Learn more about how chiropractic may be able to help get your life back on track
Human connection
At the heart of our therapy at Ready Set Chiro, Albany is the relationship that is built between the client and the chiropractor. This unique and special relationship is key to client’s feeling safe and supported on their journey to achieving wellness. Connection with your therapist where you feel valued and heard is nourishing can actually help promote healing (1). Human connection is vital for our well being.
Numerous studies have shown that soothing Physical touch releases chemicals by the brain that are the happy chemicals such as dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin and cannabinoids (1). Any touch that is soothing and non-threatening with moderate pressure can stimulate the brain to release these happy chemicals (3). One study has shown that a simple act of holding a person’s hand can reduce the brain’s response to stress and this is noticeable on a PET scan(2). If the brain recognises the touch as positive and soothing it will respond with the body feeling positive and relaxed. It can also work the other way too. If the brain perceives to be under threat it will alter the bodily function to respond accordingly. Positive human connection and touch also has the ability to boost our immune system, lower heart rate and lower blood pressure.
A chiropractor uses their hands to feel any tension, spasms or lack of proper movement and function of the spine. The body gives out subtle cues which allows a chiropractor to gauge how the brain is perceiving the touch. A great chiropractor will be able to read these cues and feel the frequency of your body. Along with using their knowledge of anatomy and physiology a chiropractor will be able to identify the right segment to adjust. An adjustment is also delivered mostly by the hand and uses moderate pressure to create necessary changes. Could human connection be why chiropractic care has an X - factor?
References
Dan-Mikael Ellingsen,* Siri Leknes, Guro Løseth, Johan Wessberg, and Håkan Olausson4
Published online 2016 Jan 6. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01986. PMCID: PMC4701942. PMID: 26779092. The Neurobiology Shaping Affective Touch: Expectation, Motivation, and Meaning in the Multisensory Context.
Nicole K. McNichols Ph.D.The Vital Importance of Human Touch. August 3, 2021. https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/everyone-top/202108/the-vital-importance-human-touch
Patrick McGurrin. (2016, March 31). Making Sense of Touch. ASU - Ask A Biologist. Retrieved September 2, 2022 from https://askabiologist.asu.edu/understanding-touch
Gluteal/Buttock Pain
Pain in the low back that goes into your buttock, hip or upper thigh is a common symptom for many chronic low back pain sufferers. It may come on suddenly after bending over to pick up an object or gradually e.g waking up feeling stiff after gardening the day before. There could be a number of causes such as
· lumbar facet inflammation
· sacroiliac joint dysfunction
· bursitis
· piriformis syndrome
· muscle strain
Lumbar facet syndrome
The most common reason for experiencing low back and buttock pain is due to an inflammation of the Lumbar facet joint. The lumbar spine has 2 types of joints; the disc and the facet. The facets are smaller than the disc and allows for movement of the vertebrae in certain directions only. These facets are what gives the spine its range of motion without losing stability. Due to the size and nature of these joints, the facets are easily irritated by stress to the low back. The stress causes tears and inflammation to the capsule of the facet joint. The most common facet to show symptoms is the L5/S1 facets.
Symptoms
The pain is usually chronic in nature and can be dull and achy. There may be localised pain in the low back but can have referred pain into the buttock, hip or upper thigh. It is usually only one sided. The pain can come on and last a few days to a week then subside till it is re-aggravated again. A skilled chiropractor should be able to identify the cause of the problem of which there are many, and help get the pain under control.
Causes of facet irritation
Common causes of facet joint inflammation are
· poor posture
· obesity
· facet joint alignment and movement
· joint degeneration
Treatment
Proper treatment is reliant on first getting the right diagnosis. This will determine what type of treatment is required. A qualified health professional is a good place to start. This can include your chiropractor, physiotherapist or GP who can perform test and assess your body to find the cause of the problem.
