Do you know, there are lots of reasons to exercise during pregnancy for both you and baby?

Exercise during pregnancy provides various health benefits for both mother and baby, helping mood, energy, and sleep and preventing excess weight gain. Let’s take a look at some of the exercise benefits for pregnant women.

Here are some of the benefits from exercise during pregnancy you may experience:

 

  • Exercise may prevent you from having to have a caesarean section

A meta-analysis of 2059 pregnant women by the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology concluded: “Exercise was associated with a significantly higher incidence of vaginal delivery and a significantly lower incidence of caesarean delivery”.

 

  • A physical exercise programme can reduce about time

The European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Reproductive Biology conducted a randomized clinical trial involving 508 healthy pregnant women and found that “a supervised physical exercise program throughout pregnancy decreased the duration of the first phase of labor as well as total time of the first two phases together, leading to a decrease in total labor time”.

  • Exercise can significantly reduce the chances of gestational diabetes

The Journal of Meternal-Fetal & Neo-Natal Medicine completed a meta-analysis of six randomized controlled trials totaling 2164 patients and found that “compared to control intervention, exercise intervention could significantly decrease the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus”.

  • Exercise may improve the quality of your life (QOL) during and following pregnancy

The Arches of Women’s Mental Health studied 578 healthy pregnant women and found that “achieving recommended levels of exercise during pregnancy was associated with higher QOL during pregnancy and the postpartum in healthy pregnant women”.

  • Exercise can make your baby smarter

A study by the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology looked at EEG scans of the neonatal brain and found “compared to the newborns of mothers who were inactive during their pregnancy, the children of exercising pregnant women are born with more mature brains”.

We hope you will these tips that benefit you when you are pregnant. For more wellness programs visit our clinic Spinewise.

Sitting for long periods of time can leave desk workers with achy muscles. Experts recommend taking a stretch break every 20-30 minutes. Let’s take a look at some of best stretching exercise for office workers.

 

Stretch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FINGER STRETCHES

  • Separate and straighten your fingers until you feel a stretch
  • Keep your hand in alignment with your wrist the whole time
  • Hold for 10 seconds.
  • Then, with your hands in the same position, bend the knuckles
  • Hold for 10 seconds.

WRIST STRETCH

  • Grasp one hand slowly pull back your fingers
  • Hold for 5 seconds.
  • Then gently press the back of the hand. The stretching hand should be down with the palm facing you
  • Hold for 5 seconds.
  • Repeat with the other hand

BACK OF NECK STRETCH

  • Lower your chin to your chest.
  • For an added stretch place your hands on the back of your head and very gently press down on your head so you feel more of a stretch through the back of the neck.
  • Hold for 15 to 30 seconds.

SIDE NECK STRETCH

  • Turn your head to one side while keeping your shoulders straight
  • Keep your chin parallel with the floor.
  • Hold for 15 to 30 seconds.
  • Turn your head to the other side and repeat.

ELBOWS-OUT CHEST STRETCH

  • Place your hands behind your head.
  • Squeeze your shoulder blades back and down as you bring your elbows back as far as possible.
  • Hold the stretch for 15 to 30 seconds.

SHOULDER SHRUG

  • Bring your shoulders up toward your ears
  • Hold for 5 seconds.
  • Roll your shoulders back and down Repeat 5 to 10 times

ACROSS-THE-BODY SHOULDER STRETCH

  • Place one hand under your elbow
  • Lift the elbow and extend it across your chest without rotating your body
  • You will feel a stretch along the back of your arm and into the back of the shoulder
  • Hold for 15th 30 seconds.
  • Repeat with the other arm

OVERHEAD SHOULDER STRETCH

  • Lift one arm and gently bend it behind your head
  • Place your other hand on the bent elbow to stretch the back of your upper arm, shoulder and back
  • Hold for 15 to 30 seconds.
  • Repeat with the other arm

LOWER BACK STRETCH

  • Sit forward in your chair
  • Bring one knee toward your chest and gently pull the back of the thigh toward you.
  • Keep your back straight and avoid leaning forward
  • Hold for 15 to 30 seconds.
  • Repeat with the other leg

QUAD STRETCH

  • Stand and place one hand on the back of a chair or desk for stability
  • Grab one leg (with the arm on the same side) and bring it toward your glutes.
  • Stand tall and keep your knee pointing straight down, not out to the side
  • Hold for 15 to 30 seconds.
  • Repeat with the other leg

Cut down on work-related muscle soreness by stretching your shoulders, wrists, back, neck, and legs throughout the day. And, we also hope you will follow our advice on best stretching exercises for Office Workers.

