https://www.hawkerchiropractic.com.au/blog daily 0.75 2024-01-09 https://www.hawkerchiropractic.com.au/blog/is-pain-really-a-bad-thing monthly 0.5 2021-09-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630220005776-543U1U7NVZAO6P86O3SW/neck-pain.jpg Blog - Is pain really a bad thing? - So while pain is a good thing in our body, it doesn’t serve it’s purpose if we don’t address what causes it in the first place. Let’s take a look at back pain or neck pain. You may know someone who has experienced back pain or neck pain and has visited a medical doctor. They may have prescribed medication or have given an injection. This helps for a little while but after a few days the pain may return. Why? Because the medication has worn off and instead of addressing the problem it only masked the symptom. For back and neck pain Chiropractic has been shown to effectively treat the underlying cause in the majority of cases. Remedial massage is a great adjunct to chiropractic in the treatment of pain, click here to read more. Research shows the people who received chiropractic care for back pain or neck pain had a 60% decreased in pain which was 10% more than those people who opted for an injection. Chiropractic care may be what you are looking for to help with your neck pain or back pain. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact us and chat to one of our Canberra Chiropractors. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630219716699-GFNL1LTHP1WH73NBC1XU/posture-and-health.png Blog - Is pain really a bad thing? - Unfortunately pain is usually the last thing to show up and the first thing to leave after an injury. This means that just because you aren’t in pain doesn’t mean nothing is wrong. It also means that post injury or painful event that just because the pain is no longer there doesn’t mean the root cause of your problem has gone away. This is how pain relief medications work – it simply mask the symptom of pain rather than addressing the cause. Chiropractors pride themselves on the opposite – we make it a point of addressing the cause. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630197483553-CHFQ9YEGNZQRDEZQ9SXZ/headaches.jpg Blog - Is pain really a bad thing? - No one enjoys being in pain however pain serves a crucial purpose in our life. Pain is your bodies way of telling you that something is wrong and needs your attention. When something happens to your body such as an injury, a stressor, degeneration or spinal misalignment the body uses pain as a way to signal to your brain to take action. You can think of PAIN as your body saying “Pay Attention Inside Now” https://www.hawkerchiropractic.com.au/blog/what-are-your-shoes-telling-you monthly 0.5 2021-09-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630194667881-Y4V85H24O31XA0OKJQ8H/worn-shoes.jpg Blog - What are your shoes telling you? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630194898670-4L81HISF3CHD33N7VHDB/pronation-shoe-wear-1.jpg Blog - What are your shoes telling you? - The most common distortion pattern of the feet is pronation, which is an excessive “rolling-in” of the ankle and foot. This excess motion occurs on both sides (bilaterally) but it almost NEVER occurs evenly (asymmetrical). It is usual to see the shoe with the most wear on the side of the body which has hip, knee, foot or back pain. The reason for this becomes clear when you think about what is happening every time you step on that foot. https://www.hawkerchiropractic.com.au/blog/chiropractic-and-headaches monthly 0.5 2021-09-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630207486900-8GSUJ7TI9ZI3CXDQR8Y8/tension-headache.jpg Blog - Chiropractic and headaches - Do you or anyone you know suffer from headaches? Maybe chiropractic can help! It is well known that headaches are one of the most common conditions people suffer with, and here at Hawker Chiropractic in the Belconnen region of Canberra, we certainly have seen a large number of patients who suffer this affliction regularly. It is because headaches are so common that a lot of people believe that getting a headache is ‘normal’. However, a persistent or re-occurring headache is a sign that something is wrong within one of the many systems in the body. Types of Headaches Most of us are familiar with the throbbing discomfort of a headache especially as it usually interferes with our ability to carry out the functions of every day living. The definition of a headache is pain “in any region of the head”, however the intensity, duration and cause will vary depending on the type of headache. There are several different types of headaches including, but not limited to: Cervicogenic Headache The pain can occur anywhere in the head and is due to a disorder within the structures of the neck, whether this be facet joint, disc, capsule or muscle/ligament tension. Tension Headaches Most likely due to stress causing tightness of the muscles of the neck and shoulders, the pain is usually dull and aching with no throbbing. Migraines The pain is an intense pulsing deep in the head which can last for days and severely limit your ability to carry out everyday activities. They are usually one-sided and throbbing. Cluster Headache The pain is generally behind or around the eye or one side of the face with piercing pain or severe burning. There can be flushing, redness, sweating, swelling and even nasal congestion and tears on the side of the face with the headache. They will occur in a series and each headache can last from 15 minutes to 3 hours. Sinus or Allergy Headache Pain is often around the front of the head/sinus area. These headaches are often mistaken for migraines so anyone who suffers from seasonal allergies or sinusitis is susceptible. Exertion Headaches Pain occurs soon after intense physical