Archives: Condition

There are many contributing factors to neck pain, including trauma, overuse, wear and tear, and poor posture. This may lead to pain due to injury of the structures surrounding the spine, such as the joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves, discs and blood vessels.

Neck problems are often not caused by one single incident, but by a number of factors such as improper sitting, poor work and lifestyle habits, and lack of exercise. Some neck injuries are due to trauma such as a whiplash or sporting injuries.

The most common cause of neck pain is soft tissue abnormalities from injury or prolonged wear and tear of the joints and muscles of the neck. In many people, it also produces pain in the upper back, shoulders, arms, forearms, hands and fingers.

When neck pain is caused by muscle strain, you may have aches and stiffness that spread to the upper arm and forearm. Shooting pain that spreads down the arm into the hand and fingers can be a symptom of nerve entrapment in the neck. When a nerve is entrapped in the neck, numbness, weakness and possibly pain in the arms, hands and fingers may occur. Disc injuries are rare, but it is the most common cause of nerve entrapments.

Injuries to the neck caused by a sudden movement of the head backwards, forwards or sideways are referred to as “whiplash”. Whether from a car accident, sporting injury or an accident at work, whiplash or neck injuries warrant a thorough chiropractic examination. Whiplash is most commonly suffered as a result of a motor vehicle accident. An impact or collision causes the head to suddenly jerk back and forth beyond its normal limits.

Wear and tear, osteoarthritis or joint degeneration occurs due to the accumulation of stresses and trauma over time. Throughout life, the spine is required to withstand considerable weight bearing strain, purely as a result of the pressures of daily living. The overall effect of degenerative changes of the spine leads to a feeling of stiffness and reduced spinal mobility. However, just like any other part of the body, the better care that is taken of the spine, the less degeneration that is likely to occur.

Neck pain can be accompanied by a number of symptoms, including:
– Pain in the shoulders, arms, forearms and hands
– Numbness, tingling and pins and needles in the arms, forearms, hands and fingers
– Pain on coughing or sneezing
– Difficulty sitting for any period of time
– Headaches and jaw pain
– Stiffness on rising in the morning

Chiropractic treatment is usually very effective for neck pain. Our chiropractors use various methods to adjust the spine to improve joint motion, decrease muscle tension and reduce the inflammatory response. In addition to this, we may use mobilisation techniques, soft tissue therapy, cranial therapy and jaw corrections. Our chiropractors may prescribe stretching and strengthening exercises to aid with your rehabilitation, and give you postural and lifestyle advice to help with your recovery.

For more information or to book an appointment, please contact Balmoral Chiropractic Centre ( Singapore ) on 6235 9083.

Approximately 90% of headaches are tension headaches. These are usually brought on by stress, either physically or emotionally. Other causes of tension headaches include poor posture, extended periods of sitting, overuse of technology devices, and even dehydration.

A tension headache usually begins with a dull pain around the head accompanied by tension in the scalp or neck. Sometimes they begin at the base of the skull and work their way to the sides, front or top of the head. They can even occur behind the eyes. Tension headaches are often the result of tiny muscle contractions, creating the feeling of constriction around the head.

A migraine is a decrease in oxygen to the brain. If the brain receives less oxygen, it will simply increase the amount of blood flow to increase the overall amount of oxygen received. In order to increase the amount of blood flow, it must dilate the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain. When these vessels dilate, it stretches the pain fibres that wrap around the outside of these vessels, causing pain signals to be sent into the brain.

Migraines may also be caused by misalignment of the cervical (neck) spine. This creates inflammation and tension within the joints, muscles and blood vessels at the base of the neck, which then transfers pain up into the skull.

177 volunteers who had been suffering neck pain and migraines for over 18 years entered a study. All of those who received chiropractic care were able to reduce their medication intake, with a significant number reducing their intake to zero. Additionally, 59% reported no neck pain after two months, and another 35% had a significant decrease in neck pain. There have been a number of other studies performed that show similar outcomes.