For more information visit our clinic Spinewise.

 

Accupuncture

Acupuncture has been used for centuries, and early signs of the technique can be found as far back to at least 100 B.C. in China. All over the eastern world acupuncture has historically been a staple in medicine and healing.

Most commonly used to treat conditions like chronic pain and nausea, acupuncture is based on a traditional belief of energy flowing through the body called ‘chi’ or ‘qi.’ Using a series of small needles acupuncturists work to open the flow of that energy and alleviate blockages that can cause disruptions in our health.

Acupuncture is safe and effective and is a wonderful alternative to any modern treatment that can come with the risk of severe side effects. Complications from the treatment are very rare and certified acupuncturists are trained in safety procedures to make sure they are using clean, sterile needles with every treatment.

Many people shy away from the idea of acupuncture because of a fear of needles and pain but once your acupuncturist gets started you may feel a momentary sharp pain from insertion, and many people find the pain to be minimal to non-existent. Depending on the location of your treatment you may feel a deep ache in some areas while the needles are in place.

Your acupuncturist will decide how deep the needles will be inserted based on your needs and the entire process can last anywhere from five to sixty minutes. Acute symptoms take longer, and multiple treatments may be required for optimum results. Some acupuncturist use heat and electricity to boost the effectiveness of the treatment, but the practice varies between practices.

Learn about acupuncture points and acupuncture benefits. Visit Spinewise Clinic. Trusted acupuncture clinic in Bowmanville. We are a Spinewise is a state-of-the-art medical centre which specializes in a complete range of wellness and general health programs. Contact Now!

Learn about massage therapy vs. physiotherapy from the professionals at Spinewise.

Physiotherapy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Physiotherapy is primarily concerned with the treatment of impairments, pain and disabilities and with the promotion of mobility, functional ability and quality of life.

  • The therapy is done after comprehensive history gathering, complete physical examination, evaluation and diagnosis.
  • Physical Therapists use an individual’s history and physical examination to arrive at a diagnosis and establish a management plan and, when necessary, incorporate the results of laboratory and imaging studies.
  • Physical Therapy is a therapeutic medical health care profession requiring extensive theory and practical training. Care is delivered by these qualified medical personal.

Massage

Massage therapy is a generic, hands on technique commonly employed for fatigue, work life balance, Relaxation, Stress management and for a feel good factor.

  • It is occasionally used for soft tissue restoring function, relieving pain, decreasing muscle tension and/or spasm to improve physical or athletic performance and promote healing.
  • Massage therapy is a kind of touch therapy involving techniques for palpating soft tissues of the body.
  • Almost all people who prefer massage therapy are usually people who do not have serious medical ailments and want to undergo the same as a stress buster or for feeling good.

Book an appointment with the Physiotherapist at Spinewise. Canada’s most trusted physiotherapy clinic network. Health specializes in physiotherapy, massage therapy, acupuncture, and chiropractic treatments.

Back pain is a tricky beast. Most of the Americans have problem with their backs. Unfortunately treatments won’t work, and the problem will become chronic.

Backpain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are some Tips to protect your Back

POOR EATING

Eating healthy is a great way to manage weight–and pain. Being overweight puts extra pressure on your joints and nerves. Try incorporating more fruits, veggies, whole grains, and healthy fats into your diet for a healthier, pain-free back.

HIGH HEELS

This is probably no surprise, but high heels force your back to arch. These stylish shoes throw off your balance and make the muscles in your back work overtime.

POOR POSTURE

Poor posture will really do a number on your back. If you are stuck at a desk all day, get up and take a break to do some stretches.

