Tag Archives: Chiropractors

10 things you need to know about Arthritis…

Bio-mechanics, Chiropractic, Diabetic, Feet, Foot Care, Gout, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Arthritis

Arthritis means inflammation or swelling of one or more joints. It is a ‘blanket term’ and describes more than 100 conditions that affect the joints, tissues around the joint, and other connective tissues. Specific symptoms vary depending on the type of arthritis, but usually include joint pain and stiffness.

There are three main types, but of course, there are many, many more.

Osteoarthritis (OA)

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis, affecting nearly nine million people in this country, and is more common over forty years of age, and in women.

Some people call it degenerative joint disease or “wear and tear” arthritis. It occurs most frequently in the hands, hips, and knees, but can manifest in any synovial joint, as they are lined with cartilage.

With OA, the cartilage within a joint begins to break down and the underlying bone begins to change. The These changes usually develop slowly and get worse over time. OA can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling. In some cases it also causes reduced function and disability; some people are no longer able to do daily tasks or work.

As OA advances, the changes in the underlying bone can mean that it breaks through the degenerating cartilage, forming osteophytes, resulting in bone resting on bone, increaing pain and further reducing mobility, as muscles, tendons and ligaments need to work harder to orovide the same movement.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease, which means that your immune system attacks healthy cells in your body by mistake, causing inflammation (painful swelling) in the affected parts of the body. RA affects around 400,000 people in the UK, and usually starts between forty and fifty years old.

RA mainly attacks the joints, usually many joints at once. RA commonly affects joints in the hands, wrists, and knees. In a joint with RA, the lining of the joint becomes inflamed, causing damage to joint tissue. This tissue damage can cause long-lasting or chronic pain, unsteadiness (lack of balance), and deformity (misshapenness).

RA can also affect other tissues throughout the body and cause problems in organs such as the lungs, heart, and eyes.

 

Gout

Gout is a common form of inflammatory arthritis that is very painful. It usually affects one joint at a time (often the big toe joint). There are times when symptoms get worse, known as flares, and times when there are no symptoms, known as remission. Repeated bouts of gout can lead to gouty arthritis, a worsening form of arthritis.

Gout is often typified by acute, rapid onset pain, with no apparent cause. ‘Flares’ can  last from a day to several weeks and may respond to over-the-counter, anti-infammatory medication or may require a visit to your GP for something stronger. There is no cure for gout, but you can effectively treat and manage the condition with medication and self-management strategies.

Factors influencing gout are –

  • being male
  • obesity
  • hypertension
  • dieuretics
  • diabetes
  • alcohol
  • sugar
  • red meat, including offal
  • some seafoods including anchovies, sardines, mussels, scalops, trout and tuna

Other forms of arthritis and other related conditions include but are not restricted to –

  • ankylosing spondylisis – affects spine
  • cervical spondylitis – affects neck
  • fibromyalgia – pain in ligaments, tendons and muscles
  • lupus – auto-immune condition
  • psoriatic arthritis – in those with psoriasis
  • enteropathic arthritis – associated with bowel disease
  • reactive arthritis – often follows a UTI
  • secondary arthritis – arthritis following injury
  • polymyalgia rheumatica – auto-immune related

Maidenhead Podiatry can’t treat arthritis but it can help you manage the symptoms, advise on how you can help yourself, and make them easier to live with. So give us a call if you think we can help you.

If you would like more information or to make an appointment with one of our Podiatrists or Chiropractors, email info@maidenheadpodiatry.co.uk call 01628 773588 and speak to one of our friendly reception team.

Ten things you need to do to protect your back when gardening

Chiropractic, Chiropractic for Children, , , ,

Mind your back!

As a nation, we love our gardens and spend a considerable amount of time and money on them. That has certainly been the case when national circumstances have forced us to spend more time at home. As we rush to get those jobs in the garden done, in the sunny periods between the rain, there is a risk that we may injure ourselves.

