Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. It is estimated that 80% to 90% of the population suffers from tension headaches. The exact cause of these headaches are still under debate, however a few contributing factors have been identified.

You can experience tension headaches either infrequently episodic( less than 1 headache per month and less than 12 per year), frequently episodic (more than 1 headache per month but less than 15 per year) or chronically (more than 15 headaches per month).

The symptoms of tension headaches are usually felt on both sides of your head. You experience a mild to moderate squeezing type pain around your head. This headache is not aggravated with physical activity like walking or climbing stairs, but you might become sensitive to either light or sounds. Nausea and vomiting is not present. Tension headaches can last anything from half an hour to 7 days.

The causes of tension headaches can include a wide variety of factors such as:

• Cervical joint dysfunction
• Stress
• Lack of sleep or rest
• Musculoskeletal pain and fibromyalgia
• Prior neck injuries
• Poor posture resulting in postural imbalances (especially desk posture)
• Psychological conditions such as anxiety and depression

The management of tension headaches is relatively simple. If the cause is psychological, simple stress reduction techniques, like meditation or breathing exercises, can be incorporated on a daily basis. For diagnosed conditions such as anxiety or depression, prescribed medication will help. If the cause is mechanical, being mindful about your desk posture will also help tremendously to lower the stress on your neck and lower back. Exercise will also help you postural muscles to become stronger. However, this might only help temporarily.

If the cause is linked to cervical joint dysfunction, all the structures surrounding those joints will be affected. This includes the nerves, muscles and ligaments. Chiropractic treatment can help to correct the dysfunction and allow optimum functioning of the cervical joints.

If you or someone you know suffers from tension headaches, give us a call today on 083 288 0679

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Sciatica Lower Back Pain this is a term often used and that most people have experienced at one time or another. Sciatica is the term given to pain that starts in the lower back and buttock area and refers down the back of your leg. The pain could be due to compression of or injury to the sciatic nerve in the buttock area. It is usually felt as quite a sharp and shooting kind of pain that can be localized in the buttock area or spread down your leg to your knee or foot. Lower back pain is a common reason to see your chiropractor and is one of many pain issues dealt with in the practice. Whether you’re a pregnant mum to be, or noticed that you’re developing pain in your lower back, book an appointment with a professional chiro and let us work on the problem.

What is lower back pain?

Lower back pain is common in patients from all walks of life and can happen as a sudden onset or occur as a result of something else. Sometimes repetitive movements can cause strain. For example, overstretching, lifting heavy objects and bad posture.

Read our latest blog: How Much Does a Chiropractor Cost? A Complete Guide to Pricing

Things that could compress, injure or irritate the sciatic nerve and cause sciatica could be:

1. Tight piriformis muscles: The sciatic nerve runs through a muscle called the piriformis muscle. This muscle is v-shaped to allow passage of the sciatic nerve. If this muscle is contracted and in spasm it could cause the sciatic nerve to be compressed, causing the sciatic pain.
2. Sitting on your wallet: Men are usually guilty of this. Sitting on your wallet not only causes your pelvis to be in an awkward position, but it also compresses the sciatic nerve directly. This could also result in a leg length discrepancy, where one leg becomes functionally shorter than the other.
3. Spinal degeneration: Things like a disc protrusion/herniation or osteophyte formation could cause compression or irritation to the spinal nerves that make up the sciatic nerve. This will then not only cause the pain in you buttock and leg, but could also cause other neurological symptoms such as weakness, numbness or pins and needles.

Some causes of lower back pain include:

• Pregnancy in women
• An injury
• Poor posture
• No lumbar support when seated for long at a computer
• Damage to intervertebral discs
• Nerve compression
• Deformity
• Trauma
• Herniated disc

If you suffer from sciatica or sciatic pain, there are chiropractic treatment options available to give you the relief you want. These treatment options are surgery-free and involve spinal manipulation, myofascial release, dry needling and stretching. If your pain is due to anatomical causes, chiropractic will only be able to provide symptomatic relief, depending on the severity of your disc protrusion/herniation. With osteophyte formation, surgery could be an option to remove the pain causing osteophytes.

Common symptoms of lower back pain include but are not limited to:

1. A dull aching pain
2. Pain that radiates down the buttocks and legs
3. Increased pain when sitting for too long
4. A relief of pain when changing position
5. Pain seems worse in the lower back after having slept and woken up

How does a chiropractor help with Lower Back Pain?