NO YOGA

Yoga may ease back pain better than exercises like running or strength training because yoga decreases your stress level. Through different poses and breath work, yoga can help your mind–and your back–feel at ease.

OLD MATTRESS

If you wake up with back pain every morning, it’s probably a sign for a new mattress. Old mattresses can cause aches and pains because they don’t offer the proper support.

Here are some simple Exercises for Lower Back Pain

Take care of your lower back with these low-impact rehabilitation movements

  • Plank

Get in a push up position, with your forearms on the ground, shoulder-width apart. Keep your back straight and core tight.

  • Swimming

This aerobic exercise is low-impact and gets blood flowing to your lower back muscles. Losing weight can also help reduce back pain.

  • Table and Child’s Poses

Start on your hands and knees in the table pose with a straight back. Then, bend your knees and hips so your glutes are on your heels and your hands are extended forward.

  • Back Arch

Just lie on your back, lift your hips, and keep your back straight. Hold for 5 seconds, and then repeat.

  • Bird Dog

Start on your hands and knees. Extend one leg; hold for 5 seconds. For a more advanced option, extend your opposite arm.

This Article provides a number of helpful tips on ways to reduce back pain without the use of painkillers.

Osteopathy is a medical practice based on the theory that disease and physiologic dysfunctions are etiologically grounded in a disordered musculoskeletal system.

Osteopathy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The American School of Osteopathy, The first osteopathy school opened in Kirksville, Missouri in 1892. This school is now called the AT Still University.

Osteopathy was termed in 1874 by an American Physician named Dr. Andrew Taylor Still.

Following the death of Dr. Still’s wife, and three of his children, to spinal meningitis in 1864, still concluded that the orthodox medical practices of his day were frequently ineffective and sometimes harmful. He devoted the next thirty years of his life to studying the human body and finding alternative ways to treat disease.

Dr. Still opened a school in Kirksville, Missouri in 1892 and began teaching the idea and practice of making mechanical adjustments to the human frame to promote health and heal disease.

Today there are osteopathy schools in at least 22 countries, including:

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, England, Finland, France, Germany. Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Netherlands Norway, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and United States of America and 43,000 manual osteopaths worldwide.

Two Types of Osteopaths

The osteopathic profession has evolved into two branches, manual medicine osteopaths and medical practice osteopathic physicians. These groups are so distinct that in practice they function as separate professions. This article is mostly about Manual Osteopathy.

Manual Osteopath

– Manual therapy is their primary tool. By specializing in manual therapy, often gain a high level of proficiency in manual approaches.

– Credentials vary from country to country, but often include the term ‘Manual Osteopath’.

– Typically trained outside the United States, in places like Canada, England and Spain.

– Typically work in private practice.

Medical Osteopath

– Uses pharmacy, surgery, and other medical practices and may also use manual therapy approaches.

– Credentialed as a D.O.

– Typically trained in the United States.

– Typically work in hospitals or private practice.

What Do Manual Osteopaths Do?

Osteopaths use a variety of manual approaches. Here are some common terms:

  • Articulatory Techniques – Procedures that move joints through their range of motion (articulating the joints) may be used to restore normal functioning.
  • Soft-Tissue Techniques – Various direct or indirect treatments applied to muscles, fascia and other soft-tissues of the body.
  • Visceral Techniques – techniques involving direct manipulation of the internal organs. Usually done using gentle pressure through the abdominal musculature.
  • Cranial Sacral – Cranial treatments focus on the craniosacral system which consists of the brain, spinal cord, cerebrospinal fluid, dura (the membrane covering the brain and spinal cord), cranial bones, and the sacrum (triangular bone comprised of five fused vertebrae, and forming posterior section of the pelvis).

What Happens During An Osteopathic Manual Therapy (OMT) Session?

Intake

  • A discussion with your osteopath regarding your primary health concerns, health history and time to ask questions.

Assessment & Treatment

  • Hands-on, mechanical adjustments to the patient’s muscles, joints, fascia and other tissues.