 

What everyone wants is to be fit and healthy enough to actually enjoy sitting in their garden and enjoy the fruits of their labours come summer time, so here are some helpful tips from our chiropractors at the Maidenhead Podiatry & Chiropractic Clinic.

How you can help yourself

1. Dress appropriately

  • Don’t wear clothes that are tight or constrict your movement

2. Gardening is like any other exercise; you need to warm up first

  • Don’t go straight into heavy garden work, start off with lighter jobs first
  • This will lessen the chance of muscle strain

3. Don’t twist again

  • If you have to use a ladder for any of your gardening tasks, make sure you are always facing it. Rather than lean or reach, move it regularly
  • When using the ladder, always keep your shoulders, hips and knees pointing in the same direction
  • Make sure the ladder is firmly and safely planted in position and, if possible, have someone else standing there to keep an eye on things

4. Clever pruning

  • Get as close as possible to the things you are pruning; avoid overstretching to reach the area you are dealing with
  • Invest in some long handled secateurs to reach plants and bushes that are beyond normal reach

5. Digging deep

  • When digging, try not to bend or twist during the movement and alternate the foot you use to drive the spade into the ground.
  • Raking is best achieved with short movements; don’t reach out too far.

6. Potting/planting

  • Use a mat and kneel when doing close weeding work or planting out
  • When potting up your plants, it is much better to do this at a table

7. Take a break

  • Vary your activity; spend no more than 20-30 minutes on any one thing and take regular breaks

8. Be clever with the paving

  • If laying a patio keep the slab close to your body and bend your knees
  • It is sometimes better to bend one knee rather two, as your supporting leg gives you a position of strength
  • If using railway sleepers, two people will probably be needed

9. Plan ahead

  • If you are planning a trip to the local DIY store and buying heavy items, such as cement or gravel, buy smaller bags rather than one big bag as they are easier and safer to carry
  • If you do buy heavy items, ask an assistant at the store to help you
  • Shovel the contents of large bags straight into smaller containers or wheelbarrow from the back of the car
  • If having items delivered, have them unloaded as close to where you need them as possible; this will save the effort of moving them again
  • A specialist garden trolley might be worth investing in to move these sorts of materials around, especially so if you have lots of patio pots to move around as well

10. Allow enough time

  • Planned time allows you to take your time

Our Chiropractors

Our Chiropractors Rebecca Rees, BSc.(Chiro) and Lucy Steel, MChiro have nearly forty five years of experience between them, are members of the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) and are registered with the General Chiropractic Council (GCC).

Pain is a warning – don’t ignore it.

If you would like more information or are interested in booking a treatment with one of our experienced Chiropractors in Maidenhead, Berkshire, then please call us on 01628 773588 or email info@maidenheadpodiatry.co.uk.

How to achieve pain-free sleep

Chiropractic, , , , , ,

Are you having sleepless nights?

Our Chiropractors are frequently asked about night pain and interrupted sleep. This is a surprisingly common problem and has many possible causes and many possible solutions.

Tips for Pain-Free Sleeping from the Chiropractors at Maidenhead Podiatry and Chiropractic Clinic

Sleep is so important to our health. Deep sleep allows the body to better heal when it is damaged or fighting infection.

It affects our mood and our ability to function. and it also greatly affects how intensely we feel pain.

Do you move when asleep?

We are often unaware that generally we re-position ourselves 20 times or so during the course of a night’s sleep to avoid painful pressure points and uncomfortable positions.

However, if you are intoxicated from too much alcohol or drugs, when you fall asleep you tend to move very little, if at all, through the night and this can explain whilst waking after a ‘heavy night’ you can feel so stiff!

Pillows and mattresses

Advice on pillows, mattresses and sleeping positions are so important because buying what we sleep on and in, should be done with care.

Whenever possible look for a ‘try-before-you-buy’ product that you can spend a good 15mins lying on to help you decide if you will be comfortable for many hours and years to come. Some mattress manufacturers now offer a money back guarantee.