In a study conducted at Macquarie University, specific chiropractic adjustments to the spine significantly reduced migraines in 71% of the people surveyed. The frequency, duration, severity and amount of medication taken all decreased markedly.

By performing gentle and specific adjustments to the neck and upper back, our chiropractors can restore the normal alignment and function of the spine, which removes the tension that creates the headache and migraine symptoms. In addition to spinal adjustments, our chiropractors also use deep tissue massage to help relieve the muscle tension associated with a headache or migraine. They may also perform jaw corrections and cranial therapy to restore normal function of the skull.

For more information or to book an appointment, please contact Balmoral Chiropractic Centre ( Singapore ) on 6235 9083.

A muscle strain is the most common form of sports injury. It occurs when the muscle is pulled too far in a particular direction, causing an over stretching or tear of the muscle. This usually occurs as a result of fatigue, overuse or improper use. Strains are most common in the low back, neck, shoulder and hamstring.

A joint sprain is another common form of sports injury. A joint sprain occurs when the ligament has been over stretched or torn. The most common site of a joint sprain is the ankle joint. However, a joint sprain can occur in almost any joint in the body.

A contusion is usually the result of direct trauma to the muscle whereby the small blood vessels within the muscle are ruptured. This generally results in a bruise and most commonly involves the muscles of the thigh.

Tendonitis is inflammation of the tendon and it usually results from overuse or injury whereby there is an increased load placed on the tendon. It commonly occurs in the shoulders, elbows, wrists, knees and ankles.

Chiropractic care focuses on the relationship between structure and function. Correcting structural imbalances within the spine, pelvis and extremities will restore normal neuromusculoskeletal function within the body.

Our chiropractors are highly trained when it comes to sports injuries. They use a variety of techniques, including spinal and extremity adjustments, mobilisation techniques and soft tissue therapy to aid in your recovery from injury. They may also prescribe stretching and/or strengthening exercises, rehabilitation programs, and dietary and lifestyle advice to restore your health.

Your chiropractor will also advise you on the best methods of recovery in terms of rest, ice and heat, and they will work with you to help get you back to training and playing as quickly as possible.

For more information or to book an appointment, please contact Balmoral Chiropractic Centre ( Singapore ) on 6235 9083.

Scoliosis is a progressive lateral curvature of the spine. When you view the spine from the side, you should see the natural curves of the spine. However, when you view the spine from the front, the spine should be straight.

The most common type of scoliosis is “adolescent idiopathic scoliosis”. Idiopathic means “of unknown origin”. However, recent research into the cause of scoliosis seems to suggest that there is often a genetic factor that affects how the spine grows. Scoliosis can affect both adults and children. In children, it can be a more serious condition because it can rapidly progress as the child grows.

The effects of scoliosis include poor posture, shoulder humping, muscle weakness and pain. In rare cases, scoliosis can lead to heart and lung problems. If scoliosis is detected and treated early, the patient can avoid these symptoms in many cases. However, if left untreated, scoliosis can sometimes require surgery.

The best results of scoliosis treatment are attained when the condition is detected early and treated with appropriate and proven methods. Tailoring an individual program for each patient will often enable the patient to avoid the more unpleasant, expensive and dangerous treatment options such as medications and surgery.

Chiropractic care is a proven treatment method for scoliosis. Our chiropractors will devise a treatment program that may include specific chiropractic adjustments that are designed to correct dysfunction of the skeletal structures and reduce the tension on the spinal cord. They may also prescribe exercises that are specifically designed to address balance, coordination and proprioception (body awareness) problems, as well as stretch the muscles around the scoliosis to reduce muscle tension.

Chiropractic care for scoliosis can be very effective, especially when the condition is in the early stages. The treatment program requires a commitment by the patient and their family, but if undertaken enthusiastically, it has the potential to prevent the need for much more drastic treatments later on.

For more information or to book an appointment, please contact Balmoral Chiropractic Centre ( Singapore ) on 6235 9083.