Tag: back pain

Summer Walks in Leigh on Sea for a Healthy Spine

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back care advice from our chiropractor near leigh on seaThere are few things more enjoyable than a peaceful summer’s walk. Breathing in the tranquil fresh air and soaking up the vibrant blooming scenery with not so much as a single distraction is good for both the body and mind – especially if you suffer from back pain.

According to our chiropractor near Leigh on Sea, regular walking can reduce the likelihood or severity of additional episodes of back pain and can even enhance your ability to continue undertaking everyday activities.

Here are three ways that walking can help your back pain:

1: It can strengthen the muscles in your feet, legs, hips, and torso

Walking helps to condition the muscles that keep your body in the upright position, which will in turn increase the stability of your spine.

2: It can nourish your spinal structures

Walking encourages strong circulation which facilitates the delivery of essential nutrients to soft tissues.

3: It can help with flexibility and posture

Regular walking promotes a greater range of motion which helps to prevent the risk of future injuries.

Leigh on Sea offers some fantastic scenic walking paths that are suitable for beginners and more advanced walkers.

The Leigh on Sea rail station walk is a firm favourite amongst our patients and is suitable for those of you suffering from back pain. The scenic walk takes place along the coastal path between Leigh on Sea rail station and Benfleet station in Essex and provides a variety of stunning views on clear summer days. The path is completely flat with plenty of charming pubs, as well as the cockle sheds and a beach in pretty cobblestoned old fishing village on route.

For more advanced walkers, the Leigh on Sea castle walk provides wonderful views along the Thames and across to Canvey Island. This path involves a little road walking and some parts can be muddy or wet after heavy rain.

Who would have known that a simple summer stroll could bring so many health benefits to your spine? Start putting one foot in front of the other and you never know, you really could be “walking on sunshine” this summer!

Lounging on the Beach This Summer? Watch Your Back and Neck

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If you’re planning a trip abroad this summer (or even if the British weather holds out), you’ll probably be looking forward to long, lazy days of rest and relaxation. But according to our Southend chiropractor, lying in the sun for hours on end can be harmful to your neck and back (and we’re not just talking about sunburn!).

Lying on your stomach – which is a favourite sunbathing position – flattens the natural curve in the lower back. You’re also more likely to turn your head to one side when you lie in this position, which can distort the alignment of the vertebrae in your cervical spine. That’s without the compression of your heart, lungs and nerves (ever wondered why you sometimes experience “pins and needles” when you’re in a certain position?)!

Our chiropractor in Southend recommends that you avoid lying on your stomach for long periods of time – especially if you currently suffer or have previously suffered from back or neck pain.

One Small Change That Could Save Your Back Health

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According to our experienced chiropractor in Southend, making an effort to sit less and stand more may bring significant benefits to your back health.

When you sit, the discs in your lower back are loaded three times more than when standing. With this in mind, it’s hardly surprising that frequently sitting for long periods of time can cause or worsen a painful back issue.

But with many people’s jobs requiring them to sit for hours on end, how can you make this daily change to help protect your back?

“It’s as simple as getting up to stretch and walk around every 20 – 30 minutes”, says Arif, our leading chiropractor.

Get up and pace while you’re talking in the office, walk for ten minutes on your lunch break or take the stairs instead of the lift.

A healthy spine requires movement so do what you can to implement this one small change into your daily routine. Your back will thank you for it!

We’ve produced a series of videos with six simple exercises you can do every day to keep your back healthy. Why not start with the Squeeze, the Sway and the Cuppa.

 

Is Your Mobile to Blame for Your Neck Pain?

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By now most of us will have heard of “text neck” – a modern day condition where the cervical spine is affected by excessive mobile phone use. But what level of damage are our “heads down generation” actually risking?

The adult human head typically weighs between 10 and 12 lb and this weight equates to far greater volumes as the head tilts forward. The muscles, ligaments and tendons are all put under pressure when holding the head at a forwards angle, which explains why excessive mobile phone use is largely responsible for many neck complaints.

To highlight the reality of this…

A head that is tilted 15 degrees forward may equate to 27 lbs and a head that is tilted 30 degrees forward may put the same strain on the neck as a 40lb head!

Maybe the term “get your head straight” is more apt than ever…

National Gardening Week – Keep Your Back Health in Full Bloom!

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The sunnier weather will soon be upon us and that means pulling out our green fingers and getting our gardens looking all pretty and perfect in time for the summer. But while visions of lazy hazy summer days may get us all motivated to put our gardening gloves on, we must be mindful to protect our backs in the process. With National Gardening Week starting on the 11th April, our team of Southend chiropractors have compiled a list of handy tips to keep both your garden and your back health in full bloom this Spring:

1: Weed Carefully

Instead of resting on your knees to weed, use a stool to sit on to protect your spine, knees and hips. Remember to keep your back straight when you’re sitting on the stool – even when you lean forward to get to the weeds!