Ask yourself, “is the product large/wide enough for my partner and I?”

How good is it and long will it last?

When buying a bed remember you will be getting in and out of it for many years, at times when you may well be less fit and mobile than you currently are!

Beware of flashy wording and branding and products long on promise and short on quality. Believe it or not, despite the craze for “orthopaedic” mattresses and pillows, there are minimal regulations governing how manufacturers describe their own goods, and a well-branded item is not necessarily better than another.

Best to make your own comparison and find the one that’s right for you.

……..and what about the mattress and base?

How firm should a mattress be?

Individuals require different mattresses, so finding a balance for you and your partner’s needs is important, but it isn’t the only thing you need to consider.

…and the bed base?

The base of the bed will greatly affect the support you get, so an ageing, worn mattress on a hard base may provide enough support, whilst a firm mattress on a soft base may be inadequate.

Generally the heavier you are the more support you need.

The deeper you sag into a soft mattress and base, the harder you will find it to turn, so do try moving and turning on any you try before buying.

Remember to turn your mattress to get the most life out of it. (Some manufacturers specify that their mattresses shouldn’t be turned, so always read the label)

If you opt for a spring-filled mattress, choosing one with more springs should give better comfort and support.

If you wish to get a little more comfort but can’t afford a new mattress, consider a mattress topper. Usually made of memory foam, a mattress topper will help conform to the shape of your back while you sleep.

Our Chiropractors have over thirty years of experience between them and commonly consult on a range of conditions from low back pain to headaches, from elbow pain to referred pain as well as a range of mechanical, structural and functional issues.

If you would like more information or to make an appointment with one of our Chiropractors, call 01628 773588 or e-mail info@maidenheadpodiatry.co.uk.

Ever thought about visiting a Chiropractor and wonder what they do?

Chiropractic, Chiropractic for Children, , , , , , ,

Have you ever thought about visiting a Chiropractor but wondered what they do?

 

We took some time to speak to our Chiropractic team – Rebecca Rees (BSC) and Dr Lucy Steel (BSc, MSc, DC) to find out a bit more about what they do, how they could help you and about a typical days work, here is what they had to say:

How long have you been a Chiropractor?

Rebecca: I studied for my BSc in Chiropractic treatment at the Anglo European College of Chiropractic in 1994.  I have been practicing for the last 28 years.

Lucy: I studied for my BSc in Human Biology at Leeds University and my MSc and DC in Chiropractic at the University of Surrey in 2004.  I have been practicing for the last 18 years. I have a special interest Chiropractic during and following pregnancy.

Which governing bodies do you hold membership with?

We are both registered members of the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) and the General Chiropractic Council (GCC).

What is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic is the treatment of spine and mechanical joint disorders. It is a common misconception that Chiropractors only treat backs. They can treat a wide variety of functional and mechanical disorders of any joints in the body.

 

What is a Chiropractic treatment?

Chiropractic treatment focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system and the effects of these disorders on general health. Treatment may involve – joint manipulation, soft tissue work, mechanical treatment such as Shockwave, RICE and rehabilitation advice.

What can a Chiropractor treat?

Our Chiropractors don’t just manage back pain but can also help with a wide range of conditions, head to toe, including –

  • Uncomplicated neck pain
  • Acute and chronic back pain
  • Osteo-arthritis (OA) and joint pain (as an addition to core OA treatments & exercise)
  • Leg pain
  • Prevention of migraine
  • Exercise guidance
  • Tension and inability to relax (through lifestyle advice)
  • Rehabilitation
  • Deep Tissue Massage
  • Muscle spasms and cramp
  • Headaches
  • Joint pain

Treatment is supported with individual advice and guidance about lifestyle, work and exercise to help manage a condition. You may be recommended massage, ice or heat treatment and specific exercises which you can safely do at home.

How do you treat these symptoms?

