Knowledge Bank

Arthritis

Technically the term arthritis refers to joint (arthro-) inflammation (-itis). There are a few different kinds of arthritis including: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Gout, Degenerative Joint Disease. Some, like RA are genetically linked to an auto-immune process while others are the result of an infection and/or trauma. Signs and symptoms can vary greatly, which can make diagnosis and treatment protocols difficult sometimes.

Conservative Chiropractic care maintains an excellent long term record of helping patients with different stages and forms of arthritis by gently restoring better movement in the spine and allowing the nervous system to coordinate an appropriate healing response.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an ancient practice of healing in which fine needles are inserted into the skin at specific points, considered to be lines of energy (meridians). While we don’t practice acupuncture in our clinics we have developed close relationships with local therapists who we refer to regularly to compliment the improved function of our client’s spine and nervous system.

Baby/Infant

As the saying goes “As the twig is bent, so grows the tree”. Little ones are growing and changing daily and are not immune from stressors to their spine and system and much of the dysfunction seen in adults is in fact from “minor” untreated issues from their childhood. Common physical stressors to little spines include: the birthing process, the inevitable bumps and falls and big brothers and sisters! Like adults, so many health issues in babies and children can benefit from a healthy nervous system and a properly moving spine. Of course we adapt the style of adjusting to an infant spine to ensure effectiveness and comfort for all.

Bursitis

Bursitis is a painful situation usually involving an extremity joint that’s hot, swollen and inflamed. A bursa is a small sack of lubricating fluid that helps allow tendons, ligaments & muscles slide smoothly across joint surfaces during movement. When a joint’s bursa becomes irritated and inflamed it’s called bursitis. One of the most common contributing factors of bursitis is compromised movement patterns that place uneven (or inefficient) forces through the joints, which over time cause sufficient irritation. Our Chiropractors specialise in restoring proper movement in the spine and extremity joints.

Calcified/calcification

It’s not uncommon to see parts of ligaments and discs become calcified if they’re attached to or are in close proximity to a dysfunctional joint. Like degeneration this process can take a long time and is not always associated with pain or other symptoms.

Chiropractor

A Chiropractor undergoes at least 5 years of education and training before being eligible to apply for registration. Chiropractors base their care on the detection, correction and prevention of spinal dysfunction (subluxations). They use specific spinal adjustments to improve and restore proper nervous system function and remove nerve interference.

Chronic

Chronic pain is generally regarded as pain that has not resolved after 3 months and as such can be very frustrating and exhausting. It’s not uncommon for our new clients to have been experiencing chronic pain for many years before commencing care, yet, with a diligently structured approach to gently restoring better function most clients achieve great results.

Coccyx

The coccyx is commonly referred to as the tailbone. It’s where the lowest point of the nervous system attaches (actually the covering of the spinal cord, called dura mater) so it’s really important! Common issues for the coccyx include:

• Missing a seat and landing hard

• Pregnancy strain/stress

If there’s an issue with the coccyx there’s usually other compensations happening elsewhere in the spine and nervous system.

Degeneration

Simply put, when a joint doesn’t move smoothly (subluxation) it wears out more quickly. This wear and tear is often referred to as degeneration (or arthritis) and can be checked out on x-ray. The extent of degeneration can be used to gauge how long a joint has been dysfunctional and can help form a more accurate idea of healing times. Degeneration in and of itself is rarely painful and often patients have severe degenerative changes without significant symptoms. This is why we encourage everyone to get their spine checked regardless of symptoms.

Facet

Facet joints are much smaller than the disc joints. They act as guiding rails for adjacent vertebra to move in relation to one another. Spinal nerves pass them as they make their way from the spinal cord to the body, leaving them susceptible to irritation if these joints aren’t moving smoothly.

Golfer’s Elbow

This is a situation where the attachment of the tendons from the forearm muscles become inflamed and painful on the inside of the elbow. It’s similar to ‘Tennis elbow’ where the tendon attachments on the outside of the elbow become irritated. Overuse or repetitive activities are often associated with these conditions which usually lead to and are complicated by dysfunction further up the arm, shoulder and neck. Restoring proper function and efficient muscular innervation go a long way to helping the body heal these conditions as quickly as possible.