activity with throbbing on both sides of the head. This may be due to an increase in blood flow to the skull because of the level of intense exercise. Causes of headaches There are many ‘causes’ of headaches. Sometimes it can be simply one thing, whereas at other times it may be multiple issues or a cascade of events that has caused the headache. Causes can include stress, poor posture, accidents (such as car accidents or falls), environmental issues such as toxins and chemicals, sensitivity to foods or smells, medications and many more. One of the most overlooked case of headaches, especially tension headaches and migraines is nerve irritation due to cervical spine dysfunction. As the nerves that supply your head and face exit the spinal cord at the upper neck region, altered movement at these joints can irritate these nerves which can lead to the development of headaches. It is important to note that the root cause of headaches is different for each person and therefore it’s important to get a correct diagnosis for your headache. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630197641317-M4W5HS1Z7UUBOYJ3BHCR/adjustment.jpg Blog - Chiropractic and headaches - Treatment of Headaches Most people when hit with a headache turn to pain medication, in fact around 15% of Australians are using pain medication for their headache at any given time. Continual use of pain medication for your headache is the same as removing the warning light that something is wrong in your car, it is merely managing the symptom without addressing the root cause. At Hawker Chiropractic in Canberra, our chiropractors are well equipped to proficiently assess your body to work out the CAUSE of your headache. This includes a full personal history, postural assessment, chiropractic assessment and referral for X-ray or other images if required. Chiropractic is an extremely effective treatment for not only headache pain relief but more importantly for the reason/cause of the headache. By restoring proper spinal motion in the neck, we help remove that nerve irritation which may be the underlying cause of your headache. This restoration of movement also helps to decrease muscle tension in the neck and head and improve posture, which can also be contributing to your headache. If we believe chiropractic will not help your headache we will then refer you to someone who we think can. If you need help with your headaches call us on 02 6255 3711 https://www.hawkerchiropractic.com.au/blog/the-neck-headache-link monthly 0.5 2021-10-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1634283912484-TPVO6M2W24YSXQ302WA8/male-suffering-from-headache.jpg Blog - The neck and headache link - Many people come to visit us with the main complaint of headaches. As Chiropractors our first thought, once we rule out any red flags, goes to the neck. For many years Chiropractors have been adjusting the neck and seeing the resolution of headaches. Headaches and migraines seem to be occurring more frequently in more people. This can most probably be attributed to the epidemic of people looking down at mobile phones, laptops and other hand held devices. This position, that many people spend much of their time in puts us in a forward head posture and places a huge amount of stress on the cervical spine and across the shoulders. This ultimately leads to changes in biomechanics and sensory input from the neck which causes what we as Chiropractors call subluxations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630197641317-M4W5HS1Z7UUBOYJ3BHCR/adjustment.jpg Blog - The neck and headache link - Can Chiropractic help my headache? It is important to note that there are many other types of headaches such as cluster headaches, tension headaches and sinus headaches. Chiropractic may be able to offer relief from these headaches by performing a detailed history and exam as well as specific Chiropractic adjustments. Headaches are usually caused by multiple factors so we can help you address those as well. Read other articles on our blog about chiropractic and headaches. If you suffer from headaches our Canberra Chiropractors at Hawker Chiropractic would love to help you. For more information or to make a booking please call Hawker Chiropractic on 02 6255 3711. https://www.hawkerchiropractic.com.au/blog/sciatica-its-a-pain-in-the-butt monthly 0.5 2021-09-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630208342502-08P1UXZKPZD15UVW54MV/Sciatica.jpg Blog - Sciatica, it’s a pain in the butt! - What is Sciatica? Sciatica itself is not a diagnosis but rather a symptom experienced by the individual as a result of some compression of the sciatic nerve within the body, usually within the pelvis. True sciatica is pain radiating along the sciatic nerve, which runs down one or both legs. The sciatic nerve is the largest and longest nerve in the body, starting from the lower back and running all the way down the back of the leg to the foot. Why do you get sciatica? Sciatica can occur at any age however people between the ages of 30 and 50 are more likely to develop the symptom. Pregnant women are also commonly affected due to the pressure of the weight of the developing baby. There are many conditions that can cause sciatica and include lumbar disc herniation, lumbar spinal stenosis, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, piriformis syndrome, degenerative joint disease and spondylolisthesis. Some of these occur more commonly than others and in some circumstances you can have more than one condition at a time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630208516395-RCNM7KGIWAQ19VCU36A0/sciatica-treatment.jpg Blog - Sciatica, it’s a pain in the butt! - Can Chiropractic help with Sciatica? Chiropractors can not only help with relieving the symptom of