Crosby's New Look Chiropractic Clinic

Since 2003 people from all across Merseyside (and beyond) have been able to get chiropractic treatment for all sorts of muscular and skeletal problems at my clinic here in Crosby. In fact thousands of satisfied patients have passed through the door over the past 12 years.

When the clinic was first established, I wanted to come up with a memorable name for the clinic.

Most chiropractic clinics seemed to be named after the area that they were located in, or after the

founding chiropractor; but I wanted a more interesting name than Crosby or Bray Chiropractic Clinic. After some discussion, with lots of people, I decided that the catchiest proposed name was 'Back For

Your Future - Family Chiropractic Clinic'. This of course was a play on the name of the much loved

old film 'Back To The Future', which many of you may have re-watched over the past few weeks as we reached the Back to the Future Day (21st October 2015); the day Marty McFly travelled to in Back to the Future 2, in 1989.

Although 'Back For Your Future - Family Chiropractic Clinic' was certainly a memorable name, which many people enjoyed, it was also a real mouth full! So last year, when designing the new clinic website, I embarked on the quest to come up with a new, more concise name for the clinic. A name that I hoped would also be memorable, but one that also described what the clinic does best. 

------ Your Back Clinic was born.

'Your Back Clinic' is great because it emphasises that the clinic is here for you, the patients. It also highlights that treatment is being offered for back problems. Although chiropractic also provides treatment other parts of the body, such as hips and shoulders, etc, I know from my audits of patient records over the years, that more than 75% of visits have been for care for back and neck problems.

Over the past few days the change over to 'Your Back Clinic' has neared completion as new clinic signs have been installed. I think you'll find them really eye-catching. Feel free to stop by and take a look and pop in to say hello too if you've a spare minute! Thanks to my fabulous designer, Russ from Southbay Design and to the team at Benson Signs for producing the new look!

Attending a Summer Festival

Now the summer festival season is in full swing, here are seven top tips from the British Chiropractic Association to help you to enjoy yourself -

'Two bags are better than one - Whether packing for the weekend or just the day, if you have a lot to carry, it is much better to take two or more lighter bags rather than one so you can distribute the weight more evenly.
Rucksacks are best - Make sure you can pack your kit into something that is easy to carry. A rucksack with wide straps will distribute the load more evenly over your back and, if it has chest straps, this further helps to even out the load. Cross body bags are a good alternative or second bag option.
Protect your back – Ensure your back is protected against a hard and potentially damp surface by sleeping on a good quality camping mat. Use a sitting mat when you are resting during the day and, if uncomfortable, change position as soon as possible.

Pillow Talk - Having a pillow will help you get a good sleeping position and, if your pillow from home is comfortable and supportive, try to take it with you. If this is not practical, a blow-up pillow is the most portable. Have a 'dry run' on it before you leave home to make sure you can sleep comfortably.
Prepare your sleeping area – make sure to remove large stones or sticks that could dig into your spine.
Keep hydrated - If you are standing or queuing or long periods of time, drinking alcohol will cause dehydration which, in turn, can aggravate muscle pain. This is made worse if it is warm, sunny or windy. Make sure you keep topped up with plenty of water and juice.
Still Standing – If you know that you are going to be on your feet for a long time, make sure you wear comfortable shoes and loose clothing. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart to support your back and hips.'

Seeing a chiropractor is beneficial for senior citizens.

People of all ages come through my door here at 'Your Back Clinic'. Over the past week I have treated children and teenagers, and many adults, including a large number who are well into their retirement years. My aim, when treating patients of any age is to reduce pain and discomfort, improve mobility, and to help them to live a happier, healthier, and more active life.

As we get older, many of us will start to develop increasing levels of joint and muscle pain and stiffness. This often leads to a reduction in our over overall mobility. And yet physical activity is crucial to our physical and mental well-being, so finding ways to maintain good health and a degree of physical fitness is essential. I believe chiropractic care can play an important role in this.

