A recent survey by the Australian Chiropractors Association (ACA) found that one in ten Australians claim their pain hindered their ability to play with their children; one in ten indicated impacts on intimate relationships; and one in 20 realised their persistent pain resulted in increased friction with their partner.

With statistics like these, it is important you are staying on top of your mobility and monitor any changes in your strength, balance and flexibility. This Mobility Month, try out these four simple exercises to discover how ‘mobile’ you are:

1. Neck Rotation: testing how far and evenly you can turn your neck on each side.
   1. Sitting down, keep your shoulders still and against a chair.
   1. Turn your head all the way to the left as if you were looking over your shoulder. How far around did you get?
   1. Repeat on the right. Was it even? Was it comfortable?
      
      
2. Trunk Side Bend: testing how far you can run your hand down each side of your body.
   1. Stand with your feet comfortably apart.
   1. Run a hand down the side of your leg so you side bend without leaning backwards or forwards.
   1. Repeat on the other side. Was it even and was it comfortable to do?
      
      
3. Sit-to-Stand: testing the ease at which you can rise from your chair with crossed arms.
   1. Sit in the middle of your chair. Cross your arms over your chest.
   1. Keeping your back straight and arms across your chest…
   1. Stand straight up and then sit back down. Did you do this easily or was it hard?
      
      
4. Single Leg Stance: testing how well you balance on each leg.
   1. In a safe environment free of trip hazards, stand upright with feet together and place hands on hips.
   1. Lift one foot off the ground. Do not allow your legs to touch. Time how long you can stand without moving.
   1. Repeat on opposite side. Are you able to stand on each leg for at least 40 seconds? (If under 60 years)

How was your flexibility, strength and balance? If you find that you are struggling with one of the exercises, not to worry. We at Cranbourne Chiropractic Centre are here to help.

For more information on Mobility Month, and to watch the test in action, visit mobilitymonth.org.au

The post Are you as Mobile as you Think? appeared first on Cranbourne Chiropractic Blog.

Every thought and movement in your life occurs through your brain and spinal cord, which is collectively known as the central nervous system. Your spinal column acts as the armor and pathway for your spinal cord to travel down and split into the nerves that reach every cell of your body. Every moment, millions of messages and bits of information are moving along your spinal cord to maintain the delicate balance between your brain and body.

Let’s look at some research to back this up. A recent article published by Haavik et. al., looked at the effects of chiropractic care on changes in cortical intrinsic inhibitory interactions in patients with chronic neck and upper extremity pain by measuring dual somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) in the median and ulnar nerves.

The number of participants in the study was limited, however, their results were significant. They found that there was a significant decrease in the ratio and amplitude for the SEP as well as a decrease in average pain levels for all of the participants following a chiropractic care plan that was specifically recommended to each participant based on their individual clinical findings. No changes occurred in measurements during the control period prior to beginning chiropractic care.

The authors concluded that “chiropractic care improved suppression of SEPs evoked by dual upper limb nerve stimulation at the level of the motor cortex, premotor areas, and /or subcortical areas such as basal ganglia and/or thalamus.” Of course, larger studies are needed to verify and confirm these results but is always the case with science and research.

So what does this mean to you and your chiro adjustment? Very simply put, chiropractic care improves neurological activity and function for patients with chronic pain, and not just on a local level at the site of the chronic pain – it improves the neurological activity and function deep inside the cortex of your brain and brainstem, and improves your body’s ability to effectively communicate information to your brain.

If chiropractic has this powerful effect on patients with chronic pain, it is not unreasonable to infer that it also has the same effect on acute pain and on people without any pain! So do not wait until you are in chronic pain before you start taking care of your spine and nervous system – be proactive in your health by making healthy lifestyle choices and having your spine checked and adjusted regularly.

Haavik H, Niazi IK, Holt K, Murphy B. Effects of 12 Weeks of Chiropractic Care on Central Integration of Dual Somatosensory Input in Chronic Pain Patients: A Preliminary Study. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2017 Mar – Apr;40(3):127-138. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2016.10.002. Epub 2017 Feb 10. PubMed PMID: 28196631.

The post Chiropractic brain-body connection appeared first on Cranbourne Chiropractic Blog.

From the prestigious British Medical Journal (BMJ) comes a study entitled “Benefits and harms of spinal manipulative therapy for the treatment of chronic low back pain: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials” BMJ 2019; 364:1689

Researchers conducted 47 randomized controlled trials involving 9,211 adults.

Five insights from the study:

1. They found spinal manipulation alleviated lower back pain as effectively as exercise, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers.

2. Spinal manipulation appeared to be more effective at improving short-term function than exercise, NSAIDs and painkillers.

3. Spinal manipulation was a better option for pain relief than non-recommended interventions, such as light tissue massage, and sham manipulation treatments.

4. The most common side effects associated with spinal manipulation — joint and muscle pain or stiffness — typically go away within a matter of days.

