Do you have
- Unremitting and constant pain 
- Widespread pain 
- Is the pain unresponsive to anti inflammatories like Nurofen
- Night pain and or disturbed sleep 

Research shows that patients presenting with low back pain and whiplash disorders can develop into chronic widespread pain nearly 1 in 4 times. 

Risk factors can be 
-Age 
-Longer duration of pain
-Anxiety and depression 

Chiropractic therapy, can it help?
Manual therapists aim to decrease muscle tension and increase joint range of motion to relieve the musculoskeletal pain 

As chronic low back pain is associated with altered spinal and cortical pain processing, Some studies are finding that chiropractic adjustments to the spine has temporal activation of antinoceiceptive pathways.  It can also reduce the widespread hypoalgesic effects. 

Exercise has shown to trigger peripheral and central processes like the pituitary and hypothalamus to enable analgesic effects. 

References 

Nijs J, Malfliet A, Ickmans K, Treatment of central sensitisation in patients with 'unexplained' chronic pain: an update. Expert Opinion on Pharmacology 2014: 15 (12): 1671-83
Sluka KA Et al A joint Mobilisation reduces hyperalgesia associated with chronic muscle and joint inflammation in rates . Journal of pain 2006 (8) 602-7
Bender T Et al The effect of physical therapy on beta endorphin levels. European Journal of Applied Physiology. 2007: 100 (4): 371-82 

What is it good for?
- So many great resources, wound healing, immunity and nerve health! I personally take this every day for that reason .

Where are good sources?
- it is commonly found in nuts, seeds, brown rice and whole grains

What are the signs you may be deficient? 
​- its hard to have severe signs of vitamin E deficiency. You may have dry skin in most cases. 
​​If you want more information. Please call Health Wise Chiropractic 03 9467 7889 or book online to see one of our Chiropractors in Sunbury or Bundoora Today!

Health Wise Chiropractic Sunbury- Shop 3/21 Dornoch Drive Sunbury 3429 
​Health Wise Chiropractic Bundoora- Office 1 12/16 Mcleans Road Bundoora 3083 ​​​

What is it good for?
- vision, strengthen the immune system and growth and development 

Where are good sources?
-carrots, sweet potatoes, liver, child peppers parsley, kale, broccoli and spinach. 

What are the signs you may be deficient? 
-night blindness, faulty tooth and bone formation and follicular hyperkeratosis ( bumps on the skin )
​
​​If you want more information. Please call Health Wise Chiropractic 03 9467 7889 or book online to see one of our Chiropractors in Sunbury or Bundoora Today!

Health Wise Chiropractic Sunbury- Shop 3/21 Dornoch Drive Sunbury 3429 
​Health Wise Chiropractic Bundoora- Office 1 12/16 Mcleans Road Bundoora 3083 ​​​
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Now that we have discussed what dry needling is and what muscles it is used for in our previous posts, we can now talk about some common questions my patients have. 

What is the difference between acupuncture and dry needling?

Basically, both use the same needles, however the chiropractors use the needles to use on muscles and their trigger points. Acupuncture use the needles to help with ailments. 

Is it painful?
Most patients actually don't feel the insertion of the needles, unless it is a really acute painful trigger point. Some may feel a twitch which is like an electrical shock. You may feel sometimes in the arm numbers after the infraspinatus muscle has been worked on and re activated, which is a good thing!

Will i be sore after?
Just like you may get sore after a gym work out, same with dry needling. When we activate the muscles sometimes post treatment soreness can last for a couple of hours. 

Can i go to gym after treatment?
Absolutely, work the muscles and don't sit down for long periods.Keeping the body moving is essential 

Is Dry Needling safe?
Based on current research, Dry needling and Acupuncture are sage. The needles are safe and are single use and are disposed of after use. The likelihood of bleeding or bruising is extremely low. 

​​If you want more information. Please call Health Wise Chiropractic 03 9467 7889 or book online to see one of our Chiropractors in Sunbury or Bundoora Today!

Health Wise Chiropractic Sunbury- Shop 3/21 Dornoch Drive Sunbury 3429 
​Health Wise Chiropractic Bundoora- Office 1 12/16 Mcleans Road Bundoora 3083 ​​​
​

Do you have any heel pain? does it radiate along the foot?

Does the pain get worse when getting out of bed in the morning ?

It could be plantar fasciitis. 

The cause is believed to be either pronation or supination. A flat foot (hyperpronation) with forefoot abduction can cause stretching of the plantar fascia.  A high arched foot (supinated) can cause the foot to be rigid. 

Due to the foot not being able to absorb the weight bearing tension , shin splints may also occur. 

How Can Health Wise Chiropractic Help?

Initially taping for support and orthotics can help. The Chiropractor may also give some stretches to help the plantar fascia. 

Chiropractic adjustments to the navicular bone and the first metatarsal joint are usually beneficial in our patients to allow the plantar fascia to heal more effectively. Ultrasound therapy may also be applied. 

​​If you want more information. Please call Health Wise Chiropractic 03 9467 7889 or book online to see one of our Chiropractors in Sunbury or Bundoora Today!