A doctor of chiropractic has many years studying and learning more and more about how to help patients cope with lower back pain and improve their lives. Chiropractic treatment includes spinal manipulation, as well as manual manipulation. Mobilisation also allows specific stretches to help with range and increase flexibility. Chiropractic is safe during pregnancy and doesn’t require OTC drugs or chemicals to enhance its benefits. It is beneficial for babies and older patients. If you need more information or would like to book an appointment speak to a chiropractor in Centurion. Your chiro will work out a chiropractic treatment plan to suit your needs.

Lower back pain can be tricky, and sometimes unnoticeable. It can occur slowly or gradually with time. Some patients find that the pain worsens with time and sometimes seems reoccurring.

Give us a call today to get relief from your sciatica. Find us on Facebook Dr Vicki Ferreira Chiropractor

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Clicking your own back and neck is bad for you from an unqualified person are very common topics in a chiropractor’s office. Some people argue that they don’t need to come and see a chiropractor because they can adjust themselves or they would ask someone in the office to quickly “crack” their backs to get some relief. Other people are usually in our offices because of a “click” that went bad.

Have you ever notice that your neck or back sometimes feels stiff or has limited movement or just feels like it needs a “click”? You then either adjust it yourselves or have it adjusted by a random person and you feel better afterwards. You then go about your day and in less than an hour you have the same stiffness and limited movement in your neck or back. You “click” again and again and again.

Imagine your neck vertebrae as the links of a chain. Each vertebra must move optimally to allow maximum range of motion to your neck. When you feel your neck movement is limited, it means one joint, one link in your chain, is not moving as it should and might get stuck. This now causes all the other vertebrae to become hypermobile to compensate for this immobility to still allow as much range of motion as possible. So when you click your neck, you are in essence only clicking the vertebrae which are already moving and hypermobile instead of correcting the affected vertebrae. This is what usually happens and we as chiropractors can help. We find the exact vertebra that is not moving and induce movement again. Now each little vertebra can move as it is supposed to and you can get long-term relief.

So in short, this is why self-adjusting is bad for your neck and could result in severe neck and back pain. If you have any more questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us to book an appointment with Dr. Vicki and she will gladly answer all your questions.

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Back pain normally disappears within 2 months, whether treated or not. But if the pain is serious and connected to an injury, treatment is required. Often an operation will solve the problem although it may not be your treatment of choice.

If back pains originate from the abdomen or pelvic, it can be that you have an infection in that area. Appendicitis can cause back pain and so can ovarian or bladder infection. Once the infection has been treated with anti-biotics or other medication, the back pain will ease up.

The spine itself can be the cause of the pain, either by way of a previous injury or with a new one. A chiropractor can manually align the spine and in so doing the pain will be alleviated. The spine connects the nerve impulses from the brain to the rest of the body and if the messages are not delivered correctly, pain can ensue. By correcting the spine, the nerves can communicate again and the pain is soothed. They can also teach you how to exercise to strengthen the muscles of the back and the stomach.

Back pains can be chronic as from an old injury that acts up again and again but it can also be acute when you hurt yourself on the spot. The first one can be painful for months on end while the second will be shorter in duration. In both instances a back doctor can be of assistance.

It is however to your advantage to treat your body with respect; do not lift anything that you do not have the strength for, neither is it a good idea to move heavy furniture on your own. By keeping a good posture and looking after your health you can prevent a lot of pain from occurring. Find us on Facebook Dr Vicki Ferreira Chiropractor

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If you’ve had back pain, you’ve probably heard someone recommend going to a Chiropractor in Centurion. But what is a chiropractor?

A chiropractor is an approved medical professional that is concerned with the musculoskeletal system, with many of them specializing in treating the spine. Like any medical professional, a chiropractor needs at least 4 years of tertiary education where they learn about subjects such as human biology and psychology. It is important to know that your chiropractor is approved, as there are some that make outrageous claims such as being able to cure or prevent almost all diseases and illnesses.  A chiropractor is trained to look out for whether your back pain is caused by daily wear and tear, or if there is a more serious underlying medical cause. If that is the case, a chiropractor in Centurion will recommend certain tests to be carried out by a doctor.

