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Bad posture not only looks unattractive, it can lead to all sorts of issues and spinal problems if it becomes an ongoing habit. The good news is, it’s never to late to learn how to have better posture and to make a constant effort to monitor your posture. Let’s take a look at some tips on how to do this.

Stand Instead of Sitting

Poor posture mostly occurs when we are seated. Some of us sit down most of the day to perform our jobs, and this is an environment that can really lead to posture problems, back issues and a possible appointment with the chiropractor.

The first trick is to monitor your posture when you are seated, and correct it every time you find yourself slouching. What’s even better is to be able to stand for periods of time while you do your work, or at least stand up regularly to stretch and straighten up, alleviating built-up tension in the neck and back.

In some work environments it may not be possible to stand while working on a computer for example, but it is possible to get up and stretch regularly. If you work from a home office, then maybe place your laptop out on the kitchen bench occasionally so you can work standing up for a while. Every little bit helps.

Better Posture When Standing

Bad posture doesn’t only occur when we are seated. Many of us can exhibit poor posture even whilst standing.

Keeping the weight on the balls of the feet helps us to stand up nice and straight, as does keeping your body’s weight evenly distributed on both legs rather than constantly shifting your weight from one leg to the other. Having your feet apart at about shoulder width is also conducive to developing and maintaining proper posture.

When walking, always walk with your head held high, shoulders back and chest out, as if full of confidence and sure of yourself. This maintains an excellent and healthy stance while you walk.

Monitoring Your Posture

Poor posture is a bad habit developed over time just like biting your fingernails or anything else. In order to correct it, we must first be conscious of this habit and make an effort to monitor it. Reminders such as notes on your smartphone, notes stuck to your desk or computer monitor, will help you to take note of your posture and sit up straight.

If you find you are suffering back or neck pain, possibly from a result of poor posture, then Helensvale Chiropractic Centre is here to help. Our professional chiropractic care will not only alleviate your symptoms and pain, we will also help you to develop better posture habits so you can live life pain-free. Give us a call today to make an appointment at our Gold Coast clinic.

It’s an easy morning breakfast choice that requires little time and is great for your health. Right? With so many morning smoothies advocates it can be easy to become bombarded by advice and recipes, but what they don’t tell you is that if you’re doing your morning smoothie wrong they may actually be detrimental to your health, not beneficial. Here’s what you may be doing wrong.

1. Fibre

Fiber is indigestible by our body. It travels through our body with almost no change and has no nutrients. Which is why you should be eating it! Fibre in your stomach will make you feel fuller, for longer. Thus, less snacking and overeating, which means increased weight loss.

2. Protein

Protein in your smoothie will help with your energy levels, as well as aid in weight loss and blood sugar metabolism. It also makes sure that what your body is burning is mostly fat and not muscle mass.

3. Fruit

Sugar, sugar, sugar. It may taste great, but a smoothie full of fruit is a recipe for weight gain. The fructose in sugar isn’t correctly recognised by your body and so it won’t help you feel full, once it is metabolised you will be hungry again. Some fruit in your morning smoothie is OK, but it should not be the base ingredient.

Still unsure if your morning smoothie helping or hindering your health? Helensvale Chiropractic has a certified and experienced nutritionist that you can consult with to help build the ultimate healthy diet and lifestyle choices to suit your needs. Contact or visit any of our Gold Coast offices to discuss your nutrition needs.

There are many health consequences to carrying around extra weight, among one is the risk of serious back pain. Losing weight – through healthy diet and exercise – can go a long way towards easing your pack pain. In many cases, consulting with a chiropractor can also help ease the symptoms and provide relief for your back pain.

If you are carrying most of your weight around your midsection, chances are that you are experiencing lower backaches, as the added weight can cause your pelvis to tilt forward putting strain on your back. The pressure of extra weight will affect your lower back the most, as it carries the brunt of the weight.