Health Wise Chiropractic Sunbury- Shop 3/21 Dornoch Drive Sunbury 3429 
​Health Wise Chiropractic Bundoora- Office 1 12/16 Mcleans Road Bundoora 3083 ​​

Have you ever had a complaint in the front or the back of your lower legs? It could be Shin Splints. 

One of the most common problems is walking and/or running on a hard surface. My patients often complain of a deep ache and is often better when the patient doesn't put weight on the legs. 

One of the believed causes is the fact the muscles that are used for shock absorption ( tibialis anterior, extensor hallucinating longs and digitorum longs) are placed under extreme pressure in walking and running on hard surfaces. 

How Can Health Wise Chiropractic Help?
In the initial phase, we often recommend rest from running, applying ice and maybe taping. 

Studies have shown that a dietary change to increase calcium can help 

Although it can be painful, some muscle therapy to the muscles can be beneficial. Chiropractic adjusting the tibia and fibula bones can give relief. 

​​If you want more information. Please call Health Wise Chiropractic 03 9467 7889 or book online to see one of our Chiropractors in Sunbury or Bundoora Today!

Health Wise Chiropractic Sunbury- Shop 3/21 Dornoch Drive Sunbury 3429 
​Health Wise Chiropractic Bundoora- Office 1 12/16 Mcleans Road Bundoora 3083 ​

Do you have pain around the outside(lateral) side of the knee.

It could be iliotibial band syndrome (ITB)

The cause of this is believed to be a tight ITB that rubs on the lateral epicondyle of the femur (specifically at knee flexion) 

It is more common in runners and more specifically is noted in a lot of downhill running. There are some studies that show fast runners are less likely to develop ITB problems compared to slower runners (joggers)

How Can Health Wise Chiropractic Help?

Stretch stretch and stretch that ITB and its muscular attachments ! The team at health wise chiropractic will work on the muscle to allow the muscle to heal and relax  and hopefully take some of the pain away. 

Generally we dont adjust the spine for the first 2 weeks to not over stretch the ITB. After the initial phase however, Chiropractors start adjusting the pelvis and work on surrounding muscles to allow better movement to occur. 
​
​​If you want more information. Please call Health Wise Chiropractic 03 9467 7889 or book online to see one of our Chiropractors in Sunbury or Bundoora Today!

Health Wise Chiropractic Sunbury- Shop 3/21 Dornoch Drive Sunbury 3429 
​Health Wise Chiropractic Bundoora- Office 1 12/16 Mcleans Road Bundoora 3083 

Do you have pain in the hip (mainly buttock), groin, or knee pain? it could be Osteoarthritis. 

Usually my patients notice a slow stiffening ( especially with internal rotation activities like getting in and out of the car ) in the hips. 

you may also experience low back pain and that is mainly due to excessive extension in the back to compensate for the limited hip extension. 

What causes the osteoarthritis?
- It is mainly due to progressive degeneration of federal and acetabular articular cartilage. 

How can Health Wise Chiropractic Help?
- we always recommend trying to reduce your waistline will benefit. 
- non weight bearing activities like pool exercise and bicycle riding. 
- Chiropractors will help the hip contractors and stretching the surrounding muscles. 

​​If you want more information. Please call Health Wise Chiropractic 03 9467 7889 or book online to see one of our Chiropractors in Sunbury or Bundoora Today!

Do you have pain that feels like Sciatica? It could be ischial Bursitis. 

My patients always complain to me about sitting for long periods of times (those lucky office workers) and people that love horseback riding. 
Sometimes the frustrating symptom is the leg pain that can feel like sciatica. 
Another daily activity is when driving the symptoms get better when they put the foot down on the pedal

For younger athletic patient, sprinting constantly with a tight hamstring may lead to bursitis. 

How Can Health Wise Chiropractic Help 
- we always have different ways we show patients how to cushion the joint to help with daily activities. 
- working on the tight muscles and trying to increase joint movement may also help with different patients. 

​​​If you want more information. Please call Health Wise Chiropractic 03 9467 7889 or book online to see one of our Chiropractors in Sunbury or Bundoora Today!

Subtrochanteric Bursitis, what is it?
First lets talk about what a bursa is, a bursae(fluid filled sac) is a thin lubricant that are located at various areas in the body that help with friction between the bone and the surrounding soft tissue(Skin, Muscles, Ligaments and Tendons)

The two major bursae in the hip are the subgluteous medius and subgluteus maximus. My patients are often middle aged and have pain in the hip with a limp. Sleeping on the side where the bursae is inflamed is often to painful. 

What can cause it?
This is where Chiropractors really assess the body as there are many things that can cause a bursitis. There is often a loss of internal rotation. Other things can cause a bursitis in the hip are low back dysfunctions, a leg length discrepancy and arthritic conditions. 

How Can Health Wise Chiropractic Help?
Depending on what we find in a consultation, we often do the following:
- fixing the leg length discrepancy 
- adjusting the pelvis and hip 
- stretching the hip abductors
- if the problem is long term, we use our ultrasound therapy. 
- after a couple of weeks, adjusting the hip when the inflammation has decreased is usually performed by the trained chiropractor. 

​​​If you want more information. Please call Health Wise Chiropractic 03 9467 7889 or book online to see one of our Chiropractors in Sunbury or Bundoora Today!

Below are some stretches the Chiropractor may prescribe.