Like any other medical professional, there is a set routine that most chiropractors follow. This includes finding out your case history, such as diet and lifestyle, past operations, any medicine being taken and history of family illness. A chiropractor will also do a physical exam, focusing on the joints, muscles and spine in order to find the root cause of the pain. If it is deemed necessary, a chiropractor may request an x-ray be done.

A chiropractor will move your joints in ways that you may be unable to. Another important aspect of enlisting a chiropractor to help with your back pain is the ability to do exercises and treat yourself at home. A chiropractor will give you advice relevant to your lifestyle and teach you exercises you can do at home in order to the further treatment of your back pain.

There is another way to relieve yourself of severe back pain, neck pain or lower back pain without having to beg your significant other, with puppy dog eyes, to rub your back or neck – or both. In fact, this kind of treatment will only harm your back and increase your pain. Seek the right treatment, for lower back pain treatment, sciatica, neck pain, back pain and even a severe migraine, contact a chiropractor in Centurion today.

Seeking a doctor of chiropractics is without a doubt the best route to take when suffering from pain or as a preventetery measure to take to avoid aches and pains later on in life. Anyone, of any age can benefit from the treatment of a professional and qualified chiropractor. Infants can benefit from a chiropractor who specialises in treating colic in babies, as well as reflux while seniors may benefit from a chiropractor in Centurion to help in the treatment of an arthritic condition.

What makes this a popular method of treatment is because chiropractic treatment is a completely holistic way to treat your symptoms without the use of medicine and or intrusive and dangerous operations. Chiropractors are Doctors who have spent years studying the body, bodily manipulation, massage and exercises to treat your symptoms, from lower back pain treatment to treatment for sciatica. Below are a few of the conditions that a chiropractor in Centurion can treat with efficiency and effectiveness:

• Headaches and Migraines
• Neck pain
• Neck Tension or Stress
• Whiplash (mild to severe)
• Lower Back Pain
• Upper Back Pain
• General Back Pain
• Sciatica
• Muscle Strain
• Sports Injuries
• Arthritis and Arthritic Conditions
• Pelvic Dysfunction
• Pregnancy Discomfort
• Colic
• Joint Dysfunctions

The treatment that a patient will undergo can include:

1. Manual Therapy
2. Manipulation of Spine
3. Massage Therapy
4. Rehabilitative Exercises
5. Promotion of Health and Physical Wellbeing

A chiropractor has the tools and years of study to help relive you of pain, stress, tension and anxiety. This is a natural and drug free form of treatment and is a hugely successful form of treatment for those who suffer any form of neuromusculoskeletal disorders. You can help in aiding your body’s own natural healing process with the expert help of a chiropractor. Seek the right kind of help. Speak to a registered and licensed chiropractor today.

Contact us today for a FREE screening. Find us on Facebook Dr Vicki Ferreira Chiropractor

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The main cause of neck pain is injury or some kind of trauma to the neck and then also falling asleep in a strange position. What makes neck pain worse is worrying and stressing about everyday life, as well as daily activities like the use of a computer and keyboard. Many people never find a specific reason for their neck pain and it just disappears. However, when you need a specific diagnosis, you need to visit a specialist, such as a chiropractor or physiotherapist. They can diagnose things like slipped discs and osteoporosis or “brittle bone”, which is quite a serious illness. They will also be able to identify deformities in the spine and, in very rare cases, tumours or other infections.

Neck pains can include burning sensations and even stiffness. Sometimes these pains will flow down the shoulders and in between the shoulder blades. Neck pains can even stretch into the arms and head. When you experience neck pains, you will find that the neck is sore, stiff and that you struggle to fully bend the neck. Sometimes, you will have an unusual neck posture known as torticollis and this causes your head to turn slightly. Some people also experience a sense of weakness in their arms and shoulders if the neck pain occurs right at the base of the skull. Neck pains may create prickly “asleep” feelings in arms and fingers.

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The fingers, wrist, and palm all have a number of bones that can be injured during sports matches. Rugby and soccer players also suffer from wrist and hand injuries when the ball hits the hand at a wrong angle.

In many instances, x-rays and surgery are required but chiropractic treatment also plays a role. Any dislocated joint benefits from chiro treatment. The chiro does not only treat the sports injury, he also advises the player on exercises to strengthen the muscles that must support the injured part. Chiros do not prescribe medication or perform surgery they mechanically manipulate dislocated joints to their original position and in so doing allow the body to heal itself. Pain is present with sports injuries and pain management forms a large part of the chiro’s treatment.

