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Chiropractic works by identifying and correcting the underlying source of your health problem.
Chiropractic care is based on the fact that the body is a self-healing entity. However,
sometimes it needs a bit of help. Your Doctor of Chiropractic will offer your body that helping
hand, thus allowing it to heal itself and providing a long-term solution.
People of all ages -from newborn to elderly- can be treated with chiropractic. There are
hundreds of chiropractic techniques and your doctor will choose the one most appropriate for you
and your condition. Most conditions can be treated, even after surgery. If yours is not a
chiropractic case, you will be referred to appropriate specialist.
A wide range of conditions can benefit from chiropractic care. Here is an abridged list of
conditions most commonly treated. If your specific health concern is not listed, call our clinic
and speak to a qualified Doctor of Chiropractic.
Back pain
Buttock, leg and foot pain
Sciatica
Slipped disc
Pinched nerves
Neck pain and whiplash
Shoulder arm and hand pain
Headaches, migraine and dizziness
Weakness, numbness, pins and needles
Muscle tension
"Wear and tear", arthritis and joint pain
Scoliosis
Sports injuries
Pregnancy and chiropractic
Kids and chiropractic
Asthma
Back pain

Almost everybody
suffers with back pain at one time or another. Back pain may vary from slight niggling ache to sharp
debilitating pain that can affect every part of the back and also radiate to other areas of the body.
Some causes of back pain include bad posture, poor seating, unsupportive beds and pillows, incorrect
lifting, sedentary lifestyle, stress (both physical and mental), trauma, sports injuries, pregnancy,
"wear and tear" the list goes on. Your chiropractor will identify the source of your problem, treat
the cause of pain and advise how to best keep it from recurring.
Buttock, leg and foot pain

Leg pain doesn't always mean there is something wrong with the leg itself. Because of the way our
nervous system functions, you may, for example, have pain in your foot when the problem actually
lies in your lower back. Your chiropractor will be able to identify whether the source of your problem
is where you feel the pain (such as that with arthritic pain), or if it is radiating from another
part of your body, and then treat you accordingly.
Sciatica

Sciatica is a general term describing pain from irritation of the sciatic nerve and its branches.
The sciatic nerve is a collection of spinal nerve roots arising from the lower back. These nerves
can become aggravated by abnormal functioning of the spinal vertebrae, bulging of the spinal discs
(often called "slipped disc") or even by tight muscles around it. Sciatic pain can be felt anywhere
in the leg and it can even extend to the foot. Even when sciatica originates from the lower part
of the spine, low back pain isn't necessarily present. Your chiropractor will identify the cause
of the irritation and provide treatment at the source of the problem.
Slipped disc

The intervertebral discs are the shock absorbers of the spine. On the outside they are layer upon
layer of very tough fibrous material, while the inside remains more gel-like.
Technically, discs
cannot slip, because of the way they are attached to the vertebra above and below. However, they can
bulge, herniate, collapse and even rupture. The physical changes in the disc will cause abnormal
function in the joint and can result in local pain. The bulging disc can compress on the spinal
cord and nerves and produce pain in an area distant from the site of the problem. Sciatic pain in
the leg is a good example. You may find that the pain will eventually subside. However, if spinal
dysfunction remains uncorrected, you may develop irreversible changes in the spine that can cause
problems later on in life. Your chiropractor will determine whether chiropractic treatment is
appropriate for your case. Most patients find remarkable improvement in their symptoms and are soon
able to return to normal daily activities without painkillers and without surgery.
Pinched nerves

Pinched nerves are relatively rare. Whilst it is not very common to have a bone compressing on a
nerve, it is much more common to irritate a nerve by abnormal function or loading of the spinal
vertebrae. Irritation and compression can result in pain, muscle weakness, pins and needles,
numbness, burning sensation or any combination of these symptoms. Once the exact location of
nerve irritation has been identified, your chiropractor can then get on with the job of getting
you out of pain and on the road to recovery.
Neck pain and whiplash

Today's modern lifestyle often causes problems in the neck and shoulder area. Poor work position,
repetitive tasks, stress and disuse of the full range of motion of the neck can all cause pain,
discomfort and muscle tension in the neck, at the base of the skull and over the top of the
shoulders. These problems are often associated with frequent headaches. Whiplash injuries are
common especially as a result of car accidents. Whiplash can occur even at relatively low speed
impact and does not necessarily cause any pain at the time of the accident, because of the body's
ability to compensate for injuries. Problems can arise weeks, months or even years later. Speak
to your chiropractor to find out how you can best get out of pain and stay that way.
Shoulder arm and hand pain

As with leg pain, for arm pain the first and most important thing to do is to determine what is
causing it. Your chiropractor has been trained to accurately diagnose the problem and treat
accordingly. Whether the pain is arising from frozen shoulder, tennis/golfers elbow, carpal tunnel
syndrome, repetitive strain injury or radiating from dysfunction in the neck, your chiropractor
will explain to you the best course of action.
Headaches, migraine and dizziness