sciatica but more importantly can diagnose the actual cause of it! Our Chiropractors, Dr Quyen Trinh and Dr Jen May Chang, located in the Belconnen region of Canberra, can tailor a treatment plan to not only get you out of pain but prevent the likelihood of its returning. The purpose of Chiropractic treatment is to help the body’s nervous system to function optimally which gives the body the best chance to heal itself. Chiropractic is based on the scientific principle that restricted spinal movement leads to pain, dysfunction and reduced performance. Chiropractors aim to restore full spinal motion which allows for proper function of the entire body. The type of Chiropractic treatment administered will depend on the cause of the sciatica as every case and every person is different. Along with regular Chiropractic adjustments the practitioner may also suggest exercises or offer lifestyle advice to help provide you with the best outcome. Another treatment option is acupuncture for sciatica. Our Chinese medicine practitioner Anne Chalmers may also be able to assist you with your sciatica. Acupuncture and Chiropractic work very well together to relive the symptoms of sciatica as well as treating the underlying cause. https://www.hawkerchiropractic.com.au/blog/where-can-i-get-a-good-remedial-massage-in-canberra-what-will-it-do-for-me monthly 0.5 2021-10-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630209216646-VNS2SQWOKAZBI7OQGO25/Massage.jpg Blog - Where can I get a good Remedial Massage in Canberra & what will it do for me? - The positive effect of Remedial Massage At Hawker Chiropractic in the Belconnen region of Canberra, we have a team of professionally trained female massage therapists to look after all your aches and pains. Most people will want a remedial massage when muscles feel tight, or we develop pain in areas: back pain, neck pain, foot pain, headaches, sprains and strains. Sometimes we just want some relaxation and time away from the pressures of family or work. We can even use remedial massage to help recover after sport or to deal with other conditions such as anxiety or posture problems. However, most people don’t realise that massage can have a positive effect on the many systems in our body. We have put together a quick list of how a remedial massage can positively affect your whole body and even your mental health. https://www.hawkerchiropractic.com.au/blog/your-posture-matters monthly 0.5 2021-09-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630198002920-TJFPLS4G1E8VTUDSI6WN/bad-posture.jpg Blog - Your posture matters - Did you have those parents that always told you to “Sit up straight”, “pull your shoulders back” and “don’t slouch!”. At the time you may have rolled your eyes and thought how annoying your parents were, but the fact is you should have been going up to them, giving them a big hug and saying thank you! You see posture is more than just an aesthetic thing. Yes, we look much better when we stand up tall and pull our shoulders back but the effect our posture has on our health goes much further than just what it looks like. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630198070220-WCQ2BYZZKMODCABD1X4A/posture.png Blog - Your posture matters - Sympathetic dominance and posture When our sympathetic nervous system (our fight or flight response) is activated we tend to default into this posture. This is due to activation of parts of our brain stem that drive this response. Not only does it cause our head to fall forward and our shoulders to roll but we also get tensing of the hamstrings, buttocks and shoulder muscles. The sympathetic nervous system activates in times of perceived stress and unfortunately in today’s society this is pretty much a daily occurrence. Stress can be from a physical, chemical or mental/emotional cause and most people today are bombarded with multiple stressors daily. When this becomes a chronic occurrence, it is likely you are suffering from something we call Sympathetic Dominance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630198386253-8LN71OW84I9Z730TR9LQ/good-posture.jpg Blog - Your posture matters - How can we help our posture? Previously I mentioned that this typical poor posture happens without our conscious control so doesn’t that mean we can’t fix it? Well that certainly isn’t the case. There are many things we can do to influence our posture and therefore help switch off our sympathetic nervous system. The best thing about it is these tips are not hard to do! Fixing your posture Practice proper ergonomics when using your phone/tablet/computer Use a posture pole daily Strengthen posterior muscles such as your glutes, lats and the muscles in between your shoulder blades Stretch anterior muscles such as your pecs and hip flexors. It is also important to stretch your hamstrings. Get adjusted by your Chiropractor Chiropractic adjustments helps ensure proper communication between the brain and body and vice versa. This will help to optimise the activation of your outer brain which will help calm down your brainstem (where the sympathetic activation comes from) If you want more information on this then we recommend reading the book SD Protocol by Dr Wayne Todd and if you have any questions on posture then we would love to hear from you either in the practice or via email. