Back and Neck Pain
Up to 80% of all Australians will experience back pain at some point in their life, and up to 10% will experience significant disability as a result. Our modern work habits and lifestyle is often a contributor to back and neck pains and this can get in the way of us enjoying life to the full.
Back pain is commonly reported among workers, particularly those in physically demanding occupations or jobs that involve repetitive tasks, heavy lifting, or prolonged periods of sitting. Studies focusing on specific occupational groups or industries in Australia have found varying prevalence rates of back pain. For instance, research published in the Journal of Occupational Health in 2009 reported a one-year prevalence of back pain of around 39% among construction workers in Australia.
Several studies have investigated the prevalence of neck pain in the general population of Australia. The prevalence estimates vary but generally suggest that a significant proportion of Australians experience neck pain at some point in their lives. For example, a large-scale study published in the European Spine Journal in 2009 reported a one-year prevalence of neck pain of approximately 38% in Australian adults.
Chiropractic care has been shown to be safe and effective for the treatment and prevention of back and neck pain. Our chiropractors can help with back and neck pain through various treatments and interventions aimed at restoring proper alignment and function to the spine and musculoskeletal system.
Sciatic Pain
Sciatic pain, commonly referred to as sciatica, is a type of pain that occurs along the sciatic nerve, which is the largest nerve in the body. The sciatic nerve runs from the lower back down through the buttocks and legs. Sciatica typically occurs when the sciatic nerve becomes compressed or irritated, leading to symptoms such as:
-
Pain: Sciatic pain often manifests as a sharp, shooting, or burning pain that radiates from the lower back or buttock down the back of one leg. The pain may be intermittent or constant and may worsen with movement, such as sitting, standing, or walking.
-
Numbness and Tingling: People with sciatica may experience numbness, tingling, or pins-and-needles sensations in the affected leg or foot. These sensations may accompany or precede the onset of pain.
-
Muscle Weakness: In severe cases of sciatica, weakness or difficulty moving the leg or foot may occur. This weakness can affect walking, standing, or performing everyday activities.
-
Burning or Electric Sensations: Some individuals with sciatica may describe sensations of burning or electric shock-like sensations along the path of the sciatic nerve.
Sciatic pain can be caused by various factors, including:
-
Herniated Disc: A herniated or bulging disc in the lumbar spine (lower back) can compress the sciatic nerve roots, leading to sciatica.
-
Degenerative Disc Disease: Wear and tear or age-related changes in the spinal discs can cause them to lose height and press on the nerves, including the sciatic nerve.
-
Spinal Stenosis: Narrowing of the spinal canal, known as spinal stenosis, can put pressure on the sciatic nerve as it exits the spine.
-
Spondylolisthesis: This condition occurs when one vertebra slips forward onto the vertebra below it, potentially compressing the nerve roots that form the sciatic nerve.
-
Piriformis Syndrome: The piriformis muscle, located in the buttocks, can irritate or compress the sciatic nerve if it spasms or tightens, leading to symptoms similar to sciatica.
It is important to seek an experienced healthcare professional in regards to sciatic pain as it can become a long term and debilitating condition. Our chiropractors will thoroughly assess you to determine the cause of your symptoms and form an effective treatment plan. Spinal manipulation and other chiropractic techniques have been shown to be helpful in relieving pressure on the sciatic nerve and improving spinal function alignment.
Scoliosis/Postural Issues
Chiropractic care can be beneficial for improving posture by addressing musculoskeletal imbalances, spinal misalignments, and related issues that contribute to poor posture. Chiropractors are trained to assess the spine, joints, muscles, and nervous system and can provide targeted treatments to help restore proper alignment, mobility, and function. Here are some ways chiropractic care can help improve posture:
-
Spinal Adjustments: Chiropractors use spinal adjustments, also known as spinal manipulation, to realign vertebrae that may have shifted out of place. By correcting misalignments, chiropractic adjustments can reduce tension on muscles, relieve pressure on nerves, and improve overall spinal function, which can positively impact posture.
