Neck Pain, Headaches & Migraines

Your head, which can weigh as much as a bowling ball, sits upon seven delicate cervical vertebrae and together with many other structures such as nerves, muscles, ligaments, discs and vessels, make up your neck. When any of those vertebrae lose their normal position and motion, sensitive nerves and blood vessels may become irritated, stretched or compressed. Often, this may result in Neck Pain or stiffness, and headaches or migraines.

Many factors such as sporting injuries, trauma including car accidents, whiplash and even birth trauma, previous surgery, sleep or bedding issues, dietary concerns or deficiencies, stress, incorrect posture or poor ergonomics may predispose you to getting neck pain or stiffness, tension headaches, and migraines. In light of so many factors that may play a part in causing these issues in one’s lifestyle, neck pain, migraines and headaches are amongst the third most common reason why people consult a chiropractor.

Many people find relief in neck pain, tension, migraines and headaches through regular chiropractic care and often go on to achieve greater levels of health.

About Migraines & Headaches

There are many known causes of headaches and migraines and many more triggers which set off attacks. 'Causes'- refers to conditions which pre-exist and can make an individual more susceptible to a headache or a migraine (i.e.: eye-strain, sinusitis etc). 'Triggers'- usually refers to factors which make an attack of head-pain start, and is usually used in the literature when referring to migraines (i.e.: stress, some foods etc).

The vast majority of headaches and migraines have more than one factor / or 'trigger' involved, and it is easier to put them all together as 'causes', as they can all contribute to head-pain at the end of the day!

This is an important point, because many headache and migraine sufferers have a number of factors which interact to produce an episode of head-pain; and many have tried one treatment or another without success- because the other problems have been left unaddressed and are enough to still produce a migraine or a headache.

Care for headache and migraine sufferers may often involve a number of health-care professionals working together to ensure there are no 'serious' causes, and then addressing the ones which can be dealt with through conservative care, lifestyle changes, diet modification, and even home exercises.

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Shoulder Pain, Arm & Hand Pain and Problems

Nerve disruption to the shoulder, arm, and hand can cause a wide variety of symptoms including numbness, weakness, tingling and pain. Different qualities of pain may also manifest including throbbing pain, sharp stabbing pain, electric shock type pain, and even slow dull aching pain. These type of presentations may be caused by dysfunction of spinal and other joints.

Because shoulder, arm and hand pain and problems may result from stress to areas other than the neck and upper back, a correct diagnosis needs to be made after a thorough assessment of all these regions. Often patients present after having had sports or occupational injuries some involving repetitive stress or incorrect technique. Chiropractic care may remove and correct these problems along with good advice.

Shoulder Joint Dysfunction

The complexity of the shoulder joint allows it to perform many different movements and activities. Anatomically, the shoulder involves three different bones - the scapula, the clavicle, and the humerus - many connecting ligaments, and approximately 20 different muscles. The main articulation, the glenohumeral joint, is connected by ligaments and a group of muscles (and their tendon attachments) known as the rotator cuff. Problems with the rotator cuff are common causes of shoulder pain and disability.

As with other joints, shoulder problems can be caused by trauma as with sports injuries, mechanical dysfunction due to imbalances in the muscles, or by wear and tear of the tissues surrounding the joint. Arthritic changes due occur in the shoulder joint though not as commonly as the weight bearing joints of the spine, hips and knees.

Anatomy

Problems in the shoulder often originate in the neck as the nerves from this region supply all of the muscles and other tissues of the shoulder, arm and hand. If these nerves are irritated, the shoulder muscles can become tight or weak causing dysfunction in the normal mechanics of the joint, especially in the rotator cuff. A similar situation can occur if one overuses the shoulder in sports such as tennis and golf or other repetitive activities that causes the muscles of the joint to become overly tight or strained. People who sit too much in a slouched position or with the shoulders held forward are also at risk at developing these imbalances and shoulder problems.

Rotator Cuff Syndrome

Regardless of the reason, if the imbalances and irritation to the shoulder are not corrected, pain and limitation of normal motion will eventually develop. The severity can vary from a slight catching or pain to an almost complete inability to use the shoulder. This painful condition is often called Shoulder Impingement or Rotator Cuff Syndrome and can afflict individuals of all ages.

Frozen Shoulder

Another common problem, especially among middle age women is " frozen shoulder. " This often debilitating condition occurs when the ligaments and tendons of the glenohumeral joint get so irritated that adhesions develop making the joint almost stuck together. This results in an extreme limitation of shoulder motion and pain that makes it difficult for some individuals to even get dressed! Left alone frozen shoulder can take several years to resolve and therefore needs attention by a professional such as a chiropractor.

