Tag: chiropractor southend

Are You Suffering In Silence?

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back pain treated at cliffs near leigh on seaIt’s not uncommon for our chiropractors at Cliffs Chiropractic Clinic in Southend to treat patients who have been suffering back pain for weeks and sometimes months. Some have sought other forms of treatment which have not helped with the pain whilst others have simply suffered in silence!

It would appear that putting up with back pain is not confined to the Southend area as recent research* undertaken by the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) found that over a third of Brits wait a month or more to seek professional help and one in ten suffer in silence and not seek help at all for their back or neck pain.

The research also revealed that women take twice as long as men to seek help. Women take on average six weeks and men take three weeks.

Our chiropractors recommend that if you have been experiencing back pain for more than a few weeks you should seek professional help.

At Cliffs Chiropractic our experienced team of chiropractors treat patients suffering back pain on a daily basis.  Our aim is to find the underlying cause of your back pain and provide a long term solution to the problem. Chiropractic treatment is suitable for most people. The variety of treatment methods used ensures all age groups who need help, can benefit from chiropractic and once you’re better you will be given help to maintain good health, including being offered exercises, lifestyle and ergonomic advice.

You can read Stories and Testimonials form patients that we have helped at Cliffs.

Of course prevention is better than cure and at Cliffs we encourage everyone to take a proactive approach to their health and well-being. It’s unfortunate that as chiropractors we are increasingly treating patients for the effects of modern day living and are now seeing more and more 20 and 30-year-olds with the kind of neck, shoulder and back problems usually associated with much older people.

Regardless of your age making some simple lifestyle changes can make a big difference. With a view to helping people make these lifestyle changes we have developed ‘The Back Story‘. You can help yourself right now. Just click on your age-group and use the information to learn more about what’s happening to your body and how you can increase your energy levels, strength and flexibility. Remember you don’t have to be perfect! Making a few lifestyle changes today, and sustaining them, can give you benefits that last a lifetime.

However, if you are suffering back pain in silence then out chiropractors are here to help you. You can call us on 01702 430430 to arrange an appointment with one of our team.

Don’t suffer in silence let us help you.

*Consumer research carried out between 28/02/2018 and 07/03/2018 on a sample of 2,066 UK adults aged 16 + on behalf of the British Chiropractic Association.

Don’t Ignore Your Sports Aches And Pains

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sports injuries treated by our southend chiropractorParticipating into sports can bring many rewards from health benefits to mental well-being, it can also have some downsides. Probably the biggest downside is suffering any aches and pains that may be picked up along the way. Whether you are playing a contact sport like rugby or a non contact sport like tennis there’s always a risk of an injury. Professional sport people and amateurs alike are prone to the same kinds of aches and pains.

It’s not uncommon, however, for people to ignore their sports aches and pains and hope that with time they will go away. In some cases this will happen, however, our chiropractors at Cliffs Chiropractic Clinic in Southend recommend that you seek advice and treatment sooner rather than later if you are suffering some sports aches and pains. Receiving the right treatment and rehabilitation advice is vital to ensure that your condition doesn’t worsen and get you back into action quicker and stronger, if possible.

Chiropractic is a profession that specialises in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculo-skeletal system and its effects upon the spinal nerves. Our experienced chiropractors use their hands to adjust your spine and limbs where signs of restriction in movement occur, improving mobility, easing pain and inflammation and relieving any pressure on spinal nerves. This treatment or ‘adjustment’ therefore allows the joints to return to normal mobility then the body uses its own healing processes, which we recognise in it’s ability to heal cuts, bruises, broken bones and fight infections.

When you visit our clinic your chiropractor will carry out a full consultation and examination to determine the cause of your problem. You will then receive a Report of Findings which will outline a treatment plan for you.

While the Clinic is founded on providing Chiropractic treatment, we take a holistic approach to caring for your health, and offer a range of complementary therapies.

These include:

  • Medical Acupuncture
  • Remedial Massage
  • Sports Rehabilitation
  • Exercises Classes
  • Nutritional Advice

You also have access to free support and advice to help with supporting you in achieving and, as importantly, maintaining good health.

Don’t Ignore Your Sports Aches And Pains any longer 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. Contact us on 01702 430430 or email us at info@CliffsChiro.co.uk to get in touch.

Is Your Sleep Affecting Your Back?

