As we bounce into Spring, we focus on the following:
- Tips for gardening safely
- Tina’s tasty treat
- Introducing Zachary
- Pip’s tips for getting a goodnight sleep
- Magnesium and Inflavanoids
As we bounce into Spring, we focus on the following:
A common injury we see presenting to the clinic is pain on the side of the hips – commonly referred to as hip bursitis over the years. The name has changed over time, from hip bursitis, trochanteric bursitis to now commonly referred to as gluteal tendinopathy. Our understanding of the tissues involved has also evolved, which I will go into further detail below.
Often the most common complaints is that it hurts to sleep on the involved side – and thus causes a lot of interrupted sleep. The bursa that sits on the side of the hip is often blamed, though this is now known to not be the main cause – rather it is a symptom. The main pathology is the tendon of the gluteal muscle – which sits on top of the bursa – it is weak. As a result, the tendon thickens and pain generators are active – causing the tendon to become sensitised.
Gluteal tendinopathy is more common in women than men, especially after menopause. It can also affect people who do activities that involve a lot of running, jumping, or twisting of the hips. Some of the symptoms of gluteal tendinopathy include:
What causes It?
The main cause is overloading or too much compression of the tendon. This can happen when you:
The interesting thing about gluteal tendinopathy is that you can do these things for years and you will have no symptoms. Although there could be a time when the tendon becomes fatigued – often due to an increase in activity over a short period of time and that can flare up the tendon.
How can it be treated?
The first thing we need to do is desensitise the tendon – that is stop irritating it! The number one thing to do is to stop stretching it! A lot of people think stretching the tendon will help, but this just irritates it. The next thing to do is stop the leg from crossing your midline – which means the tendon is not stretched or compressed.
Seeing a chiropractor can help by providing education and also:
Gluteal tendinopathy can be a chronic and debilitating condition, but it does not have to be. With proper management and care, you can reduce your pain, improve your function, and enjoy life again.
Call 99975773 to book in to see one of our chiropractors so we can fix your gluteal tendinopathy today!
Mitchell Roberts – Chiropractor
Another common question I get asked in clinic is the difference between the two most used taping methods – rigid and kinesio taping. In short, rigid taping is used for joints such as ankles and shoulders to provide added support, while kinesio tape is used for muscles and joints. They work very differently, which I will explain below.
Here at Mona Vale Chiropractic Centre, we use both forms regularly.
Rigid taping is the most common technique and has been used for a very long time in sport. It is used primarily on joints such as ankles, knees, wrists, elbows and shoulders. The role of the tape is to physically support the joint by limiting movement. The tape is primarily used in returning to sport after a joint sprain, for example an ankle sprain. It provides support and stability that gives the athlete confidence within the joint. It is commonly used in rugby union/league, AFL and netball.
Kinesio taping works entirely different to rigid. The tape is quite stretchy and is applied in a stretched position. Because it is stretched, it bunches once applied. This bunching lifts up the different layers of skin, fascia and muscles which encourages blood flow and lymph drainage within the area.
This tape does not restrict joint movement, rather it increases joint proprioception. This is very effective in rehabilitating post an ankle sprain, as often the joint is weak and feedback from the joint to the brain for positional awareness is reduced. The tape provides a stimulation of the skin that alerts the brain to the area, thus more muscle and joint activation.
Kinesio taping is also very good at reducing swelling and bruising. As can be seen from the picture below
Another benefit is that kinesio tape can be kept on for 5-6 days post application and can be worn through vigorous training, swimming and showering. Here at Mona Vale Chiropractic Centre we use and recommend Rocktape.
To sum up, both tapes are very effective when applied properly. Contact us at Mona Vale Chiropractic Centre to discuss with us which tape is best suited for your injury
Mitchell Roberts – Chiropractor
A recent systemic review and meta-analysis titled “Should exercises be painful in the management of chronic musculoskeletal pain?” by Smith et al 2017 was published. It looked at exactly what is mentioned in the title, should it hurt when performing rehabilitation exercises. This is a very common question I get when in clinic and prescribing exercises.