Post-Treatment

Your osteopath will ensure you know:

  • What did the assessment reveal?
  • What was the treatment and reasoning for it?
  • What can you expect to experience after treatment?

Reasons People Visit Osteopaths

  • Low back pain is the most common reason men visit osteopaths.
  • Most Common Reasons: Spine & Pelvis (44%) – Legs (13%) – Arms (13%) Pregnancy & Infants (12%) – Head (9%) Internal Organs (5%) – Other (4%) 3
  • Neck pain is the most common reason women visit osteopaths.

Notable Osteopaths & Patients

Barbara Ross-Lee, DO

  • The first African-American woman to serve as dean of a U.S. medical school was an osteopath.

William Smith

  • A British osteopath who may be the real life basis for Dr. Watson 5 of the Sherlock Holmes books.

Katy Perry

  • Katy Perry says her osteopath helped her learn to connect with her emotions and find her center again.

Queen Of England

  • Queen Elizabeth visited an osteopath for treatment of a stiff neck.

Elton John

  • Elton John has been treated by an osteopath.

Gwyneth Paltrow

  • Gwyneth Paltrow has been public about her osteopath helping her deal with a marital separation. 7

Osteopathy Research

  • Osteopathy has been shown to treat back pain as effectively as medication.
  • It can help with depression.
  • Osteopathy leads to fewer ear infections in children.
  • Osteopathy is safe for use in patients with traumatic brain injury.
  • This improves walking after knee or hip surgery.
  • Osteopathy may function in part by altering the levels of endocannabinoids (marijuana-like chemicals) in the body.

We hope you enjoy our article on Osteopathy.

 

Naturopathic medicine is based on the belief that the human body has an innate healing ability. Here doctors seek to enhance the body’s ability to ward off and combat disease by crafting comprehensive treatment plans that blend the best of modern medical science and traditional natural medical to treat disease and restore health.

 

Naturopathic medicine

Naturopathic treatment is individual based – every individual is treated uniquely. A person’s illness, medical history, habits, lifestyle and emotional state of mind is taken into account before a treatment plan is devised.

WHAT CAN IT TREAT?

  • Fatigue
  • cardiovascular problems
  • Fertility Problems
  • Musculoskeletal Complaints
  • Depression
  • MOOD DISORDERS
  • Hormonal Imbalances
  • Digestive Complaints
  • High Blood Pressure

Up to 30% of world’s healthcare is delivered by conventional practitioners. The majority are treated by alternative forms of medicine.

“Naturopathy puts the medical pieces together in order to heal the whole person, not just the disease.”


6 PRINCIPLES OF NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE

1. ASSESS RISKS, MAKE APPROPRIATE INTERVENTIONS TO PREVENT ILLNESS.

2. TREAT THE WHOLE PERSON; CONSIDER ALL FACTORS IN TAILORING TREATMENTS.

3. EDUCATE PATIENTS & ENCOURAGE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR HEALTH.

4. SEEK TO IDENTIFY & REMOVE OBSTACLES TO THE BODY’S NATURAL PROCESSES.

5. FOCUS ON CAUSES OF DISEASE OR CONDITION’S.

6. MINIMIZE HARMFUL SIDE EFFECTS & AVOID RATHER THAN ITS SUPPRESSION OF SYMPTOMS.

TYPES OF TREATMENT

NATUROPATHY CAN INCLUDE…

  • HERBAL& BOTANICAL PREPARATIONS
  • TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE
  • LIFESTYLE COUNSELING
  • JOINT MANIPULATION
  • HYDROTHERAPY
  • HOMEOPATHY
  • ACUPUNCTURE
  • THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE
  • DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS
  • NUTRITIONAL COUNSELING

Naturopathic treatment does not just treat the symptoms of a disease, but addresses the root cause of the disease. The course of treatment can take up to a month for every year that the patient has had the health problem. Patience and persistent following of treatment is essential.

Many natural products are supported by scientific evidence. For example, peppermint with the backing of strong clinical evidence has been proven to be effective in treating irritable bowel syndrome.

As a primary method of healing, Naturopaths believe in alternative methods, but will consider surgery and work in tandem with western medicine if the situation demands it.