There are many other disorders of the shoulder although those mentioned above are by far the most common.
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Treatment of Shoulder Problems and Pain

The treatment of most conditions of the shoulder is basically the same. One must correct muscle imbalances with either muscle balancing techniques, restore proper mobility to the shoulder joints and of course correct any subluxations in the spine. Special rehabilitation exercises advised by your chiropractor are also essential in order for a full & fast recovery.

Tennis Elbow

Tennis Elbow is the common name given to pain originating on the outside or lateral side of the elbow. This condition arises from an irritation or inflammation of the tendons of one or several forearm muscles at their attachment to the bony protuberance close to the elbow joint, known as the lateral epicondyle. Therefore the medical term for this condition is lateral epicondylitis, meaning an inflammation of the epicondyle. If the condition is located on the inside or medial side of the elbow it is often referred as Golfer's Elbow or medial epicondylitis. This, however, is not as prevalent as lateral epicondylitis.

Causes of Tennis Elbow

There are many causes for Epicondylitis - not just tennis & golf - as any activity that involves repetitive gripping of objects can result in this affliction. Some individuals develop tennis or golfer's elbow from prolonged carrying of heavy bags, knitting, chopping food, and/or computer work using improper wrist and arm posture. With sports, the problem arises when we are new to the game, use an improper technique, try out new racquets or clubs, or increase the intensity or duration of exercise without the proper preparation.

Sometimes the condition can be so severe that it is difficult to even grip and lift one's coffee cup!

Some cases involving epicondylitis can be attributed to problems further up the arm or even in the neck. If someone has a disc condition or spinal subluxation, the nerves that control the forearm muscles may become irritated causing the muscles to tense and put marked strain on the tendon attachment(s). In these circumstances, this predisposes an individual to elbow pain from any of the above mentioned causes. If left untreated it is possible that the joints of the elbow can become subluxated further complicating the condition.

Treatment of Tennis Elbow

Epicondylitis is a condition that rarely resolves on its own and requires proper management. A chiropractor can determine the exact cause of the problem and initiate the correct care and treatment. Chiropractic adjustments have proven extremely effective in the overall management of this problem. There may be the need to incorporate other modalities such as ultrasound, electrotherapy, massage, hot and cold treatments, bracing and home stretching and exercises.Back to Top

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or CTS has become one of the most widespread occupational health problems we face today. It affects millions of people a year, and with our growing reliance on computers there seems to be no end in sight.

Causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is caused by pressure on the median nerve just above the wrist. Pressure on this nerve can be caused by an injury or sustained use from common activities like typing, chopping, hammering, or pushing. Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome range from wrist pain, numbness, tingling, burning, weakness or loss of grip strength, and loss of sleep due to discomfort.

Chiropractic Treatment or Care for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

There are a number of different ways to treat Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. In most cases, a chiropractic adjustment to the affected area is an extremely effective solution. In some cases, a misalignment in either the back or neck may cause this condition, and chiropractic adjustments of the neck and/or spine can also serve as an effective care option for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. These treatments, along with stretching, and strengthening exercises may in many cases effectively alleviate and eventually eliminate the symptoms associated with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)

CTS has become one of the most widespread occupational health problems we face today. It affects millions of people a year, and with our growing reliance on computers there seems to be no end in sight. The syndrome is caused by pressure on the median nerve just above the wrist. Pressure on this nerve can be caused by an injury or sustained use from common activities like typing, chopping, hammering, or pushing. Symptoms of CTS range from wrist pain, numbness, tingling, burning, weakness or loss of grip strength, and loss of sleep due to discomfort. There are a number of different ways to treat this condition. In most cases, a chiropractic adjustment to the affected area is an extremely effective solution. In some cases, a misalignment in either the back or neck can cause this condition, and chiropractic adjustments of the neck and/or spine can also serve as an effective treatment option. These treatments, along with stretching, and strengthening exercises, may in many cases effectively alleviate and eventually eliminate the symptoms associated with CTS.

Arthritis

One of the most widely misunderstood conditions among patients is arthritis. When some people hear this word they envisage a future with crippled and twisted joints. However "arthritis" is a very general word that encompasses many different conditions from the benign to the severe. For our purposes we will limit the discussion to the most common forms of arthritis.

Osteoarthritis

By far the most common form of arthritis has many names, osteoarthitis, degenerative arthritis, degenerative joint disease (DJD), and spondylosis if it is in the spine. Basically the condition is due to the wearing out of the cartilage that lines the joint surfaces and it found not only in humans but also in all mammals. When joint cartilage is damaged, the sensitive bone tissue that is usually protected by the cartilage, becomes stressed causing degenerative changes in the joint. Sometimes the bone around the joint will proliferate and make osteophytes or what are more commonly called bone spurs. These spurs can cause painful irritation to other tissues around the joint thus complicating the already hurtful condition.