A fascinating new study from the United States has looked at how patients with back pain and other spine conditions rated their levels of wellness before and after receiving either chiropractic or medical treatment. They were asked to rate how well they felt they were able to perform a range of activities of daily living such as lifting, stooping, walking and reaching. This study followed more than 12,000 people who use the American Medicare social insurance program. The results revealed that at the end of the one year follow-up period, those who received chiropractic care had significantly less decline in their activities of daily living compared to those receiving the standard medical care.

The participants in the study were additionally asked to rate their satisfaction with the particular mode of care that they received. The rate of follow-up treatment satisfaction was also much greater in the group who saw a chiropractor.

I believe that the take home message from this study is that chiropractic care can help older people remain active and healthy for longer; something we should all aspire to achieve! So if you or someone you know is putting up with an achy back or maybe neck and blaming it on 'getting old', perhaps getting some chiropractic treatment will help. Certainly, if you are looking for a chiropractor in the Liverpool area, Your Back Clinic is ready to help.

HARD AT WORK? SO IS YOUR BACK

New research reveals working causes neck and back pain for people working in the North West of England.

As part of the British Chiropractic Association Chiropractic Awareness Week (13 – 19 April) Your Back Clinic is urging people to take regular breaks at work to help combat neck and back pain.

The advice comes as new research from the back and spinal care experts finds of those who have

suffered from back and neck pain, working causes a pain in the neck and back for almost a third (31%) of people in the North West.

Half (50%) think that sitting in the same position for long periods at a time has the most negative

impact on their back health. Despite recognising the source of pain, less than a quarter (23%) of those who spend the day mainly in one position take a break at least once an hour.

If you work in an office or drive a vehicle for long periods of time, it’s easy to stay seated, rarely taking breaks. Many people are unaware that staying in the same position can place unnecessary strain on their neck and back which can lead to long term pain.

Sitting causes up to twice as much pressure on the spine as standing. If your job involves sitting for

long periods of time, it’s important that you take regular breaks to relieve the built-up tension in your lower back. Your back is always hard at work - even when you think you’re relaxing - so ensuring you move and stretch regularly will help relieve the extra load through the discs which will prevent long term problems, keeping your back on track.

In the North West, 44% currently live with neck or back pain – and one in four (25%) suffer on a daily basis. So what can we do to combat neck or back pain at work?

Your Back Clinic offers the following top tips to help people get through the working day back pain free:

·         Sit up straight: Relax when sitting into your seat, making sure you have your bottom against the seat back with your shoulder blades touching the back rest of the chair. Keep arms relaxed and close to the body and place on the desk when typing. For drivers; the back of the seat should be set slightly backwards, so that it feels natural and your elbows should be at a comfortable and relaxed angle for driving.

·         Be computer compatible: Make sure the top of the screen is level with the eyebrows and the chair is titled slightly forward, allowing for the knees to be lower than the hips and the feet to be flat on the floor. Using a laptop or tablet away from a desk will encourage poor posture, so limit time spent in this way.

·         Take regular breaks: Don't sit for more than 20-30 minutes at a time - stand up to stretch, change position and walk around a little. If you struggle to get away then take time to gently massage the back of your head and neck as you relax your stomach region with slow easy breathing. This will help to improve posture and reduce back pain by promoting balance, strength and flexibility in the spine.

·         Drink Up! Try drinking water instead of tea or coffee; it will be healthier and keep your body hydrated.

For more information on how to maintain a healthy posture and help keep neck and back pain at bay, the British Chiropractic Association has developed ‘Straighten Up’ - a simple, three minute exercise programme for all ages, designed to help strengthen the spine and improve posture and help joints. To watch a video of the exercises you can do, please visit: www.chiropractic-uk.co.uk and search for Straighten Up UK.  

Notes:

The consumer research was carried out between: 07/01/ 2015 and 20/ 01/2015. Sample: 2,127 UK adults aged 18 – 65 by Opinion Matters on behalf of the British Chiropractic Association. North West sample size: 245

Walk This Way

A large new study has highlighted the fantastic health benefits of doing something very simple. Maybe it's just too easy as many of us seem to neglect it! The secret - take a brisk walk. Just a simple 20 minute walk every day can reduce the risk of early death by nearly one third. Interestingly, the study also reported that physical inactivity could be responsible for nearly twice as many deaths as having a high Body Mass Index (BMI) or being overweight.