5. Spinal manipulation may decrease pain caused by muscle strain, spasms and inflammation, study authors concluded.

The post Chronic low back pain appeared first on Cranbourne Chiropractic Blog.

There are still some uncertainties ahead but at least for Cranbourne Chiropractic Centre it will continue to serve the local Cranbourne North, Berwick, Narre Warren and Clyde North communities.

Cranbourne Chiropractor, Dr Beovich, is committed to looking after your spinal health including back pain, neck pain and headaches, with specific chiropractic adjustments to help restore proper spinal movement and reduce nerve irritation.

To book a chiropractic appointment at Cranbourne Chiropractic Centre phone 9581 2624 or click on the link:

https://www.halaxy.com/book/chiropractor/dr-shaun-beovich/379701/372151

The post Cranbourne Chiropractor welcomes 2021 appeared first on Cranbourne Chiropractic Blog.

As part of the Australian Chiropractors Association’s Back to School campaign, Cranbourne Chiropractic Centre here in Cranbourne North is encouraging Aussie kids to adopt positive spinal health habits.

These habits include:

• Carrying a backpack correctly with both straps, adjusting it to the correct height and ensuring only the essentials are packed, with heavier items to the back of the bag to reduce weight.
• Maintaining good posture when sitting in a classroom by keeping their shoulders back and relaxed with both feet firmly on the floor.
• Trying to reduce recreation screen time to two-hours every day.
• Eating a balanced, healthy diet and staying hydrated, helping kits to keep kids active in the playground and alert in the classroom.
• Getting enough physical activity is key for a child’s wellbeing, so as a guide, kids should try and get at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily.

Let’s help kids practise these positive spinal health habits this back to school season and all year round.

I welcome you to make an appointment for more advice and assistance on implementing these positive health habits into your child’s daily activity.

We are even able to assist with fitting your child’s backpack to suit their current level of development. Contact us at Cranbourne Chiropractic Centre to book your appointment.

For more information on these tips and the Back to School campaign, visit backtoschool.org.au  

The post Back to school tips: Are your kids practising these healthy habits in school? appeared first on Cranbourne Chiropractic Blog.

Make a determination, a resolution this year to improve at least one aspect of your health. As your spine protects your spinal nerves which send and receive info between your brain and the rest of your body, can we at Cranbourne Chiropractic suggest you make your spinal health a priority this year of 2020.

To help with this Cranbourne Chiropractor Dr Shaun Beovich is offering $10 off your 1st visit at Cranbourne Chiropractic Centre. Let’s break down any barriers you may have to making that initial step to better health.

You can book easily online at Cranbourne Chiropractic Centre. You can even fill out all initial paperwork online in the comfort of your home. It’s all paperless! Simple!

So if you are in the Cranbourne, Berwick, Narre Warren South, Clyde or surrounding areas and suffering from back pain, neck pain, headaches, migraines, sciatica, disc bulges, shoulder pain, hip pain etc, now is the time at the start of this new year to stop being in pain.

Or you may just want to add to your wellness routine and have a chiropractor optimise your spinal/nerve health. Or maybe you need a posture analysis and advise on how to counteract that forward hunched posture you see in the mirror?

Book online or phone Cranbourne chiropractor, Dr Shaun Beovich now on 9581 2624.

A New Year, a new you!

The post Cranbourne Chiropractic – New Year, New You appeared first on Cranbourne Chiropractic Blog.

CERVICAL SPINE:

The neck is comprised of the cervical spine which consists of 7 vertebrae that begin from the base of the skull till the thoracic spine. The cervical curve of the spine is very critical and manages the overall spinal health. Any type of dysfunction in this region can lead to pain, migraines, headaches, stiffness and many other problems. The neck is supported by different ligaments and muscles. Neck pain occurs when these surrounding structures become inflamed or irritated. Neck pain ranges between minor, moderate, severe or excruciating.

SYMPTOMS OF NECK PAIN:
These include the following:

Limited range of motion

Stabbing or sharp pain

Tenderness or soreness

Radiating pain which radiates towards the shoulders, fingers, arms, neck, and head

CAUSES OF NECK PAIN:

Abnormal sleep postures

Poor standing or sitting postures

Sport injuries

Falls

Whiplash

Old age leading to degenerative disorders

Spinal stenosis-compression of nerves leading to numbness

Degenerative disc disorders that result in tingling or numbness

Rare causes include tumors, infections, growth abnormalities, and cancer

HOW CHIROPRACTORS CAN TREAT THE SYMPTOMS OF NECK PAIN?

Neck pain treatment and chiropractic adjustments performed by the chiropractors at Cranbourne Chiropractic Centre are highly effective. It manages the neck pain in the most efficient way and helps in relieving the discomfort, swelling and other symptoms linked with the neck pain. Routine visits to the chiropractor help in relieving the neck pain in a safe, non-addictive and non-invasive pattern.