We help manage the discomfort through working on all the joints of the body, concentrating particularly on the spine/ spinal cord. We use their hands to make specific, gentle adjustments (the chiropractic term for manipulation) to improve mobility of joints, efficiency of the nervous system and release the body’s natural healing ability.

What could your clients expect on their first visit?

During your initial consultation we would explain about Chiropractic care and understand your personal situation through physical examination, observations and X-rays as needed. Our Chiropractors support the treatment they offer with individual guidance on lifestyle, work and exercise to help manage the condition.  We will agree a plan with our clients that best supports their ongoing treatment requirements.

Who could benefit from Chiropractic treatment?

People of all ages can benefit from chiropractic treatment, from a newly born baby to  over 100 years of age. Your consultation will be used to assess your requirements and the appropriateness of treatment. Following informed consent, your first visit will include treatment when assessed as appropriate.

Tell us one interesting thing about you?

Rebecca: My belief is that you are never too old to benefit from chiropractic treatment.

Lucy: My passion lies in the care of pregnant women, babies and children, most of my post-graduate training has been in these areas.

For more information or to find out more about how our Chiropractors can help or to book your appointment, please:

Call: 01628 779900

Email:  info@maidenheadpodiatry.co.uk

Visit:   maidenheadpodiatry.co.uk/treatments/chiropractic/

Over doing the Gardening? Top 10 tips from your Chiropractor to take care of your back

Chiropractic, , , , , , , ,

How gardening affects your back

With lockdown anyone who has a garden has been spending much more of their copiously available free time making them look the best they have for years.

As a nation, we love our gardens and spend a considerable amount of time and money on them.  As we rush to get those essential jobs done, there is a risk that we may end up injuring ourselves, especially our back.

What everyone wants is to be fit and healthy enough to sit in their garden and enjoy the fruits of their labour come summer time, so here are some helpful tips from our Principal Chiropractor, Rebecca from Maidenhead Podiatry and Chiropractic clinic:

What can I do? – Top ten tips –

  1. Dress appropriately –

    Don’t wear clothes that are tight or constrict your movement.

  2. Gardening is like any other exercise, you need to warm up first –

    Don’t go straight into heavy garden work, start off with lighter jobs first, this will lessen the chance of muscle strain.

  3. Don’t twist again –

    If you have to use a ladder for any of your gardening tasks, make sure you are always facing it. Rather than lean or reach, move the ladder regularly, always keep your shoulders, hips and knees pointing in the same direction and make sure the ladder is firmly and safely planted in position. If possible, have someone else standing there to keep an eye on things.

  4. Clever pruning –

    Get as close as possible to the things you are pruning; avoid overstretching to reach the area you are dealing with and invest in some long handled secateurs to reach plants and bushes that are beyond your normal reach.

  5. Digging deep –

    When digging, try not to bend or twist during the movement and alternate the foot you use to drive the spade into the ground.

  6. Raking –

    is best achieved with short movements; don’t reach out too far.

  7. Potting/planting –

    Use a mat and kneel when doing close weeding work, planting out or when potting up your plants, it is much better to do this at a table.

  8. Take a break –

    Vary your activity; spend no more than 20-30 minutes on any one thing and take regular breaks.

  9. Be clever with the paving –

    If laying a patio keep the slab close to your body and bend your knees.  It is sometimes better to bend one knee rather two, as your supporting leg gives you a position of strength and if using railway sleepers, two people will probably be needed.  Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

  10. Plan ahead –

    If you are planning a trip to the local DIY store and buying heavy items, such as cement or gravel, buy smaller bags rather than one big bag as they are easier and safer to carry. Shovel the contents of large bags straight into smaller containers or wheelbarrow from the back of the car.  If you are having items delivered, have them unloaded as close to where you need them as possible. This will save the effort of moving them again and a specialist garden trolley might be worth investing in to move these sorts of materials around, especially so if you have lots of patio pots to move.

Our Chiropractors

Rebecca Rees, BSc and Lucy Steel BSc MSc DC have over forty years of experience between them, are members of the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) and are registered with the General Chiropractic Council (GCC).