Naturopathic treatments can work in combination with conventional treatments.

Naturopathy is safe under the supervision of a professional naturopathic doctor. A consumer buying a product off the shelf does not know what information or ingredients to look for, or whether the products used have been scrutinized for the highest purity standards, and therefore the role of a naturopathic doctor is even more essential.

For more information Visit our Spinewise Clinic Today

Weight Loss

Do you ever wish that the foods you ate, actually lost you weight, as opposed to putting it on?

Well today’s your lucky day! There are some foods out there that boost your metabolism, eliminate toxins that make it hard for your body to lose fat, and trigger hormones that shed pounds. Though don’t expect to be able to eat a bag of chips, and offset it with an avocado, in order to effectively lose weight you’ll need to eat these as part of a healthy balanced diet – Need help with your diet, check out the Spinewise meal plan!

Avocados

Avocados are high in healthy fat, which can actually help get rid of unwanted pounds.

Turmeric

Turmeric can decrease inflammation in fat cells. And in several studies, the group that consumed curcumin, a pigment in turmeric they, on average, gained less weight, and carried less fat.

Nuts

Studies suggest that people who consumed an ounce of nuts a day have higher levels of serotonin which can work as an appetite suppressant. Higher serotonin levels may also help reduce stress levels, which also help reduce belly fat

Broccoli

The phytonutrient, sulforaphane in broccoli rabe actually communicates with your fat cells! It stimulates an ezsyme that informs your fat cells to burn fat!

Cinnamon

This spice helps move glucose into the cells faster, preventing the fat storage hormone insulin from hanging around longer!

Green Tea

Drink green tea with your workouts. Studies suggest that people who consume green tea and worked out for around 30 minutes a day lost more belly fat than those who did not consume tea.

Vitamin D Fortified Yogurts

Studies have suggested that people who consume yogurts fortified with vitamin D and calcium lost twice the amount of weight than those who did not.

Grapefruit

Eating grapefruit before a meal can help your body metabolize faster! Referred to as a warm-up tactic, the phytochemicals in grapefruit can help reduce your waistline by up to an inch in six weeks.

GET THE SPINEWISE MEAL PLAN!

Weight loss

Obesity is considered a chronic lifestyle disease; as of 2018, 39.6% of Americans over the age of 20 were obese. While in some rare cases obesity is caused by hormonal conditions or genetic factors, it’s mostly due to unhealthy lifestyles —poor diet and no physical activity.

Maintaining your ideal or optimal weight is important because it can help you keep chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, heart diseases, and so on away; you will feel more energetic and confident as well.

Losing weight, and keeping it away, is not a simple task. You also have to do it in a way that does not harm your body.

Here are some rules to help you lose Weight

No crash diets

Eat regular meals, at the proper time — and never ever skip breakfast, because it’s the most important meal of the day. Eating regular meals helps you keep tabs on your portion size.

Load up on fiber

That means oatmeal, flax, bananas, apples, mangoes, avocadoes, strawberries, eggplant, beans and legumes, nuts, wheat bran, dry figs, and so on. 20-35 grams of fiber a day is the recommended intake, but most people on an average, consume just 14-15 grams a day. Fiber ensures regular bowel movements and may also help protect against colorectal cancer.

Cut the fat

Choose cooking methods like steaming, boiling, grilling and baking instead of frying. Switch to olive oil; avoid butter and full-fat dairy; limit red meats. Skim off visible oil floating on the surface before eating.

Avoid snacking

Many people watch portion sizes at mealtimes, then get hungry in between and snack on — typically —packaged fried or sweet snacks.

Snacking can cause weight gain; have some nuts or fresh fruit instead, and you’ll feel full for longer. Whole-wheat or multigrain bread sandwiches with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, tuna, and low-fat cheese is also a great option.

Resist the temptation to binge

This is most likely to happen on special days, family get-together, outings with friends and so on. If pizza is on the menu, chomp down some nuts and drink water before the party so that you’re not able to go beyond a slice or two at the most.