Headaches

There are many different kinds of headaches. After we’ve ruled out the super nasty life threatening ones we’re pretty much left with a few variations of migraines and tension headaches. Migraines are severe and debilitating headaches while tension headaches are often less severe but can have a major impact on quality of life and productivity.

The big 3 stressors to the body – chemical, physical and emotional – all contribute to the causing of subluxations/misalignments in the spine which we commonly see correlate with a person suffering from headaches. Chiropractors are uniquely placed to help as they treat the subluxation to restore proper communication between the brain and the body.

Headaches are one of the most common prompts for patients to seek chiropractic care.

Joint Dysfunction

Joint dysfunction is anything less than optimal function of a joint. It can be a component of subluxation if the joint is in the spine and causing interference in the nervous system. Joint dysfunction can vary from an acute sprain (like rolling an ankle or waking up not being able to move your head) to chronic slight dysfunction that may not be painful but causes slow long-term damage like degenerative joint disease (arthritis). You don’t always know if you have a cavity in your tooth until you see a dentist, similarly you don’t always know if your joints are functioning properly – that’s why a spinal check with a chiropractor is the easiest way to find out!

Ligaments

Really useful (and important) bits of tough connective tissue that connect bones to other bones. Found in all good joints near you.

Lordosis

Lordosis is a type of curve in the spine. We naturally have a lordosis in our necks (cervical spine) and lower backs (lumbar spine). Tilting your head up and backwards increased the lordosis in your neck while leaning backwards through your lower back increased the lordosis in your lumbar spine. An abnormally increased lordosis – lordotic curve – is also sometimes referred to as having ‘lordosis’, which is often aided by restoring proper movement to the spine.

Migraine

Migraines are typically the most severe kind of headaches and can include symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, light sensitivity and visual disturbances. Contributing factors to a full blown migraine often include dietary triggers, stress, anxiety, trauma and tension – all of which also contribute to forming subluxations.

MRI

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is an imaging technique that uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed images. It’s the most commonly used imaging technique for testing the brain and spinal cord and is often used to help diagnose: aneurysms, multiple sclerosis, tumours, brain injury, spinal cord lesions and strokes.

Neck Pain

Pain felt anywhere in the spine can be from multiple causes or, most likely, a combination of a few. Neck pain is often experienced as a result of joint dysfunction, muscular spasm, nerve irritation and other soft tissue inflammation all of which tend to resolve more quickly when proper function is restored. Neck pain is often associated with shoulder and arm pain can be work posture related.

Nerve

A nerve is basically a bundle of fibres that transmit signals via electrical and chemical channels from one part of the body to another. The brain (controls body – every thought, feeling, function) sends signals to the body through the spinal cord (in the spine) and the peripheral nerves (outside the spine) to every cell, tissue and organ.

The body is loaded with receptors that send information about what’s happening in the body along the nerves to the brain to give it feedback. In an ideal situation, the brain can then interpret the info and make appropriate changes to the signals it then sends back to the body – forming a feedback loop.

Nerve interference from spinal dysfunction can cause the brain to:

• Receive screwed up signals from the body

• Misinterpret the returning info

• Send too much or too little response to the body

All contribute to disconnection and disharmony in the body.

Phases of care

• Acute (initial) – We often meet people who are in pain and have significant inflammation. They often present with a spine that hasn’t been moving well for a long time. During the acute phase of care the focus is on helping the body process the inflammation and start to get the spine moving better than it was. Spines in this early stage of care usually require regular adjustments of 2-3 per week. Some clients report feeling dramatically better after a few adjustments however it generally takes the body up to 6 weeks to repair and regenerate the injured tissue fibres.

• Corrective (intermediate) – Once the inflammatory process has subsided and the more obvious symptoms have eased the remodelling of the new tissue commences. It usually takes up to 12 months for the new fibres to orientate correctly and form strong new tissue that can withstand normal stressors. The frequency of spinal adjustments tends to ease during this phase of care from weekly to fortnightly.

• Maintenance & Wellness (long term) – Once the injury has healed and the spine is functioning normally again most clients choose to continue some form of maintenance care. Our spines are exposed to daily stressors and rigors of modern day lifestyles – it’s wise to keep things in check and help prevent poor spinal function from creeping back in.

