The spine is an amazing engineering feat! It comprises of vertebrae, nerves, joints, muscle, ligament and tendon all working together to allow us movement. At times, these structures send pain signals to the brain, hence treatment is required to restore the natural balance.

This pain can occur in the cervical, thoracic, lumbar or pelvic area, and can also refer to distant regions of the body, such as sciatica.

Low back pain (lumbar spine / pelvis) is most common and affects 1 in 2 in their lifetime. Life threatening diseases are rarely the cause of back pain.

Depending on individual history, thorough examination and pain, treatment may involve massage, gentle release techniques, manipulation / mobilsation of the joint, acupuncture or exercise prescription to strengthen / stretch.

So common, yet at times so debilitating. These can be tension headaches (from muscular tightness around the head, neck / shoulders), ranging to migraines (nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity, blurred vision).

Shoulders are difficult to treat, because the causes are vast. Issues in the ribs, brought on by postural strains, will irritate the shoulder. Organs such as the gall bladder can refer pain to the shoulder. It’s very common to see a twist in the pelvis causing eventual shoulder pain via your big muscles on your sides called the “lats” becoming overly tight.

You may even have frozen shoulder, or a “trapped” nerve in your neck.

Either way, express to your practitioner where the pain is… let’s find where it’s coming from.

These strains involve RSI processes, more specifically to the tendons that attach to the outer and inner elbow. It’s usually from gripping / lifting movements of the arm, and they don’t just happen to tennis or golf players. It’s a complex pain, one that shows symptoms of tightness or constant aching, inflammation / swelling around elbow or forearm.

This is where the connective tissue that attaches muscle to the bone becomes inflamed from microtears – primarily from overuse or repetitive motions. Tendonitis can occur anywhere in body- wrist, shin, achilles, etc.

Treatment can take time if it’s chronic and you don’t rest the area. Massage, joint manipulation / mobilisation, acupuncture and heat / cold will assist in healing.

Asthma affects the respiratory system. Signs and symptoms include wheezing, coughing, difficulty breathing, chest tightness and sometimes can be fatal. Asthma is commonly triggered by allergies such as dust, medications, stress, exercise, etc.

We don’t treat the cause of Asthma but our treatment will focus on releasing the rib cage, spine and associated muscles that are often affected whilst also enhancing lymphatic drainage from lungs and improving blood and nerve supply to the chest.

Remember: Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation! (RICE).

It is frequently seen after angle sprains, the issues of leg / knee / hip or back pain.

Come in and get re-aligned. Your practitioner can show you some great rehabilitation exercises / stretches to speed recovery.

Whether you’re suffering from worn-out knees, runner’s knee, shin splints or have strained the ligaments or related soft tissues around the knee, it is important to look outside the square. It’s necessary to firstly check the biomechanics of the feet and pelvis / lower back and determine the strength of the quadriceps and tension of the band that runs down the side of the thigh. Orthotic prescription can be rather handy in addressing knee pain as balance is re-introduced, thus the strain diminishes.

During pregnancy, a mother’s body goes through immense structural change. Not only does the baby grow causing the spine to become increasingly curved, but the joints / muscle / ligaments and tendons become stretched, compressed and strained. Treatment through pregnancy and after labour will help minimise a mother’s pain and re-balance the body. Breast-feeding and carrying the baby on a certain hip are regular stressors, and a weakened pelvic floor / core muscles don’t help things!