A gentle chiropractic adjustment is performed which reduces the locking in the neck. It also helps in relieving the inflammation and swelling linked with spinal and other joints of the body. The chiropractic treatment effectively improves the functioning of the nervous system and joints. The improved functioning of the spine and nervous system helps in treating the discomfort linked with the neck pain.

BENEFICIAL EFFECTS OFFERED BY CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT:
Chiropractic care may help:

Reduce inflammation

Improve range of motion of the neck

Improve flexibility

Improve lifestyle with increased activities

Reduce discomfort and pain

VERDICT:

To identify whether you are suitable for the chiropractic treatment or not, the chiropractors at Cranbourne Chiropractic Centre in Cranbourne North perform an initial consultation and examination. The chiropractors then develop a treatment plan according to the pain severity. It may include neck adjustments, mobilization, rehabilitative exercises, massage, and more.

To book an appointment call 9581 2624 or book online at www.cranbournechiro.com.au

The post Neck Pain Treatment appeared first on Cranbourne Chiropractic Blog.

A few simple tips to get you through:

1. Stay active. Break up your study with a bit of exercise. Go for a walk, a quick run or dance around the house (not recommended if studying in the library)

2. Good posture. Maintain good posture to help relieve tension that builds up. A firm seat with good lumbar support or a small cushion. Feet slightly raised off the ground on a small box/platform and your desk slightly angled up towards you.

3. Keep your spine aligned. Keeping your spine and nervous system functioning well is key. A chiropractic adjustment may help sort out some tension you are feeling. A good functioning nervous system may keep you sharp during study and exams.

4. Regular breaks. 40-45 minutes of study is ideal with a 10-15 minute break. It will keep you focused and more efficient with your study.

5. Enjoy!

The post 5 Tips for exam study appeared first on Cranbourne Chiropractic Blog.

Unfortunately they then proceeded to spend the next 20 minutes on their phones or devices looking down playing games etc! We had to leave so I’m not sure how long they were out in this wonderful park playing on their electronic devices. How sad!

Neck pain and poor posture often go hand in hand. With the increased use of electronic devices and screen time people of all ages are getting into static, hunched, forward head positions for long periods of time, resulting in increased muscle tension and tightness in the joints of the neck and upper back. What’s called ‘Tech Neck’ these days.

Part of the problem is that we aren’t getting outside as much as we used to. Kids are stuck inside on their devices and unfortunately looking for adults for inspiration is no good as they are also head down on their devices.

As a chiropractor this is what we are up against. Hours of screen time leading to poor posture, neck pain, headaches, upper back pain etc. Tech neck and even worse ‘Digital Dementia’ where the brain doesn’t think for itself anymore due to sensory overload from too much screen time.

And so even when we get people outside to enjoy the local parks, they stay chained to their phones. For your neck and your kids, go and enjoy our local parks but keep off your phones.

The post Neck pain at the park appeared first on Cranbourne Chiropractic Blog.

Celebrated each year on 16 October, people from around the world come together to raise awareness about spinal disorders and empower others to take charge of their spinal health.

An annual initiative of the Global Alliance for Musculoskeletal Health, World Spine Day is accompanied by the 2019 theme ‘Get Spine Active’ and local chiropractor Dr Shaun Beovich from Cranbourne Chiropractic Centre believes there is no better time to spread this important message.

“Being physically active can greatly help your spinal health by strengthening your muscles and easing the pressure on your spine,” Dr Beovich said.

While the ‘Get Spine Active’ theme aims to focus on the benefits of exercise and daily movement for maintaining health, Dr Beovich says it’s important to think about how all daily habits can affect your spine.

“World Spine Day is a perfect opportunity to ask yourself, ‘am I making the right choices for my spinal health?’ If not, then it’s time to make those changes and if needed seek professional help to get you started.”

‘Get Spine Active’ will focus on common physical activities including running, swimming, weightlifting and cycling, with the aim of encouraging all Australians to incorporate one of these activities or other healthy habits into their everyday lives.

Other forms of physical activity can include stretching, walking and taking small breaks during your workday. To help Australians get started on improving their spinal health, the Australian Chiropractors Association has developed the Straighten Up app designed to help improve posture, with a 3-minute stretching exercise program. They have also created the Just Start Walking app to help encourage Australians to experience the benefits of walking and also allows you to track and map your walks so you can monitor your progress and improvement.

Cranbourne Chiropractic Centre is encouraging their community of Cranbourne to Get Spine Active this World Spine Day and take the correct steps to improve their spinal health.

Chiropractors are well placed to assess and manage disorders of the musculoskeletal system and offer solutions and advice regarding your existing spinal health issues or how to improve your overall spinal health.

To book an appointment with your local ACA chiropractor, book online at Cranbourne Chiropractic Centre or call (03) 9581 2624.

The post ‘Get Spine Active’ this World Spine Day appeared first on Cranbourne Chiropractic Blog.