-
Soft Tissue Therapy: Chiropractors may incorporate soft tissue techniques such as massage, myofascial release, or trigger point therapy to address muscle tightness, adhesions, and knots that contribute to poor posture. These therapies help relax tight muscles, improve flexibility, and enhance muscle balance, promoting better alignment of the spine and supporting structures.
-
Postural Education and Exercises: Chiropractors can provide guidance on proper posture and recommend specific exercises and stretches to strengthen weak muscles, stretch tight muscles, and promote better alignment. These exercises may target core muscles, back muscles, neck muscles, and other areas important for maintaining good posture.
-
Ergonomic Recommendations: Chiropractors can offer advice on ergonomic adjustments to workstations, chairs, desks, and other environments to support healthy posture during daily activities. Making ergonomic modifications can help reduce strain on the spine and muscles, preventing postural problems from worsening.
-
Functional Movement Assessment: Chiropractors may perform functional movement assessments to identify movement patterns, imbalances, and asymmetries that contribute to poor posture. Based on the assessment findings, they can develop individualized treatment plans to address specific areas of weakness or dysfunction.
-
Preventive Care: In addition to addressing existing postural issues, chiropractors emphasize preventive care to help patients maintain healthy posture and prevent future problems. This may involve periodic chiropractic adjustments, ongoing postural education, and lifestyle modifications to support spinal health and overall well-being.
Scoliosis is a condition characterized by an abnormal sideways curvature of the spine. It is important to properly assess what the cause of the scoliosis is so that a comprehensive treatment plan can be formed. Chiropractic care can provide relief in most cases, and reduce the chance of progression in some cases.
Headaches and Migraines
If you or someone you know are among the 7 million Australians who suffer from tension headaches or the 4.9 million who suffer from migraine causing lost social activity, concentration and work capacity; chiropractic care can provide effective, drug-free pain relief to headache and migraine sufferers.
Migraine and tension headaches are the most common headache disorders, both with disabling potential. With more Australians suffering from migraine or tension headaches than diabetes, epilepsy and asthma combined; the cost to the Australian economy is around $35.7 billion annually.
However, the real cost to headache sufferers is immeasurable. The impact headaches have on their quality of life can greatly limit productivity at work and study, and rob sufferers of essential relaxation, social activities and precious time with children, family and friends.
ACA accredited chiropractors are university trained healthcare professionals that apply precise and gentle spinal adjustments to correct spinal imbalance to successfully treat headaches and other spinal health conditions while providing advice on lifestyle to help prevent headache reoccurrence and treat other spine-related disorders.
There are many causes of headaches but studies have shown some of the most common causes are stress and spinal health conditions. A wide range of activities that can cause spinal health conditions that lead to headaches include sports and exercise; poor posture (at work and home); physical activities (dancing, cycling, shopping, driving, gym, etc.); eye strain (including excessive screen time); dehydration; caffeine dependence and withdrawal; smoking and bright or noisy environments.
If you suffer from headaches, our chiropractors first assess your spine to make sure that your headaches are not due to something more serious, then we will formulate a treatment plan that will suit your current condition and care requirements. Studies have shown that chiropractic care, including spinal manipulation, improves migraine and cervicogenic headaches.
Deloitte, ‘Migraine in Australia Whitepaper’ , https://www2.deloitte.com/au/en/pages/economics/articles/migraine-australia-whitepaper.html
Tuchin P, DC et al. A randomised controlled trial of chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy for migraine. JMPT 2000; 23(2): 91-95 Tuchin P., 1997, The efficacy of Chiropractic Spinal Manipulative Therapy (SMT) in the Treatment of Migraine. A Pilot Study, National Library of Medicine, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17987148/
Migraine and Headache Australia, Prevalence and Cost of Headache, https://headacheaustralia.org.au/what-is-headache/prevalence-and-cost-of-headache/
Bryans R, Descarreaux M, Duranleau M, et al. Evidence based guidelines for the chiropractic treatment of adults with headache. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2011; 34: 274-89.
