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.

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