The most common areas of the body that develop degenerative joints are in the spine particularly in the lower neck and lower back, the knees, the hips and the fingers. Everyone will experience DJD at one point in their lives though things such as previous trauma, ones occupation, activities, weight, diet, and heredity influence the degree of the condition and its onset.

The symptoms of DJD always involve some degree of pain and or stiffness in the body part involved. If the weight bearing joints such as the hips or knees are involved, ones mobility can be affected especially in the more advanced stages of the condition. In some cases if the joint is sufficiently worn and the person can no longer walk without severe pain, the joints are surgically replaced with synthetic devices. Of course, one should attempt to manage their condition early on in one's life to avoid the need for surgery.

The best management of DJD is of course prevention and involves taking care of one's joints at an early age :

• One should always make sure that even when young all injuries to joints are properly managed to insure proper healing to avoid future disability
• People involved in occupations that require standing or walking should wear proper shoes that provide good support and shock absorption
• Excess body weight can cause increase stress upon the weight bearing joints of the body
• Avoid kneeling on hard surfaces to do housework as this can put strain on the sensitive structures of the knee
• Eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables as they contain natural vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants which are essential for the health of the joints as well as the rest of the body.

Recently there has been some studies that show that the nutritional supplement Glucosamine can help with DJD and can possibly help rebuild joint cartilage. However it must be used over a long-term period and does not work in all conditions.

Chiropractic adjustments are a safe & effective treatment for spondylosis and can help restore proper mobility and function to the spinal joints. Other treatments such as joint mobilization, massage, and other modalities may also be helpful in the care of painful and stiff joints. Sometimes a brace is required to help stabilize the joint in order to alleviate pain. Exercises such as stretching, yoga, tai chi and other gentle mobilizing activities is also helpful to maintain arthritic joints.

Gout

An increased level of uric acid in the blood and the deposition of uric acid crystals in the joints cause gouty arthritis. The most common joints are the big toes, the knees, ankles and wrists and the condition and is often characterized by acute pain in swelling. Most people who develop gout are heretically predisposed though episodes are usually brought on by binge eating of the wrong foods, during dehydration or fasting or after a major surgery or illness. Foods that must be avoided contain a natural substance called Purines are metabolized in the liver to form uric acid.

People with this condition cannot properly metabolize uric acid thus the build-up in the bloodstream and the subsequent joint problems The foods most associated with high purine content are: red meat especially organ meet, certain seafood, legumes, mushrooms and other foods as well. There are other dietary restrictions that must be followed including avoiding alcohol though a complete list is available at your doctor. Besides dietary considerations, gout may often be managed with supplements that help lower the uric acid in one's bloodstream.
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Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease of systemic origin. The direct cause is not known but it is thought to be due to a problem with the immune system. The most common joints affected are the small joints of the hands and fingers, the feet, knees and shoulder though other areas of the body can be affected as well. The condition is usually associated with morning stiffness that is aggravated by motion. Often people complain of general malaise and fatigue and the disease in its more advanced forms can affect many of the other body systems. There are specific blood tests to help identify Rheumatoid arthritis that can be easily run by your doctor. Conservative management may include, vitamin and diet therapy. Chiropractic adjustments and other modalities may also help with the pain and stiffness associated the condition.
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Computer Back Syndrome & Poor Posture

Is your back hunched over a computer all day? Research has shown that uneven postural alignment or poor posture places undue stress on the muscles, ligaments and joints especially of the spine. This poor posture is typically seen especially in people who work at computers all day. Sitting with the shoulders rounded forward and the head tilted towards the computer display may result in pain and spinal misalignments (subluxation).

Treating Computer Back Syndrome & Improving Posture

Chiropractic care may help you develop a new and more natural upright posture to reduce the current effects and also prevent Computer Back Syndrome from occurring. Chiropractic care may also reduce the symptoms often associated with poor posture or working over a computer for long hours. These may include shoulder pain and stiffness, neck pain, back pain, headache, tightness, and tension. This may include spinal adjustments, exercises, stretches, and even making some changes to the way you position yourself at your desk.

Accidents, Neck Injuries & Whiplash

The violent whipping of the head back and forth beyond the normal range of active movement of the neck from trauma is known as 'whiplash'. When this happens, muscles, ligaments and other soft tissues that support the spine can be torn or over-stretched. In some whiplash cases the spongy disc material between the vertebrae can bulge or rupture. Whiplash often forces the spine out of its normal alignment. Commonly whiplash is as a result of a car accident, but many contact sports such as football, rugby and even boxing may cause similar problems. In fact, many sports people accumulate repetitive low impact whiplash injuries and only after months or years do they realise that a problem may have set in. This is usually only when pain, symptoms and warning signs are present. It is nonetheless important to get yourself checked as soon or as regularly as possible.

