Tag Archive for: exercise

Congratulations Kate!

Well done Kate on achieving your Level 2 Fitness Instruction qualification! In her own words, Rehab at this clinic just got EVEN better.

This is a professionally recognized qualification that enables Kate to prescribe exercise inside or outside a gym environment. She completed detailed anatomy and physiology modules including principles of fitness and exercise, and received further training on how to put exercise programs together that best suit the needs and expectations of individuals working towards specific goals.

Within a rehab environment this enables her to accurately and specifically alter and adapt individuals’ programs if necessary, and to tailor rehab precisely to each person depending on their body’s response to the exercises.

Great Tips to Stay Pain Free for the Easter Weekend from the BCA

The British Chiropractic Association has some great tips to help avoid any problems with your back and posture this Easter:

DIY projects:

People in some parts of the UK are unlikely to be gardening, but there will be plenty of indoor projects to be getting on with.

When using a ladder or steps, make sure you are always facing it, keeping your shoulders, hips and knees pointing in the same direction.

Rather than leaning or reaching, move the ladder or step regularly to keep up with where you are. Any kind of ladder must be firmly and safely planted in position and, if possible, have someone else there to keep an eye on things.

If you are painting a ceiling, think about getting the largest amount of paint on in the shortest space of time. Use a paint pad or roller with an extended handle and hold it at chest height. Keep your head as neutral as possible and keep facing forward so you don’t over exert your neck. If you can lie down – do!

Plan ahead – If you are planning a trip to the local DIY store to buy heavy items such as cement or gravel, buy smaller bags rather than one big bag as they are easier and safer to carry. If buying in bulkier amounts, shovel the contents of the large bags straight into smaller containers or wheelbarrow from the back of the car.

If having items delivered, have them unloaded as close to where you need them as possible; this will save the effort of moving them again.

Travelling:

If you are flying, drink plenty of water and NOT alcohol during the flight as this will cause dehydration, which could aggravate muscle pain.

Whether travelling by plane, train or car – you will be restricted in your seat for most of the journey, but avoid stiffness by doing shoulder shrugs, buttock clenches and foot circles.

If on a train or plane, try to stand up and move around every 20-40 minutes or, when you stop for a petrol/food break on a car journey, take the opportunity to just stretch and shake out your limbs to allow your muscles to relax.

Compensate for your prolonged time of inactivity during the journey by doing light exercise – just going for a brisk 20 minute walk once you have arrived at your destination will help

Staying at home:

Although the TV schedules are likely to have plenty to please or you may want to spend time playing your latest computer game, try to avoid sitting for long periods; take a break at least every 40 minutes.

Make the most of the leisure time and fit some exercise in – whether it be a run, time at the gym or going for a walk with friends and family. Active games such as Wii, Kinect or old fashioned favourites like Twister will help keep you moving!

Happy Easter!!

Postural Advice From Danny Adams: The Brugger Break

The Brugger Break, also known as the Brugger relief position is an exercise that is brilliant for desk workers as it reverses the effects of sitting at a desk for long periods. It is a quick exercise at only 10 seconds duration and is easy to perform. When performed regularly (every 20 minutes) it can be one of the answers to the nagging question “how can I improve my posture?”

Here is how to perform it: i) Sit forwards onto the front edge of your seat ii) spread your legs out to 45 degrees each side and lean forward slightly so that your body weight is distributed in to your feet as well as your back. iii) extend your arms and then pull them back and down behind your body with your thumbs turned outwards and palms open. iv) tuck your chin straight back in to your chin (essentially giving  your self a double chin) v) push you chest forwards vi) take a deep breath in… then out, as you are breathing out push your chest even further forwards, remember to keep your hands back and to the sides behind you. vii) hold the out breath for 10 seconds and then return to work. viii) Set a timer or write yourself a post it note reminder for on your computer so that every 20 minutes it can be performed.

it only takes 10 seconds and will improve your posture, decrease your chance of back pain and aid any on-going treatment you are currently receiving.