This is especially true, should your job require you to sit for extended periods of time as this also has been known to cause back pain. Losing the weight is only part of the battle, as your extra weight may have caused issues with your hip, spine and neck alignment. Which means that, if your back pain is severe or if it continues even after losing weight you should seriously consider consulting with a trained chiropractor.

Don’t let your pain rule your life, Helensvale chiropractic can do a complete case history evaluation, physical examination and even X-rays if needed. If the backpain is due to the subluxation of the spine then our experienced chiropractor can adjust the spin to re-establish movement of the fixated vertebra. This may also entail some muscle work and stretches of the spine.

Our chiropractic treatment aims to find the underlying issue that causes your painful symptoms, so we can target the root cause and banish the pain completely. If weight is the cause of your back pain, we have a qualified nutritionist that you can work with alongside our chiropractor so that we can target all causes of your pain. We don’t believe in temporary fixes, we offer natural, drug-free, pain relief. Call one of our Gold Coast offices today to discuss your back pain concerns.

If you are one of the 3.5 billion Australians living with rheumatoid arthritis, you understand the difficulty of daily joint and body pain. New medical advances are making daily life easier than ever, but often diet is an overlooked aspect of your treatment. In fact, certain foods can play a huge role in helping to ease pain and inflammation. Here are the top seven superfoods you should be eating if you have arthritis.

1. Turmeric

It’s what makes curry powder golden yellow, and is one of the most healing plants in the world! Turmeric root contains an active compound called curcumin, which has been proven to help improve joint stiffness, swelling and pain.

2. Flaxseed

The omega-3 fatty acids found in flaxseed can assist with inflammation and joint pain, similar to fish or krill oil. It is recommended that you eat them ground rather than whole for your body to digest better, which means you can sprinkle them over cereal or even in your next batch of baked goods.

3. Krill Oil

As mentioned above, krill oil is another great source of omega-3 fatty acids. Krill oil however, is a huge source of concentrated omega-3s, which means a big dose of reduced pain and stiffness, as well as if taken daily an improved overall function.

4. Cherry Juice

Tart cherries contain high levels of antioxidants among other things, making them a great fruit boost as well as working to reduce inflammation and pain, improve recovery time and even aid sleep.

5. Ginger

You can shred it, grind it, steep it or just eat a chunk of it, however you ingest it, ginger root will work to reduce your joint pain. It is also available in supplement form, for those that may need a large concentrated dose.

6. Pomegranate

Recent studies are finding that pomegranates may help reduce inflammation and even prevent joint deterioration! It’s certainly no cure, but it may just help prevent you further pain, longer.

7. Green Tea

Unlike black tea, green tea is made from unfermented leaves. It has the highest concentration of antioxidants giving it a huge benefit in helping to fight your inflammation.

If you are suffering from the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and it is affecting your daily life, consider making an appointment with a chiropractor. Helensvale Chiropractic offers massage, exercise and stretching, nutrition, chiropractic services and more. All of which can work for you to help bring your pain levels down and reduce joint stiffness and swelling.

Our team consists of fully-qualified and highly-experienced chiropractors, massage therapist and nutritionists. Which means we have all the skills and experience to find the best treatment to suit your needs, and achieve the results you are looking for.

Back pain and discomfort in the spine or neck is something that many people suffer. For some people it can be a chronic, ongoing condition, while for others it may be the result of a temporary injury to a muscle that helps support the spine. Either way, visits to the chiropractor are usually necessary to correct the problem.

Let’s look at some of the common reasons for back pain and what can be done to help.

Poor Lifting Technique

This is possibly one of the most common causes of lower back issues, whether temporary or ongoing. Lifting heavy objects using poor technique places unnecessary strain on the muscles of the lower back, which can in turn lead to the dislodgement of a disc in the spine. The disc then touches a spinal nerve, resulting in severe back pain and muscle stiffness.

Always bend the knees and use the power of the legs to do the lifting while keeping a straight back at all times.

Poor Posture

Sit, stand or walk with bad posture often enough and the result will invariably be spinal problems. Poor posture puts the spine under load and places pressure on the vertebrae in ways that the spine is not designed to deal with. Developing proper posture can go a long way toward ensuring a life free of back complaints.