2: Take Care When Digging

To avoid injuring your back through twisting, keep your body in alignment with the direction of the shovel and turn your whole body when you start digging a new area. This advice should also be followed when dumping dirt from a shovel. Yes, it may seem easier to twist rather than moving your body in a half circle, but excessive or awkward twisting can be damaging on your spine and could cause a painful injury.

3: Be Sensible When Lifting Heavy Items

The first rule here is; if something feels too heavy for you to lift, leave it alone! Don’t attempt to lift anything beyond your capability and always arrange for help if you think you are going to struggle. When you do lift a heavy item, bend from your hips and knees instead of your spine and keep your back straight when lifting. Rushing is the indirect cause of many gardening injuries, so take your time and properly plan before you start lugging heavy items around. It may add a few moments to your workload, but it will certainly reduce the risk of you developing a painful injury with potentially long term symptoms.

Stop what you are doing if back pain develops or worsens during gardening and contact your GP for advice if pain or symptoms persist.

Working Together to Protect the Health of Our Children

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back care advice for childrenThere used to be an age when getting the kids to spend time indoors would be as difficult as trying take a new puppy away from a toy. Whatever the weather, whatever the day, children would want to spend their free time playing outdoors in the fresh air –climbing trees and getting grazed knees, making dens from battered planks of wood, cycling, skating or just good old fashioned walking…

And then came along the internet.

No one can deny the amazing educational benefits that the internet brings for today’s children, but it can pose a danger to their physical health.

Here at our chiropractic clinic in Southend, we treat many children for back and neck pain (we’ve all heard of “text neck”!) and it’s impossible to ignore that the growing amount of time that youngsters spend online sometimes plays a major role in these often modern age aches and pains.

While limited and monitored internet usage can be advantageous for certain areas your child’s life, it’s important (now more than ever) that physical activity plays a major role in their free time.

Our award winning Southend chiropractor provides the following top tips to keep your child happy and healthy (without a single mention of the internet!):

1: Help them to discover a fun activity. The more your child enjoys an activity, the more likely they will be to stick at it. Talk to your child about how important physical activity is and play and active part in helping them to start something they’re interested in.

2: Remember to choose an activity that is developmentally appropriate and respect your child’s views if they think something is too young/ old for them or if they naturally grow out of something. For example, a child who starts ballet lessons at the age of 4 may not want to continue with that particular activity when they’re 12.

3: Ensure that you always plan ahead and make time for your children to exercise.

4: Be proactive in the toys that you buy by selecting ones that promote physical exercise. There are always plenty of new inventions on the market for older children (how much fun do Segways look?) and toddlers and younger children should always have easy access to balls, ride alongs and other active toys.

5: Be active yourself. If your child sees you regularly enjoying sports and physical activities then they are likely to follow in your footsteps. On the flip side, if your child sees you spending most of your downtime on your Smartphone, tablet or laptop then they will assume that is the ‘norm’.

6: Play with your child and plan family days out/ activities together. Why not arrange a family walk every Sunday morning where no technology is allowed? Not only will this benefit your child’s health and fitness but it will encourage you to communicate as a family (something that is also often hampered by too much internet usage).

To book an appointment with our award winning team of chiropractors, contact Cliffs Chiropractor in Southend on 01702 430430.

Common Mistakes to Avoid With Back Pain

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back pain treated at cliffs near leigh on seaIf you’re suffering from chronic or acute back pain, you’ve probably tried various things to alleviate your discomfort. But are you causing more harm than good?

Common mistakes that many back pain sufferers make include:

Mistake No.1: Assuming Your Back Pain Will Go Away On Its Own

While it’s true that some types of back pain can naturally go away, don’t assume that yours is one of them. Too many patients that visit our chiropractic clinic near Leigh on Sea have been suffering in silence for too long. It’s critical that you receive the correct diagnosis and treatment plan as early on in your condition as possible. After all, why suffer unnecessarily?

Mistake No. 2: Becoming Too Reliant On Your GP

If you’ve been making frequent visits to your GP regarding your back pain and your symptoms haven’t improved then your case should be referred to a specialist health care provider. Typically, General Practitioners don’t have in-depth training in spine medicine, so for most patients it is not possible to receive an accurate diagnosis by visiting their GP only. Chiropractors have five years full-time training in neuro-musculoskeletal disorders as well as general diagnosis. So if they can’t diagnose your problem they will refer you to a specialist who can undertake all the appropriate tests. Make sure that you are completely honest about your symptoms (many people underplay their pain to a GP) and be persistent in seeking the help you need.

Mistake No 3: Focusing On Your MRI Results

Remember that MRI scans show pictures; they do not show pain. In other words, it is possible to receive a “normal” scan result and still be in severe pain. If this is the case, your physician should be able to combine your results with a full work-up to come to an accurate diagnosis. For chronic back pain sufferers, a “normal” MRI can be extremely frustrating, but keep working with your health care professional until you receive the correct diagnosis and treatment plan.