Beware of sugary traps

Sugar is needed for the brain to function, and you should never cut it out completely. However, there is a lot of hidden sugar in many of the food products we buy — especially packaged foods. Things we don’t expect to have sugar — like ketchup, for instance. Try to have tea and coffee without sugar; limit bakery products like cookies, cake, muffins and so on to a slice or a piece once a week. Have dark chocolate instead.

Regular exercise

Experts differ in opinion as to how much or what type of exercise, but everyone agrees you need to work out. Get moving! Start with thrice a week, 15-20 minutes a day, and slowly n increase to 30 minutes every day. You can also try burst training which requires minimal time commitment but involves intensive training for that time.

Sleep well

It may sound counterproductive, but it’s not. Getting at least 8 hours of sound sleep in a day is essential for losing weight and keeping it off. Sleep helps your body repair itself and activate the fat burning hormones — it also keeps you away from food!

Don’t stress yourself

Getting stressed at work or home is the No.1 reason for many people to indulge in binge eating and gain weight. If you feel stress building up, walk it off, or watch cute baby/puppy/kitten videos, listen to music etc.

Mix up your workouts

Doing the same thing every day is not only boring, but may also not help to target all your body muscles. Walk, swim, cycle, go to the gym, go bowling, play laser tag — including plenty of variation will motivate you to keep at it.

Set realistic goals

This is extremely important! Your goals need to be achievable, and you need to break them down into smaller goals — say, 1-2 kilos a week. The smaller number is more reassuring and you will be motivated to get there.

Losing weight and keeping it off- is hard; it makes good sense to take the help of professionals — like the Spinewise. Our team consists of a physician, dietician and exercise physiologist, and they will work together to provide you dedicated care, advice, and guidance.

The physician will take you and your family’s detailed medical history, assess your current health issues, your habits, and lifestyle and so on, and conduct tests if necessary to rule out underlying diseases — and set a target weight.

The dietician will sit with you to create meal plans, portion sizes, healthy alternatives for your favorite unhealthy foods, and more.

Our exercise physiologist will determine your workout durations, the type of exercises you can safely do, talk to you about how it will impact your body, and guide you to monitor your progress at home too.

Spinewise can help you lose weight, safely, effectively, and for good! Call us today to set up an appointment with our team.

 

Accupuncture

Everybody who has been exposed to straining work and positions has experienced neck pain—only in varying degrees.

In fact, Chronic neck pain is one of the most common pain issues faced by employees and students alike, especially after a long day at work or in school where the neck muscles can be strained from poor posture, whether when you’re leaning over your computer or hunching over your desk.

Causes of Neck pain

While there can be a myriad of factors contributing to your neck pain, experts say that these reasons may be the culprit:

Muscle Strains:

It is very common and possible that your neck hurts because of muscle overuse. Did you know that you use your neck muscles in doing the simplest of tasks such as reading in bed or gritting your teeth?

NERVE COMPRESSION:

Herniated disks or bone spurs in the vertebrae of your neck can press on the nerves branching out from the spinal cord can cause neck pains as well.

INJURIES:

If you have been involved in a rear-end auto collisions which often result in whiplash injury, chances are you can experience neck pains sooner or later. This is caused by the straining the soft tissues of the neck when the head is jerked backward and then forward.

DISEASES:

Certain types of diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, meningitis or cancer, can include neck pain as one of the symptoms.

Signs and symptoms include:

  • Pain that’s often worsened by holding your head in one place for long periods such as when driving or working in front of a computer;
  • Muscle tightness and spasms;
  • Decreased ability to move your head;
  • Headaches

While some people can stand Neck pain and don’t mind it at all, a number of cases can be severe enough that it can adversely affect the quality of one’s life.

Because of its position and range of motion, and because it plays a vital role in the support of the head, the neck is more subject to injury than any other portion of the spine.

How Can Acupuncture Help?

Regardless of what caused the neck pain to begin, many people find relief with acupuncture when seemingly nothing else helped.

While this maybe a relatively new practice in the West, Acupuncture has been around the East for centuries now and has proven to aid numerous medical conditions time and time again. In fact, it is an ancient technique, refined through centuries of use.

How does it work?