Vertigo and BPPV
Vertigo is the sensation that you are spinning even when you are not moving. It is a very unsettling sensation and is often associated with nausea, vomiting and anxiety. One of the most commons causes of vertigo is a condition called Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo or BPPV for short. This is due to a collection of calcium carbonate crystals in a part of your inner ears called the semicircular canals. 85-90% of cases of BPPV are related to the posterior canal, but can be associated with either side.
It is important to rule out other causes of vertigo through a thorough history before proceeding with tests to check for BPPV. Our chiropractors are well versed in assessing for the type of vertigo or BPPV you may be suffering from and also correcting it through a series of repositioning maneuvers that we can perform in the clinic and also advise you on exercises that you can perform at home.
Cerviogenic Dizziness/Disequilibrium
Cervicogenic dizziness is a condition characterized by dizziness or vertigo that originates from a problem in the cervical spine (neck). Unlike traditional vertigo, which is often related to inner ear issues, cervicogenic dizziness is thought to be caused by dysfunction or irritation of the neck joints, muscles, or nerves. This dysfunction can lead to symptoms such as dizziness, imbalance, neck pain, headaches, and visual disturbances.
The exact cause of cervicogenic dizziness is not always clear, but it can be triggered or worsened by certain movements or positions of the neck. Common triggers include prolonged sitting or standing, neck movements, or maintaining a certain head position for an extended period.
Our chiropractors are well-versed in ruling out other causes of dizziness or vertigo, and also treating the cervical spine to reduce the symptoms of dizziness. We often employ a multi-modal approach including in-clinic therapies accompanied with home exercises and lifestyle modifications.
Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is defined as persistent or long-lasting pain that persists beyond the normal time it takes for an injury to heal or an illness to resolve. It typically lasts for more than three to six months and can persist for years. Chronic pain can result from a variety of factors, including:
-
Injury: A previous injury or trauma can lead to persistent pain even after the tissues have healed.
-
Medical Conditions: Chronic pain can be a symptom of various medical conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, neuropathy, endometriosis, migraines, and others.
-
Nerve Damage: Damage to the nerves can lead to neuropathic pain, which can be chronic.
-
Inflammation: Chronic inflammation in conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease can cause ongoing pain.
-
Psychological Factors: Emotional stress, anxiety, depression, and other psychological factors can exacerbate and perpetuate chronic pain.
Chronic pain can significantly impact a person's quality of life, leading to physical disability, emotional distress, sleep disturbances, and social isolation. Chiropractic care can be an effective and safe way to manage chronic pain, and our chiropractors are well-trained to help you discover the cause of your chronic pain and help you to alleviate the impact it is having on your life.
Sport And Work Related Injuries
Work and sporting activities are an important part of life, but can sometimes be the cause of pain and disability. Chiropractors in Australia are well experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of such injuries, and also play an important role in the prevention of future injuries.
Chiropractic management of such conditions is often multi-modal, and often incorporates spinal and peripheral manipulation and mobilisation, soft tissue techniques, rehabilitation and therapeutic exercises.^
Our goal is to allow workers and athletes to perform at their best, with optimal spine, joint, nerve and muscle function. Postures at work can also often be a leading cause of spinal pain and dysfunction. This can be caused by sitting at a desk for too long, or repetitive actions such as lifting, bending or twisting. Whatever your line of work, we will be there to assist you through your pain and we will give you advice on how to minimise and prevent such injuries from reoccurring.
^ Pollard, H., Hoskins, W., Mchardy, A., Bonello, R., Garbutt, P., Swain, M., . . . Vitiello, A. (2007). Australian chiropractic sports medicine: Half way there or living on a prayer? Chiropractic & Osteopathy, 15(1), 14. doi:10.1186/1746-1340-15-14