Treating Neck Injuries & Whiplash

Left uncared for or incorrectly cared for, whiplash and neck injuries can result in degenerative arthritis. Chiropractic has helped millions of people who have been involved in accidents by correcting spinal dysfunction or subluxation as a result of whiplash.

You should always get your spine checked if you have been involved in any kind of trauma or accident. Chiropractic care is best done soon after the injury, but it is never too late to treat whiplash pain and immobility with gentle chiropractic care.

Low Back Pain, Sciatica & Disc Problems

Back pain is a very common problem with over 80% of Australians suffering from backache at least some of the time. Most episodes of back pain get better quickly without any assistance.

However, about 50 per cent of people who get back pain will have further episodes. The first step to manage back pain is to have a thorough check-up from your chiropractor see what the cause may be. Very often, back pain is caused by irritation, pressure and even stretching of nerves, ligaments, muscles and joints.

Common Causes Of Back Pain

People with back pain do not necessarily have damage to their spine. The pain most often results from the incorrect function of nerves, muscles, ligaments and joints. These often respond well to chiropractic care and advice. More persistent back pain may be associated with arthritis of the facet joints and degeneration of the discs. People with this condition often do not even experience any pain.

Some common causes of back pain include Osteoarthritis, Muscle and ligament strains, Osteoporosis (Back pain may result from a fracture due to bone weakening), Sciatica (nerves that runs from the lower back into the leg may be compressed or irritated by a bulging disc, causing pain.), Stress (side effects of stress may alter nerve activity causing increased muscle tension, which can lead to fatigue, stiffness and localised pain. Constantly tight muscles can create postural imbalances that may cause misalignment of the spine.)

Lifestyle Factors Contribute To Back Pain

Most cases of back pain are exacerbated by lifestyle factors, including:

• Lack of exercise
• Being overweight or obese
• Previous trauma or accidents
• Leading a sedentary life
• Poor posture
• Stress
• Bad work practices.

Treating Lower Back Pain & Sciatica

Chiropractic care reduces pain, symptoms and dysfunction and restores the spine to more normal motion, position, and function. Research shows that pain relief is often experienced by patients under Chiropractic care and has been researched to be effective and cost-effective in doing so. Many invasive and expensive procedures including joint injections and surgery may be avoided if Chiropractic assists you. We often see people after they have tried numerous different therapies or treatments without success. Never give up on conservative care if you have limited improvement as you never know when you will find the technique that will work for you.

Other factors to reduce back pain and function may include exercising more regularly, being careful about lifting and carrying things correctly, maintain reasonable body weight, be aware of posture, take regular breaks (home or work), learn some stress relief and relaxation techniques, improving or correcting sleeping (looking at the quality of your bed and pillow and not sleeping on your stomach.)
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Neurological (Nerve) Conditions

Neurological conditions such as headaches, neuritis (inflammation of any part of a nerve, other than the nerve root), and radiculitis (inflammation of a nerve root as it exits the spine) are the most commonly treated neurological cases in the chiropractic profession.

Radiculitis is a common source of shoulder, arm and hand pain. With neuritis, patients sometimes experience sensations called paresthesias (feelings of tingling, hot spots, cold spots, crawling sensations, stinging, and burning).

Treatment of Neurological (Nerve) Conditions

Because neurological problems can be extremely serious and even life-threatening, these situations often call for a referral or co-management with other health-care professionals. In many instances, once the appropriate tests and procedures have been performed, it is often safe to go ahead with conservative Chiropractic care. Even though Chiropractic may not 'cure' some conditions, it has shown in case studies and research that Chiropractic care may help with managing the effects, symptoms, and quality of life of sufferers of conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's, Epilepsy and many others.

Knee Pains & Problems

Knee and Ankle pain may be the result of incorrect movement patterns of the lower back and hips and often due to injury of these joints themselves. We have a very good track record in correcting many of these issues. We provide care using our experience and extensive post-graduate training and education in sports injury management. Besides spinal conditions, knee pain and disability is one of the most common ailments of the musculoskeletal system. Problems with the knee can be classified into three categories: 1) poor mechanics or overuse of the knee joint, 2) traumatic injury from events such as sports and falls, and 3) problems due to arthritic changes in the joint.

Patella Femoral Syndrome (Knee Cap Pain)

Poor mechanics of the knee joint and the associated stress upon the soft tissues of the knee is by far the most common cause of non-traumatic pain. The most common part of the knee affected by this is the patella or knee-cap. Often the patella does not move smoothly or does not move sufficiently on the femur during bending of the knee causing abnormal stresses upon the tendons cartilage and ligaments. This condition is often called chondromalacia patella or CMP though a better term is patella femoral syndrome. The problem usually originates when there are imbalances in the quadriceps muscles due to incorrect technique or body alignment of the thigh which attach to and move the patella.

