Monthly Archives: February 2013

Feb 27

How to Lift Correctly to Avoid Injuring Your Back

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by Olivia O Leary D.C BSc Hons Chiropractic

One of the most frequent topics we regularly cover with our patient’s  in the treatment room at Gorey Family Chiropractic as well as in the Spinal Health Class is how to lift correctly. Correct lifting technique really is essential in preventing back pain as well as facilitating a recovery from back injuries.

A few simple steps and you will dramatically cut down the chances of hurting your back whilst lifting.

Correct Lifting Technique:

Start in a safe position

Before you lift a heavy object, think through your task. Decide where you’ll place the object and how you’ll get it there. If an object is too heavy to lift safely, find somebody to help you.

To lift an object from the floor, stand as close to the object as possible. Then kneel, resting one knee on the floor. Don’t lift from a standing position with your waist bent or your knees locked.

Maintain the natural curve in your lower back

With one knee resting on the floor, tighten your core muscles — including the muscles in your abdomen, back and pelvis — and lift the object between your legs. Maintain the natural curve in your lower back, and don’t hold your breath. Be careful to hold the object close to your body. Rest the object on your knee as you prepare to stand.

Use your legs
As you stand, maintain the natural curve in your lower back and keep your core muscles tight. Use your leg muscles — not your back — to lift the object.

Let your legs do the work
As you stand, be careful to hold the object close to your body. Maintain the natural curve in your lower back, and keep your core muscles tight. Use your leg muscles — not your back — to lift the object.

Do’s and Don’ts of Safe Lifting

  •  Tuck in the chin to keep the back as straight as possible while lifting.
  •  Lift with the strong leg muscles.
  •  Ask for help with the heavy, awkward items.
  •  When possible, use mechanical equipment to move heavy items.

Don’t

  •   Use your back muscles to do lifting.
  •   Try to lift an item that is too heavy or awkward.
  •   Twist your body while carrying an object.

 

Gorey Family Chiropractic Spinal Health Class

If you are one of our existing Client’s, have you been for your complimentary Spinal Health Class at the practice? Filled with information to help you make a faster recovery and maintain your back in good shape  in the longer term it covers everything from lifting postures to exercises to mattresses. If you haven’t been it runs every fortnight at the practice  on a Monday or Wednesday evening after clinic finishes. If you haven’t been you’re missing out!

For your convenience all of our Chiropractic team are registered with VHI, Aviva and Laya Healthcare allowing clients claim reimbursement from a wide range of private healthcare Insurance providers.

Opening hours Mon 8-7, Tues 9-5, Wed 8-7, Thurs 9-5, Frid 8-7

For further information on the above topic or to make an appointment feel free to contact Gorey Family Chiropractic Clinic on 053 94 83338 or email us at info@chiropractor.ie

 

Feb 27

Coping with Back Pain during Pregnancy

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by Olivia O Leary D.C BSc Hons Chiropractic

Back pain in pregnancy is a common complaint we see at Gorey Family Chiropractic Clinic, complicating approximately half of all pregnancies in Ireland each year. For pregnant women, back pain during pregnancy is not a trivial matter.  Left unaddressed, pregnancy back pain can have a negative impact on your daily lifestyle, from causing missed time from work, affecting looking after other children, to making your delivery more difficult.

To help make your pregnancy as pleasant as possible and facilitate an easier delivery, it is generally recommended that back pain should be always be addressed as quickly as possible and managed throughout your pregnancy.

Lower back pain in pregnancy that lasts a long time (several weeks or months) is a predictor for postpartum back pain (pain after birth). For this reason, pregnant women are encouraged to look after their back whilst pregnant and to seek guidance and treatment where appropriate during pregnancy for back pain.

Risk Factors for the Development of Pregnancy Back Pain

  • A physically strenuous occupation, for instance a job with lifting or standing involved or even a pregnant mother caring for other small children can increase the risk of back pain developing in the course of a pregnancy.
  •  A prior history of back pain or pelvic girdle pain
  • Previous injury to the back or pelvis from an accident or trauma is another known predisposing factor in the development of back pain in pregnancy.

Causes of Back Pain

The causes of back pain in pregnancy are largely related to problems with two structures in the lower back, the sacroiliac joints and the lumbar spine.

Typically there are three main reasons why these structures become painful:

1.    As a mother’s abdomen grows during pregnancy, the center of gravity in her body is forced to change in response to the increasing weight of the baby coupled with the weight of the amniotic fluid, sac, placenta etc.

This increasing weight pulls forward and the pregnant mother is forced to increase   the curve of her lumbar spine to compensate.

2.    The sacroiliac joints, an attachment point of the pelvis to the spine can frequently become unstable in the latter stages of pregnancy. These joints, already under considerable pressure from the increasing weight of the bump, are affected by the hormonal changes a women’s body goes through during the second and third trimester of pregnancy.