Pilates

A series of exercises that usually takes place on the floor (or with super special equipment) that aims to increase one’s flexibility and stability.  Exercises tend to focus on strengthening muscles in the torso, back and abdominal regions. Huge benefits can be gained from a properly structured training program along with a spine that is mechanically sound and moving smoothly. 

Podiatry

Feet – in all their glory. Podiatrists are feet specialists and can perform all things feet including minor surgery, foot rehab and can refer for x-ray examination. Chiropodists – same thing, different name. 

Posture

Simply put, posture is how we hold ourselves up, sit or lie down. ‘Good’ posture is essentially neutral posture. Benefits of neutral posture are many (as you’d expect) due to the body basically being designed to function optimally in a neutral position. Some of these are:

• Less stress on spinal joints, muscles, ligaments & nerves

• Improved alignment

• Increased energy due to efficient muscular system

Signs your posture is less than ideal include hunched, rounded shoulders, forward head carriage, discomfort in your spine and/or neck. Chiropractors are specialists in restoring proper function and improving posture to the spine through carefully applied spinal adjustments, recommending appropriate exercises and advising on lifestyle factors.

Pregnancy terms

• Breech – feet first position of baby. Definitely not ideal.

• Transverse – baby lying sideways. Also not ideal.

Have a look at our informative page on chiropractic and pregnancy.

Cervical (neck) – This is made up of the top 7 vertebrae. It has the responsibility of holding up our heads, providing a certain degree of flexibility, protecting the top most part of our spinal cord and protecting the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain. It was a natural curve (same as the lower back) and is susceptible to change from sudden traumas or slower postural stressors.

• Dysfunction in the cervical spine (subluxations) are often associated with headaches, migraines, neck pain/stiffness, torticollis, sleep issues, arm and shoulder pain, carpel tunnel disorder, sinus issues and many more.

• Thoracic (midback)– This 12 vertebrae region runs from the base of your neck to the top of your lower back, making it the longest region. Not only does it protect a large portion of your spinal cord but it provides an anchor for your ribs whose job it is to protect your heart and lungs. Dysfunction in the thoracic region often impedes breathing function along with many other issues including: asthma, coughing, lower arm and hand pain, digestive issues, to name but a few.

• Lumbar (lower back) – The lowest part of your spine is made up of the 5 biggest vertebrae and has unique articulations with the pelvis (sacrum and innominate bones). The lower back and pelvis has to strike a special balance between stability and strength which maintaining lots of flexibility and movement. Like the other spinal regions the lumbar spine is often afflicted by dysfunction which can lead to a number of signs and symptoms including: period pain, lower back pain, sciatica, constipation, other bowel and digestive problems, numbness and/or weakness of legs, plus many more.

Scoliosis (myth vs reality and expectations)

Scoliosis is a sideways curve (or curves) in the spine. The most common form is of unknown cause (idiopathic) while the remaining few are generally caused by the spinal muscles either not working, not working properly, congenital (born with it) and in response to another physical issue such as degeneration or osteoporosis. Scoliosis is often asymptomatic (no symptoms) making detection often delayed.

Signs of scoliosis include: uneven shoulder height, protruding shoulder blade/s, pelvic imbalance (one hip higher than the other) and rib hump (protrusion) when bending forward.

Evaluation of scoliosis is often performed by x-ray analysis and conservative Chiropractic care is uniquely positioned to treat scoliosis in a non-invasive way.

Like most things early detection is one of the most helpful contributing factors to a successful outcome and another reason why we recommend having children’s spines checked for proper alignment.

Slipped Disc – Bulged Disc – Herniated Disc

A slipped disc is a relatively generic term often used to describe severe lower back pain. Due to spinal joint discs being incredibly well ensconced in between the vertebrae it’s very rare for a disc to “slip”. 

A bulged disc (or herniated disc) is much more likely and common.  This is when the gel like substance from the centre of the disc is pushed through the outer fibrous disc wall. If the bulge irritates nearby nerves it can cause pain, numbness and weakness in extremities. But for the most part disc bulges are asymptomatic (no symptoms) and most go unnoticed. 

Depending on the location and severity of the disc injury it’s possible to experience severe pain while sneezing, coughing, lifting, sitting and other daily activities.