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back care advice from our chiropractor leigh on seaIt’s National Bed Month and we thought we would turn our attention to your bed/mattress and how it can affect your back. Research undertaken by the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) showed that a large proportion of people who get back pain said it could be brought on by a night’s sleep.

Our chiropractor in Southend stresses that choosing the right bed for yourself is really important and can help your back. Given you spend a third of your life in bed it makes sense to choose carefully.

So how do you know if your current bed/mattress is right for you? Our chiropractor suggests that you ask yourself the following questions:

  • Are you and your partner having a comfortable night’s sleep? If not, it could be your bed/mattress.
  • Can you feel the springs through the mattress?If so, it’s time to buy a new one.
  • Is your bed more than 10 years old? If it is, it may be time to start looking for a replacement.

How do you choose a new bed/mattress?

It’s a case that one size doesn’t fit all, so you need to set time aside to look for your new bed. This is an important decision and the more time you take in researching and testing beds the more likely you are to find the right one for you.

Find a store that has a good selection of beds and mattresses so that you can properly test out different options.

Buy the biggest size bed that you can but make sure it isn’t too big to accommodate comfortably in your bedroom.

You are looking for the mattress that is most supportive for you. You need to confirm this by lying on the mattress. As a guide when you are lying on your side your spine should be parallel to the mattress. You’ll need to get someone to check this for you. You also need to ensure that the pillow is an extension of this parallel line – resulting in your neck being a continuation of your spine, straight and parallel to the mattress.

If you have a partner, it’s important that you shop together for your new bed/mattress as both your needs could be very different. If this is the case, you may want to buy two single mattresses that zip together to ensure you both get the support that you need.

We can’t stress how important a good night’s sleep is for your back and overall health.

Our experienced team of chiropractors at Cliffs Chiropractic in Southend are here to help you should you have any questions or concerns regarding your back.

Top Tips on Making Good Habits in 2018!

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healthy living advice from our southend chiropractorIt’s the New Year and many of us are getting ready to carry out those life-improving resolutions we’ve made. But how do we stick to our goals? Sure, we may start the year with bellies full of determination, but what happens when the novelty of going the gym at 6am every morning or living on lettuce leaves wears off? According to our Southend chiropractor, it is relatively easy to create new habits that require little effort to maintain. Here are some tips to make sure you stick to your resolutions this year!

The Thirty Day Rule

Before you start, accept that it will take about three to four weeks for your habit to become automatic. So if you’re finding it tough after a week or two, stick at it; it won’t be long until you’re carrying out your healthy new habits without even thinking about them!

 Keep it Simple

Don’t try to be a superhero and completely change your life in one day. At this time of year, when all you can think about is hitting your goals, it is easy to get over-motivated and take on too much.  Be realistic and only set yourself targets that you know you can achieve.

Remind Yourself

Life can sometimes get in the way of the commitments we make, so make sure you remind yourself to carry out your new habits every day. Simply adding a reminder on your Smartphone or sticking some post-it notes around your home or workplace are both effective ways to stop you from forgetting about your new lifestyle changes.

Be Consistent

The more consistent you are, the sooner your habit will stick. A good idea is to form a routine where you carry out your new habit at the same time of the day and in the same place.

Get a Buddy

There’s no better motivation than having people around you who know your goals. Tell your friends and family about your New Year’s resolutions and how important it is to you that you stick to them.

Replace Any Lost Needs

If your new habit means you’re giving up something that you used to enjoy, make sure you are replacing any needs that are lost. For example, if your New Year’s resolution is to stop watching so much television, you may want to take up meditation or reading as a way to replace the time you would usually spend in front of the box.

We hope these simple tips help you to reach your goals in 2018! Happy New Year everyone!

Kids: Is Homework Harming Their Backs?

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back care advice for children from our chiropractor in southendThe new school term will soon be here and our daily routines (and sanity levels) can return to what they were before all chaos broke loose for 6 weeks.

But as we send our children through the gates for another year of learning, we may have another issue to fret over. (And yes; we mean on top of all the other never-ending worries that come with being a parent.)

We’re talking about homework and our kids’ spines.

While overloaded bag packs are regularly scrutinised under the media spotlight, no one ever seems to mention the way in which our children actually work with the contents. According to our Southend chiropractor, many children adopt poor posture while studying or doing their homework, which holds the very real risk of leading to long-term back problems.

