Chiropractic for helping tradespeople

Tradies have among the highest number of injuries, musculoskeletal conditions and other health and safety risks of any profession. Every day 10 tradies are badly injured at work. That is 3650 tradies a year on workers’ compensation. Nearly a quarter of all roofers, laborers and plumbers experience back pain, muscle stress and strain from lifting equipment or slips, trips, and falls when handling materials.

Chiropractors, like Dr Paul, play a critical role in providing early healthcare intervention support–through diagnosing, treating, and preventing disease and disability through physical means. Working in partnership with you, Dr Paul can help recovery from injury, reduce pain and stiffness, and increase mobility, and also prevent further injury.

Dr Paul Nothdurft can assess your muscular strength, improve your flexibility and back health through manipulative therapy (adjustments) and help educate you on how to better lift loads inorder to not damage your back. Consider calling us on 07 3818 2488 during office hours to book an appointment.

Rib Pain And Adjustments

If you have ever had a rib alignment you can understand the pain it may cause. The pain often can make laughing or breathing feel painful, and can sometimes be mistaken for issues that are far more significant such as heartburn, pleurisy, or a heart condition. Increasing rates of a sedentary lifestyle and poor posture can contribute to an increased chance of rib misalignment.

Many people believe that the rib cage is a stationary structure however this is not true and the rib cage can expand your entire body. When inhaling your chest expands, this is due to the flexibility of the joints between the spine and rib cage. These joints rise and fall with each breath, however, these joints can become inflamed and this is where the problem starts.

The symptoms of rib misalignment include:

• Swelling and bruising

• Extreme pain and difficulty when breathing

• Painful sneezing and coughing

• Tenderness

• Pain when walking or moving

When treating rib pain chiropractic care is the best and safest option. Once Dr. Paul has determined the problematic rib, he is able to painlessly ‘pop’ it into place by using an array of adjustment techniques. If you believe you have a misaligned rib contact us at 07 3818 2488 during office hours.

What Is Neck Pain?

Our neck, or formally our cervical spine, begins at the base of our skulls and contains seven vertebrae. Our neck supports 5 to 6kg at all times and can move in any direction and as such, is susceptible to pain and injury. Due to the biomechanics of our cervical spine daily activities and events can have a significant effect on our neck pain. Some activities that can affect our pain include extended sitting, repetitive movement, accidents, falls and blows to the body or head, normal aging, and manual labor.

Other common medical issues that can cause recurring and persistent neck pain include:

• Osteoarthritis, which is caused when bone spurs form which can affect joint motion and increase susceptibility to pain.

• Spinal stenosis causes the small nerve passageways in the vertebrae to narrow, compressing and trapping nerve roots. Stenosis may cause neck, shoulder, and arm pain, as well as numbness when these nerves are unable to function normally.

• Degenerative disc disease can cause the reduction of elasticity in the spine

Dr Paul Nothdurft can help with your neck pain and help identify the cause of the pain. A regular chiropractic appointment can help to reduce and prevent neck pain. If you have neck pain consider contacting us at 07 3818 2488 during office hours.

How Chiropractic Can Help Headaches And Migraines

In some people, migraines can originate from the spine. Misalignment of the vertebrae (bones of spinal column) or subluxation (partial dislocation) irritates the nerves which travel the length of the spine all the way to the brain. These misalignments makes the individual prone to various chemical imbalances in the brain. Chiropractors can realign the vertebrae to relieve the pressure against inflamed nerves and relieve the pain.

As our brains and nervous systems are the single most complex system within our bodies there are many factors contributing to their functions. Misalignments in the spine may not be the lone factor however it is likely that a chiropractic appointment will help with headaches or migraines should you have any.

Consider contacting us at 07 3818 2488 during open hours to book an appointment with Dr Paul Nothdurft to see what chiropractic could do for you.

The Serious Impact of Sitting

With many people working from home during the covid-19 pandemic now more than ever we must be conscious of the impact of sitting for extended periods of time and the effects this can have on our spines. The simple act of sitting can have an impact on our musculoskeletal system and alter the natural, healthy curve of our spines. For some people, these small misalignments may not be felt for some time however if you are experiencing any of the below sides effects consider consulting Dr. Paul Nothdurft and making a few minor changes in your lifestyle.

• Tightness in the hip flexors.

• Persistent lower back pain.

• Discomfort in the upper back and shoulder region.

• Chronic headaches.

• Hip pain or stiffness.

A few changes that you can make to your lifestyle to improve your spine health include adjusting your posture, using stand up desks when possible, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, get up to get a drink of water, walk during your lunch break, and exercise daily (even if it’s just a walk).

When it comes to posture here is how to improve your posture:

• Keep your feet planted on the floor with a small gap between the back of your knees and the front of the seat.

• Do not cross your legs.

• Make sure your ankles are in front of your knees.

• Keep your knees at or below your hip level.

• Adjust your backrest to support your lower and mid-back.

• Relax your shoulders, keeping them back

• Keep your forearms parallel to the ground

There is really a lot when it comes to posture, but try and avoid getting overwhelmed, remember this is about improving, not being perfect! One suggestion is regularly checking your posture, you could set a timer, or whenever you return from getting a drink of water simply sit with good posture.

Due to how important it is for you to maintain your back health you should be having regular chiropractic appointments with a great chiropractor, such as Dr Paul who will help you feel healthy and avoid pain. If you are feeling any pain call us at 07 3818 2488 during office hours to book an appointment.