– Beyond Pain Relief: Experience The Multiple Benefits of Chiropractic Treatments –

WHAT DO CHIROPRACTORS DO?

Chiropractic care operates under the belief that the body possesses an inherent ability to heal itself. Any hindrance to this process can lead to discomfort, pain, or other dysfunctions. With a focus on the connection between the spine and nervous system, chiropractic care offers a non-invasive and natural approach to healthcare.

Chiropractors utilise various techniques to manipulate and adjust the spine when diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal disorders, including manual and instrument-assisted adjustments and spinal decompression therapy. Additionally, chiropractors provide nutritional counselling, lifestyle advice, and rehabilitation exercises to support patients in achieving optimal health.

At Beyond Chiropractor Irene, Dr. Erna Badenhorst heads up our specialist chiropractic team in delivering  exceptional chiropractic care across Gauteng and Pretoria

At Beyond Chiropractic, our chiropractors use various techniques to manipulate and adjust the spine, including manual and instrument-assisted adjustments, soft tissue therapy and more:

LOWER BACK PAIN

Lower back pain is a common affliction experienced by patients. Chiropractic care is highly effective in managing and treating lower back pain. A combination of chiropractic manipulation, soft tissue techniques, and other modalities are used as part of our individualised treatment as required for each patient.

Mechanical stress to the soft tissues and joints of your lower back is the most common cause of pain. This stress can occur due to lifting heavy objects while twisting your spine, overexerting yourself during sports, or poor posture. As a result, the muscles and ligaments in your lower back can become strained or sprained, your intervertebral discs can be damaged, and your spinal joints may move improperly or compress nerve roots. Lower back pain can be acute or chronic and may be constant or sporadic. Common symptoms include:

• dull aching pain in the lower back,
• muscle spasms,
• limited mobility,
• numbness or tingling in the buttocks, legs, and feet, and worsening pain after prolonged sitting.

NECK PAIN

Chiropractic care is an effective treatment for neck pain, as chiropractors identify the source of pain and use various soft tissue techniques and specific chiropractic manipulations to treat it. Treatment is typically supplemented with home exercises and proper ergonomic practices at work.

Neck pain is a common issue today, mainly due to extended periods spent looking down at computer screens or mobile devices. The pain arises from neck and upper back tension, which can sometimes cause headaches. Symptoms of neck pain may include:

• stiffness that limits the range of motion,
• sharp pain on movement, intermittent headaches, and
• pain or tingling that extends down into the shoulder and arms.

Increased tension in the joints and surrounding tissue is the underlying cause of neck pain, which can result from poor posture, driving, stress, overexertion during exercise or sports, sleeping in an incorrect position, or whiplash. The increased tension can result in muscle or ligament strains or sprains, damage to intervertebral discs, compression of nerve roots, or improper movement of spinal joints.

SPORT INJURIES

Sports injuries are common among athletes and can be debilitating if not treated promptly and effectively. Chiropractors offer a natural and non-invasive approach to the treatment of sports injuries. By manipulating the spine and other joints in the body, chiropractors can help to relieve pain, improve range of motion, and promote overall health and wellness.

Our treatment services encompass a variety of conditions, including:

•  general sprains and strains,
• sports-related injuries such as epicondylitis (Tennis or golfer’s elbow),
• ITB,
• tendonitis,
• muscle spasms,
• repetitive strain,
• overuse injuries,
• joint realignment post-injury.

Our expert sports chiropractors provide specialised care for sports injuries, ensuring athletes and sportspeople receive the assistance and guidance they need. We diagnose sports injuries through proper orthopaedic testing and refer patients for X-rays, ultrasound, or sonar for a complete diagnosis of their injuries. Our soft tissue rehabilitation techniques, such as massage, dry needling, ultrasound, and strapping, promote optimal recovery and proprioception. We also perform complete spinal and extremity manipulation to stimulate neural function. Our goal is to rehabilitate each patient to a pain-free activity level.

WHIPLASH

Whiplash is treated with a combination of soft tissue management and chiropractic manipulation. Chiropractic treatment for whiplash starts with a complete history and a thorough examination to fully understand the extent of the injury before starting treatment. If necessary, further investigative studies will be recommended.

Whiplash occurs when the neck or lower back is quickly forced to move forwards and backwards during a traumatic event. This damages the cervical or lumbar spine joints and the surrounding tissue. The result is stiffness, decreased range of motion, and muscular pain. Interestingly, whiplash symptoms can persist for several years after the initial event.

HEADACHES

Chiropractic treatment helps alleviate headaches by identifying the specific cause and treating the joint and muscular tension responsible for the headache through specific manipulations and soft tissue therapies.

Tension in the upper back, shoulders, and neck muscles is the most common cause of headaches. These headaches can be debilitating and may last from a few hours to several days, intermittently persisting for weeks. Chiropractic care can effectively treat headaches using specific manipulations, soft tissue therapies, modalities, and advice on posture and sleeping.

Symptoms of headaches may include:

• Deep pressure at the back of the head,
• Pain behind the eye or on the temples, pain that worsens after sitting for prolonged periods of time,
• Vice-like pressure around the head, and
• Throbbing pain at the top of the head.

There are various contributing factors to tension in the upper back and neck, which can result in headaches. These include:

• Increased stress,
• Incorrect breathing patterns resulting from stress,
• Sinusitis,
• Clenching or grinding,
• Sitting for extended periods, and
• Wrong sleeping positions or pillows.

BABY CONDITIONS

Our baby chiropractor’s treatments extend to treating conditions experienced by babies following normal and traumatic births. Additionally, we provide assessments and treatment for babies during their exciting periods of rapid growth.

The birthing process can subject babies to considerable stress before they are born. As babies continue to grow, it is crucial to ensure their bodies develop with proper alignment. Traumatic birth and abnormal uterus positioning can cause spinal misalignments resulting in various conditions such as:

• colic,
• reflux,
• difficulty latching,
• irritability,
• difficulty sleeping, and
• asymmetrical crawling or rolling.

Chiropractic treatment for babies and children differs significantly from that of adults, using gentle fingertip pressure over the affected area to relax stiff joints and stimulate the nervous system. During a treatment session, we conduct a full spinal assessment of your baby or child and check for developmental milestones. We also provide exercises or activities you can do with your children at home.

PREGNANCY RELATED PAIN

Expectant mothers may experience pain due to various reasons and conditions. Our chiropractic treatments can assist in treating both the symptoms and underlying causes.

During pregnancy, your body undergoes physical and hormonal changes in preparation for carrying a baby. Hormones released during pregnancy allow the bones in your pelvis to move to accommodate the growing baby. As your baby grows, so does your belly, causing you to arch your lower back to compensate for the weight shift forward, which puts stress on your joints and surrounding soft tissues. Chiropractic treatment can be beneficial in maintaining:

• correct spinal and pelvic alignment,
• providing optimal space for your baby,
• achieving a healthier and more comfortable pregnancy, and
• relieving pain in the neck, hips, and back.

This drug-free alternative treatment begins with a complete history to understand the source of your pregnancy pain. Treatment includes a combination of diversified chiropractic and Webster techniques to correct spinal and pelvic misalignments, as well as soft tissue massage. You will also be given gentle stretching and strengthening exercises to aid in enjoying a comfortable pregnancy.

Providing chiropractic care for families in Gauteng. Our main service areas include: Centurion, Pretoria, Pretoria East, Pretoria North, Midstream, Eldoraigne, Irene, Wierdapark, Rooihuiskraal, Hennopspark, Lyttelton, Southdowns, Highveld, Moreletapark, Pierre Van Ryneveld, Louwlardia and Midrand.