My number one tip for preventing injury

The thoracic spine (the mid back) is region of the spine to which the rib cage attaches. It is naturally the least mobile area of the spine, in order to protect the fragile organs contained within the thorax- namely the heart and lungs. However for the majority of the population, it is even less mobile than it should be. The primary reason for this is that we all spend far too much time sitting, particularly working on the computer. The consequence of this is that the we tend to sit with a flexed posture and rounded shoulders, and more importantly we sit immobilised, often for hours at a time. This causes the development of stiffness, and particularly a loss of both extension (backwards bending) and rotation (twisting). Human beings are very good at compensation, and as such this loss of movement results in excess strain being put on other joints of the body, having potentially detrimental effects on the rest of the body.

Loss of extension

Extension is the backward bending of the back, and is a direct result of the seated posture whilst working at a desk or driving. With this fixed flexed posture, the first compensation we make is in order to keep our eyes pointing forwards. With the upper part of the back pointing forwards, this pushes the head forwards. In order not to look at the floor, we then jut out our chins. The forward migration of the head causes an increase in strain on the neck and particularly on the discs. As the chin juts out, it puts a lot of strain on the muscles and joints at the base of the skull; this is a very common cause of headaches.

The loss of extension can also affect the lower back. A prime example of this is when we reach for something overhead. When you reach overhead, without the movement of the thoracic spine, you over extend the lower back, pushing the tummy out, in order to increase your reach. If this is done repeatedly, it causes a steady increase of strain on the lumbar spine, which can weaken it and make it susceptible to injury.

Loss of rotation

The loss of rotation is often a cause of injury in the peripheral joints (those outside of the spine) this is particularly common in athletes. There are countless examples of this, but to demonstrate, I am going to take you through a case.

Firstly lets look at the case of tennis player with a shoulder injury on his dominant side. The picture below shows Roger Federer’s forehand- one of the best technical players the game has ever seen. If you look at his shoulders in the first and then the second picture, you can see that through the shot, his shoulders turn-this generates a lot of the power of the shot. If we were to reduce the amount of rotation in his thoracic spine, he would subconsciously try to compensate for that loss of movement- and subsequent loss of power- by trying to move his arm faster and further. This means that the pectorals and rotator cuffs have to work harder, and more strain is put on the joints of the shoulders and elbows. This is the case for backhands and serves as well. Amateur and professional players will play thousands of shots in both practice and matches, and as such this increase in strain is repeated over and over again. As such, in the event of one of these injuries, you may be able to treat the injured muscles and joints, but without correcting that loss of thoracic movement, the injury will reoccur. 

To find out how we can treat and help prevent these injuries and many others, call us on 01225 862140 or pop into one of our clinics for a free chat with a chiropractor.

Migraines

Migraines affect a huge number of people to varying degrees. Many people suffer regular migraines for years, and this can have a serious effect on quality of life. They can impact your physical and emotional well being, as a direct result of the pain. Along side this, the debilitating nature of some migraines can have secondary effects, such as regular absences from work or school.

Here at Dixon Health, we have found chiropractic can be of great help to those suffering with migraines. The reasons for this are multifactorial: Firstly many migraines are related to dysfunction of the neck, especially the upper vertebrae. Chiropractic manipulation to the affected levels, as well as other techniques, can alleviate this dysfunction and the symptoms that accompany it. It has also been found that many people find stress to be a trigger or aggravating factor for their migraines; chiropractic treatment as well as targetted health and lifestyle advice can have a beneficial effect on stress levels.

Find out more by booking an appointment or calling for a no obligation chat on 01225 862140.

What do Chiropractors do?

For the last 30 years we have been treating patients in Bath and North Wiltshire and we now have a very good track record in dealing with muscular and skeletal problems, from pain (both chronic and acute) to prevention of further injury and enhancing general performance.  I was part of the medical team that looked after the athletes at the London 2012 Olympic Games and there we were not treating acute pain much (thank goodness) but helping the competitors get the best out of their performances; fractions of a second can mean the difference between a medal and no medal.  Most of us are not ever going to aspire to those heights, but it is still nice to serve a tennis ball that much more consistently, run that little bit more freely, walk up the local hill or down to the shop that much more easily or simply not stiffen up as much on a long car journey.  The biggest enemy of us all as we get older is stiffness, and there are several very simple things that can be done to combat that, and make us feel better as a result.  Chiropractors look at the whole system and can make assessments as to the effect that one area has on others.  If one joint system is not functioning as well as it might then that is going to effect many others; not only those near to it.  The knock on effect is not always obvious and as a result can be difficult to diagnose and treat.  For instance you may sit crookedly at your computer and the net result is stiffness on one side of the pelvis.  This may not be painful but inevitably you compensate for that and, because we need to keep our eyes level when we are walking, this may lead to counter-compensations and mechanical problems in the neck as a result.  A significant number of headaches are related in some respect to the neck and the headache may be the only symptom that you are experiencing as a result, but the problem is rooted in the pelvis.  That is what we look at and can unpick and then by balancing the pelvic movement the rest of the spinal system can be corrected.

This is one example of the sort of thing that we as Chiropractors do, and over the months I will be looking at other conditions and issues that we have experience in dealing with in a way that is both different and more practical than some of the other solutions on offer in a way that is hopefully easy to understand.

If you would be interested in finding out more then call us on 01225 862140.  We are very happy to have a chat with you to see if what we can offer may be appropriate for you.

Peter Dixon DC FRCC FBCA FEAC
Dixon Health Clinic Director