Hand and wrist injuries can be very frustrating for a player. They are often out of the game for weeks while they wait for the injury to heal. Web space splitting occurs when players dive for a ball and their hands hit the ground awkwardly. Other times they reach out to catch a ball and when the catch is not done cleanly, an injury occurs. The space between the index finger and thumb is particularly vulnerable. Joint dislocations often form part of the injury.

Split webbings have a nasty habit of recurring. The scar tissue remains weak and this means that if a ball hits the same spot again, it is the same thing all over again. If the cricketer wears cloves, it will protect the injured spot but permission is required from umpires for this to take place.

Contact us today for any treatment of your sporting injuries.

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The disks have a soft inner and a tougher outer part and a slipped disk occurs when the outer part gets damaged and the inner part, the gel, pushes through into the spinal canal. This can cause pressure on the spinal cord as a whole or on a single nerve. The pain will be felt either at the specific spot where the disk has slipped or in the part of the body the nerve runs to.

The spinal cord, which runs from the brainstem to the lower back, houses the nerves which take messages from the brain to the rest of the body: the muscles, organs and other soft tissue. A slipped lumber disk will cause pain and discomfort because it presses against the dangling nerve roots at the end of the spinal canal – there is no spinal cord here to protect the nerves.

Treatment for slipped disks varies. It can be painkillers or eventual surgery or the patient can elect to use the services of a chiropractor. The latter solves problems and the resultant pain by manually manipulating the spine in an effort the re-align the spine. These non-evasive procedures are safe, so much so, that babies, the elderly and pregnant women also benefit from these adjustments.

The symptoms of a slipped disk are pain along the spine and pain or pins and needles in one of the legs or feet. The hip and shoulder blades can also experience pain. When the disks have returned to their original position, the body goes back to its normal functioning, and it is also put in a position to heal itself.

Contact us today for any back related problems you might be having

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The spine bones are called vertebrae and in between them are cartilage discs. This is what makes the spine flexible and also acts as a protective buffer between the vertebrae. When a disc slips, it does not slip out of place as the term implies. Instead, what happens is that the soft part of it bulges through the circle of connective tissue and this may push the on the nerve roots or the spinal cord causing discomfort.

Most slipped discs are caused by wear and tear. As you get older, the circle of connective tissue breaks down and this causes weakness which in turn allows the soft part to swell. The lower back is usually the most likely place for a slipped disc. Aging is usually the cause, but sometimes a back injury may cause a slipped disc.

It is possible to have a slipped disc without any symptoms and there are many people with slipped discs and they do not even know it. However, when you do experience pain, it is because the slipped disc is causing pressure on the nerve roots or the spinal cord.

In order to treat a slipped disc, the doctor has to look for the least invasive way of treatment. Surgery is usually the very last option after all other procedures have failed. Chiropractic treatment is one of the most effect but least evasive forms of treatment. Through chiropractic treatment, your spinal bones will be realigned correctly and pain will be relieved. Many people will confess to not only having the pain relieved, but to feeling much healthier after chiropractic treatment.

Contact us today for all your necessary treatment for all you back needs

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Prevent back problems by following these rules:

• Exercises to reduce stress and to strengthen the stomach and back muscles thereby supporting the back;
• A good posture when standing, driving and sitting and sleeping on your side on a firm mattress with the knees bent;
• Lose weight as obesity puts more strain on the back;
• Learning to lift correctly. This means avoiding jerky movements and to lift an object by bending and using your knees as opposed to bending at the waist and using the back.

Chiropractors also treat babies and children. They use gentle manual movements to reduce any irritation that may be present in the nerves that run along the spine. Babies face trauma when they enter the world through the birth canal; their spines are under pressure and twist as they come into the world. Minor damage can be caused to the spine, something that is not easily noticed but can leave an unhappy child. Symptoms that indicate minor spinal damage include colic, reflux, poor sleeping patterns, and a baby who does not feed well. Treatments for babies are safe in the hands of these experts.

To become a qualified chiropractor, you have to study for 6 years. After you have obtained your degree, you will probably become a member of CASA, the chiropractors’ professional association.  The latter subscribe to certain minimum standards as set out by the Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa. Chiropractic treatments are quick and easy and many medical aids provide cover for these treatments.

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