If you would like more information or to make an appointment with one of our Chiropractors, call – 01628 773588 and speak to one of our receptionists or email info@maidenheadpodiatry.co.uk. 

Visit: www.maidenheadpodiatry.co.uk/treatments/chiropractic for more information on Chiropractic. How it works and what it can do for you.

Need help with your feet or back – use our search bar.

Bio-mechanics, Chiropractic, Chiropractic for Children, Diabetic, Feet, Foot Care, Fungal nail, Gout, ingrowing nail, ingrown nail, plantar faciitis, Podiatry, Shockwave, Swift verruca treatment, Verruca, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Use our search bar the find what you are looking for

Many people visit our website for help or information on Podiatry or Chiropractic.

Both Podiatrists and Chiropractors offer a range of treatments and skills to benefit their patients but sometimes all you need is to be informed.

Below we describe what Podiatry and Chiropractic are and explain many of the treatments and services we offer but if you know what you are looking for then use the search bar in the top right hand corner of the screen.

A large part of what we provide for patients is help, advice and education and this website contains information on definition, diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of conditions and all can be accessed through the search bar.

It doesn’t matter if you are looking for something specific or just curious. Give it a go. Find what you are looking for in our education pages and previous blogs. Click on the search bar.

Podiatry

Podiatry is defined as the diagnosis and treatment of foot disorders; however, we assess, diagnose and treat from the knee down. We also treat warts on hands.

Chiropractic

Chiropractic is the management consists of a wide range of manipulative techniques designed to improve the function of joints, relieve pain and ease muscle spasm.

Chiropractors don’t only treat backs and can help with any soft-tissue or structural issues.

What is Podiatry?

Podiatry like many health care professions has general practitioners and specialists.

A general practitioner will treat anything from corns to verrucas and from plantar fasciitis or heel pain to ingrown toenails. We are all licenced to use local anaesthetic, perform minor surgeries such as ingrown nail removal and dispense antibiotics, if and where appropriate.

We provide vascular assessment and diabetic screening as a matter of course when requested or required. We have Podiatrists with special interests in areas such as diabetic care and biomechanical assessment and gait analysis. Gait analysis includes being filmed on a treadmill followed where appropriate by prescription of custom moulded orthotics together with an integrated exercise and rehabilitation program.

Seven Podiatrists and two Chiropractors trained in using the latest treatment and cutting-edge technology for a range of common conditions.

Cutting edge technology

Shockwave, which is a percussive mechanical treatment for chronic, or long-term, soft tissue pain such as heel pain, Achilles pain, hip pain and of course plantar fasciitis although it can be used anywhere in the body. It is used by both Podiatrists and Chiropractors

We were one of the first clinics in the country to use Swift, a microwave generator for the treatment of verrucas. We also offer salicylic acid, freezing and needling.

We offer all general foot care too including fungal nails, athlete’s foot, splits, fissures and infections. We also provide foot care in nursing and care homes as well as a domiciliary/home visiting service.

Contact us

Hopefully you have found what you are looking for but just in case you haven’t, give us a call on 01628 773588 and let us educate you. To find us follow the map and directions or put SL6 5FH into your sat nav.

We have our own free car park directly outside the clinic. Our premises are disabled friendly with no door thresholds and easy access throughout the ground floor. Let us know if you have any special requirements.

If you would like more information or to make an appointment give us a call on 01628 773588, and speak to one of our friendly receptionists or arrange a call back from one of our Podiatrists or Chiropractors.

And, we will of course cut your toenails too.

Referred pain, compensation pain and ingrowing nail pain.

Bio-mechanics, Chiropractic, Feet, Foot Care, ingrowing nail, ingrown nail, Podiatry, , , , , , , ,

What is causing your foot pain?

Our blogs this month have looked at some of the causes of foot pain.

Now, in the last of this series of blogs we look at some of the causes of foot pain not already covered.