Conservative treatment for facet syndrome includes spinal adjustments along with soft tissue therapy and physical therapy. A chiropractor uses a variety of techniques to help you get movement and function back into your joints. There are home remedies that can be utilized to help lessen the pain. These include
· heat packs
· stretches
· avoiding prolonged standing or sitting
· drinking 2L of water
· gentle exercise
The best treatment is always prevention. So make sure that your spinal alignment and health is at it’s best by getting adjusted.
Looking after your spine from top to tail
Chiropractic for low back pain relief
What is low back pain
Low back pain is pain that originates from the lumbar spine and pelvis. Most low back pain is due to an injury to the spinal joints or muscles in this area. These types of injuries often happen from falls, weight lifting, being tackled or even maintaining awkward postures. This type of low back pain can be very debilitating and can have a severe impact on your life.
The next most common type of low back pain is from what is commonly called a slipped disc. This type of back pain causes shooting pains into the legs. Luckily, our clinic has the only inversion table in the Great Southern. This table decompresses your low back while the chiropractor is providing traction and imbibition to the discs. Our unique table is awesome at taking that pressure of the discs in the low back.
Chiropractors are experts at the treatment of low back pain, it is our specialty and our bread and butter. We are going to outline the top 5 reasons why you should see a chiropractor for your low back pain in this month's blog. So without further ado let's begin:
It’s effective
Chiropractic care is excellent at treating low back pain, it’s fast and effective. Chiropractic works with the spine which is the cause of most low back pain. As well as taking into account the muscles and nervous system. In order to treat low back pain chiropractors use adjustments to improve the function of your spine, muscles and neurological system. By specifically treating the root cause of your issue we can efficiently manage your pain and restore your function as quickly as possible.This is why it is so effective, the whole picture is taken into account during your treatment. Most people find that within several sessions their pain has greatly improved and they can start to shift their focus into other areas of their life that bring them joy such as hobbies, family and friends. It is amazing what can be achieved when you aren’t in pain.
It’s safe
Chiropractic care as well as being very effective is very safe, it's the whole package. Chiropractic adjustments are natural and work with the body instead of against it. Adjustments help to amplify the body's natural healing process without hindering it in the process. As with all things there are some side effects but they usually are no more than a little soreness in the muscles, similar to getting a firm massage or going to the gym after a long break. These typically will resolve in 24-48hrs and you will feel better than before. In fact a little soreness is a good indicator that your body is changing and the healing process has begun.
Treats the cause not the symptoms
As we have already touched on how your chiropractor makes sure to treat the cause of your low back pain not the symptoms e.g. the pain in your back. Now I know some people will find this strange because we often believe that the cause of our low back pain is right where we feel the most pain. But this is not always the case, sometimes the pain could be due to your back having to compensate for other areas of your body that are not working correctly or from muscles elsewhere in the body that are referring to pain in the lower back. Luckily your chiropractor is highly trained in finding the cause of your pain and treating it. This is often the reason why many people who have tried everything else possible to help cure their pain to no avail are so surprised how well chiropractic is able to help them.
Natural
Chiropractic is about as natural as you can get when it comes to helping your lower back pain. Often treatment is as simple as the chiropractor skillfully using nothing other than their own hands with no drugs or surgery required. It is quite remarkable what can be achieved naturally. Whilst this may sound easy it is in fact not easy at all, your chiropractor has spent many years honing and perfecting their adjustments. Thanks to this they are able to provide you with the most efficient and natural treatment. They say the most basic tools take the longest to master but are often the most effective. And luckily for you the chiropractors at Ready set chiro have honed their skills to a fine art and are always committed to giving you the best treatment and outcome possible.
Comprehensive
Chiropractic aims to look after the whole body as well as the mind. Your chiropractor will often treat other areas of the body that you may think have nothing to do with your low back pain but are in fact contributing to the root cause. Our bodies are intimately intertwined with each and every other body part, this means that a little problem with one part distant from the body will often create big problems in other areas. Luckily chiropractors are experts at finding this root cause and correcting it, this is one of the reasons so many people have such life changing experiences through their chiropractic journey. Chiropractors excel at educating and creating informed and happy patients, we will teach you strategies to improve your ability to manage your low back and outlook on pain and life.
