The Bedford Chiropractic Clinic and Wellness Centre

This white paper discusses the significance of the 2014 study published in the Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Practice called “Effects of poster anterior thoracic mobilization on heart rate variability and pain in woman with fibromyalgia”. The amount of fibromyalgia sufferers increases steadily each year. A disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues, fibromyalgia inhibits the ability to live a normal life. No cure currently exists for the disease, but many doctors and researchers spend time, money, and resources in search for the antidote. In 2014, a study evaluated changes that occurred in the health of fibromyalgia sufferers after receiving spinal adjustments. The findings were remarkable and as follows: ·        The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effects of one session of spinal adjusted care on both autonomic modulation and pain in women with fibromyal...

Seventy-two per cent of migraine sufferers in a clinical trial experienced either ‘substantial’ or ‘noticeable’ improvement after a period of chiropractic treatment, defying historical skepticism of chiropractics by some medical practitioners. The randomised clinical trial was undertaken by Dr Peter Tuchin, a chiropractor for the past 20 years, as part of his recently-completed PhD thesis at Macquarie University. “Around 22 per cent [of patients] had substantial reduction – which means that more than 60 percent of their symptoms reduced during the course of the treatment,” Tuchin says. “What makes this a really strong result is that this was a really chronic group – the average length of time they’d had migraines was 18 years. To get a change of that sort of magnitude in a really chronic group was quite amazing. “Another 50 per cent had quite noticeable improvement. They either found that the frequency of the migraines was less, the length of time they had them was less or tha...

The knees experience pressure equal to approximately 3 times the body's weight when walking and approximately 5 times the body's weight when running. In other words, a person who weighs 150lbs puts about 750lbs of pressure on the knee when landing each running stride. Not surprisingly, the knee is the most frequently injured joint in runners and non-runners alike. Runner's knee: patellofemoral pain syndrome When people say they have "runner's knee," they are typically referring to patellofemoral pain syndrome. "Patella" means kneecap and "femur" means thighbone, so patellofemoral pain is pain that originates between the kneecap and thighbone. The pain is felt at the front of the knee, either under or around the edges of the kneecap. The root of patellofemoral pain can vary and may be difficult to identify. For example, the kneecap may not glide well along the groove in the femur (thighbone), or relatively weak hip muscles may ca...

Low back pain might begin as acute due to an injury, but can become chronic. Managing pain appropriately at an early stage can help limit symptoms in both time and severity.   Pain is typically divided into three categories: acute, chronic, and neuropathic.  Common Symptoms of Lower Back Problems Specifically identifying and describing symptoms can help lead to a more accurate diagnosis and effective treatment plan. Low back pain is typically characterized by a combination of the following symptoms: Dull, aching pain. Pain that remains within the low back (axial pain) is usually described as dull and aching rather than burning, stinging, or sharp. This kind of pain can be accompanied by mild or severe muscle spasms, limited mobility, and aches in the hips and pelvis. Pain that travels to the buttocks, legs, and feet. Sometimes low back pain includes a sharp, stinging, tingling or numb sensation that moves down the thighs and into the low legs and feet, ...

Let’s face it, most of us don’t take very good care of our spines. This lack of care can lead to physical discomfort and make us susceptible to future injuries and complications. Do your spine, and your overall health a favor and take the time to treat your spine to a few of these 11 indulgences: 1. Make exercise a lifestyle Exercise is essential when it comes to maintaining a healthy spine—and it can also aid in the rehabilitation of your injured spine. You don’t need to be an expert in physical fitness to indulge your spine with regular exercise. A simple exercise program that focuses on stretching and strengthening the back, hamstrings, and abdominal muscles can go a long way toward distributing nutrients into your spinal discs and soft tissues, accelerating your healing process, and keeping your discs, muscles, ligaments, and joints healthy. 2. Engage your mind If you suffer from chronic pain or discomfort associated with your spine, take the time to engage in mindful...