The pregnancy hormones affect the laxity of the ligaments that connect the sacroiliac joints to the spine. This occurs so that the pelvis may expand to allow the passage of the baby downwards through the birth canal so as to facilitate giving birth. However this process creates significant instability of the multiple ligamentous structures at the very same point when these structures are under pressure from the increased weight of the abdomen.

This can give rise to a condition called Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction or SPD.

The pain from this disorder can radiate to your thighs, and some women feel or hear a clicking or grinding in the pelvic/ pubic area.

The pain can be most noticeable when you are:
•    Walking
•    Going upstairs
•    Standing on one leg (for example when you’re getting dressed)
•   Turning over in bed and it can also be difficult to move your legs apart, for example when you get out of a car.

There is treatment to help, and techniques to manage the pain and discomfort. If you get the right advice and treatment early on, SPD can usually be managed and the symptoms minimised.

The tips listed here can help you to protect and minimise the strain on your back

  •  Avoid lifting heavy objects
  •  Bend your knees and keep your  back straight when lifting
  •  Move your feet when turning round to avoid twisting your spine
  •  Wear flat shoes as these allow your weight to be evenly distributed
  •   Work at a surface high enough to prevent you stooping
  •   Sit with your back straight and well supported
  •   Make sure you get enough rest, particularly later in pregnancy

How Can Pregnancy Related Back Pain be Treated?

Firstly if you are intending to get pregnant pre-emptive treatment through exercise is extremely beneficial particularly if you are a sufferer of back pain prior to pregnancy.

Where possible try to strengthen you core before becoming pregnant. Developing strong core musculature helps support the spine, baby and eases the pressure exerted on the lumbar spine and sacro-iliac joints.

Our Gorey Family Chiropractic team may utilise different tailor made treatments for pregnancy back pain, including specific advice& instructions on how to address your individual back problem yourself.  This is determined following a thorough assessment and evaluation and has been shown to be a safe effective way of easing the pain coming from structures such as the muscles, ligaments and joint of the spine and pelvis.

Chiropractic aims to relieve or ease pain, improve muscle function and improve your pelvic joint position and stability, and may include

  • Manual therapy to make sure the joints of your pelvis, hip and   spine move normally
  • Exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor, stomach, back and hip muscles
  • Exercises in water which supports the bodies increasing weight
  • Advice and suggestions including positions for labour and birth, looking after your baby, pain relief, such as TENS
  • Equipment if necessary such as pelvic support belts. Supportive belts that take the strain off the sacroiliac joints can be very helpful in controlling the instability of the sacroiliac joints. Your chiropractor or other prenatal healthcare professional can advise on sizing and fit if these are appropriate as well as instruct you on how to use the belts correctly to maximum effect.
  • Advice and instructions are also given on proper posture’s while pregnant. i.e how to sit, stand sleep to take strain off the spine as well as considering  specific ways to perform routine activities, such as housework; how to sleep comfortably, lift and bend safely.

When to Get Help for Low back or Pelvic Joint Pain?

Getting diagnosed as early as possible can help keep pain to a minimum and avoid long-term discomfort. If you are pregnant and suffering from low back pain  or pelvic / sacroiliac pain and are based around Gorey, Enniscorthy, Wexford, Arklow, Wicklow or Carlow it may be time to be professionally evaluated. Why not call Gorey Family Chiropractic today to make an initial consultation appointment.

For your convenience all of our Chiropractic team are registered with VHI, Aviva and Laya Healthcare allowing clients claim reimbursement from a wide range of private healthcare Insurance providers.

Opening hours Mon 8-7, Tues 9-5, Wed 8-7, Thurs 9-5, Frid 8-7

Call Gorey Family Chiropractic Clinic  on 053 94 83338 or alternatively email info@chiropractor.ie

Feb 15

What Core Exercises Can Do For Your Back Pain

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The Rationale Behind Exercising your Back

By Olivia O Leary BSc (Hons) D.C

Your low back pain can be the result of many different things. Back pain can be triggered by combinations of strain, overuse, and or injuries to the ligaments, joints and discs of the spine.

Over time injury that has not been managed correctly can lead to an imbalance in the spine which can lead to constant tension in the muscles, ligaments and joints making your low back more prone to injury or re-injury.

Treatment combined with rehab has been scientifically shown to have greater success at preventing recurrent low back pain than either treatment or exercises on their own. So where do you start if you are experiencing recurrent low back pain.

Since low back pain can be caused by injury to various structures in the spine and it’s supporting structures it is important to consult your chiropractor or other spinal specialist if you have back pain lasting longer than 1-2 weeks which is undiagnosed.  Your chiropractor can provide a specific diagnosis and explain what structure is injured so that you can be guided as to which treatment and exercises are appropriate for your specific injury.