Here our experienced chiropractor shares effective and little known tips on ensuring your children protect their spines at homework time:

Head Tilt

Ensure that your children do not bend their heads down to read. Just like “Text Neck”, regularly lowering the head to read can cause excessive strain on the cervical spine.

Elbows

Help your children to reduce the risk of shoulder strain by checking that their elbows are not raised awkwardly as they type. Ideally, your children’s elbows should be rested on side rests or side arms so that the weight of the arms is off the shoulders.

Lumbar support

Make sure your children’s lower spines are supported by investing in a good quality study chair.

Forearms

Check that your children are not typing with their forearm below their armrests. If your children work from an armchair, place a pillow or attaché beneath their laptop/ tablet. This will allow them to use their armrests and type with level forearms

H20

Ensure that your children stay hydrated during homework sessions. Keeping the body hydrated is an effective inflammation fighter, so keep the H20 coming in regularly supplies!

Breaks

Your children should take breaks away from their workstation/ computer around every 20 minutes. Make sure your children get up, stretch and walk around during their breaks – remaining at their desks checking their social media updates will have the same impact on their spines if they were to study without a break!

You can have a positive impact on your children’s back health by educating them on these simple changes. Believe us; they’ll thank you for it in later life.

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.

Look slimmer taller and younger and get a better back too

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good postureHaving good posture means holding your body upright against gravity, we can look younger and slimmer, breathe more easily and have more energy but we need to train our bodies to do this.

The ideal posture allows for a plumb line to hang straight through your ear, shoulder, hip, knee and ankle. Try and stand in a relaxed way but gently contracting your abdominal muscles. When sitting, the same is true. The gravity line should pass thorough ear, shoulder and hip.

‘Straighten Up’ is a simple, three-minute exercise programme for all ages, designed to help strengthen the spine, improve posture and help joints.

These exercises can release tension in your shoulders so you look less hunched, build core muscle which will flatten your stomach, stretch your chest muscles so you can breath more easily and deeply helping you to feel more energised.

Give them a go for a New Year and New You.

Watch the video here:

You can also find a lot of valuable posture advice on the BCA website

It’s beginning to smell a lot like Christmas!

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spicy mulled wineAh, that distinctive festive aroma is starting to fill the air… that sweet, spicy scent that conjures up everything that is Christmas and creates that special warm and fuzzy feeling in the depth of our bellies.

What produces that unique Christmas aroma and how can you use these flavours to recreate a famous festive tipple?

The Smells of Christmas

The smell of Christmas today is one of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and ginger – four sweet aromatic spices that instantly conjure up Christmas, and are used in a lot of our cooking over the festive period.

Spices have always cast a spell on our imaginations; conjuring up exotic images of colourful, vibrant distant lands.

The first expeditions for spices in ancient times were to ensure that these coveted commodities would always be in supply. Legend has it that in 1000 BC, the Queen of Sheba visited King Solomon in Jerusalem to offer him “120 measures of gold, many spices, and precious stones.” A cupful of cardamom was worth a poor man’s yearly wages, and slaves were bought and sold for a few handfuls of peppercorns.

The Arabs were the first to introduce spices to Europe. Knowing that they controlled a commodity in high demand, they kept their sources a secret and made up amazing tales of the dangers involved in obtaining them.

spice mixIn medieval Europe, soldiers returning from the Crusades loaded up their bags with these fragrant foodstuffs; prompting a comeback in the powerful courts of Europe. It was mainly from the Orient, overland via Arabia, the Red Sea, the ports of Venice and Genoa that spices reached Britain. Venetian merchants, strategically located midway between the Levant and Western Europe, became the great middlemen of the spice trade.

Certain spices were worth so much that one of them even became currency: pepper. Forerunners of sugared almonds, some spices were covered in honey in order to disguise them as candy. Their culinary and medicinal uses overlapped, and grocers and apothecaries often worked in the same companies. Besides traditional black pepper, some of the other prized spices of the era were long pepper from Sumatra, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg.

It was Vasco Da Gama discovering India in 1498 that led to the downfall of the Arabian/Venetian spice monopoly. The Portuguese held onto it for a century to lose it to the Dutch in the 1600’s.

During this period, British cooking was still heavy with ginger, pepper, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. The food of Italy, Portugal, France, Holland and Germany was similarly spiced and scented.