Do you suffer from headaches or migraines? For those of you who have visited us here, you would recognise this question, regardless of the reason you came in to see us. It has been estimated that 10 million people in the UK suffer from headaches on a regular basis (nhs.uk). So unsurprisingly here at the clinic we see a lot of patients suffering headaches, whether it being their main complaint or something that we have uncovered during the case history. Quite often they can describe these as ‘normal’ headaches.  There is no such thing as a ‘normal’ headache. Some of you may ask, ‘What do headaches have to do with your spine?’ Well there are hundreds of types of headaches but some of the most common are tension headaches, migraines and cervicogenic headaches, all of which can be influenced by spinal health and posture. Tension Headaches Those who suffer with tension headaches, often describe a feeling of band like pressure across the forehead and temples. They can also des...

The majority of episodes of acute lower back pain are caused by damage to the muscles and/or ligaments in the low back. While a muscle strain doesn’t sound like a serious injury, the resulting lower back pain can be surprisingly severe and is the cause of many emergency room visits each year. Lower Back Strain Low back pain from muscle strain can be surprisingly severe. There are two common types of lower back strain: A muscle strain happens when the muscle is over-stretched or torn, resulting in damage to the muscle fibers (also called a pulled muscle). A lumbar sprain happens when ligaments are stretched too far or torn. Ligaments are very tough, fibrous connecting tissues that connect bones together. For practical purposes, it doesn’t matter if it is a muscle strain or a ligament sprain that is causing the pain, since the treatment and prognosis for both are the same. When the muscles or ligaments in the low back are strained or torn, the area around the muscles wil...

Your Wellness Profile All of us have had health-related issues at some time or other. Whether it's low back pain, headaches, asthma, gastritis, an ankle sprain, or a rotator cuff injury, we've all had a health problem that ultimately needed treatment. Chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and various types of cancer are especially difficult and usually require interacting with multiple specialists over many years. However, regardless of our health history, it's worthwhile for all of us to stop for a bit, sit down quietly, and take stock of our current health status. As we carefully assess our current situation and where we'd like to be, telling the truth to ourselves is very important. Remarkably, engaging in the process of such an honest overview may create an opening for a new appreciation of the personal importance of health. It's likely that we will notice some dissatisfaction with our current health circumstances and may experience ...

Rejuvenation Versus Resignation With the new year and arrival of Spring; we should consider making the commitment to regular chiropractic care at the top of our resolutions list. By detecting and correcting spinal misalignments that are sources of nerve interference, regular chiropractic care helps keep the nerve system in peak condition. With a well-tuned nerve system, the rest of our physiological systems such as the cardiorespiratory, digestive, and immune systems are enabled to function at top capacity. In this way, regular chiropractic care helps to optimize all our physiological functions so that we can enjoy long-term health. This is the time of the year when our recently made resolutions are put to the test. Were they holiday-fueled imaginings or meaningful expressions of our heart's true desires? Are our resolutions sturdy things that will help us carry out our goals and plans for the rest of the year or are they flimsy constructs composed of hopes rather than sub...

The Therapeutic Science Of Adult Coloring Books: How This Childhood Pastime Helps Adults Relieve Stress Colouring used to be reserved for children and the occasional adult who got to babysit them, but recently, the activity has found a different demographic. What started as a niche hobby has now turned into an international trend, as adult coloring books find themselves on more and more bestsellers’ lists throughout the world. However, while this trend may be a fun way to pass the time, it’s the books’ therapeutic properties that really have them flying off shelves. Adult coloring is both beautiful and relaxing.  Maxime De Ruyck CC BY 2.0 The Healing Power Of Art Art may not be able to cure disease, but it can surely make coping with it a lot better. Researchers have acknowledged the therapeutic qualities of art for years, and today, art therapy is used to help people express themselves when what they’re feeling is too difficult to put into words, such as when they’re...