Tag Archives: Neck pain

Feeling the Strain? You’re Not Alone. Chiropractic Care Can Help!

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Feeling the Strain? You’re Not Alone – Chiropractic Care Can Help!

As more people spend long hours working from home or returning to post-summer routines, we’ve seen a surge in complaints of back, neck, and joint pain. Whether it’s from poor posture, lack of movement, or variations in physical activity as routines shift, pain can quickly become a daily burden physically, mentally, and emotionally.

That’s where chiropractic care comes in.

Chiropractic techniques are rooted in a deep understanding of how neurological and musculoskeletal dysfunctions affect your overall health. By using hands-on therapies, spinal adjustments, and targeted techniques, chiropractors help restore balance, reduce dysfunction  and relieve pain naturally.

You may benefit from chiropractic care if you’re dealing with:

  • Back or neck pain from sitting for long hours,
  • Joint stiffness,
  • Headaches related to tension or posture,
  • Sports or outdoor activity injuries,
  • Arthritic joint pain &
  • Repetitive strain injuries.

Why Choose Us at The Reading Chiropractor?

At the Reading Chiropractor, we take a comprehensive, whole-body approach. We don’t just focus on the symptoms we look for the underlying cause. Whether your pain stems from stress, poor ergonomics, or a recent injury, we’ll work with you to build a personalized treatment plan tailored to your unique needs.

With chiropractic care, it’s not just about getting out of pain it’s about restoring movement, improving your quality of life, and preventing future issues.

Now’s the Time to choose us to help you Take Control of Your Health!

Call us on: 01189 39 40 40
Email us on: admin@reading-chiropractor.co.uk
Find out more on: Welcome to the Reading Chiropractor

Don’t let lingering pain become your “new normal.” If you’ve been putting off care, there’s no better time to get started. Book a consultation with us today we’ll answer your questions, assess your condition, and help you take the first step toward lasting relief and better health.

Back pain is far more common than many realise.

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In fact, recent figures suggest that up to 80% of people in the UK will experience it at some point in their lives. Currently, an estimated 10 million individuals across the country are living with back pain.

According to research by the British Chiropractic Association, cases surged by around a third during the pandemic, largely due to lifestyle changes and reduced physical activity. Despite this rise, only 1 in 10 people sought help from a GP or chiropractor while nearly half (46%) took no action at all to manage their symptoms.

These numbers highlight an ongoing issue: many people are continuing to live with back pain well into 2024 and 2025.

The good news? There are simple, daily habits you can adopt to help reduce symptoms and prevent back pain from developing into a more serious musculoskeletal condition.

1. Start the Day Right

Incorporate movement in your daily routine: walking, yoga, swimming, or more intense exercise. Short and frequent exercise is recommended, 15-20 minutes 2-3 times a day. If you’re doing moderate to high-intensity workouts, take a 5–10 minute warm-up first to prepare your muscles and reduce injury risk. If a previous injury affects your activity, adapt the exercise or seek professional advice.

2. Take Regular Breaks

If your work involves sitting for long periods, make a point of standing up and moving around every 20–30 minutes. Even gentle pelvic tilts, trunk rotations, and shoulder rolls can help offset the strain of prolonged sitting . Sit-stand desks are the gold standard, work intermittently sitting and standing to avoid the prolonged physical stresses of immobility.

3. Lift Smart

Planning some DIY or heavy lifting over Summer?

  • Bend at the knees, not the waist.
  • Keep your load close to your body and face the direction you’re moving.
  • Lift at a steady pace, and if it’s too heavy, ask for help or use lifting aids.

These simple techniques help protect your back and core during heavy lifting.
Bur most importantly, ENGAGE YOUR CORE!

4. Sleep Comfortably

Experts recommend replacing your mattress every seven to ten years, to ensure ongoing support and comfort.

5. Seek Support Early

If your back or joint pain:

  • Lasts more than two weeks, or
  • Affects your daily routine,

…it’s best to seek professional advice, visit The Reading Chiropractor for help and advice. Chiropractors are trained to treat musculoskeletal issues and can help relieve pain, improve mobility, and prevent further problems.

Start your journey to a healthier and stronger body today!

Contact us on – 01189 39 40 40
or admin@reading-chiropractor.co.uk

Unlocking better sleep with chiropractic care

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Unlocking better sleep: How chiropractic care helps alleviates chronic pain.