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630198278891-D31QELPH4Q3Z8D18BTQP/sd-protocol.jpg Blog - Your posture matters Usually with sympathetic dominance the stressor comes first causing our body to react and trigger this posture. This is an automatic function which means we have no conscious control over it. The issue doesn’t stop there though. When we are in this poor posture our body is sending constant feedback to the brain constantly communicating that it is in this position and is ready to fight or flight on demand. This then creates a negative feedback loop where the stressor is coming in telling your brain to be stressed and your posture is also sending messages saying you should be stressed. All this happens without our actual conscious control. Having this posture can also be detrimental to other areas of your health. When our sympathetic nervous system is activated it means that our parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest) is suppressed. These 2 systems work like a seesaw constantly trying to balance each other out. Our parasympathetic system controls things such as digestion and repairs everything in our body while we sleep. When this system isn’t allowed to work then we start seeing issues in other areas of our health. https://www.hawkerchiropractic.com.au/blog/chiropractic-for-pregnant-women-and-the-webster-technique monthly 0.5 2021-09-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630195962528-ZR8U8HIC6CN4X7EJCMVV/pregnant-woman.jpg Blog - Chiropractic for pregnant Women and the Webster Technique https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630196592985-T27T6P6BPRTVKNJJMQD8/pregnant-woman-2.jpg Blog - Chiropractic for pregnant Women and the Webster Technique - How can Chiropractic help during pregnancy? Chiropractic care during pregnancy focuses on restoring balance to the lumbopelvic system. This includes establishing a healthy pelvic alignment (i.e. no twisting through the joints) and enabling proper joint mobility. This helps prevent tightening and tensioning of the muscles and ligaments that support the spine, pelvis and uterus. This can lead to a reduction in pain enabling you to enjoy your pregnancy. Back pain, neck pain, pubic symphysis discomfort, sciatica and other aches and pain may also be relieved through Chiropractic care. Click here to get in touch with us for all your pregnancy queries. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630197011899-Q38LCWTEUZTGRO49PRWX/pregnant-woman-3.jpg Blog - Chiropractic for pregnant Women and the Webster Technique - Is Chiropractic safe during pregnancy? Getting adjusted by a Chiropractor during pregnancy is very much a safe treatment. However, we do recommend finding a Canberra Chiropractor who has undertaken extra study around pregnancy care or who has a special interest in Pregnancy. A big question we get asked is how do you treat a pregnant mum if they can’t lay on their belly? Once the belly gets big enough and the mother can no longer lay on her tummy, we use either a table that has a swing away abdominal piece or a specialised pillow that supports the mums belly while she lays on her belly. We are still able to adjust a pregnant mum using regular techniques however we change the positioning so that it doesn’t irritate the belly. All of this is done with complete consent from the mother. At Hawker Chiropractic we want our pregnant mummas to enjoy pregnancy and ease their musculoskeletal symptoms. We want them to be able to move throughout their pregnancy and when time comes enjoy the birthing process. To book your appointment or for more information call 6255 3711 https://www.hawkerchiropractic.com.au/blog/sacroiliac-joint-dysfunction-can-chiropractic-help monthly 0.5 2021-09-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630199296890-O91NWSIWPMWANYGHCIPE/sacroiliac-joint-pain.png Blog - Sacroiliac joint dysfunction, can Chiropractic help? - Pain in the sacroiliac join Pain in the sacroiliac join is one of the most common causes of low back pain. It can occur for many reasons such as a trauma that has applied excessive force through the joint/s. This can be due to falling, bending, lifting, arching or twisting movements especially when there is a load applied. Pain can also be caused by repetitive forces over time such as poor posture. Sacroiliac joint dysfunction can be quite uncomfortable and painful due to their location and the amount of force that goes through the joints. In some cases the pain resolves within a few days but commonly without treatment it takes a long time to resolve. Chiropractors are experienced at identifying and correcting problems in the joints of the spine and pelvis. We aim to not only find the source of the pain but also address the reasons why this pain came about in the first place. When a joint becomes misaligned, restricted or ‘stuck’ it can not only cause discomfort or pain, but can also cause interference to your nervous system. This in turn inhibits the proper function of your nervous system and individual nerves which can again cause pain and symptoms. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630199478451-CU4XR3HSVMAII72847RK/sciatica-treatment.jpg Blog - Sacroiliac joint dysfunction, can Chiropractic help? Chiropractic treatment of the sacroiliac joint may involve: Mobilisation and adjustments of the sacroiliac joint and surrounding joints Low force techniques such as drop piece and activator Soft tissue therapy to involved muscles and ligaments Exercises to do at home Postural advice Lifestyle advice The recovery time for sacroiliac joint dysfunction varies from person to person and depends on a number of variables such as severity of injury, daily activities and compliance to Chiropractic care and exercises. Here at Hawker Chiropractic in Canberra our Chiropractors take the time to thoroughly assess your condition to find the cause of your low back pain. We then tailor treatment to suit your individual needs so that we can get you back to doing the things you love. If you need help with low back pain or pelvic pain don’t hesitate to give us a call on (02) 62553711 https://www.hawkerchiropractic.com.au/blog/top-6-foods-for-your-nervous-system monthly 0.5 