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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You can injure your feet in any number of ways. Standing for hours on end can cause problems, so can sudden and jerky movements. A misaligned joint can be the culprit and sports men can injure feet, heels, or ankles by twisting them at odd angles or by running with the wrong shoes.

When the feet and heels are overused, and the tendons become inflamed a condition called Tendinitis develops. You can sprain an ankle and tear ligaments with sudden uncontrolled sideways movements. You will experience pain with the bruised and swollen ankle. A flat foot also causes problems. Weak muscles in the foot and leg can cause the arch of the foot to fall or collapse. You will feel the pain in a leg or a foot or you will be tired.

The chiro will examine the injury and look at your gait. X-rays and other forms of examinations may be required to pinpoint the injury and after a consultation with a chiro a series of treatments will commence.

The chiro will suggest ways to prevent a recurrence of the injury, one being to wear the correct shoes. Another will be to warm up properly before you exercise and allow time to cool down afterwards. Ask him for exercises that can strengthen the muscles that support the area of injury.

The chiro will gently stretch the foot and apply pressure to joints in the lower back, hip, or leg. He may suggest RICE treatment, rest, ice, compression, and elevation and ask you to come back for a check-up in 6 month’s time. If you follow the advice of the chiropractor, you may heal completely and prevent another episode from happening.

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Anyone can benefit from a chiropractor and chiropractic treatment. Infants can benefit hugely from this holistic treatment as chiropractic techniques are used to treat babies who suffer from colic and reflux. The elderly can benefit from chiropractic treatment too, as this kind of treatment is successful in alleviated pain associated with arthritis that usually effects the elderly.

Chiropractic treatment in Centurion is hugely popular because of its success rate among its patients. Chiropractic treatments are a safe, natural and cost effective alternative to modern medicine. With chiropractic treatment there is no medication (unless your chiropractor is working in conjunction with another medical practitioner) and chiropractic treatment eliminates the need for painful and dangerous operations.

Chiropractic treatments such as manual spinal manipulation, massage, strengthening and stretching exercises and dry needling have the power to relieve the patient from all forms of neuromusculoskeletal pain such as:

• Headaches and Migraines
• Back Ache: Lower back ache, middle back pain etc
• Whiplash or sport related injuries
• Disc injuries or slipped discs
• Muscle strains
• Tendon pain or tendinitis
• Pregnancy discomfort (back ache, leg cramping, neck pain)
• Baby colic
• Arthritis and other arthritic conditions

Chiropractic techniques take years of study to perfect and we will help you in finding the perfect chiropractor for you and your ailments. All our chiropractors are members of the Chiropractic Association of South Africa and are registered with The Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa.

A chiropractor will give your body back its own healing abilities by technical and hand manipulation of your body, spine, muscles and tissues. Chiropractic treatment can help in providing you a life free from pain and give you a life full of activity, health and healing. If you are interested in taking an holistic approach to your health, free from medication and unnecessary surgery, than chiropractic treatment is the perfect health care solution for you and your loved ones. Remember that anyone can benefit from this treatment, from infants to the elderly and from sportsmen and sportswomen to pregnant women.

Chiropractics will help you alleviate back pain and neck pain
Chiropractic treatment in Centurion is a holistic approach to health care and can aid in the treatment of back ache, neck pain and migraines.

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

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The word “chiropractic” actually comes from the Greek word ‘Chiropraktikos’ meaning an effective treatment by hand. This is essentially what a chiropractor does, Dr Vicki Ferreira Chiropractor in Chiropractic has the ability to manually manipulate the body’s joints, tissues and muscles in order to alleviate pain. This is an holistic take on health care and also involves the adjusting of the spine, dry-needling, kineso taping and stretching and strengthening exercises. These are procedures that should not be painful but may come with an element of discomfort and tenderness which will pass quickly and give way to utter relief from pain.

An experienced and skilful chiropractor has the ability to make a patient feel intense relief after just one chiropractic treatment. Whether a patient is suffering from migraines or back pain or neck pain, a chiropractor has the ability to aid in the relief of this pain. This treatment entails manual manipulation of the body or the spine and will help in restoring the optimal or maximum function of what is known as the ‘neuromusculoskeletal system.’

The techniques that are commonly used by chiropractors include:

1. Manual Manipulation
2. Adjusting
3. Dry Needling
4. Kinesio Taping
5. Stretching
6. Strengthening

These holistic techniques performed by an experienced and qualified chiropractor have the capabilities of alleviating symptoms such as:

• Headaches
• Migraines
• Back Pain
• Lower Back Pain
• Neck Pain
• Spinal Problems
• Sports Related Injuries
• Infant Colic
• Pregnancy pains and aches
• Arthritis

Chiropractic treatment is a drug free form of treatment for the body and a qualified chiropractor has the ability to holistically relieve you of tension, pains, aches and muscular agony. A chiropractor is a qualified Doctor and a big part of the health care profession. A chiropractor has the ability to diagnose, treat and prevent neuromusculoskeletal disorders with out the use of medication, operations or drugs.