Chronic pain is a persistent issue that affects millions of people worldwide. For many, this pain can profoundly impact everyday activities, including one of the most essential aspects of life: sleep. If you’re struggling to find relief and restful nights, integrating chiropractic care into your routine might be the answer you’ve been seeking.

Understanding the connection between pain and sleep

Chronic pain can create a vicious cycle. Pain disrupts your ability to get a good night’s rest, and, in turn, the lack of quality sleep makes coping with pain even more challenging. It’s a cycle that can leave you feeling fatigued, irritable, and unable to function at your best. So, how can chiropractic care help break this cycle?

Alleviating pain naturally

By focusing on the body’s musculoskeletal system, chiropractors can help:

  • Reduce muscle tension: Tension in muscles and soft tissues can lead to discomfort and restrict movement. Chiropractic adjustments can help ease this tension, allowing your body to relax, which is crucial for a good night’s sleep.
  • Enhance mobility: When pain limits movement, it becomes difficult to find a comfortable sleeping position. By improving mobility, chiropractic care allows for better positioning during sleep, reducing the likelihood of waking up due to discomfort.
  • Sleep ergonomic advice: chiropractors are trained to educate on good sleep ergonomics, such as correct postures for optimum bed rest, dietary and behavioural habits to aid and promote good sleep patterns and optimise sleep.

After chiropractic treatments, patients often feel relaxed as well as their tension has been reduced which can aid with falling asleep.

Improving overall wellness

Chiropractors take a holistic approach to health, considering how various systems in the body interact. Chronic pain management through chiropractic care often involves lifestyle recommendations, including:

  • Exercise guidance: Gentle exercises can strengthen muscles and support joint function, reducing the overall burden of pain.
  • Posture coaching: Educating patients on body mechanics can prevent strain and discomfort both during the day and while trying to rest at night.
  • Nutrition advice: A balanced diet can play a significant role in reducing inflammation, another contributor to chronic pain.

A tailored approach

Every individual experiences pain differently, and chiropractors recognize this by creating personalized treatment plans. Whether you have back pain, neck discomfort, or headaches, your chiropractor will work with you to develop a strategy that targets your specific challenges.

Your journey to restful sleep

If chronic pain is robbing you of restful nights, consider visiting a chiropractor. With a focus on holistic healing, chiropractic care offers a natural and effective way to alleviate pain and enhance your overall well-being. As you reduce discomfort, you may find it easier to drift off and stay asleep, leading to improved energy and productivity during the day.

Remember, the journey to better sleep starts with taking steps towards managing your pain. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help; a chiropractor is ready to guide you every step of the way to a pain-free, restful night. Take control of your sleep and, in turn, your life!

Causes of neck pain with headaches.

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Cervicogenic Headache (CGH)

CGH usually begins as a dull ache in the neck and can radiate upwards along the back of the head, almost always affecting just one side.

Occipital Neuralgia

Occipital Neuralgia is characterized by sharp, painful, electric-shock-like sensations on the back of the head, neck, and ears.

Tension Headache

A tension headache is a common headache characterized by moderate to severe non-throbbing pain in the forehead, scalp, and neck.

Migraine headache

A migraine is a recurring headache that causes moderate to severe throbbing and pulsating pain on one side of the head. Neck pain commonly starts just before or during the migraine attack.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) headache

TMJ headache is usually dull at the temples and around the TMJ and may begin to resemble an earache. Neck pain can also occur due to muscle fatigue or weakness in the TMJ.

Hemicrania continua

Hemicrania continua is a headache of unknown origin characterized by one-sided continuous headaches of moderate intensity. During severe exacerbations of the condition, the pain can spread to the neck, shoulder and/or area around the ear.

Read more at Spine – Health

Text Neck – Dangers of children using technology

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Text Neck – Dangers of children using technology

Do you know someone who is suffering with neck pain, always using modern technology, on their smartphone or tablet?

Do they complain of neck pain or have you noticed their posture changing whilst using these devices?

Could they be suffering with text neck?

Text Neck

Read more in this article below about Chiropractic and Text neck (or tech neck) symptoms, and mobile phone injuries resulting in an adolescent who overuses modern technology:

Teen Girl Was Feeling Intense Neck Pain. Her Parents Were Horrified After The Doctors Diagnosed Her.

Do you think you know of someone who maybe suffering with Text neck?

Why not send them for a chiropractic consultation to see if we can help? Follow this link to find out more: https://www.reading-chiropractor.co.uk/conditions-treated-with-chiropractic-treatment/neck-pains/

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, the Reading Chiropractor could help.