Referred pain

This is where the cause of pain isn’t where the pain is experienced.

Sometimes, pain in the feet isn’t due to a local problem. For example, pain can be referred from the lower back. A bulging disc or degeneration of the spinal structures can lead to pressure on the nerve as it exits the spine. Although the compression is in the back, the pain is experienced in the foot. This is why your Podiatrist or Chiropractor will always take a comprehensive history into account during assessment.

There are many causes of referred pain which is why it is important to disclose full history during your consultation.

Compensation pain

This is where the pain is experienced because you are compensating for pain or mechanical malfunction somewhere else. For example, you have a painful corn on your foot. You have tried over the counter products but they haven’t worked. The pain is still there so you don’t put as much weight on the painful area. You are compensating for the pain this is called pain off-loading.

It is an autonomic response the body uses to protect itself. That is why we limp when our foot hurts. It is an autonomic response we can’t control. When we limp though we use the rest of the body in a way it isn’t used to. This can cause muscles elsewhere to fatigue and become painful. That is why when we limp we can find it can make our backs ache.

Your Podiatrist or Chiropractor will also take compensation pain into account during your consultation.

Ingrowing or ingrown nail pain

Ingrown or ingrowing nails come with different degrees of pain and tissue involvement. Some are quite mild with relatively little discomfort. When they are more serious they are often associated with pain and soft tissue structure changes. These changes can include infection, hyper granulation, redness, swelling, and heat.

If you are experiencing any of these changes then it is a good idea to seek professional advice.

It is important that you don’t try and treat this yourself. There are many reasons for ingrowing toenails. First among these is poor nail cutting. This can be compounded by trying to self treat and making things worse. Shoes are the only item of clothing we wear on a daily basis and never clean. The inside that is. When did you last clean the inside of your shoes? This can result in a microcosm of potential infection. Add a cut, scratch, or open skin to the warmth and moisture of the inside of a shoe and infection is often the result.

Remember – pain is a warning – don’t ignore it. If your toes start hurting and you suspect an ingrown toenail seek help from a professional.

Other causes of pain

This list is not at all comprehensive. There are too many other causes of foot pain to be covered here. These include but not exclusively:

  • fracture
  • stress fracture
  • dislocation
  • soft tissue injuries
  • infection
  • skin infection and neuropathic changes
  • verrucas

What can I do about my foot pain?

If you are experiencing foot pain and you would like more information give us a call on 01628 773588 and make an appointment with one of our Podiatrists or Chiropractors.

If you would like a comprehensive biomechanical assessment including gait analysis and custom orthotic prescription and manufacture, do give us a call on 01628 773588.

For more information visit www.maidenheadpodiatry.co.uk.

If you would like to know more about how we are risk assessing and managing our Covid-19 click here.

Why is my back hurting?

Chiropractic, , , , , ,

At Havelock Chiropractic, our Chiropractors are often asked, ‘why is my back hurting?

Back pain is often thought to be due to “over-doing it”, however, have you ever wondered why so many people injure themselves with simple actions like picking up a pencil or getting out of a chair?

It is important to understand that prolonged sedentary activity can be as bad as excessive unaccustomed exercise and extremely detrimental to the spine.

The Chiropractors at the Havelock Chiropractic encourage you to ‘listen to your body’.

  • It is important to note when you are in pain, how long does it last and how frequently does it return?
  • Is it worse in the morning, through the day or at night?
  • What is the location of the pain, and what is the quality of your pain (ache, cramp, sharp, shooting, burning etc.)
  • What aggravates it and what relieves it?

You may be experiencing other symptoms, such as pins and needles/tingling, cramp, stiffness and loss of motion, headaches, nausea, fatigue, irritability or vertigo, for example. You should not ignore these, be proactive and remember to tell your Chiropractor as soon as possible.

For more information or to book an appointment call us on 01628 773588 or e-mail on info@havelockchiropractic.co.uk