The associated pain is experienced during activity, especially stair climbing, running, jumping and after getting up from prolonged sitting. Women are more predisposed to this problem for anatomical reasons and also the use of high heels.

Repetitive Knee Strain - Overuse Injury

Imbalances in other muscle groups that attach to the knee can also lead to pain and dysfunction. As an example, the muscles on the inside of the thigh when strained and tight can cause pain on the medial or inside side of the knee.

Lower back problems especially in the sacroiliac joints, are one of the main reasons for imbalances in the muscles associated with knee movement and subsequent knee problems. Foot problems that cause gait abnormalities such as pronation, are another cause of mechanical knee pain.

The main treatment for mechanical or overuse injuries to the knee is to re-establish proper balance of the muscles, restore proper movement to the patella and other joints of the knee, and correct any subluxations of the sacroiliac joints and foot problems. In certain cases, a brace may be used to help with the alignment of the patella or to stabilise the joint. Chiropractors are ideally trained to provide the correct diagnosis and management of these problems.

Knee Trauma

Traumatic injuries often occur during sports that involve running and jumping, such as football and basketball, and with activities such as skiing. When the knee is stretched or twisted beyond the strength of the ligaments that hold the joint together, tearing of these tissues can occur causing a sprain. The muscles that move the knee can also be torn during injury causing a strain or pull of the muscle. As with a sprain, a muscle strain can vary from a minor injury that requires little care to a severe injury requiring surgery.

The knee also contains two special "cartilages" - the menisci - between the tibia and the femur that provide for smooth movement and cushioning. These cartilages can also be torn during trauma and often require surgical repair or removal if damaged severely. Traumatic knee injuries can cause severe pain and swelling and require immediate evaluation and attention. In most cases a qualified chiropractor can manage these conditions, though there are some injuries that do need the expertise of other health professionals.

In any case, it is important to stabilise the injured joint and ice if possible until you can get the injury evaluated.

Treatment of Knee Problems and Pain

If poor mechanics or traumatic injuries are not corrected at an early age, the tissues of the knee joint especially the cartilage will eventually begin to wear out. As a result the bones rub upon one another and changes such as bone spurs can occur. This painful condition is known as degenerative joint disease or osteoarthritis and is often progressive with age. Medical Treatment has traditionally included using medications such as NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) but conservative care such as chiropractic can be helpful in alleviating some of the pain.

There is some evidence that nutritional substances such as Glucosamine and Chondroitin can be helpful in the long term management. People can often help themselves by keeping their weight down, doing exercises especially in the pool, and wearing cushioned shoes or insoles.
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Foot & Ankle Pain

The average person takes between 8,000 and 10,000 steps per day. In addition many of us are engage in activities such as running and aerobic exercise that add many more steps and stress to our poor over worked feet. It is no wonder that many people have aches and pain in this part of the body. Factors such as flat feet or over-pronated feet, our walking and running style, the type of shoe wear can determine if we will get foot and ankle pain. However these factors can also affect the health of your back, knees and legs. Below are a few of the common conditions that affect the feet and ankle.

Pes Planus (Flat Feet)

Flat feet or Pes planus as it is called by the medical community is very common and it is estimated that at least one quarter of the population has flat feet. We are all born with flat feet and somewhere between the ages 3-10 we develop and arch. However in certain people this development never occurs. Besides genetic causes, there are a number of factors that can cause flat feet or predispose people to the condition. Sometimes people develop arches only to have them collapse later in their life. This often depends upon their lifestyle, job and level of activity. Age and weight also play a role in the condition's development. Middle-aged people who have been working on their feet for years often experience flat feet, as do overweight people who are placing added stress on their feet and legs.

Having flat feet does not necessarily mean you will have pain as it's possible for people to have the condition and never feel any discomfort. For people who do develop pain, it usually occurs in the feet and knees, and possibly in the hips and lower back. If you suspect you have flat feet and do experience pain you should see your chiropractor especially to determine a plan of management that can ease pain or prevent symptoms from developing. A number of options, including prescribing arch-supporting insoles called orthotics and performing joint adjustments can improve foot function and alleviate any symptoms.

Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)

One of the most common of the foot ailments is heel pain and the cause is usually inflammation of the plantar fascia or plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia, is a band of connective tissue that surrounds the muscles on the bottom of the foot . It connects the heel bone to the ball of the foot, supporting the arch, protecting the foot and absorbing shock.

Patients with plantar fasciitis often complain of pain in the morning after first standing when they get out of bed and when the stand after they sat for a while. The pain originates just in front of the heel bone, but can spread over the entire bottom of the foot. Over time, inflammation associated with the condition can lead to the development of scar tissue, calcium deposits and eventually heel spurs. These spurs are a bony growth on the front part of the calcaneus of heel bone where the plantar fascia attaches and can sharp stabbing pain with walking.