It was not until towards the middle of the seventeenth century that the British East India Company held a monopoly on all trade with India and that the British began developing it’s cooking along the lines that we recognise today. Spices and sugar were readily available and therefore became relatively cheap and available to the everyday cook.

Cinnamon

cinnamon   Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of evergreen trees from the bay family.
It has a complex, fragrant and sweet citrus flavour. Cinnamon’s perfumed aroma is unique but has hints of clove, nutmeg and sandalwood. Cinnamon is commonly used in sweet baking as well as in savoury foods such as curries.

As a medicinal herb, it is antibacterial, antiviral, a circulatory stimulant, an antispasmodic and a digestive. It is used to enhance digestion and given to people for indigestion, nausea, colic and wind. It is also effective in helping to treat gastro-enteritis. More recently it has been found to enhance the effects of insulin; helping to prevent glucose intolerance that can pre-dispose to diabetes. So the perfect spice to add to all those Christmas cakes and mince pies!

Cloves

clovesCloves are the dried, unopened flower buds from an evergreen tropical tree, Syzygiumaromaticum. The clove tree is originally a native of the eastern Indonesian islands, called the Moluccas.
The flavour is strongly pungent, while the aroma is somewhat peppery.

Cloves can be used both internally and externally. Internally they can soothe and relax the inner lining of the intestines, aiding in digestion and calming an upset stomach. They can help the esophagus to produce more phlegm and act as an expectorant, making coughs less severe and more productive.

Cloves have also been shown to have analgesic properties. The old wives tale of applying clove oil for toothache is true. A whole clove applied directly to the gum in problem areas or a drop of clove oil rubbed into the gum can help to provide relief from pain.

When the oil is applied topically, it can relieve pain from rheumatism, arthritis, and other inflammation-based conditions.

Nutmeg

nutmegNutmeg spice comes from the nutmeg tree, Myristicafragrans, which was originally native only to the Moluccas Islands in Indonesia.

Nutmeg trees are a tropical evergreen tree that grow some 7-10 meters high and have shiny dark green leaves.

The medicinal use of nutmeg is due to its essential oil, Myristicinwhich, which is used as a stimulant to the intestinal tract, aiding flatulence, and alleviating nausea and vomiting. It is regularly used in mixtures of oils to relieve pain and inflammation and also has antibacterial properties.

However the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime classes nutmeg as a narcotic. It has a hallucinogenic effect and can induce stupor. The evidence is mainly anecdotal but is considered so frequent as to be overwhelming, “Excessive doses of nutmeg have a narcotic effect; symptoms of delirium and epileptic convulsions appear after 1-6 hours.”

We are talking of dosages being in the region of 1-2 whole nutmegs per person for any harmful effect but maybe it brings a hint of danger to eating our Christmas cake and puddings

Fancy creating your very own home-made mulled wine this Christmas?

Here’s the secret recipe:

Spicy Mulled Wine

mulled wineIngredients
• 2 oranges
• Peel of 1 lemon
• Peel of 1 lime
• 250g demerara sugar
• 12 whole cloves
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 3 fresh bay leaves
• 6 cardamom pods
• 1 whole nutmeg
• 1 whole vanilla pod, halved
• 2 bottles of red wine
• 120ml Sloe Gin (optional)

Method

1. Peel large sections of peel from your oranges, lemon and lime using a peeler. Put the sugar in a large saucepan over a medium heat, add the pieces of peel and squeeze in the juice from the oranges.

2. Add the cloves, cinnamon stick, bay leaves, cardamom pods and about 1/2 grated of nutmeg. Put in the halved vanilla pod and stir in enough red wine to cover the sugar. Let this simmer so that the sugar has dissolved into the red wine and then bring to the boil. Keep on the boil for about 4 to 5 minutes, or until you have a thick syrup. This infuses the spices and the wine to give a base syrup.

3. When the syrup is ready, turn the heat down to low and add both bottles of wine. Gently heat the wine and after around 5 minutes, when it’s warm, add the sloe gin, ladle it into glasses and serve.

Delicious!

Leading Chiropractor in Southend Backs New 4-Step Plan to End Back Pain

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Leading Chiropractor in Southend Backs New 4-Step Plan to End Back PainSuffering from chronic back pain or discomfort can make you feel like you’re in an incredibly lonely place. The things you used to enjoy doing may now have become daunting challenges; leaving you in a daily cycle of agony, monotony and frustration.

