence they are in my life and I believe in the lives of the many they touch.”

Ditch the car and walk to school

Posted on 22nd May 20182nd March 2020

It’s Walk to School week (May 21 -25) and if you are taking up the challenge to ditch the car and walk your kids to school this week then congratulations. Last year 400,000 children and families participated in the Living Streets challenge. Every year Living Streets come up with a new fun, themed challenge designed to encourage children and their families to walk to school and get a taste of the many benefits walking can bring.

With back pain in children and young people on the rise our chiropractors cannot stress enough the importance that exercise plays in the health of children’s backs. Back pain is on the increase across all ages and a major contributory factor to this increase is down to lifestyles that are heavily sedentary and it’s sad to say that children are not immune to being increasingly inactive.

It’s important that children and teenagers take adequate exercise during the day – one hour is recommended. Taking exercise not only has health benefits but it is good for the brain too and can improve memory and thinking skills.

One of our experienced chiropractors at Cliffs Chiropractic, Arif Soomro, is so concerned with the state of children’s and people’s spines that he developed the Back Story. The Back Story was developed by Arif to be a proactive guide to enable anyone to help themselves take better care of themselves depending on their age.

By choosing an age group you can learn what’s happening to your body and how you can increase your energy levels, strength and flexibility. Making a few lifestyle changes today, and sustaining them, can give you benefits that last a lifetime. The information starts with toddlers and goes through to the 80+ age group. If you have children then you will definitely want to read the appropriate sections for their age.

Now back to ditching your car and walking your kids to school. You may have missed out on being a part of the Walk to School challenge this May but why not create your own challenge. Try walking to school 5 days and see the benefits. If you have a long drive to school why not park the car 10 minutes away and walk from there.

We know it can be tough to fit in the school walk and ditch the car with everything else that needs to get done but in the long term we think it’s worth it.

Meet Our New Team Member Sophie

Posted on 2nd May 20182nd March 2020

We welcome Sophie to the Cliffs Chiro work family.

Sophie has started her training and with a big smile, great energy and enthusiasm Sophie fits perfectly into our team and we are delighted to have our team at full strength to give outstanding care and service to our fantastic patients and yes that’s YOU.

We’ll let Sophie introduce herself to you …

Hi my name is Sophie, the newest member of the wonderful reception team. For the last 7 years I have been a full time Mum to my two gorgeous children & before that I worked in London as a PA. The Cliffs Chiropractic Clinic is renowned for patient care & satisfaction so when I saw the position for a new Receptionist advertised, I knew immediately that I wanted to be part of this fantastic team. Thank you to everyone for being so welcoming & I look forward to meeting many more of you as I settle in.

We received hundreds of applications for the role and Arif says “After sifting through hundreds of applications we were impressed with Sophie’s energy, enthusiasm and open face which we felt naturally lended her to joining our team culture and contributing to the patient experience.”

We’re really excited to have Sophie join us and we’re sure she is going to be an invaluable member of our team.

How Long Are You Sitting For Every Day?

Posted on 24th April 20182nd March 2020

Do you know how long you spend sitting every day? 4 hours? 6 hours? 8hours? Or could it be more? Well if you are like the average Brtish person you will be spending 8.9 hours a day sitting? Sounds like a lot doesn’t it? But the number of hours you sit for soon adds up when you include the time you spend sitting when eating, commuting, working and relaxing. There’s a useful calculator on the Get Britain Standing website which helps you calculate the number of hours you spending sitting.

Why do we care how long you are sitting for? Well the answer is simple – your health. There is an increasing body of research evidence that shows the damaging consequences on our health of sitting for prolonged periods of time. Unfortunately our modern lifestyles seem to have us sitting for longer and longer periods.

As chiropractors at our busy clinic in Southend over the years we have been treating an increasing number of patients with back and neck problems associated with modern day living.

You back works hard to support you every day whether it is standing up or sitting down. It’s time now for you to give your back a little more support and that means doing some specific exercises. Arif Soomro, one of experienced chiropractors at Cliffs Chiropractic has developed a campaign called Back To Business which is a series of movements which are fun, easy and can be done in seconds. They don’t look weird and their very effective.

If done regularly these movements will help you counteract neck stiffness, alleviate back ache and strengthen your spine. They will also help you stand taller and straighter and they also have the great side effects of making you feel more energetic and to look younger too!

If you do nothing else at least do three of these exercises every day. We recommend the Squeeze, the Sway and the Cuppa. When you do them regularly they’ll become second nature.

You’ll find all the exercises on the Back To Business page on our website – here

If you are suffering back pain, neck pain or shoulder pain then our chiropractors are here to help you. Why not call us today on 01702 430430 to book an appointment.

Tag: Arif Soomro