So is it hard to walk for 20 minutes a day? The answer is that it shouldn't be. It has been estimated that the annual distance the average person in the UK walks, fell by 20% between 1976 (408 miles per year) and 2009 (314 miles). Modern life seems to have made us so busy doing sedentary things that we forget to move. 

Walking has many health benefits, from increasing bone density (meaning we are less like to get osteoporosis) to reducing the risk of getting a cold. It can also make us feel invigorated and alive and help us lose weight. A brisk walk each day is also great for our joints and muscles. Many back pain sufferers find a daily walk enormously beneficial for their backs. Some of my chiropractic patients deliberately get off the bus or train a stop or two early so that they get a good walk before arriving at work, and will do the same again on their way home. Others have opted to always use the stairs rather than get in the lift. Carys (my wife) swears by her treadmill desk which allows her to walk and work at the same time. A pedometer is a great way of keeping track of our daily steps. Some smart phones even have a built in pedometer. About 10,000 steps a day is considered to be what we should be aiming to achieve. There are many ways to be successful at walking more; it simply takes a little thought and planning. The greatest thing about walking as a form of exercise is that it is free. It can even reduce your transportation costs and your carbon footprint. Walking can be incorporated into many daily activities and now that spring has arrived it is likely to make us feel fantastic. 

I've sat at my computer long enough now, I'm off for a walk! It will be good for my back and so much more.

Seeing a chiropractor for back pain in pregnancy

Back pain in pregnancy is so common that many people feel it is just a normal part of being pregnant. The exact cause of low back pain during pregnancy is unclear, however it is widely thought that it is likely to be caused by postural and biomechanical changes associated with an enlarging uterus which causes an increase in the lumbar spinal curve. Hormone changes in pregnancy also cause a relaxation of the stabilising ligaments, particularly of the pelvis.

During a time of great anticipation and excitement as you prepare for your precious arrival, the last thing you need is nagging or debilitating back pain. As the use of painkilling medication is discouraged during pregnancy, many pregnant women suffering with back pain feel they have very few options available to help reduce their pain. Chiropractic is a safe and medication free means of treating back pain. Several recent studies have found statistically significant reductions in back pain in pregnant patients treated with chiropractic compared to those treated with routine obstetrical care. In a study published last year, the pregnant women who were treated by chiropractors experienced a reduction in their back pain by 30% within one week of treatment being started. This increased to an approximate 50% reduction in pain levels by 1 month after the first treatment. By 3 months after the treatment was started, patients reported a 75% reduction in pain.

I enjoy treating pregnant patients. It is always satisfying to help reduce people's pain without having to resort to the use of medication. It's one of the many things I love about being a chiropractor.

Want a quicker recovery from back pain? - See a chiropractor

For more than a decade, thousands of back pain sufferers from around Liverpool have been successfully treated in my Crosby chiropractic clinic. Visiting a chiropractor when back pain strikes is becoming an increasingly attractive option as the much reported NHS overload makes getting a doctor's appointment more difficult.

But why is visiting a chiropractor such a sensible option? Well, there are a few simple reasons. Here are two big ones - 

1. Chiropractors get great results - I see these fantastic results all the time, but it bears saying

again; Chiropractic treatment is a great way to get rid of your back pain. 

In a study just published in the medical journal 'Spine', more than a hundred adults were randomized into three groups. One group received chiropractic manipulation. The second group had mechanically assisted manipulation and the third group received usual medical care. Treatment was given over a 4 week period. At the end of this period, the group receiving chiropractic manipulation had a statistically significant reduction in both pain and disability compared to the other groups. This extra benefit in the chiropractic manipulation group was a massive 25% over the other 2 groups. 

2. Short waiting times - Phone today and you'll more often than not be offered an appointment today! 

So if you're looking for a way to get on the road to 'pain-free' then chiropractic may be the perfect solution.  Give the clinic a call today 0151 931 3153 for an appointment or to ask a question.