But you are not alone; as 2.5 million people in the UK complain of severe daily back pain!

These are 2.5 million people who could end their agony in four simple steps, according to the British Chiropractic Association.

And it’s got a lot to do with sitting correctly.

The Office for National ­Statistics have recently revealed that neck, back and muscle conditions were responsible for thirty-one million days of work being lost last year alone.* But could this really be linked to sitting down for too long?

Our award winning Southend chiropractor believes so; and research suggests the same.

Dubbed as the “new smoking” and the UK’s “sedentary epidemic”; sitting puts twice as much pressure on the spine than standing. And sitting for more than four hours at a time is being directly linked to conditions such as cancer, diabetes and dementia.

In an age where millions of people are needlessly suffering – many of these under 30 – there has never been a more crucial time to make a stand against back pain!

As a renowned chiropractor in Southend, we treat back pain sufferers on a daily basis and we work collaboratively with each of our patients to educate them on the importance of sitting in a safe position. While our modern sedentary lifestyles mean we regularly sit for up to ten hours a day, small changes can make a big difference to our spinal health.

Our leading Southend chiropractors believe that following these four simple daily steps could eliminate back pain for massive amounts of people:

1: Sit up straight – at home, in work and while you’re in the car.

2: If you use a desktop computer, adjust the screen so that the top of it is level with your eyebrows and tilt your chair forward slightly.

3: Stretch, change position and move from your chair every 20-30 minutes.

4: Stay hydrated by replacing caffeinated drinks such as tea and coffee for water.

A worrying 86% of people recently surveyed by the British Chiropractor Association were either currently experiencing some sort of neck or back pain or had in the past.

As a Southend chiropractor dedicated to patient education, we believe that simple and practical advice can significantly help to bring this number down.

To book an appointment with our dedicated team of experts contact us today on 01702 430430.

*Based on new research from the British Chiropractic Association.

Don’t Turn Your Back on Back Health, Warns Leading Chiropractor in Southend

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For many of the patients who visit Cliffs Chiropractor Southend, back pain is a long-standing nemesis. With some sufferers coming to us after years of battling with discomfort and pain, we are on a mission to help prevent back pain before it goes on to cause chronic problems.

But it seems that patients visiting our Southend chiropractor are not the only people who have left their back pain go untreated in the past. A recent study by the British Chiropractic Association reveals that a worrying 71% of people with back pain have been suffering for up to a decade! * What’s even more concerning is that many of those surveyed admitted to not taking positive measures to look after their backs.

As a leading chiropractor in Southend, we pride ourselves on working together with each of our patients to incorporate simple lifestyle changes to help prevent back conditions from developing and to aid the recovery of existing back problems. The British Chiropractic Association (BCA) is doing the same. Following the revelations from the study, the BCA is encouraging everyone to implement small steps into their day-to-day routines to lessen the risk of back and neck pain developing. And with a whopping 40% of those surveyed confessing to have never taken any regular measures to protect their backs (!)*, it seems like this advice is very much needed!

So how can you close the door on back pain before it becomes an unwelcome daily visitor?

Here are three simple and practical tips from our leading chiropractor in Southend.

1: Slouch means “ouch!” so sit up straight…

Relaxing and sitting comfortably doesn’t have to mean slumping into a damaging curve – quite the opposite, actually. When you sit down, make sure your bottom and your shoulder blades touch the seat back. Your hips should be higher than your knees with your feet resting flat on the floor.

When you’re driving, tilt the seat slightly backwards. This will create a comfortable driving angle and will allow your elbows to relax at the steering wheel.

2: Create a 30 minute movement rule…

Every 20 – 30 minutes, stretch, change your position and walk around for a few minutes. If your job makes it difficult to get away from your desk or workstation, gently massage the back of your head and neck while taking slow, deep breaths. These small daily actions will help prevent and reduce back pain by encouraging balance, flexibility and strength in the spine.

3: Drink more to do more…

Drinking plenty of water is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to keep healthy, so ditch those caffeine and sugar-rich drinks and get sipping that H20! An increase in your daily water intake is sure to boost your energy levels, so get moving too! Making small changes such as taking the stairs instead of the lift and walking to the shops instead of driving can make all the difference to back health.

Are you going to join us on our mission to get Britain back healthy?

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

*Based on new consumer research by the British Chiropractic Association

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