Headaches are very common. Because they are so common, most people think it is normal to have
headaches. It is not! Painkillers might give some relief from your headaches, but they do not
address the cause of the problem.
There are many types of headaches. Tension headaches are often associated with our hectic
lifestyle and stress. Migraines can be very debilitating and disturbing. Sometimes there is no
headache to speak of, but symptoms may include visual and hearing disturbances, sensitivity to
light and sound, nausea, even vomiting. Dizzy spells can occur as part of migraine symptoms,
with headaches or on their own with no other associated symptoms. After your chiropractor has
carefully diagnosed your condition, he can then give you recommendations for care. If yours is
not a chiropractic case, you will be referred to the appropriate health care provider.
Weakness, numbness, pins and needles

When a nerve is being irritated, or compressed, then the normal flow of nerve impulses will be
compromised. In many cases this can result in muscular weakness, pins and needles, burning
sensation or numbness of the skin. Each nerve supplies specific muscle, reflex and area of the
skin. Your chiropractor can use this information to pinpoint the exact origin of your problem
and then put together a treatment plan to address your individual needs.
Muscle tension

Muscle tension is very common these days and it can vary from slight sense of tightness to
agonising pain. If muscle tension is anything but transient, it can gradually start to affect
the joints that those muscles control. This may result in abnormal functioning of the joint or
misalignment of the bone, as tight muscles are pulling it off normal alignment. When the
proper function of the joints is restored, soft tissues relax, as they can once again
contract and relax normally. In most cases spinal manipulative therapy together with specific
stretches produce maximum results and can prevent problems from recurring.
"Wear and tear", arthritis and joint pain

People often talk about wear and tear of the joints. This can also be called arthritis,
osteoarthritis, spondylosis, degeneration, spinal decay or degenerative joint disease. There
are many forms of arthritis and it can affect people of all ages. The most common form is
osteoarthritis. This means that there are irreversible degenerative changes in the joints.
While chiropractic cannot reverse these changes, it can promote healthier joints by improving
their function and mobility, decrease pain and discomfort and help slow any further wear and
tear. Chiropractic can also decrease pain and speed up recovery as well as minimize resultant
dysfunction with conditions such as tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, frozen shoulder, carpal
tunnel syndrome and repetitive strain injury.
Scoliosis

Scoliosis is a general term meaning sideways curvature of the spine. Looking at the ideal
spine from the front or the back it would be completely straight. One shoulder or one side
of the pelvis being higher than the other may be a sign of scoliosis. Whether scoliosis
can be corrected with chiropractic care depends on the individual case. Scoliosis often
develops in early teenage years and the earlier you intervene, the easier it is to treat.
When scoliosis has been present for a long time, the sideways curvature may not always be
corrected, however the function of the spine can in most cases be improved, thus relieving
any pain, discomfort -even breathing difficulties. Talk to your chiropractor to find out more.
Sports injuries

Sports injuries
are often problems that arise when increased functional demand is applied to a joint or body
part that is not functioning properly in the first place. These might include spinal or
pelvic misalignment, muscle imbalance and poor posture to mention but a few. Examples of
sports injuries are: Pulled muscles, Tennis elbow, Golfer's elbow, cartilage dysfunction and
tearing and Repetitive Strain Injury. Your chiropractor can help you recover quicker, with
less pain and with minimal resultant dysfunction. More importantly a chiropractor can uncover
underlying dysfunction, and by correcting it, help prevent your problem from recurring. Many
sportsmen simply wish to maintain their good health with regular chiropractic treatments.
Athletes in particular have found a significant improvement in their sport performance through
chiropractic care.
Pregnancy and chiropractic

Many physical, mental and hormonal changes take place during pregnancy and these can put
strain on a woman's body. Chiropractic care can help women through the pregnancy. Low and
mid-back pain as well as pain in the pelvis and ribs are common during pregnancy. Chiropractic
care is suitable and safe throughout the pregnancy, during labour and after giving birth.
Prenatal care will address spinal and pelvic problems and provide a drug free alternative to
pain management. It can also make giving birth easier by ensuring good alignment of joints and
ligaments. The birth process is stressful for both the mother and the baby and many mothers
choose to have a check-up with their chiropractor after giving birth as well as having their
babies checked for birth trauma, joint misalignment and more.
Kids and chiropractic

Children are always
getting into trouble and falling or bumping into things. This can cause a child's spine to
misalign, causing problems, which at first might not seem to have anything to do with the spine.
On the other hand misalignment of the child's spine may not show any symptoms until later in
life, so it is a good idea to have the kids checked by a chiropractor. Children have also been
successfully treated by chiropractors for asthma, breathing difficulties, sleep problems, feeding
problems, colic, hyperactivity, bedwetting and much more. Preventing problems is far easier and
quicker than dealing with a problem that has been developing for years or even decades.
Asthma

Asthma cases are increasing at an alarming rate. This is thought to be a combination of increased
exposure to allergens from food, the air we breathe and building materials. Some researchers
believe that vaccinations, antibiotics and genetics may also play a role, whilst stress is a
definite factor. Many asthma sufferers have found help from chiropractic care. Chiropractic care
can help improve the patient's neurological status and respiratory function through stress
management, lifestyle and dietary advise together with specific joint adjustments and exercises.
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