Chiropractic is based on the scientific fact that your nervous system controls the function of every cell, tissue, organ and system of your body. Your nervous system consists of your brain, spinal cord, and millions of nerves. Your brain is protected by the skull and your spinal cord is protected by the 24 moving bones of the spine. Many everyday activities can cause these spinal bones to lose their normal position or motion. This can result in nervous system dysfunction and ultimately, ill health. The chiropractic approach to better health is to detect, reduce, and help prevent nervous system dysfunction.
Research shows that only about 15% of back pain has a definite structural cause, such as disc herniation, fracture, or injury. About 85% of back pain is known as functional (or mechanical) back pain. This means that it is the way the joints, muscles, and nerves work together that is the problem. In most cases, functional spinal pain can be relieved through a combination of professional help, and self help.
Adjustment techniques are used on the spine and other joints of the body to restore normal joint movement and relieve pain. These adjustments promote optimal function of the spine and spinal nerves restoring health.
It is suggested that early referral for manipulative treatment, such as that performed by a chiropractor, is the most effective way of dealing with acute and chronic lower back pain.
There is a range of scientific evidence from randomised clinical trials to prove the effectiveness of chiropractic treatment for a variety of conditions including lower back pain, neck pain, headaches, dizziness, leg pain, and arm pain.
An adjustment generally involves a quick but very gently thrust to a joint in a specific direction to restore proper movement. This is usually done with the hands or a specially designed hand-held instrument. There are various ways to adjust the spine and the technique used will be specific to each patient (these include very gentle procedures for the elderly and children).
It is not possible to determine how many visits a person will need without a consultation. After your initial consultation the chiropractor will go through the results and explain how many treatments it will take to get rid of the pain and prevent the problem coming again.
Pain is often what first brings a person into a chiropractic clinic, however, if a condition is caught before this stage the amount of treatment required is often greatly reduced and pain can probably be avoided. Conditions such as twinges, stiffness, pins and needles, headaches, poor posture, and an uneven gait (method of walking) can indicate a possible problem within the spine.
Poor posture is often a key contributor to musculoskeletal dysfunction and possible future aches and pains. However, it is often the case that some relatively simple modifications and a greater awareness of posture can help stop potential problems in the future.
Yes. The chiropractor will alter the treatment to ensure that no stresses will be placed on a vulnerable part of your spine (after surgery people often find problems above or below the affected area). With the rest of the spine functioning optimally due to treatment, less stress will be put on the vulnerable segments.
Yes. Many pregnant women benefit from chiropractic care. Your body changes rapidly, altering your centre of gravity and your gait. This in turn stresses your spine and other joints. With chiropractic care these areas can be balanced, decreasing the levels of discomfort and ultimately assisting with labour.
Chiropractic is covered by most private health insurers, check with your provider to see if you will be covered.
Chiropractors see more spines than any other profession; it is what we do all day. In Australia it takes a minimum of five years full-time university training to be able to call yourself a Chiropractor.
After reviewing your case history Dr Bongiorno will examine the motion and function of each of your vertebrae, perform a range of neurological and orthopaedic tests, and may order some x-rays to assess damage and measure misalignment. After putting all this information together, Dr Bongiorno will then know how to best manage your condition.
Most often it will be a combination of gentle and specific spinal adjustments, soft tissue therapy and supportive exercises for you.
Myotherapy is a multi-skilled physical therapy within the Allied Health Profession. Myotherapy is applied in the preventative, corrective and rehabilitative phases of therapy to restore and maintain the normal integrity of the soft tissue structure (muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia) of the human body.
Myotherapy can work to deactivate trigger points in muscles. Trigger points are often created when a muscle is damaged via birth, sports, accidents, occupations, and disease. Trigger points can be painful and refer to other parts of the body. Myotherapy is a system of hands on, soft tissue and muscular healthcare, designed to assist in the rebalancing of your musculoskeletal system.
Depending on the particular problem, the Myotherapist may use a combination of the following:
- Soft tissue manipulation
- Thermal therapies (heat and cold)
- Myofascial dry needling
- Myofascial stretching
- Corrective and rehabilitative exercise.
Muscle tension causes pain and affects all aspects of your daily life. If you suffer from pain, fatigue, reduced concentration, injury, restricted movement, stress, or strain, Myotherapy may benefit you.
Myotherapy treatment can reduce pain and restore the normal integrity of soft tissue (muscle, tendons, ligaments and fascia).How does Myotherapy differ from massage therapy? Myotherapists are professional soft tissue therapists, trained for a minimum of 3 years in all aspects of musculoskeletal health care so they are experts in soft tissue treatment.
Through careful history taking and assessment, a Myotherapist will choose the most appropriate techniques to target your condition. Our trained therapists use specific massage therapy techniques and other modalities, to address the underlying cause of your pain, to resolve your condition and to help your body to return to optimum health and function.
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