The findings as listed in the paper:
· Protocols using exercises into pain for chronic musculoskeletal pain offer a small but significant benefit over pain free exercises in the short term
· Adults with musculoskeletal pain can achieve significant improvements in patient reported outcomes with varying degrees of pain experiences and post recovery time with therapeutic exercise
· Pain during therapeutic exercise for chronic musculoskeletal pain need not be a barrier to successful outcomes
· Protocols using exercises into pain typically have higher loads and dose of exercise
So the short answer is yes! Exercising into pain is OK if you have a chronic injury.
The theory behind why exercising into pain being beneficial is that it effects the central nervous system. The exercises address psychological factors behind chronic pain, that being fear avoidance behaviours. When we have chronic pain, our movement patterns are different – due to the subconscious mind/nervous system tightening up and restricting/guarding against movements.
Therefore, by moving/exercising into pain, it tells the brain that the tissues are OK and that by progressing it is not causing damage to the tissues. A hurdle that is often hard to overcome in chronic pain is that pain does not equal tissue damage.
Please note, that this research is into chronic musculoskeletal pain (lasting greater than 3 months), not acute pain. Consult with your health care professional before starting an exercise rehabilitation program.
http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2017/07/12/bjsports-2016-097383
Mitchell Roberts – Chiropractor
Whiplash is a quick, sudden hyperextension and then hyperflexion movement of the neck. The most common cause is a motor vehicle accident, although it also can occur in contact sports and falls.
The sudden movement causes the muscles, tendons and ligaments to be stretched beyond their normal limits, resulting in tissue damage and a generalised pain in the neck, upper back and even sometimes in the lower back. The reason for this generalised pain is that the nervous system is in shock, due to the extreme sudden movement of the neck. Restricted movement results, which is the nervous system protecting the spine from further damage.
Whiplash associated disorder (WAD) is categorised into four stages:
The most common presentation to a chiropractor is WAD II.
There is also other symptoms involved with whiplash, which include, but not limited to – headache, arm weakness, jaw pain, dizziness, vertigo and pain when swallowing.
Do the symptoms occur straight away?
Whiplash symptoms do not always occur straight away. There can often be a delay of a few days in which the patient will start to report stiffness and a generalised pain around the upper back and neck.
Is an x-ray or MRI needed?
Imaging depends upon the symptoms. For a WAD I & II, imaging is not often required, as the injury is soft tissue. If a fracture is suspected, an X-ray will be needed. If there are neurological symptoms present, MRI is often needed to see and identify what is causing the symptoms.
Do I need to wear a cervical collar to immobilise?
No! A collar is not recommended, unless there is a fracture suspected or neurological signs present. The best thing for whiplash that is diagnosed as WAD I or II post injury is to encourage gentle movement.
How long does whiplash last for?
The duration of whiplash is quite variable and varies between person to person. Typically, recovery occurs withina few weeks, although it can last for up to 6 months and possibly longer. Receivingappropriate treatment and performing the provided exercises ensures the best outcome.
What is the treatment?
After a thorough history and examination, an individual treatment program will be provided with appropriate manual therapy and rehabilitation exercises to help improve joint range of motion, decrease pain and loosen muscles. Joint manipulation is often used, although not always straight after a whiplash injury.
If we deem that chiropractic treatment is not suitable for your injury, a referral to an appropriate health care provider will be given.
If you are suffering from whiplash, please contact us on at Mona Vale Chiropractic Centre on 99975773 to make an appointment, so we can help you begin your recovery from a whiplash injury.
Mitchell Roberts – Chiropractor
I often ask parents how heavy their children’s school bag is and the reply almost every time is ‘far too heavy’. A great new research paper has just come out titled “The weight of pupils’ schoolbags in early school age and its influence on body posture”. I will summarise points below and there is also a link to the paper (full text is available) at the bottom of this post.
The study looked at 168 children aged 7-9 over a period of 1 year and looked at school bag weight, length of straps and certain body posture measurements.
Some general tips for carrying backpacks:
If you have any concerns about the effects of your child’s backpack on their spinal health, bring them in to see one of the chiropractors here at Mona Vale Chiropractic Centre.
https://bmcmusculoskeletdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12891-017-1462-z
Mitchell Roberts – Chiropractor
Injuries from gardening is a common presentation to the clinic. We often fine with the changes in season, people come out to garden and do too much the first time after a long break.