STRAIGHTEN UP UK! Simon Rose gives an insight into the South West’s Back Pain Issues

 This week is Back Care Awareness Week. Chiropractor Simon Rose of Longlevens Chiropractic & Sports Injury Clinic encourages people to straighten out their approach to back care, as new consumer research shows that almost half the UK population (48%*) has suffered from back pain.  Nearly 40% of sufferers in the South West have suffered from back or neck pain for more than ten years! Ouch!

 The research, commissioned by the British Chiropractic Association, shows that 23% of people in the South West have suffered for over a year, yet 19% of these people have never sought any professional treatment or consultation for their pain even though back pain has prevented 54 % of people in the South West from sleeping.

Simon Rose comments: “Back pain is something which must not be swept aside – not just by sufferers but by people of all ages who should think about preventative measures. Research shows that 43% of people are limited in their activity by back and joint pain, so we all need to act to ease and prevent future problems to live life to the fullest”.

The British Chiropractic Association has developed a simple program of exercises called Straighten Up UK” to help people get more active and prevent back pain in both adults and children. Easy to learn and do, it consists of precise, slow stretches, each with a specific purpose.

Simon Rose says: “The three minute exercise routine helps to promote an active lifestyle as well as balance, strength and flexibility in the spine, therefore reducing the risk of problems arising. Education on the importance of posture and back care cannot begin early enough, the sooner action is taken the less likely future back pain will be. With recent research by the BCA showing that 42.5% of people do not participate in any physical exercise, we must shape up and straighten up to keep our backs healthy”.

Visit the BCA website to see instructional videos on the Straighten Up UK routine and begin to tackle potential problems this Back Care Awareness Week. You will also find a range of advice, leaflets and video guides available to download from the BCA website www.chiropractic-uk.co.uk.

*research conducted in February 2012

 

Danny’s Blog: Neck Pain, Chiropractic & Exercise = The Perfect Relationship?

An interesting study…

The results below are from a study, funded by the National Institute of Health, that tracked 272 patients with recent-onset neck pain who were treated using three different methods: Medication, Exercise or a  Chiropractor.

After 12 weeks the patients who used a chiropractor or exercised were more than twice as likely to be neck pain free compared to those who relied on medicine. The patients treated by a chiropractor experienced the highest rate of neck pain relief with 32 percent saying they were neck pain free, compared to 30 percent of those who exercised. Only 13 percent of patients treated with medication said they no longer experienced neck pain.

A Chiropractors View

As a Chiropractor myself, I always recommend Chiropractic treatment along with a personally prescribed exercise plan. Part of your chiropractic treatment is to receive advice on which stretches and exercises to perform. The exercises are designed to train areas of your body so that it is less likely to re-injure itself. I also give ergonomic advice, advice for around the house and advice on the correct nutrition to aid you in healing faster. Exercises are usually given after one or two treatments once a patient is out of pain and can move a bit better. You must be careful as exercise during the acute phases may increase the pain levels and actually hinder progression. This is because the inflamed areas can get further irritated by the compressing, stretching and pulling movements aggravating the injury.

What to expect

It’s crucial for everyone to know that Chiropractic is more then just hands on treatment, Chiropractors assess all contributing factors and give you advice to correct each possible factor that may have led to the injury onset. Once out of injury or even before they get injured many people see their Chiropractor for a regular spinal and body check up. During these visits a Chiropractor will check to see if any part of the body could lead to future discomfort and to see if their patient has been performing their exercises correctly to prevent injury or re-injury.

This Chiropractor’s ‘Dream’

Chiropractic and exercise go hand in hand, on their own they are OK, but together they are unbeatable. In a perfect world everyone would see their Chiropractor on a regular basis for regular check ups, this is the dream as back pain is one of the leading causes of work absence. Think about it!! if we all saw our Chiropractor regularly we would have less days off work as a country due to back pain which would lead to a boost in the economy and decrease our taxes!!… what do you think? it’s a nice dream, make it happen ;-) .

Remember

“prevention is better than cure”.

References: Forer, B. (2012). Neck Pain: Chiropractors, Exercise Better Than Medication, Study Says. Available: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/01/04/neck-pain-chiropractors-exercise-better-than-medication-study-says/. Last accessed 22nd March 2012.

 

Tag Archive for: exercise

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