Archive for chiropratic

How to tell if you have carpal tunnel syndrome

If you have tingling or numbness in your fingers, nerve pain in your wrist or hand, weakness in your hand, or swollen fingers you may have carpal tunnel syndrome.

What is carpal tunnel syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve, which runs from your spinal cord down the arm through the carpal tunnel, is compressed. The carpel tunnel is a narrow passageway in the wrist that has just enough room for tendons and nerves to pass through it. If any of your tendons become swollen, the median nerve can be compressed in the small passageway. This causes a significant problem because the median nerve controls movement for some hand muscles, and the sense of touch for the thumb and some fingers.

You may have carpal tunnel syndrome if:

  • you experience tingling or numbness, such as pins and needles, in your fingers or the palm of your hand
  • nerve pain in your wrist or hand that can spread up your arm or down to your fingers
  • weakness in the muscles in your hands, making it hard to grip things
  • swollen fingers.

Carpal tunnel syndrome may be caused by factors such as a wrist or arm sprain or fracture, repetitive use of the wrist and hand, rheumatoid arthritis, fluid retention, a cyst or tumour in the carpal tunnel, diabetes, thyroid issues, and kidney disease.

How to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome

There are a number of ways to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome such as:

  • ensure your wrists are correctly positioned in a neutral, almost straight position when using a keyboard or mouse. Avoid flexing the wrists in either direction
  • if your job involves heavy use of power tools, take regular wrist breaks and gently rotate your wrists to keep them mobile
  • avoid repetitive movements as much as possible. If your job requires repetitive wrist movements, such as for typing or maintenance work, take regular wrist breaks
  • physical therapy exercises and yoga that strengthen wrist mobility
  • medical treatment for underlying conditions such as thyroid problems, diabetes or arthritis.

Chiropractic treatments can be very effective at relieving carpal tunnel syndrome through light techniques and mobilisation to restore joint function in the wrist, and may help sufferers avoid surgery. For more information contact Lane Chiropractic Pottsville on 6676 2270.

How stress impacts your body and what to do about it

For most people, 2020 has been a pretty stressful year so far. The combination of drought, bushfires and COVID-19 has either directly or indirectly affected all of us. As we emerge from these challenges, it’s time to take a look at your stress levels, and the impact stress has on your body and overall wellbeing.

What is stress?

Stress is our natural physical and mental reaction to events that occur around us. It’s our flight or fight response and is designed to protect us by giving our bodies the adrenalin hit we need to think and act quickly to escape perceived danger.

In modern life, stress can be caused by anything from daily work and family issues through to significant events such as the diagnosis of a serious illness, or death of a family member.

During your body’s stress response your heart rate increases, blood pressure rises, breathing quickens and muscles tighten.

Why stress is a concern

While in short bursts, stress can be beneficial to helping your body quickly respond to a situation and protect itself, ongoing, longer-term stress can lead to many issues including:

  • Mental health problems such as anxiety and depression
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Eating disorders, which may cause issues such as obesity
  • Fertility concerns
  • Skin and hair problems
  • Digestive issues
  • Chronic muscle and joint pain
  • Weakened immune system.

How to stop stress

While you can’t stop the life events that cause stress, you can control your reaction and reduce stress impacts on your body.  Some great ways to reduce stress are:

  • Just breathe deeply.  When we are stressed we often shallow breathe, which puts stress on our body and causes further stress for our minds.  By just taking some deep slow breaths, it will help your body to relax a bit so that you can better cope with the stressful situation.
  • Meditate. Even if you just take five minutes to take yourself out of the stressful situation and take your mind to a calm, peaceful place, it will help you to think more clearly and keep you calmer.
  • Try yoga or pilates.  Yoga and pilates stretches help your mind to focus while also easing muscle tension.

How your chiropractor can reduce the impact of stress

When you are stressed, your muscles are tense and your nerves are on edge. As your body endures ongoing stress, it becomes much more sensitive to physical imbalances and pain. When your body feels pain this also causes stress, so it becomes a vicious cycle.

Chiropractic adjustments help your body turn off the fight/flight response by unblocking the central nervous system, improving blood circulation and easing muscle tension.  This helps to relieve irritated spinal nerves so that the body can return to a more relaxed natural state.

As a result, you are able to think more clearly and rationally because messages between the brain and nervous system move seamlessly, reducing mental stress.

To help you maintain harmony between your mind and body, your chiropractor can also provide lifestyle advice so that you can take charge in reducing muscle tension, becoming more relaxed and ensuring your body is well nourished.

For more advice about stress management and stress reduction techniques contact Lane Chiropractic Pottsville on 6676 2270.