If you are an existing client of Gorey Family Chiropractic you will have already been thoroughly physically examined,  with x rays taken or scans arranged if clinically neccessary, so that your  your complaint could be diagnosed comprehensively and the benefits of rehab for your condition if it was necessary will have been explained to you.

Different spinal problems can be treated with differing protocols regarding exercise, but low back and flexibility exercises have been shown to helpful for almost all types of back problems.

How do Core Exercises Help the Low Back

Low back exercises concentrate on strengthening your abdominal muscles, helping give stability to your spine.

Rehabilitation programs that focus on strengthening lumbar muscles combined with core stability and proprioception work also help reduce the risk of low back pain in the future if exercises are done correctly, and on a regular basis.

The Lumbar/Core Strength and Stability programs can be utilised if you are one of our clients recovering from a specific injury or if it has been identified that you may be at risk of developing further spinal problems in the future.

Programs always include flexibility and strengthening components.

Rehab programs are divided into easy, medium and more difficult levels, which clients work through themselves but under the guidance of one of our Chiropractic/ Physiotherapy team.

It is always recommended to start with the “Easy” exercises, and perfect those before moving to “Medium” or “Difficult”.

So what is the “core”?

The “core” is comprised of several groups of muscles including the transversus abdominus, multifidus, diaphragm and pelvic floor muscles.

These muscles work together to produce maximum stability in the abdominal and lumbar (lower) back region, as well as coordinating the movement of the arms, legs, and spine.

World Leading Exercise Instruction..

Professor Stuart McGill is one of the worlds leading experts on Spinal Rehabilitation based at the University of Waterloo Canada. His expertise in spinal rehab has been utilized by governments and public bodies as well as elite athletes. In this video he demonstrates how to effectively and safely strengthen the core without aggravating the lower back or discs.

This great video from Professor Mc Gill and his team is excellent for referencing the best exercises for the core, thereby strengthening the core effectively and most importantly safely for those of you with lower back or disc problems.

 

As always our Gorey Family Chiropractic Clinical team will guide you through a specific programme for your individual case to complement your programme of Chiropractic care and to ensure you recover faster and stay well in the long term.

For your convenience all our clinical team is registered with VHI, Aviva and Laya Healthcare allowing clients of Gorey Family Chiropractic to claim reimbursement from a range of Private Health Insurers.

Feel free to contact our Gorey Family Chiropractic Clinical Team at info@chiropractor.ie or 053 94 83338 with any questions or if you are a new patient with low back pain, sciatica or disc problems seeking guidance.

Opening Hours Mon 8-7, Tues 9-5, Wed 8-7, Thurs 9-5, Fri 8-7

Feb 11

4 Ways to Strengthen your Back

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Building Core Muscles Helps Protect you from Back Injury…
The Chiropractic team at Gorey Family Chiropractic are not only concerned with treatment, we also incorporate the benefits of exercise and rehabilitation in combination with treatment to return the spine to a strong stable condition preventing future episodes of back pain. So how can we do this?

Our back muscles are involved in every move we make. The spinal system includes muscles along with the bones, discs, joints and ligaments in the trunk and abdominal area, together known as the core. This complex system helps our bodies twist, turn, bend, extend and bear stress from everyday activities.
Weakness, imbalance or tightness in the muscles that support the spine creates imbalance and can lead to abnormal posture, muscle fatigue and back pain.
The following exercises suitable for all levels help build core muscles to protect the spine and help prevent back pain. There are a number of different ways to strengthen your core. The exercises you choose will depend on whether you have had back problems before, and your age. Be sure to discuss any exercise program with one of our Gorey Family Chiropractic team if you are unsure or if you are in pain at the moment.

1. Pool exercises (easy)

Pool walking is a low-impact way to build core muscles. As you move, the core works against the force of the water. This is gentle on extremities such as knees, hips, ankles and feet.

2. Exercise ball (medium/difficult)

Exercise videos or specific instruction from one of the Gorey Family Chiropractic team will help you understand how to use an exercise ball appropriately. These exercises are deceptively simple and with practice, you can increase the intensity gradually to great effect.

3. Floor exercises (medium/difficult)

A popular core booster is the side plank. Lie on your right side with your right hand on the ground. (Beginners should use the elbow.) Lift yourself up to form a plank, with your right arm straight and left arm at your side. Hold the position, then repeat. Be sure to keep the body in a straight line while tightening the abdominals and gluts.

4. Mind-body workouts (easy to difficult)

Disciplines such as tai chi, Yoga and Pilates help target core muscles. Sign up for a class or rent a DVD exercise program to try at home.  Tai chi is low impact and ideal for people with a history of musculoskeletal problems. Choose “relaxation” yoga for lower impact. Pilates is centered around building core strength and improving posture.
No matter what you do, the key is to find an activity appropriate for your body — one that you enjoy and will stick with so you can continue to build a strong, healthy back. Good Luck and message us if you have any questions 😉

info@chiropractor.ie or alternatively call 053 94 83338