Spinal Column

A slightly fancier way of saying ‘spine’. (See Regions of the Spine).

Spinal Disc

Spinal discs (or intervertebral discs) are the spongy shock absorbers found in between the vertebra. They have an outer ring of tough fibrous tissue (annulus fibrous) and a soft gel like centre (nucleus pulpous). As we mature into adulthood the discs tend to lose their youthful elasticity and slightly harden leaving adults more susceptible to injury and degeneration.

Spondylosis

Spondylosis or ‘spondy’ is when one vertebra is sitting slightly forward (anteriorly) in relation to the one beneath it. There are of course varying degrees of this which have greater implications to stability and function of the joint and spine. A spondy is usually best visualised on a side view x-ray. While a spondy isn’t necessarily symptomatic it can cause knock-on effects to the surrounding structure and cause neural tension indirectly.

Subluxation

Simply put, a subluxation is when a vertebra is out of its normal position and interferes with the surrounding tissues, including nerves. The interference on the nerves prevents the body from functioning optimally. Subluxation can result from physical, chemical and/or mental stressors. Chiropractic care focuses on removing or correcting subluxations removing interference in the nervous system, improving spinal function and the body’s overall health.

Tendons

Tendons are super useful as they attach muscles to bones (and occasionally to other structures… like an eyeball!) Tough bits of connective tissue that benefit greatly from smooth mechanics and good nerve supply.

Torticollis

Torticollis (or wry neck) is characterised by the inability to turn your neck. It feels stuck and can be very painful. There are a few different forms of torticollis, the most common of which is idiopathic (unknown cause) which we – interestingly – often observe to be associated with dysfunction of the neck joints.

Vagus Nerve

The Vagus nerve is part of a bigger system in our body called the parasympathetic nervous system, which is essential for all the behaviours involved in growth and body function. The Vagus nerve gets its name from the Latin phrase for “wandering” because it is an enormous nerve that wanders through the body’s cavities, branching off to our organs and then returning information from these organs to our brain and nervous system. Knowing how to connect with your Vagus nerve can be a huge stress reliever – check out our blog about it.

Vertebrae

Your spinal cord’s armour. Your spinal cord is basically the information super highway of your body. It carries impulses from your brain to your body and vice versa. It’s so important that it’s protected by 33 bones called vertebrae. These 33 vertebrae are stacked upright and form your spine. They have different kinds of joints holding them together – discs and facets – and together have three main curves that form the different regions of the spine, cervical, thoracic and lumbar.

Webster technique

Named after the founder of the International Chiropractic Paediatric Association (ICPA), Dr Larry Webster, the Webster Technique is specifically attuned to reduce the effects of sacral/pelvic misalignment and dysfunction. It’s basically Chiropractic care for a pregnant woman and has all the usual health benefits along with a few bonus features like:

• Reducing nausea

• Reducing labour time

• Easing back and neck pain

• Promoting proper baby position and preventing potential caesarean delivery

Whiplash

The general term used to describe ‘cervical acceleration/deceleration injury’ commonly associated with a fast forceful movement that thrusts the head backwards and then forwards. This series of movements stretch and compress the soft tissue structures of the neck and upper back region that hold the spine in alignment. The resulting tissue damage invariably leads to spinal misalignment and nerve compression/irritation. Whiplash is often associated with car accidents but can also be the end result of head-banging at a heavy metal concert, trampolining injuries, roller coaster rides, you get the idea.

It’s not uncommon for signs and symptoms of whiplash to present some time after an incident – even up to 9-12 months – these often include one or more of the following:

• Headaches

• Neck pain

• Neck stiffness

• Tinnitus

• Vision disturbances

• Numbness or pins and needles in arms and/or hands

Careful analysis and examination of a tender neck is crucial to establishing the appropriate course of care. The sooner an injured neck is examined the sooner the road to recovery.

X-Ray

X-Rays are a kind of diagnostic imaging that can be used to evaluate internal structure and alignment of the spine. Used properly the very minor risks associated with the small dose of radiation are outweighed by the important information they reveal regarding underlying disease processes such as spinal deterioration, arthiritis, abnormal development, tumours, scoliosis to name but a few. X-rays also provide a baseline of health for the spine which helps formulate treatment protocols and reasonable expectations for clients.