2021-08-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630202074283-ML5QZ1PVI4NWGN7ZYC8X/nuts.jpg Blog - Top 6 foods for your nervous system - 5. Nuts Almonds and cashews are rich in magnesium which as mention before helps to calm the nervous system. Brazil nuts are a rich source of selenium which also has a calming effect on your nervous system. Nuts also have good levels of protein which means they will keep you fuller for longer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630200862445-2M29DK113KYFX97P2O3A/leafy-vegetables.jpg Blog - Top 6 foods for your nervous system - 2. Green leafy vegetables These vegetables are rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin B complex and magnesium which are all important for your nervous system. Vitamin C and vitamin E both have an anti-ageing effect on the nervous system. Magnesium helps calm the nervous system so is great for stressful periods! Vitamin B complex is essential in the creation and circulation of neurotransmitters which are the brains communication messengers. They regulate heartbeat, respiration and digestion. An important B vitamin that leafy green vegetables are high in is folate which is especially important for pregnant and breast-feeding mums. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630200645623-NURQYVYVPV6TKBY464NV/fish.jpg Blog - Top 6 foods for your nervous system - 1. Fish The dry weight of the brain is made up of around 60% fat and 1/5 of that is made from essential fatty acids. Being essential fatty acids means that we cannot make them in our body and need to get them from our diet. These essential fatty acids are omega-3 and omega-6. We get omega-3’s from oily fish, seeds and nuts and omega-6s from poultry, eggs, nuts and avocados. Most of us eat more omega-6s then omega-3s so incorporating more oily fish such as salmon, sardines, herring and mackerel is a great way to boost omega-3s. Essential fatty acids also form the myelin sheath which is the protective barrier around our nerves. Not enough of these fatty acids leads to weaker myelin sheaths which means that our nerves are more susceptible to damage. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630201247578-I5NGBU5WTTIMDHUAIFBQ/eggs.jpg Blog - Top 6 foods for your nervous system - 4. Eggs Eggs are rich in choline and B vitamins. Choline is a nutrient that is used by the brain to make acetylcholine which is a neurotransmitter that is important for communication among brain cells as well as memory. Again, the quality of the egg is very important here so look for free range pastured eggs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630205204072-MB62J94HX6G62GV58JFN/pomegranate.jpg Blog - Top 6 foods for your nervous system - 6. Pomegranates Pomegranate juice has high levels of anti-oxidants which help to prevent free radical damage to your brain cells. There are studies that suggest that pomegranate juice may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. So, try incorporating some of these into your diet and help support your nervous system. For more help with your Nervous System contact Hawker Chiropractic in Belconnen Canberra. We assist you with symptoms such as back pain, neck pain and headache but at the bottom of every adjustment is us trying to assist your nervous system into being able to do what it does best! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630201092324-T3DREHJTSF0ON3M3VF43/dark-chocolate.jpg Blog - Top 6 foods for your nervous system - 3. Dark Chocolate I’m sorry to say but this does not include all dark chocolates. They type of chocolate that is good for your nervous system is unprocessed, raw and not full of sugar. You want to look for ones that are >70% cacao as this is the active ingredient that benefits your nervous system. Cacao contains L-tryptophan which is a neurotransmitter that helps calm the mind. It is also full of flavanols which have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. These help to lower blood pressure and improve the blood flow to both the brain and the heart. https://www.hawkerchiropractic.com.au/blog/why-do-children-see-a-chiropractor monthly 0.5 2021-08-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630224139425-HCUCRNPRQCSTVJPNEDF8/children-chiropractor.jpg Blog - Why do Children see a Chiropractor? - Poor posture or slouching Poor coordination Low back pain Neck pain Headaches Knee and hip pain Flat feet and knocked knees Flat head (plagiocephaly) Poor sleep due to pain Slow to reach developmental milestones Sports injuries Falls https://www.hawkerchiropractic.com.au/blog/7-practical-ways-to-live-a-more-active-lifestyle monthly 0.5 2021-09-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630206716658-MED8NXF4PFI9DNANVHCT/unsplash-image-1pDE6r8A-Hc.jpg Blog - 7 practical ways to live a more active lifestyle - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.hawkerchiropractic.com.au/blog/low-back-pain-we-can-help monthly 0.5 2021-09-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630215311088-E5ITGMIJ7CP8FRLGY5GV/stress.jpg Blog - Low back pain, we can help! - 2. Stress People commonly think about stress manifesting in ways such as anxiety, depression, sleepless nights and really tight shoulders that seem to come up to your ears. What most people don’t realise is that stress can manifest through pain! WHAT??? When our bodies are under stress it drives our sympathetic nervous system, which is our fight or flight response. This causes our brain to be wired ready to run from or attack whatever is causing the stress and causes things like our muscles to tighten and blood flow to divert to our arms and legs. This was great back in the day when we had to run from sabre tooth tigers but it doesn’t serve us well these days when we live a life that is constantly exposed to