There are many factors that contribute to the development of plantar fasciitis though people who have other foot conditions, especially pes planus (flat feet) and over-pronation are most susceptible. One of the most important factor is muscle imbalances between the calf muscles and the muscles on the bottom of the foot which both attach to the calcaneus or heel bone. Often the calf muscles get short and tight exerting a strong pull upon the back of the calcaneus. This causes undue stress upon the smaller and weaker plantar muscles and its fascia that attach to the other side of the calcaneus. Wearing high heels will cause a shorting and tightening of the calf muscles as well as running and jumping activities. Other factors that stress the plantar fascia include: sudden strenuous activity after a period of long-term inactivity, abnormal walking patterns, improper footwear, walking on hard or uneven surfaces especially barefooted, and obesity.

People who are constantly on their feet, such as nurses, teachers and waiters, are more susceptible, as are athletes who participate in foot-stressing activities such as aerobics, volleyball, running, basketball and tennis.

Once one develops plantar fasciitis, it is often difficult to manage and can become very painful and persistent. A chiropractor will be able to determine the cause of your problem and what treatments are best suited. These might include joint and muscular adjustments, muscles stretching and strengthening exercises, special strapping and in some cases orthotics.
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Hallux Valgus - Bunions

Hallux valgus is a condition when the big toe or hallux deviates towards the outside of the foot often almost overlapping or bumping in to the adjacent toe. It is a slow developing condition that usually develops a bump on the inside of the big toe often called a bunion.

The pain associated with Hallux Valgus is usually felt during weight bearing activities such as walking or prolonged standing. However if someone has developed a bunion the pain can be present at rest and if often described as a "numbing" or "burning" sensation in the big toes.

To be exact, the actual problem is not in the bone itself but in the joint between the big toe and the 1st metatarsal bone, the 1st metatarsal-phalangeal. It is the damage to this joint that causes the pain and deformity associated with Hallux Valgus. The condition is usually the result of wear and tear over a long period of time from factors such as over-pronation which causes abnormal pressure on the big toe and first metatarsal during walking. Other causes of hallux valgus include inflammatory arthritis that can damage the joint and cause degenerative changes. A broken toe that does not heal properly can also predispose a person to hallux. However one of the more common causes of the problem is the high heeled and pointed shoes that women often wear. These shoes not only put extra stress upon the joint but also help to push the big toe to the outside. It is know wonder that women have the condition much more often than man.

If you have hallux valgus, your chiropractor can examine your foot to determine which factors contributed to your condition. He or she can then use a number of techniques and modalities to decrease pain and improve your foot's function.

Metatarsalgia (Pain in the Ball of the Foot)

Metatarsalgia is sometimes called ball-of-foot pain, a pain in the area on the sole of the foot just behind the toes where the foot bends during walking. The pain is actually caused by a problem in one or more of the five metatarsal bones that extend from about half way up the foot to the toes.

While many patients with metatarsalgia feel pain where their metatarsal bones join their toe bones, some also feel pain along the entire length of the metatarsals and possibly between them. Problems in this area can vary from a stiff and stiff feeling when you move these bones to a burning or stinging sensation. This depends upon whether the problem is due to a dysfunction in the joints or an irritation to the nerves as they travel along the metatarsals.

The cause of the condition can vary but the cause is due to either structural or functional reasons. An example of a structural causes is when the metacarpal bones are either too long or too short causing abnormal mechanics in the feet and too much stress upon this area. Flat feet or excessive arch can also alter the stresses on the metatarsals causing similar symptoms.

There are other factors that can affect these bones that are often in the control of the individual. These include excess body weight, tight or high-heeled shoes, and excessive or poor running or athletic training. Excess weight and wearing high-heeled shoes increases stress upon the metatarsal which leads to joint pain and nerve irritation. Repetitive foot activities, like running, directly stress the metatarsals by exposing them to constant trauma.

Regardless of the cause, your chiropractor can effectively care for metatarsalgia. After determining what factors are underlying your condition, he or she can offer a variety of non-invasive therapies including orthotics as well as advice on how you can avoid future pain.
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Achilles Tendonitis

Achilles tendonitis is a painful and often debilitating inflammation of the Achilles tendon, also called the heel cord. This large tendon is an extension of the two biggest calf muscles and runs down the back of the lower leg attaching to the heel bone or calcaneus. Injury to this important tendon can make it difficult or even impossible to walk. The problem may be caused by a sudden single incident such as jumping, but more commonly it results from an accumulation of smaller stresses that produce small tears in the tendon over time.

In most cases, the appearance of symptoms is gradual. The discomfort may be relatively minor at first, but gradually worsens if the patient tries to "work through" the pain. Many Achilles tendonitis sufferers attribute their initial discomfort to the aches and pains that accompany age or fatigue. In severe cases, a total rupture of the tendon can occur, resulting in traumatic damage and severe pain. Such injuries can make walking virtually impossible and may even require corrective surgery.