This traditional Chinese technique uses thin needles that are inserted into the body at specific spots called “acupoints”.

It is based on the ancient belief that blocked chi, or energy is the one that causes pain in the area of the body. By inserting the needles to a certain acupoints, the energy will be unblocked and therefore pain will be relieved.

Many studies and medical trials have conducted to test the legitimacy of the practice and an impressive number of researchers have shown acupuncture to be effective in relieving certain types of neck pain, particularly those caused by whiplash.

Scientific researchers and clinicians have been conducting clinical trials on the use of acupuncture for neck pain since the 1980’s.

In fact, an analysis of 29 studies with a total of 17,922 participants with back and neck pain, osteoarthritis, chronic headache and shoulder pain found that people with those conditions experienced significantly more relief with acupuncture than those who had no treatment.

These studies suggest acupuncture can treat degenerative neck disorders such as ankylosing spondylosis and cervical spondylosis; in many cases. Acupuncture has worked for patients whose conditions could not be solved using conventional approaches.

How to Prevent Neck Pain

In the end, prevention is still always better than cure. Here are some of the healthy practices and tricks on how you can avoid neck pain:

  • Practice good posture. When standing and sitting, be sure your shoulders are in a straight line over your hips and your ears are directly over your shoulders.
  • Adjust your desk, chair and computer so that the monitor is at eye level. Knees should be slightly lower than hips. Use your chair’s armrests.
  • Quit smoking. Smoking can put you at higher risk of developing neck pain.
  • Take frequent breaks. If you travel long distances or work long hours at your computer, get up, move around and stretch your neck and shoulders.
  • Avoid tucking the phone between your ear and shoulder when you talk. Use a headset or speakerphone instead.
  • Avoid carrying heavy bags with straps over your shoulder.
  • Sleep in a good position. Your head and neck should be aligned with your body. Use a small pillow under your neck. Try sleeping on your back with your thighs elevated on pillows, which will flatten your spinal muscles.

 

Kinesiology

Although there is much more research to be done, we know that applying kinesiology tape can help with reducing pain, cueing proprioceptive feedback for improved body awareness, decreasing localized swelling, improving range of motion and improving sports performance.

There is no replacement for sensible injury management; kinesiology tape is an excellent tool in every doctor’s tool box.

What is Kinesio tape?

Kinesio tape was invented by Chiropractor – Dr Kenzo Kase.

In the 1970’s Dr. Kase began searching for a sports taping method which could assist in the healing of traumatised tissue and muscles. He found that joint pain often resulted from the abnormal function of muscles and myo-fascial tissues around the joint rather than from the joint itself.

Scientific studies have not shown a significant difference with applying the tape in one direction or another to either activate or inhibit a muscle. We suggest applying the tape in the most practical manner, using clinical reasoning as to where the tape should start and stop to improve outcomes with your treatment. Kinesiology tape is an excellent tool in every doctor’s tool box.

Functions of Kinesio tape:

– Helps to normalise muscle function

– Improves lymphatic and blood flow

– Pain reduction and management

– Helps to correct Joint and tissue dysfunction.

Kinesio Tape is an elastic adhesive tape that does not restrict motion like conventional athletic tape. It is used extensively by sports teams and athletes throughout the world.

Kinesio Tape Reduces:

  • Pain
  • Swelling
  • Scar Tissue
  • Muscle Activity

Kinesio Tape Improves:

  • Healing
  • Posture
  • Nerve Receptors
  • Muscle Contraction

The reality is you don’t need to take a course at all to learn how to tape. Taking a course should complement the basics of application and expand your understanding of just how complimentary kinesiology tape can be to your current patient care.

At Spinewise, we feel that our information creates a well-rounded knowledge base of tape, skin, movement and fascia. We truly want to share these new concepts and create a society that understands our biggest perceptual organ; the skin.

THE TAPING doesn’t have to be complicated at all. There should be the least amount of tape applied to get the job done. Cutting the tape into all sorts of shapes can get very complicated. Ultimately, the comfort and duration of wear of the application should be the most important factors in how the tape is applied.

Go stronger, longer

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