stress. Stress causes a lot of dysfunction in the body and alters the way our brain perceives things such as pain. Aim to practice stress reduction techniques every day, whether it be meditation, mindfulness or some deep abdominal breathing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630213919420-VMUOVQB63XOF7P1YUICI/inflammation.jpg Blog - Low back pain, we can help! - 1. Inflammation Have you ever rolled your ankle (a sprain)? You would see a lot of swelling and an increase in heat. This is inflammation and it plays an important role in the body in regards to healing and repairing tissue. When a joint is acutely inflamed there is an increase in blood flow which acts to bring more healing products to the injured area and remove more of the lactic acid and by-products of the healing process. However, with chronic inflammation (inflammation lasting greater than 6 weeks) this process is much more complicated and therefore more difficult to treat. In our experience, chronic inflammation is the number one reason for visits to our clinic. This is due to many reasons but primarily because we are living a more sedentary life. When we aren’t moving our joints aren’t moving and they need movement to remain healthy. Movement helps to bring in nutrients and oxygen to the joints as well as flush out toxins, and because we are very sedentary these nutrients aren’t being provided and the toxins aren’t being removed. This leads to inflammation. Another cause of inflammation is what we eat! Our diet plays a massive role in the amount of inflammation within our bodies. This is especially true for highly processed foods such as processed sugars and fats. For example, that chocolate bar you have every day or the Friday night fish and chips may just be contributing to your back pain. Why not try a 7-day detox and see how you feel? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630215551237-DQKXPHMCGUOLZ2TH9JTK/spine.jpg Blog - Low back pain, we can help! - 3. Alignment issues Our spine is designed to have a specific structure and function and this relies on proper alignment. When our spine is aligned it allows the nervous system to be functioning optimally. When it loses proper alignment, it effects how the spine moves and therefore how it functions – which can lead to pain. Alignment issues are very common these days due to the increased amount of time we spend sitting, the exercises (or lack of) we do, the foods we eat and they way we are so asymmetrical (right or left dominant) in our day to day living. Alignment and movement issues within the body are very complex to treat as there are changes within the muscles, tendons, ligaments, joint capsules etc that all must be addressed before correct motion can be restored. Chiropractors are trained for many years to determine where your alignment issues are and how to restore them. This often involves a multi-disciplinary approach to treatment. At Hawker Chiropractic we have a dedicated team of chiropractors, massage therapists and acupuncturists to work together on treating these complex mechanical problems. We have been found to be very successful in reducing/eliminating back pain through re-aligning the spine and allowing for proper function. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630213645238-33M7GG4KH2ODP8XW3B0U/low-back-pain.jpg Blog - Low back pain, we can help! - Back pain has become an epidemic in our society with some studies suggesting that around 80% of people will experience it at some stage in their life. Low back pain is a condition which causes confusion within the community because of the number of origins and treatment options. Studies are showing that surgery is not the best option and drugs are somewhat ineffective (in some cases). However, there are activities that you can do in your everyday life to help alleviate some of your back pain. We want to tell you about 3 underlying issues that may be causing or contributing to your low back pain and give you some advice about how chiropractic and/or massage and acupuncture could help. https://www.hawkerchiropractic.com.au/blog/text-neck-what-is-it monthly 0.5 2021-09-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630216692787-ZQMK9DAL8OZMLHXZX9B2/text-neck.jpg Blog - Text neck, five things you should know - Mobile devices, such as phones, tablets and laptops have changed our lives, mostly for the better. They allow us to be reachable at the press of a button and give us access to a wealth of knowledge right at our fingertips. But like most things in life they do come with a downfall. One large problem with our increased use of technology is a phenomenon called text neck. Here are 5 things you should know about it: Text neck is caused by poor posture Specifically the poor posture is from constantly looking down at a phone or laptop. This sustained posture puts extra stress on the cervical spine causing wear and tear and eventually degeneration in some of the structures. Over time what we see is the reversal of the cervical curve which puts a large amount of pressure on these structures and reduced the function within the neck. Additionally, it also affects the cluster of nerves that come out of your neck which can further lead to pain and dysfunction. Text neck is becoming more and more common in young people The youth of today are constantly glued to their phone or computer whether that be to text friends, scroll through social media, do school work or play games. Spending as little as 2-4 hours a day hunched over a phone is enough to have serious impact on the neck structures. Although 2-4 hours may seem a lot of time to spend on ones phone , it isn’t unreasonable when you add up the 15 minutes or half an hour segments through a day. Teenagers are specifically at risk of this as mobile