"Fourways Chiropractic For the Whole Family"

Chiropractor Fourways Sandton Johannesburg

World Spine Day

World Spine Day

Here at ChiroClinic in Fourways we like to help promote World Spine Day.

This is a time that is a reminder for people to pop in to visit your local chiropractor. When was the last time have you or a family member was checked for any muscle or joint worries that there may be? That could be a curvature in the spine, poor posture, limp, headaches, or anything else from general back and neck pain.

Remember pain is only a warning sign something is wrong, so have it checked out.

Spinal Check-Ups

Looking at how healthy a spine is

For past generations, losing their teeth during life was the norm. However, due to maintenance dental care the situation has drastically changed to the point where the whole population takes for granted the need for dental checks. But when was the last time you had a spinal check?

In 2006 World Spine Day was on 16 October and was an initiative of the Bone and Joint Decade organisations action week.

The organisation aims to promote awareness about a structure in our bodies we take for granted and from which so many common ailments occur, with the Chiropractic Association of South Africa being a partner in the organisation.

An objective chiropractic physical examination can detect problems long before symptoms appear, just like cavities can be found a long time before a toothache develops. Strangely, despite the fact that back pain is one of the largest single reasons for taking time off work, most people still live in the hope that the spine will take care of itself.

Just because you can't see your spine, doesn't mean it is not a cause of problems. Perhaps if we carried our spines on the outside, do you think we would do more about it?

Our spine and frame in general, is a complex series of interactions of joints.

Furthermore, our spine contains part of our nervous system - the most important part of us. Your nervous system controls every cell, tissue, organ and system of your body. Whilst your brain is protected by your skull, your spinal cord is protected by the 24 moveable bones of your spine.

If one considers how many different ways we challenge and misuse our spine day in, day out, it is hardly surprising that things go wrong. Whilst a majority of problems are solved by our body's ability to heal itself, the problems which are too big a hurdle for the body to heal, stay with us and become chronic.

During the course of a year each person could develop their own collection of body stresses, which eventually start giving symptoms like headaches, or low backache.

Samantha Westbury, DC says "Think even when you are born - the stresses and strains placed on your body as you grow, and ultimately your spine. As we get older the physical stresses and mental stress don't tend to change for the better. They range from being sedentary for too long at the computer/ TV to doing the wrong exercises at gym! These everyday activities can cause you to lose an optimal motion or posture, which can result in the nervous system not working optimally and ultimately pain or dysfunction.

Gary Kirwan, DC says "Doctors of chiropractic mainly treat problems with your joints and muscles and the effects they have on your nervous system. Working on all the joints of your body, concentrating particularly on your spine, they use their skilled hands to make often gentle, specific adjustments (chiropractic word for manipulation). The goal is to improve the efficiency of your nervous system and release your body's natural healing ability.

What Can You Do

Chiropractors are promoting the spinal awareness time of World Spine Day and wanting their patients to take self-control by providing their chiropractic patients with access to the "Straighten Up South Africa" exercise programme. Chiropractors are trained to screen and treat musculoskeletal problems early. Someone who is being proactive with their spinal care by doing good spinal exercises and movements themselves, like the "Straighten Up South Africa" programme, good spinal care can be achieved.

Talk to your local chiropractor about any concerns you may have with your spine and they should be able to guide you further.

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