Gardening is a lot of repetitive movements, of which if not done correctly, could lead to injury. A few tips on ensuring a comfortable gardening session:
The most important thing to remember is to pace yourself!
Mitchell Roberts – Chiropractor
Ice or heat? Which is better?
I am often asked by patient which is best, ice or heat for an injury. The simple answer is that it depends on the type of injury and how long it has been there for.
Firstly, let’s see what impact ice and heat can have on the bodies tissues:
Ice:
Heat:
As you can see, ice and heat have opposite effects.
When to apply ice – Immediately and up to 72 hours after an injury has occured, with the aim to reduce the pain and swelling. The most common areas being ankle, knee, wrist and shoulder. Use ice for a period of 20 minutes every 1-2 hours
When to apply heat:
When not to apply ice – Onto burns or sensitive skin. Avoid using before or during exercise, as it may reduce the flexibility of a joint/muscle
When not to apply heat – On acute inflammation (swelling, redness or hot), open wounds and avoid using if you are diabetic.
If in doubt as to which one to use, ask your chiropractor!
Mitchell Roberts – Chiropractor
One of the top medical journals – The Annals of Internal Medicine, has published a paper updating the guidelines for the treatment of low back pain. The paper is titled ‘Non invasive treatments for acute, subacute and chronic low back pain: A clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians” February 2017. The authors of the guidelines looked at studies of non-invasive (IE not surgical) interventions for treating acute, subacute and chronic low back pain.
It should be noted that acute pain lasts less than 4 weeks, subacute lasting between 4-12 weeks and chronic being pain lasting longer than 12 weeks.
The authors concluded that the following can help as a first line treatment (before taking medications) for acute/subacute low back pain:
Medication should only be considered if there has been no improvement. Patients should discuss the possibility of taking ibuprofen or muscle relaxants with their health care professional.
For chronic low back pain (lasting more than 12 weeks), the authors concluded that the following can help as a first line treatment:
At Mona Vale Chiropractic Centre, we can use the above recommended techniques to assist and help relieve low back pain. Also, if you are not keen on having spinal manipulation, there are many other techniques that we can use to get the results you are after.
Click on the link to read the full article: http://annals.org/aim/article/2603228/noninvasive-treatments-acute-subacute-chronic-low-back-pain-clinical-practice
Mitchell Roberts – Chiropractor
Sciatica is a common presentation to the chiropractor. We often hear a patient saying they have a ‘pinched nerve’, but sciatica is normally not that simple as there are a number of factors that can cause it.
We will start of with some simple anatomy – The sciatic nerve arises from several segments in the lower back, in the lumbar and sacral spine, joining together to form one big nerve which travels through the hip, buttock and all the way down to the toes, branching out as it goes.
Symptoms are often varied, although the main one is pain down the leg, with the ‘classic’ sciatica causing pain in the calf and foot. Other symptoms can include pins and needles, numbness and weakness of the muscles. Very rarely, losing function of the bowel and bladder can occur, which requires urgent medical intervention.
Causes: There are a number of causes for sciatica, here are the most common ones:
Diagnosis – Here at Mona Vale Chiropractic Centre we will perform a thorough history and examination involving orthopaedic and neurological testing to come to a diagnosis. If we believe you require imaging such as x-ray or MRI this can be arranged and we will refer accordingly. Communication with your GP will also occur and if we feel chiropractic treatment is not appropriate for your condition, a referral to the appropriate healthcare professional will be done.
Treatment – There are a number of different treatment options, some of the ones we use include: Adjustments and mobilisations, muscle releases, dry needling, stretching and rehabilitation exercises. The treatment will be aimed to address the cause of the sciatica through improving movement, decreasing inflammation and strengthening surrounding muscles.
What can be done in the meantime for sciatica? Keep moving is the simple answer! Avoid aggravating movements such as bending,twisting and prolonged sitting. Moving encourages blood flow through the joints and muscles to reduce the chances of the lower back from tightening up. Heat is recommended if the injury has been longer than 24 hours.
Mitchell Roberts – Chiropractor