All in all lower back pain is a very common condition. Luckily chiropractors are experts at treating this condition, there is never a good reason to put up with pain. So don’t hesitate to call the friendly chiropractors at Ready Set Chiro today. We always take the time to listen to you and treat you as a person not a number. Our experience helps us listen to your problem and our questioning will guide us to find out what the body is trying to tell us. We learn a lot from listening to the hints and clues your body gives out.
If you know someone who is suffering with low back pain, make sure to share this blog with them. After all, we all need to be informed about our own health choices and know all the options available to us.
We have talked a lot about pain today but chiropractic is more than just pain relief. If you would like to find out more about the health improving effects of chiropractic make sure to have a chat with our friendly chiropractors today.
Ready Set Chiro
9800 0670
Dry needling for pain relief
What the heck is dry needling?
Most people have heard of acupuncture but when it comes to dry needling most people have never heard of it or have no idea what dry needling is and what is involved. When in fact it is one of the most effective and most useful therapies that is available for the treatment of pain and dysfunction and is one that chiropractors are highly trained and very skilful in applying.
This blog will teach you everything that you need to know when it comes to dry needling. So read on to find out what exactly dry needling is and how it can help you today.
So what is dry needling?
Dry needling is similar to acupuncture, they both use very thin needles to treat the body and help restore function. Dry needling differs from acupuncture in that it is applied to trigger points or muscle knots instead of along the meridian system.
This makes it a very effective form of soft tissue therapy that our chiropractors can expertly apply as it is needed to complement our adjustments and help restore your soft tissues to correct working order.
Chiropractors are highly trained in the application of dry needling, we skillfully insert the needles into the areas that the body needs them most to give you the best possible relief from nagging aches and pains as well as improving the function of your body.
What to expect?
Our chiropractors will do a thorough examination of your muscles and spine. We will find the trigger points in your body and then apply the thin needles with the utmost precision to the areas that your body tells us where they are needed most. Don’t worry you don’t have to even see the needles go in as dry needling is most often performed with you laying face down so you can just relax and let the needles work their magic on your body.
How does it work with Chiropractic?
Dry needling works extremely well along with Chiropractic care. This is because whilst chiropractic adjustments are great at working with the body to restore it's normal function in a natural way, sometimes the muscles need a little extra attention. Dry needling is the perfect choice for this since it pairs perfectly with Chiropractic adjustments. It allows us to stimulate the muscles in a safe and natural way whilst never having to compromise on efficiency.
Does it hurt?
Dry needles are very thin, much thinner than the normal needles used for blood tests, in fact they are about the thickness of a single strand of hair. This means that often patients don't even feel them go in. And if you do feel them it is a very minor sensation, which is short lived. Most people with a phobia of needles find that they don’t have a problem with dry needling and are pleasantly surprised at how positive the experience is.
What can dry needling treat?
Dry needling is excellent for the treatment of tight and painful muscles as well as many other conditions such as:
Tennis elbow
Headaches
Migraines
Tight shoulders
Low back stiffness
Shoulder pain
This is just a short list of things that dry needling can help you with. If you are wondering if dry needling is for your issue, make sure to speak with one of our friendly chiropractors today.
All in all dry needling is a very safe and effective treatment for many issues that most people just put up with in their day to day life. So why put up with pain and abnormal function when you can get on top of the issue and live your life. After all, it's as easy as making an appointment today.
Where can I get some dry needling done?
Ready set chiro is your local dry needling expert for Albany and the great Southern region. So give us a call now on 9800 0670 or send us an email at readysetchiro@gmail.com and let the experts take care of you for all your dry needling needs.