Bending Over for Long Periods

Everyone will develop an aching back if they stay bent over for too long. It doesn’t matter whether you’re lifting anything or not. Pressure will be placed on the spine and surrounding muscles when hunched over like this, guaranteeing a sore back in the process.

The best thing to do is squat down as much as you can while weeding the garden or whatever, and if you are bending over, do it in short bursts, giving the back a stretch when you straighten up. Take breaks and remain upright for a while.

Overstretching

Overstretching the muscles in the back can lead to tears in the muscle fibres. It can also result in a bulging disc which will cause great discomfort. Always pay close attention to how you are treating your back no matter what you are doing at the time. Poor back health affects your entire quality of life.

Get Regular Spine Adjustments

Receiving regular spinal adjustments by a qualified chiropractor will ensure a back that is pain-free and vastly improved quality of life. On the Gold Coast, look no further than the expert staff at Helensvale Chiropractic Centre. Our team of professional chiropractors will be able to relieve your back pain as well as advise you on how best to prevent back problems in the future. Book an appointment today.

Aching, painful and stiff joints are something just about all of us suffer from at some stage during our lives. It doesn’t even matter what age we are. Everyone can be afflicted with aching joints, and in this post we’ll cover some handy tips on relieving the pain and stiffness.

Ice Is Nice

Applying ice therapy is the most common method to relieve both the pain in the joint as well as reducing the swelling. Swelling is an overload of synovial fluid in the joint, and this occurs to help protect the joint. However, until the swelling goes down the joint will be stiff and painful to move, and in order for the joint to heal properly, it needs gentle, low-impact movement to speed up the healing process.

Support Bandages and Braces

While these are extremely beneficial in offering support for an injured joint, they should only be used as a temporary measure, as prolonged use will actually weaken the muscle tissue surrounding the joint, rendering it more vulnerable to injury when the support bandage or brace is removed. Neoprene braces with Velcro straps are the most convenient to use and also very comfortable.

Massage Therapy

Massage to an area of injury not only feels soothing and pleasant, the action also warms up the injurious zone and promotes more flow of nutrient-rich blood. Without increased blood flow to the hot zone, the longer it will take for the joint to heal. Massage can be performed by yourself if the injury is in an area you can reach, or done by a professional.

Joint Nourishment

Eating the right foods can also help to relieve the discomfort of aching joints. Foods rich in healthy oils are best, such as:

• Fish (Salmon, Tuna)
• Nuts
• Olive oil
• Green, leafy vegetables
• Milk and dairy products
• Berries
• Beans
• Green tea
• Garlic and ginger

Regular Exercise

Just as regular exercise is great for the muscles and cardiovascular system, it is also highly beneficial for the joints: So long as most of the exercises are low-impact. Joints need regular movement through their full range of motion to stay supple, flexible, healthy and pain-free. Regular exercise has also been shown to reduce the onset of arthritis. Perform regular stretching, swimming, cycling and light weight training in the gym for optimum joint health.

Care For Your Spine

When you go to the gym you may enlist the help of a personal trainer to help you get muscle fit. Possibly the most important joints in the human body are found in the spine, as an injured spine will affect every single thing you do. Therefore it’s wise to seek the help and advice of a trained chiropractor to ensure good spinal health. Regular spinal adjustments at a professional chiropractic care clinic will guarantee you have more flexibility, more energy, higher performance and way less pain and discomfort.

Call the friendly staff at Helensvale Chiropractic Centre on the Gold Coast and book an appointment today with a qualified chiropractor.

Those who are unfortunate to suffer from back pain and associated discomfort related to spinal problems can really benefit from the use of thermography technology. In order to treat a spinal problem, the issue first needs to be diagnosed correctly, and that’s where a thermography scan really comes into its own.

What Is Thermography Technology?