Mistake No. 4: Becoming Inactive

Of course, if you are in severe pain, then a few days of professionally-recommended rest can be helpful. Consistent inactivity overtime, however, will probably lead to even more pain. You can speed up your recovery and reduce the risk of future pain by keeping your back and its supporting structures strong and flexible. Ask your healthcare professional for advice on what exercises are right for your specific condition and work together to put a realistic plan in place.

For more advice or to book an appointment with our award winning team of chiropractors, contact Cliffs Chiropractor near Leigh on Sea on 01702 430430.

Love Your Back This Year. Our Cliffs Chiropractors offer this simple advice

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back care advice from Cliffs Chiropractor Southend With so many of us spending hours at a time hunched over our computers or mobile phones our backs are under attack.

In a recent article published in Your Healthy Living, Arif and Melanie share the one simple thing you can do to love your back more this year.

If you are suffering back pain then why not make an appointment with one of our team of chiropractors at Cliffs. Call now on 01702 430 430.

 

When doing what you love causes pain.

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Emma SheehanEmma Sheehan, who works in the beauty industry loved her work and when she became a partner at Health & Harmony, a beauty salon in Leigh, she thought all her dreams had come true. However, after many years of working she was in jeopardy of having to give it all up until on the advice of her brother she visited Cliffs.

You may have read Emma’s story in the Echo.

Click here to read Emma’s full story and Arif’s diagnosis and treatment plan in the Echo. You can also learn ways to test your posture.

Emma was treated by Arif at Cliffs. Arif says “It was clear that Emma’s work position had contributed to a 50 per cent wear in the mid cervical spine. This, and poor posture, had led to a loss of the normal forward neck curve, resulting in a stooping upper back, neck stiffness and weak supportive musculature.”

echo years massaging story thumbnailArif was confident that she would respond well to a combined approach of chiropractic and acupuncture. The pain would ease fairly quickly but it would take time of course to fix the root cause by strengthening the area, improving her posture and altering her work and lifestyle.

“After just two weeks the numbness and the pain in my arm, due to a trapped nerve, had completely disappeared, and so had the headaches,” said Emma. “One year on I wake up refreshed and full of energy. I can work all day without getting stiff – although a little stiffness is inevitable in my job, and I’m walking taller because my posture’s better.”

If you’re in pain then why not make an appointment with one of our experienced team of award winning chiropractors at Cliffs Chiropractor Southend. Call us now on 01702 430 430.

 

Do you know anyone a bit nervous of visiting a chiropractor? This patient was before visiting Cliffs

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patient at cliffs chiropractor southendStuart was one such person but since Arif helped “fix” his back he’s changed his mind completely.

Share the love by sharing this video with anyone who’s in pain and feels a bit nervous of visiting a chiropractor. Hopefully watching it will help them make a decision to seek out our help.

We love a triumphant success story here at Cliffs and nothing quite gives us job satisfaction like watching the journey of a patient bouncing back to good health! This brings us onto Stuart, an electrician who had been suffering from chronic back pain for many years. With a career that involves daily bending and squeezing into small spaces, Stuart thought that he would probably never be able to eliminate his back pain. But that soon changed with some treatment from Arif…

When Stuart first visited us at Cliffs, he was suffering from constant pain in the right side of his back that was actually a result of a knee problem. He was also living with pain on the other side of his back that he said was at number 8 on a pain level scale of 1 – 10. “I always thought it was sciatica” Stuart recently told us, “I had (it) for years.”

Like many of the patients that seek our help, Stuart had been putting up with chronic pain for far too long; and really unnecessarily. After being properly diagnosed by Arif and following a bespoke treatment plan, the pain in the right hand side of Stuart’s back has now “totally gone” and the pain in the left side has “improved enormously!” (Down to 2-3 on the pain level scale!)

We recently caught up with the new and very much improved Stuart and asked him what advice he would give to others suffering from chronic back pain. His advice was this:

“Don’t be frightened to visit a chiropractor. I was quite concerned at first. Arif put me at ease and fixed me.”

Like Stuart, some people suffering from back pain may feel apprehensive about visiting a chiropractor because of the “cracking” sound associated with the technique. In reality, the “cracking” or “popping” sound some patients experience during gentle manipulation (which most find incredibly pleasant) is simply caused by gas bubbles in the fluids that surround the joints. Contrary to some assumptions, chiropractic treatment does not involve “cracking bones”!

A good chiropractor will look to discover the cause of your condition and create a bespoke care plan that describes the diagnoses and suggested treatment. This may involve gentle manipulation techniques as well as advice on diet, exercise and lifestyle, and a rehabilitation programme for you to follow in your own time.

Patients like Stuart are proof that it is never too late to get your back addressed.

If your in pain why not call us to make an appointment with one of our award winning team of chiropractors at Cliffs. Call now on 01702 430 430.

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