phones are such a huge part of their daily interactions and this poses a huge risk as it increases the chance of early degeneration within the neck. Text neck along with a sedentary lifestyle is going to cause big problems When looking at phone or laptop it is usually done sitting down or laying on the couch or worse, in bed. Therefore at the same time we aren’t being active. Poor posture is made worse by a sedentary lifestyle as we aren’t allowing muscles and other structures to strengthen and stretch, aka do what they are designed to do. The best thing to do is put down the phone and do some physical activity even if that is just a walk. Text neck can be corrected Practicing good posture is the first step to improving our text neck but that can be hard to do when you haven’t been fully assessed and know where your posture is not so great. Therefore booking in with a chiropractor is an even better place to start. They will do a full examination and can even take x-rays to see what condition you are in. From there they can help get your neck functioning to its best ability. Improving your posture and function can help save you money and pain in the long run. Text neck can be avoided Now don’t fret, we aren’t going to tell you to stop using phones and laptops! However a few simple strategies can help you fend off a text neck. Holding your phone up to your eyes instead of looking down is a great way to help your posture as well as making sure your work desk is ergonomically set. Checking in with your chiropractor on a regular basis will help keep things moving well and they can help by prescribing exercises to keep everything as it should be. Text neck is nothing to laugh about and should be taken seriously, especially in our children and teenagers. Preventing this early on will ensure optimal spinal health and function and save them from the possibility of pain and poor health. Let us know how we can help by giving us a call or sending us an email. https://www.hawkerchiropractic.com.au/blog/acupuncture-and-chronic-pain monthly 0.5 2021-09-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630216058143-SK47O56DU2D6BF2NCEX7/acupuncture-1.jpg Blog - Acupuncture and chronic pain - Do you have an area of your body that is in pain? Have you got back pain, neck pain, headaches or even foot pain? Before reaching for the packets of pills why not try something natural like acupuncture. It has been around for thousands of years and has a huge number of studies confirming its efficacy. You can find it being used in private practices, hospitals and rehab centres worldwide. Not only does it relieve pain but it helps with emotional disorders, hormonal imbalances, injuries and stress related conditions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630215926690-408POCOV4TNDV7F6X0O1/acupunture.jpg Blog - Acupuncture and chronic pain - How effective is it for pain relief? There is a growing body of research that confirms acupuncture can successfully treat pain. One study had experts analyse 29 other studies conducted on a total of 18,000 participants. In these studies pain decreased as much as 50% in the patients that received acupuncture! Another study done in 2012 showed that acupuncture worked for shoulder pain, chronic headaches, osteoarthritis and other painful conditions. If used effectively and by a properly qualified practitioner this modality may reduce the need for medications in the long run. Which is a great thing in itself as many medications come with side effects such as nausea, vomiting, stomach ulcers and drowsiness. Acupuncture has none of these drawbacks and has been shown to be better than placebo. Acupuncture also has other health benefits than just pain relief. By inserting needles into specific areas the hypothalamus and pituitary gland may be activated which causes changes in secretion of hormones and blood flow which in turn improves blood flow, immune function and relieves stress. On your first visit to an Acupuncturist you will be asked a series of questions about your pain as well as your general health and wellbeing. This is because acupuncture takes into account your whole body not just the area of concern. You will then be taken through the treatment and given advice for what to do at home. The number of treatments you require for pain relief are different for everyone and depend on your condition as well as your lifestyle. Anne Chalmers is our resident Acupuncturist and Chinese medicine specialist. https://www.hawkerchiropractic.com.au/blog/custom-orthotics monthly 0.5 2021-09-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630217878669-HTTOPH9QY0WUUU1TAGMS/treadmill.jpg Blog - How do my feet affect my spine? - Your feet are the foundation to your whole body! Most of us have to stand on them every day and this foundation has a direct link to the way your spine works. Let’s look at it like this, if you think about the foundation of a building you would expect that it would need to be level in order for the building to be sturdy and straight right? What would happen if part of that foundation started to collapse even by an inch or so? The building above it would be affected, maybe not very visibly at first but things will start to change. And then if that building foundation continues to collapse you start noticing some other changes. Maybe you would notice a crack in the ceiling? A door not closing as easily as it used to? A window being jammed? What if you did not fix that foundation? It wouldn’t get any better, actually it would just keep getting worse until the whole building collapsed. It is the same with our body. If the arches in our feet collapse initially we might not feel anything but over time we may get symptoms such as foot pain, knee pain and even back pain! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630217093818-Y5R1WI9NTHAEB3PWLAZL/orthotics.jpg Blog - How do my feet affect my spine? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.hawkerchiropractic.com.au/blog/acupuncture-for-chronic-pain-and-depression monthly 0.5 2021-10-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630151780637-KT4U5VUQG7ONCEPS3XZ8/acupuncture.jpg Blog - Acupuncture boosts effectiveness of standard medical care for chronic pain and depression - The team also conducted a new clinical trial for depression, where acupuncture or counselling was provided and compared to the effectiveness of medication, such as antidepressants. In a study of 755 patients with depression in the North of England, researchers showed that both acupuncture and counselling significantly reduced the severity of depressions and that these benefits were largely sustained for up to 12 months after treatment. https://www.hawkerchiropractic.com.au/home daily 1.0 2025-12-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630059292071-6QAPNKCTUDOTVVZ5CTWY/orthotics.jpg Home - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1629524713023-L78R7EGJZK8EOLRGVCT7/chiropractor_canberra.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1629524831813-F0E4IOFTMRDGNDLI2JMM/remedial_massage_canberra.jpg Home https://www.hawkerchiropractic.com.au/chiropractic-for-children-canberra daily 0.75 2021-10-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630224139425-HCUCRNPRQCSTVJPNEDF8/children-chiropractor.jpg Chiropractic for Children Canberra - Why see a Chiropractor for Children? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630234008056-1NDUDIKG0RNR6GNUC6RF/children-4.jpg Chiropractic for Children Canberra - Is Chiropractic safe for Children? This is a BIG yes! Chiropractic for children is safe when you visit a qualified and reputable paediatric Chiropractor. You can then expect that your paediatric Chiropractor will treat your child safely, gently and effectively. At Hawker Chiropractic in Canberra our chiropractors all have experience in assessing and treating children and have all completed post graduate training in paediatric Chiropractic. So, you can feel confident that your child is receiving the best care when you bring them to Hawker Chiropractic in Canberra. To meet our team here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630586836489-ZMQDROO4V3W6L8W7ZRUD/kids.jpg Chiropractic for Children Canberra - Will treatment hurt my Child? https://www.hawkerchiropractic.com.au/custom-orthotics daily 0.75 2021-08-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630125298388-4SNG1ECXUIFHMQVG1LYL/footpain.jpg Custom Orthotics - Anatomy of the Foot https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630125363213-IA15QBP382U7AAYYI5YK/pron-and-pelvic-tilt.jpg Custom Orthotics https://www.hawkerchiropractic.com.au/chiropractor-canberra daily 0.75 2024-01-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630116910825-8TP24WK5QIZTUV1RA3EO/woman-yoga.jpeg Chiropractor Canberra - What is Chiropractic? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630117649705-X76PFWC7ZK4WOK9J57D6/senior-man-walking-his-wife.jpg Chiropractor Canberra - Best Chiropractor Canberra – Hawker Chiropractic https://www.hawkerchiropractic.com.au/meet-our-team daily 0.75 2024-12-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630066647910-4SMKVQAHCK4PG6ECIJF2/quyen_trinh.jpg Meet Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630585645646-19CUX7UTCZGT3L5T7M1N/deb.jpg Meet Our Team https://www.hawkerchiropractic.com.au/chiropractic-for-babies-canberra daily 0.75 2024-01-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630122208847-X25C8BOHTCYNSJUIHFNG/newborn.jpg Chiropractic for Babies Canberra - Can your baby benefit from from seeing a Chiropractor? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630233492422-QTURVXS6BK2UEUHK290U/children.jpg Chiropractic for Babies Canberra - What Is Chiropractic For Babies? Many people question why babies receive Chiropractic care and when chiropractic for babies is warranted. They think that because they are so little and young that they shouldn’t need Chiropractic. However, whether you have a large spine or a tiny little spine, if that spine is creating nerve distress than our bodies cannot operate smoothly. The nervous system is the master controller of our body. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630233709984-QWT0YPHD10H6MRY9QIA7/children-2.jpg Chiropractic for Babies Canberra - Is Chiropractic for Babies Safe? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630233778322-90JJM1HWWDLCW8XNPES3/children-3.jpg Chiropractic for Babies Canberra - What Can I Expect for my Babies First Session? During your first visit we run through a detailed history of your child and then perform an in-depth assessment. Don’t worry though, our assessment is non-invasive and very gentle on your baby. After this we determine whether chiropractic may help your baby and discuss treatment options. With chiropractic for babies, techniques used will vary depending on the age of your baby. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1631703484700-OVSKWWV138RK213U0UCU/happy-child-orange-sweater-plays-with-feather-floor.jpg Chiropractic for Babies Canberra - Will treatment hurt my Baby? https://www.hawkerchiropractic.com.au/contact daily 0.75 2024-01-09 https://www.hawkerchiropractic.com.au/dr-quyen-trinh daily 0.75 2021-09-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/611a3e7a90117b71fc638d59/1630577486044-RS2707DNSF64HQ1B9M2W/quyen_trinh.jpg Dr Quyen Trinh - Dr Quyen is a champion of the Chiropractic philosophy and the body’s innate ability to heal itself through balance of the mind, body and spirit. 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