Achilles tendonitis is often associated with athletes and performers such as dancers who are involved in running and jumping activities especially involving sudden starts and stops. However, women who typically wear high-heeled shoes are also at risk especially if they switch to sport shoes for exercise. In these cases, the Achilles tendon and muscles gradually adapt to a shortened position created by wearing high-heels, as the heel does not have to stretch all the way to the ground. When this occurs, the switch to exercise or flat shoes forces the Achilles tendon to stretch further than it is accustomed to causing stress and inflammation. For these reasons, high heels should not be worn everyday. If they are deemed necessary, stretching should be done every morning and night to keep Achilles tendon lengthened.

Achilles tendonitis often appears in middle-aged people, especially men who are athletes, due to the changes that occur in the foot as we age. Our arch tends to flatten as we grow older causing over-pronation and increased stress upon the Achilles tendon and the calf and foot muscles. Similarly, problems are also is common in the "weekend warrior" who exercises infrequently, and those who are just starting to exercise. In such people, the muscle and tendon have little flexibility due to inactivity and overdoing exercise in the beginning can cause tendonitis. Therefore, people who are just starting to exercise after a long layoff should stretch properly, start slowly, and increase gradually.

Regardless of the cause of the problem if one is experiencing the symptoms of Achilles tendonitis they should consult a qualified professional such as a chiropractor to manage the problem before it becomes severe.

Chiropractic care provides state of the art diagnosis and treatment for problems associated with any of the above mentioned conditions of the feet & related structures.
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Spinal Care For Your Baby Or Child

Chiropractic care for children aims to assist children to develop into adults with healthy bodies. It endeavours to prevent disease and have children obtain optimum health rather than trying to cure them when they get sick. At Back In Line Chiropractic we believe a healthy spine coupled with a healthy nervous system is crucial in terms of maintaining a healthy body.

If certain areas of your child's spine lose their proper alignment or function, this can irritate the nervous system which will interfere with the normal function of the organs, tissues, and muscles it controls. We call this a spinal subluxation. There are many ways your child's spine can become subluxated. The birth process (natural, forceps, suction etc), falls, or even emotional and chemical stress.

If your child develops a subluxation, the symptoms may not appear for years or they may be obvious immediately. The sort of problems that may arise will usually depend on the age of the child.

In the very young it is commonly associated with colic, irritability, constipation and sleep disturbances. In older children it can be seen as in-toeing, clumsiness, bed wetting, headaches, constipation, recurrent ear infections, learning and attention difficulties plus a host of other problems.

Chiropractic adjustments to children and babies are extremely safe as well as being very effective. In the scientific literature, there exists very little evidence of harm coming to children from chiropractic care.

At Back In Line Chiropractic, we are particularly dedicated to helping kids grow and develop to the best of their ability.

To give your child/baby a healthy start to life is one of the best ways to help prevent disease and promote good health. Childhood is when your body grows and develops the most and all children function better with 100% nerve function.
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Back Pain & Spinal Care During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a very special time when your health and wellbeing is of great importance to yourself and the developing foetus. During pregnancy there are many growing demands on your spine and nervous system. As the unborn baby grows your body biomechanics and postures are constantly changing and adapting. Sometimes this does not happen as smoothly or comfortably as it should.

Many problems suffered during pregnancy may be directly related to the health of your spine. These include low back pain, headaches, sciatica, nausea, indigestion and dizziness which should not necessarily be considered 'a natural part' of pregnancy even though many women suffer from these as early as the first trimester.

Chiropractic care helps during pregnancy by:

• Correcting abnormal joint mechanics that lead to joint and nerve stress – this reduces pain and improves function
• Maintaining joint function and spinal balance so spine may adapt to changes in weight distribution and posture
• Providing freedom from nerve interference to allow for development of a healthy baby and mother
• Ensuring joints of low back and pelvis are moving freely to assist in the birth process. Proper joint movement assists in pelvic opening
• Educating on correct posture, lifting techniques and other lifestyle factors to reduce spinal stress
• Recommending exercises to assist spinal health

Recent studies have shown that chiropractic adjustments result in easier pregnancies, decreased labour time and assist new mothers back to pre-partum health.

During pregnancy chiropractors use special modified techniques to make spinal adjusting easy and comfortable. Chiropractic adjustments are very safe and gentle during pregnancy. Special positions are also incorporated to ensure utmost comfort and safety during your adjustments. At Back In Line Chiropractic we have special pregnancy modifications which help us to adapt to your growing body but at the same time, providing quality care.
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Wellness Care

A major focus of our practice is wellness care. We pride ourselves on educating our patients in knowing the long-term benefits of chiropractic care. They are knowledgeable about how their bodies work and function. Periodic routine chiropractic care can help maintain your body in an optimum state. Subluxations can often exist without pain and continue undetected for years. These subluxations can interfere with your body's expression of health for years. A continuing regular schedule of chiropractic adjustments can reduce the effects of subluxations and increase the body's potential for health. Proper spinal alignment and nervous system expression is a must.