Thermography scanning – also known as digital infrared thermal imaging (DITI) – is a non-invasive screening procedure that basically uses a specialised camera to take infrared pictures of the problem area. These images are then displayed on a special screen for the health care professional to examine the results.

Normal tissue and damaged or diseased tissue emit different heat signals. Have you ever noticed when you suffer a muscle injury, for example, that the injurious zone feels warmer than the surrounding areas? Thermography scans can detect even the slightest differences in heat triggered by an injury or abnormality, thus greatly enhancing the ability to form a correct diagnosis and also zero in on the problem area.

The innovation of thermography scanning is used to detect all kinds of ailments, joint problems and diseases.

Thermography Scanning and Chiropractic Treatment

Chiropractors around the globe have found thermography technology to be an invaluable tool in detecting issues with the spine. It’s a painless, safe and a very reliable way to diagnose issues such as spinal subluxations (misalignment of the spine). No radiation is used in these tests, just the power of infrared light and thermal imaging.

Spinal problems can cause all sorts of problems, and are not just limited to back pain alone. A misaligned spine can lead to pain in the legs and other issues. In order for a chiropractor to effectively be able to help you with your back pain, they need to first be able to pinpoint the exact cause of your discomfort.

A thermography scan carried out by a professional chiropractor will zero in on the cause of your spinal problems. Once the cause has been identified, then your chiropractor will be able to formulate an effective solution to the issue, working with you to correct the problem so you can live a pain-free life.

Helensvale Chiropractic Centre

At Helensvale Chiropractic Centre on the Gold Coast, thermography scans are used to accurately diagnose problems with the spine in patients, leading to more effective treatment. It also helps patients to better understand what’s causing their discomfort, and therefore recognise how the proposed treatment by the chiropractor will enable them to enjoy a better quality of life.

If you are suffering from back pain, or any other discomfort that could be spine-related, then book in for a painless thermography scan with Helensvale Chiropractic Centre.

If you are living on the Gold Coast or surrounding areas and are seeking the services of a qualified chiropractor, what should you look for? How do you determine which chiropractic centre is right for you and which one is going to offer quality service?

Do Some Research

The first thing to do is research a list of potential chiropractors in your local area. Once you have your list, do your homework on each one. Take a look at their websites to determine exactly what services they offer and to learn more about both their practice, and the health care professionals that work there.

Once you find a couple that are to your liking, then perform Google searches and see if you can uncover any reviews, testimonials or personal experiences anyone has had with the professional chiropractic care facilities you have in mind. As people’s opinions and personal experiences can vary, it’s always wise to read a few reviews/testimonials, in order to garner a fair representation of the quality of service you will receive.

Experience and Qualifications

Like any health care professionals, professional chiropractors go through rigorous training and education in order to be qualified to perform their specialist services. Always make certain that the chiropractor your choose is fully accredited and qualified.

While every newcomer deserves a chance, you really don’t want to put the care of your spine in the hands of someone with little to no experience. How long has the chiropractor been performing their duties and how long has their business been established? You want to know that you are in good hands with someone qualified, and someone who has had many years of experience in helping to correct spinal problems and alleviate associated symptoms.

Recommendations from Your Doctor

Sometimes your local GP can even recommend a great chiropractor in your area, or at least give you a list of potential candidates to look into further. Even though we tend to trust the advice of our family doctor, ask them questions about why they recommend a particular chiropractor, just to be sure the recommendation is merited and the GP isn’t merely passing on business to a personal friend.

Compare Prices

While fees will invariably vary, find out the fees for various things like a basic consultation, just to be sure the chiropractor you decide to go with is charging within the general ball park of most others in the industry.

A Chiropractor You Can Count On

Helensvale Chiropractic Centre on the Gold Coast has been established for more than 20 years. The reason for our longevity in the business is our quality services, fair prices and firm focus on customer relations and satisfaction. If you require professional chiropractic care, then book an appointment with one of the most experienced practices on the Gold Coast.