Visit the chiropractor for a safe, holistic and drug free approach to bodily care and muscular and skeletal health.

What can a chiropractor do for you

A chiropractor in Centurion has the ability to relieve you from severe migraines, back pain and sports injuries. This is a holistic approach to medicine and lower back pain treatment.

Contact us today to book an appointment. Find us on Facebook Dr Vicki Ferreira Chiropractor

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Chiros treat mechanical disorders such as spinal dislocations, neck complaints and sports injuries and that includes injuries to the shoulder. Their main area of expertise is the spine but they treat all other joints and muscles as well. After they have treated the injury, they provide the patient with exercises to strengthen the muscles in the surrounding area and to prevent another incident from happening.

When a shoulder has been injured, the rehabilitation process goes through three stages, early, mid and late. Pendulum exercises are done during the early stages of recovery and aims to mobilize the shoulder. The scapular Squeeze aims to strengthen the middle trapezius and the rhomboids and is done in the following way: sit with your elbows by your side, squeeze the shoulder blades together for 5 – 10 seconds, and relax.

When an athlete does pole mobility exercises, he uses a stick or pole to improve flexibility and mobility. With isometric exercises, you move the muscle only not the limb.

A frozen shoulder causes discomfort and inconvenience to the sufferer, not to mention the pain. Apart from the pain, the shoulder is immobilized and difficult to move. Just imagine going through a day with a shoulder that is not flexible and mobile. This hampers a person during a workday or a mother with her children and worst of all a sportsman who wants to play a game. A frozen shoulder takes anything from 1 – 3 years to heal. The first phase is the painful phase; the patient has shoulder movement but it is associated with lots of pain. The second phase is the “frozen” phase where movement is restricted but the pain has fortunately reduced. Finally, the cycle has been completed and the shoulder returns to its normal function and mobility.

Services we offer to all our patients. Contact us today for a free screening.  Find us on Facebook Dr Vicki Ferreira Chiropractor

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A chiropractor in Centurion will take a full history and account from the patient about the situation, the symptoms and any other important information that they need to help diagnose the condition. At times, it may be difficult to do without the aid of technology, so a chiropractor will make use of x-rays, MRI scans and ultrasounds to help in identifying exactly what the problem may be and where the exact location is along the spine. They do a full assessment of bones, joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments, looking for pain, tenderness and changes in the feel of the structure, such as restrictions in movement.

Based on this assessment, the chiropractor will then make a decision on the treatment going forward.  Treatment can include a number of different things, ranging from spinal manipulation and decompression, massage, heat therapy, acupuncture, nutritional advice, exercise and other lifestyle changes.  In some cases, they work closely with other healthcare providers like doctors and physiotherapists to make sure a patient gets the best possible care.  All their treatment options are considered safe and effective, without any adverse side effects.  Their treatment has been considered contentious in the past, not everybody approving of what they do, but recently they are important part to the health care system.

A chiropractor may specialise in their work, focusing on the treatment of infants, or the elderly.  The benefit of a chiropractor is that they use non-invasive techniques and no surgery is required unless there is a chronic condition that needs treatment.

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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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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 spinal column is the pathway along which the nerves travel from the brain to the rest of the body and back. The nerves use the openings between the disks to branch off to muscles, organs and other soft tissue. When this flow has been disrupted, the messages cannot reach their destinations and the body cannot function at optimal level. Even when there is just a slight twist in a spinal bone, the nerves can be irritated and other symptoms appear. Spinal decay, soft tissue damage and muscle weakness are all signs that nerves cannot get messages across.

Chiropractor’s treat mainly the back and are therefore also known as back doctors. They do however also treat the neck, head and related complaints such as migraine and whiplash. Sports people often use the services of Chiropractor’s to treat injuries.

The frequency and regularity of treatments depend on the condition that is treated. As a rule of thumb 4-6 treatments might be required at first. When the condition has improved, it might be necessary to visit the Chiropractor for maintenance treatments; this will correct minor shifts if noticed.

After a treatment a Chiropractor might suggest preventative measures in an effort to reduce the chances of a recurrence. He will supply the patient with exercises to strengthen the back and stomach muscles – this will support the spine. In general, exercises will improve health and reduce stress as well. Furthermore, as part of a healthy lifestyle, the diet will be looked at – if you are overweight, the back will suffer. Important issues are: stand tall and sit up straight, buy a firm mattress, squad when you want to lift an object and when you want to put it down.

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