  • Acute, Sub-acute and chronic Neck pain
  • Neck stiffness
  • Muscle and joint aches
  • Arthritic joint pains (osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease, wear and tear)
  • Muscle spasms and cramps
  • Neck Pain
Text neck

Chiropractic Care for Back Pain, Neck pain, Headaches, Osteoarthritis and Fibromyalgia

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Man holding his hipsInteresting article from the WebMD website.

Among people seeking back pain relief alternatives, most choose chiropractic treatment. About 22 million Americans visit chiropractors annually. Of these, 7.7 million, or 35%, are seeking relief from back pain from various causes, including accidents, sports injuries, and muscle strains. Other complaints include pain in the neck, arms, and legs, and headaches.

Spinal manipulation and chiropractic care is considered a safe, effective treatment for acute low back pain.

 

Research has also shown chiropractic to be helpful in treating neck pain and headaches.

 

In addition, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia may respond to the moderate pressure used by chiropractors.

 

to read more click here:

http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/guide/chiropractic-pain-relief?ecd=wnl_Top_020913&ctr=wnl-Top-020913_ld-stry_2&mb=

Teenagers suffer neck and back pain because they spend too long hunched over iPads and phones.

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At the reading Chiropractor, we try and offer postural and ergonomic advice to help try and avoid problems.

 

Correct posture is important for children as well as in adults.

Due to the use of handheld devices: tablets, mobile phones and gaming devices, more and more teenagers are suffering with posture related neck and low back pains.

 

See the article here published in the Daily Mail 16th April 2014:

Teens suffer neck and back pain because they spend too long hunched over iPads and phones, say researchers

  • Four in ten teenagers suffered back or neck pain from slouching, study shows

  • They spend ‘up to 4 hours on games’, says British Chiropractic Association

  • 11-16 year-olds spend more time on computers than physical activity

 

Teenagers are in danger of doing long-term damage to their spines by leaning over screens for up to four hours

It’s unlikely computer addicted teenagers will take any notice – although desperate parents might be grateful for this ammunition.

Four in ten teens have suffered back or neck pain from spending too much time slouched in front of the TV or a computer screen, according to researchers.

A study by the British Chiropractic Association revealed that more than one in seven parents said their son or daughter’s problem was a result of using a laptop, tablet or computer.

The survey of more than 460 parents of 11- to 16-year-olds also found that 23 per cent of teens are spending between two and four hours a day watching TV, while a quarter spend the same amount of time on a laptop, tablet or computer.

Based on a two hour period, young people spend more time on games consoles (33 per cent) than doing an activity such as riding a bicycle (12 per cent).

Nearly half of the parents polled (46 per cent) acknowledged that their children don’t spend enough time exercising, despite NHS guidelines stating that children and young people between five and 18-years-old need to do at least one hour of physical activity every day.

 

Now the BCA is encouraging parents to limit the time their children spend using technology.

 

‘Young people are becoming increasingly sedentary which is damaging their posture.

‘There is the tendency to sit in a hunched position when working on computers and laptops, putting a lot of strain on the neck.

‘Learning how to sit properly and keeping active will help to keep young people healthy and pain free.

‘It’s important that parents seek help for their children from an expert as soon as any pain starts – if conditions are left untreated it could lead to chronic back and neck problems in later life.’

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2605622/Head-pain-story-Teenagers-suffer-neck-pain-spend-long-hunched-iPads-phones-say-researchers.html

Is back, neck and muscle pain hurting the UK economy?

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-26338889

Is back, neck and muscle pain hurting the UK economy?

By Joe Miller, Business Reporter
About 44 million workers in the EU have musculoskeletal disorders caused by their workplace

The UK economy is slowly recovering, but the country’s workforce is in considerable pain.

In fact, the Work Foundation estimates that employees suffering from bone and joint pain cost the EU’s economies 240bn euros (£200bn) each year.

Almost 31 million days of work were lost last year due to back, neck and muscle problems, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions, which include a large range of bone and joint complaints, accounted for more prolonged absences than any other ailment. Minor illnesses such as the common cough or cold accounted for 27 million lost days, but MSKs were more likely to recur, and develop into long-term conditions.

Early detection

Once symptoms do occur, we are slow to react. A two-year trial in Madrid showed that by assessing and treating 13,000 workers with MSKs who had been off for five days or more, their temporary work absence was reduced by 39% in the long term.

The importance is early detection, and early intervention.

 

At the Reading Chiropractor we are primary care practitioner, so we can assess and diagnose your cause of pain, to help you with your recovery.