Arthritis can happen to all of us, even when we are not very old. It can be a result of RSI, an injury, or simply the fact that our joints are getting old and worn out. Unfortunately, human joints are not as simple to replace like a worn out car part, so it’s imperative that we do what we can to keep them healthy and functioning to their optimum ability. And one of the very best ways to achieve this is to exercise our joints regularly.

Exercise Promotes Cartilage Growth

The problem with most joints in the human body is a lack of blood flow into the actual joint itself. When a joint sustains an injury the healing process can be notoriously slow due to this. Soft tissue damage will receive an immediate burst of nutrients via the flow of blood, but joints are a different story.

Arthritis is essentially the breaking down of articular cartilage in the joints, and this cartilage can form burrs without regular movement of the joints. The more a joint is exercised, the more the body knows to maintain healthy cartilage in the joint as well as keeping the surface of the cartilage smooth.

Exercise Keeps the Joints Lubricated

Synovial fluid is the body’s natural joint lubricant. It’s like oil for the joints. Dry joints are stiff and ineffective. Regular exercise that allows the joint a full range of movement without harsh impacts helps to feed the joint with synovial fluid, keeping it well lubricated and operating smoothly. The smoother the joint functions, the less chance arthritis will develop. A lack of synovial fluid will increase joint friction and lead to cartilage degradation.

Exercise Keeps Your Joints Flexible

To really keep joints flexible, free of pain and in good health, they need regular movement through exercise that doesn’t place heavy load on them. Low impact exercises such as swimming, for example, are a great way to achieve range of movement in many of the joints without impact.

Both the neck and spine also need exercise that doesn’t put a heavy strain on them. Often the neck and spine will be forgotten about in an exercise regime, but it’s just as important to keep these joints healthy as it is any other joint in the body. Poor spine health will lead to all manner of debilitating problems.

Your Chiropractor Can Help

Nobody knows more about spine health and preventative exercises than your chiropractor. This is the area they specialise in, so it makes sense to seek the help and advice from your local chiropractic centre.

Helensvale Chiropractic Centre has been servicing the needs of patients on the Gold Coast for more than 20 years. If you have any back, neck or spinal issues in general, or just want some friendly advice on how best to look after the health of your spine, then book an appointment to see a chiropractor today.

Healthy back, healthy mind, healthy life.

When your back is feeling great, life is good. Nothing is more debilitating than back pain and stiffness and having a bad back affects everything you do. That’s why it’s imperative to maintain good spinal health, and why you should pay regular visits to your chiropractor for spinal adjustments, as well as handy tips and advice.

Let’s look at some ways how having a healthy back improves your overall quality of life.

Flexibility

The difference between feeling agile and flexible or not essentially stems from the health of your spine. Any sort of stiffness or pain in the spine will immediately inhibit your range of movement and leave you feeling anything but flexible. A strong spine and supporting muscle tissue guarantees a more flexible and agile body all round.

More Energy

When you receive regular spinal adjustments from your professional chiropractor you will naturally have more energy and motivation. A pain-free back that suffers no stiffness leads to a more confident and energetic you.

Improved Health

Good spinal health leads to better health throughout all of your body. Your immune system improves, thus fighting off disease and infections more readily. Chiropractic spinal adjustments can actually help relieve the symptoms of the following ailments:

• Headaches
• Stomach problems
• Allergies
• Colds and flus
• Palpitations

The reason the spine can affect your overall health is because the nerves in the spine are connected to all other parts of the body, including the organs.

Feel Better Mentally

This one is two-fold. First, just having a back that is free of pain and feels way more flexible will lead to having a much more positive mindset. Also, because the nerves of the spine integrate with every other part of the body, including the brain, improved mental health is a natural result of regular spinal adjustments from your chiropractor.

You Can Just Do More in Life

When your spine is feeling great, so do you. A healthy back and neck allows you to do so much more physically and mentally. It really is one of the most vital parts of the body to keep healthy and in good shape.

For more helpful advice and regular spinal adjustments for improved quality of life, get in touch with the professional and friendly staff at Helensvale Chiropractic Centre on the Gold Coast.