Sports Injury Management & Performance Enhancement

Chiropractic has helped bring many famous athletes back to sport after being injured. In fact many professional athletes use chiropractic not only for injury management and prevention, but also for performance enhancement. Back In Line Chiropractic has also assisted many professional athletes in these areas.

Chiropractic care helps restore the normal function to joints that are not functioning properly, and may also help relieve pain and inflammation. With our extensive experience and post-graduate qualifications in sports injury and performance management, we will not only help you through your injuries but we will help you achieve your sporting goals.

In the past, sports injuries were mostly limited to professional athletes, young people participating in school sports programs, and men participating in weekend activities such as rugby. However more and more people of all ages and both sexes are doing regular sports and fitness activities. There are even women now doing traditional men's sports such as soccer, basketball and rugby. However the majority of people are involved in such activities as golf, tennis, running and activities such as aerobic classes or weight training. No matter what activity one does, there is always the risk of injury. Injury can be broken down into two basic types, one from trauma such as a slip, fall or collision and the other being of the over-use or repetitive stress variety.

Traumatic Injuries

These injuries can cause the debilitating type of problems often associated with trauma. Most of these injuries are usually to the ligaments, the tissue that connects bones to bones and or to muscles though fractures and dislocations do occur at times especially with the contact sports. A strain is any injury to either a muscle or its tendon and a sprain to ligaments. The most common areas for these types of injuries are the ankles, knees, and the shoulders though other areas can be affected including the low back and neck. Of course, injuries to the neck and low back can be quite serious as the spinal cord or spinal nerves can also be involved.

Traumatic injuries can vary from a mild "muscle pull" or ankle twist to a serious problem requiring surgery. It all depends upon the degree of tearing of the tissues, the location, and the age of the person. Most sprains and strains are associated with some degree of swelling and sometimes internal bleeding especially with the ankles and knees. With all strains and sprains proper management is very important especially during the initial stages of the injury to insure proper healing and no future disability.

The following is an acronym for the post-injury management of sprains and strains especially if no professional help is available: PRICE

• P -Protect the injury from further damage
• R -Rest the injury
• I - Ice the injury to reduce swelling, bleeding, muscle spasm and pain
• C -Compress the injury with a specialised support or elastic bandage to support the injured tissues
• E - Elevate the injury if necessary when dealing with ankles and knees.

Of course it is important to get the injury properly assessed by a health care professional so to know the extent of damage. Most of these injuries can recover though do need proper care during the various stages of healing. If not manage carefully some sprains and strains can leave us with long lasting problems of joint instability, painful or weak joints and muscles, and lack of mobility. A Chiropractor who is trained in the management of sports injury can give you the proper advice and treatment to ensure that your injury will heal in the best possible way.

Overuse or Repetitive Strain Injuries

These injuries are becoming more and more common especially among people pursuing sports such as golf, tennis, bowling or any other activity that are requires one to do the same activity over and over. Even running, especially on a treadmill can cause such problems.

Basically these conditions occur when we are involved in a repetitive activity that causes a very slight strain to tissues especially tendons and muscles that alone would not cause a problem but done many times has an accumulative affect. After some time the muscle or other affected tissue develops changes that no longer allow it to function properly resulting in pain, stiffness and disability. There are two types of factors that predispose one to these types of problems one being intrinsic or found within one's own body and extrinsic or external factors that can often be changed or controlled by the individual.
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Common Intrinsic Factors of Injury

1. Age - the older we are the easier it is to get injured
2. Congenital abnormalities - some people are born with joint or muscle problems
3. Previous injuries - previously injured joints or muscles often lack proper function

Common Extrinsic factors of Injury:

1. Equipment - improper grip size of tennis racquet, worn out running shoes
2. Playing surface - playing soccer on hard surfaces, uneven treadmill
3. Improper technique - improper golf grip or swing
4. Poor conditioning - doing activity when out of shape
5. Lack of warm-up - not stretching or preparing for activity
6. Increased frequency or duration - not building up slowly
7. Flexibility - too stiff to do activity correctly
8. Stress - being tired or stressed can cause number 3 or 7

As we can see there are more factor that are extrinsic and therefore within our control. However most of us need assessment by a qualified health professional to determine the nature of the injury as well as the solution to the problem as left untreated these injuries can greatly affect ones life and limit a favourite activity. Besides eliminating the cause treatment is often required to stabilize the condition. The treatment might include joint adjustments, soft tissue techniques, advice, bracing and specific exercises.
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