Spine and Health

Tag: North Sydney

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How Vitamin D helps your Bones

Here in Australia we have a love/hate relationship with the sun. We love the outdoors but it comes with its drawbacks – sunburn and unfortunately this could lead to skin cancers.

Ironically we have been told recently that we must spend time in the sunshine without sunscreen or protection! Why you ask?! For the health of our bones of course!

When our bare skin is exposed to sunshine we produce Vitamin D. Vitamin D and it’s relationship with calcium is possibly the most crucial factor affecting our bone density. These days with the harsh UV rays we are taught to cover up and slip slop slap, but what has been discovered is that it is actually affecting the strength of our bones and leading to diseases such as osteoporosis.

The National Osteoporosis Foundation estimated that 50% of females and 25% of males will suffer an osteoporotic fracture at some point in their lives (over the age of 50). Our bones are slowly but surely under constant regeneration through the mineralization of calcium (by vitamin D). And of course this process slows as we get older (peak is 25 years of age). It is no surprise then, with a lack of sun exposure, compounded with the physiological decline in regeneration of bone as we age, that so many women and some men suffer debilitating fractures.

So what are the recommendations?

In order to give your skin enough exposure to direct sunlight, allowing your body to produce it’s own Vitamin D and maintain/improve the density and thus strength of your bones:

Allow your skin to have (sun-cream free) complete exposure to the sunlight 3 times per week for 10-15 minutes per session.

As your local Spine and Health Chiropractors on the Lower North Shore we care for your health and especially your bones. Chiropractic care can diagnose, treat and prevent musculoskeletal disorders with an all-encompassing health and well-being approach.

The Chiro’s in Crows Nest and North Sydney,are experts in pain and posture and tailor treatment schedules to the individual. Techniques used and pressure applied is done so on a case-by-case scenario.

How can Chiropractic care help you with bone density issues?

We will help minimize your risks of fractures and alleviate pain by gently realigning you spine to its ideal posture. We can give health advice, teach you strengthening exercises, and help you to help the well-being of your spine.

So get out there and enjoy the sunshine responsibly, boost those Vitamin D levels, and improve the density of your bones!

To look better, move better and feel better please call us today:
Crows Nest             Ph 9460 8459
North Sydney              Ph 9955 8055

 

 

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Is your neck causing you pain?

 

 Many things can cause pain in the neck such as traumas and poor posture.. but you don’t have to suffer!

The neck is a delicate and complex structure. It is more mobile than the rest of the spine and houses some critical pathways, both neurological (spinal cord) and functional (esophagus, trachea, vertebral arties etc). Due to the greater capacity for movement in the neck there is also an increase in the risk of damage and pain.

It is increasingly more common for people to have desk jobs and thus we, as a being designed for movement and standing, are spending majority of our days on our backsides. Sitting at a computer, and sitting poorly at that, causes our backs to slump forward and the positioning of our heads to move further and further over our shoulders. The less active we are and the more time we spend sitting the more likely we are to have poor posture. This poor posture means that our heads are no longer positioned above our shoulders as they should be and the weight of our heads increases.

For every inch your head moves forward, it’s weight doubles. In doubling the weight of your head the structures surrounding your neck must work harder and longer to support you.

There are many factors that can affect your neck. Traumas such as whiplash cause an acute onset of pain; whereas daily stressors cause a slow build up of muscle tension and a gradual pain.  Furthermore it is possible that your neck pain is actually a sign of a misalignment elsewhere in your spine!

Chiropractic care is based on the premise of restoration of health through restoration of your posture. In today’s society the ever increasingly sedentary lifestyles that we are leading are causing a shift towards poor posture. It is not the norm! And there is something you can do about it!

In consulting your local Spine and Health chiropractors on the Lower North Shore you will undergo a digital spinal analysis to establish your current posture. The chiro’s in Crows Nest, North Sydney, Mosman and Gladesville will be able to construct an action plan with you to tackle any problems you may have structurally and help you on the road to a better posture.

If you are suffering from neck pain or think you may have poor posture please don’t hesitate – come and visit the experts in pain and posture today.

Look Better, Move Better, Feel Better today.

Crows Nest                Ph 9460 8459

 North Sydney              Ph 9955 8055

 Mosman                      Ph 9968 3577

 Gladesville                   Ph 9817 6611

 

 

 

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Could Your Back Pain be a Disc Herniation?

Have you ever heard of someone having a “slipped” disc, a bulged disc, or a disc herniation? All of these terms refer to the same thing! One thing must be cleared up to start though – you cannot physically “slip” your disc! It’s anatomically impossible!!

A disc herniation are caused by excessive load forces and can also be idiopathic (unknown). In between each of your vertebrae your discs sit as your natural “shock absorbers”, which are made up of a fibrous annular ring and a soft centre.

When put under excessive load by lifting heavy items for example, it is possible to tear the outer annular ring, which allows for the soft centre (nucleus pulposis) to push through. Due to the make up of the body, that is the presence of ligaments and such encasing structures, it is most common for herniation to occur in a posterio-lateral direction, although it as been known to occur medially.

So does it cause pain??

A herniated disc does not necessarily cause pain! It depends on the location of the herniation and whether or not it is in contact with, or causes disturbance to, spinal nerve roots.

The herniated disc can push directly on nerve roots, which are interpreted as pain thus alerting you to the problem. Similarly, in trying to stabilize the area, your body can invoke an inflammatory response, which equally puts pressure on the nerve roots and also sends pain signals!

How Chiropractic care can help…

Chiropractic care aims at relieving your painful symptoms by correcting your posture. In realigning your vertebrae to their correct or more ideal position, pressure on the disc causing the herniation is released, allowing it to recoil to it’s ideal position and to repair itself.

If you suffer from back pain you could be suffering from a disc herniation! To find out more and to have your posture checked, please come and visit one of your local chiropractors here at Spine and Health. Conveniently located on the Lower North Shore in Crows Nest and North Sydney the Spine and Health Chiro’s are the experts in Pain and Posture.

They will conduct a digital postural analysis and come up with a specially designed plan of action for you should they decide that Chiro care would benefit you and your wellbeing.

To relieve the pain of your disc herniation, to look better, move better,  and feel better, please call today.

Crows Nest                 Ph 9460 8459

North Sydney              Ph 9955 8055