The Bedford Chiropractic Clinic and Wellness Centre

American children under the age of 15 visit physicians for middle ear infections more than any other reason. Ear infections (otitis media) represent the most common cause for which antibiotics are prescribed for children. Almost 10% of children will have experienced an ear infection by the age of three months. Nearly 50% of children will experience three or more episodes of ear infection by the age of three. The annual cost associated with the management of pediatric ear infections lands around $5.3 billion . The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises an initial observation period for management of an ear infection. These clinical practice guidelines refer to deferring antibiotic treatment for 48-72 hours. The recommended observation period stems from research indicating antibiotic treatments should only be recommended when absolutely necessary due to the damage they inflict on the gastrointestinal tract. Despite this research, surveys conclude that only 15% of medical ph...

Doctor, This white paper discusses the significance of the October of 2015 study published in the Journal of American Osteopathic Association called “Incidence in Somatic Dysfunction in Healthy Newborns.” An intimate relationship exists between the alignment and movement of the spine, and the function of the central nervous system. Chiropractic is known to help people with a variety of conditions, disorders, and symptoms due to the role of the spine on central nervous system function. But the benefits of chiropractic are not only for those who are suffering. Like a cavity, a small misalignment in the spine can occur before pain or symptoms arise. A popular question about chiropractic amongst healthcare providers and their patients center around the necessity of chiropractic care for babies, children, and adults in the presence or absence of symptoms. This study evaluated one-hundred newborns for the presence of somatic dysfunction, and the findings were remarkable.  ▪ T...

Doctor, This white paper discusses the significance of the study published in the 2013 Public Library of Science One Journal titled “Investigating the Autonomic Nervous System Response to Anxiety in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.” Recent statistics reveal that one out of every sixty-eight children suffer with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD is defined as a complex developmental disorder that can cause problems with thinking, feeling, language and the ability to relate to others. It is a neurological disorder, which affects the function of the brain. Science and research behind the neurological influence of a chiropractic adjustment explains why and how children and adults with autism can be helped. This research looked at autonomic nervous system function in children with autism The objectives of this study were to:  ▪ Examine whether anxiety causes significant measurable changes in indicators of the autonomic nervous system in an autism spectrum disorder(ASD...

A Bulging DISC is when one of your spinal discs is bulging which can cause symptoms such as back pain, leg or arm pain, numbness, tingling and weakness as it influences your nervous system. Patients that have been diagnosed with Bulging DISC may think that there is not much that they can do about it and they are stuck with this major problem, however that is incorrect. With the correct information and the correct treatment, a lot can be done to help you reduce the pain. There are many common misconceptions that people have about Bulging DISC which results them in believing false information, however this post will provide you with the true and correct information to help you: FALSE: Bulging DISC symptoms will ‘disappear’ if you have plenty of rest. TRUTH: If you leave your Bulging DISC untreated then the problem can lead to permanent nerve damage and a life-long pain, therefore if you are suffering from any back pain, buttock pain or leg pain then it is important that...

A frozen shoulder is a painful condition that reduces the movement of the shoulder causing pain and stiffness. It usually affects people between the age of 40-70 and it is more common for women, especially in postmenopausal women, than men. According to the NHS, studies have shown that approximately 1 in 20 people will suffer from frozen shoulder. Frozen shoulder is also known as adhesive capsulitis or shoulder contracture. It can be frustrating because you may look healthy on the outside but the pain inside is disturbing. These symptoms can disturb your ability to sleep, do normal and simple things such as picking up a spoon and it will make it difficult for you to do a lot of hobbies and exercise. To get the right treatment can be difficult because the cause of frozen shoulder is not always understood. Very often, clinicians will focus all efforts on the shoulder itself, however by following this approach means that trying to find the underlying cause becomes difficult. ...

Research Proves Every Headache is connected to the Neck Dr Sandhu helps many of people overcome  pain and suffering from headaches every day.  Spinal adjustments provide a healthy alternative to the use of drugs or surgery. Many people remain unaware of the alternative approach and benefits available through Chiropractic adjustments. These same people find themselves consuming  dangerous chemicals  to deal with painful symptoms rather than ever addressing the cause of headaches and other ailments. Today’s research reveals that the root cause of most headaches begins with understanding the characteristics simplifies the pursuit of  finding a solution. Brain tissue does not cause a headaches pain. The main culprit s of headache pain stems from changes in  muscle function ,  nerve receptors , and  blood vessels.  Humans never actually  feel  their actual brain. The lack of sensation explains why neurosurgeons operate on brain ti...

Summer is a time for swimming, travel, and get-togethers with family and friends. The last thing you want is for your back pain to throw a wrench into everything. Try these 6 suggestions to enjoy the great outdoors without the hassles: 1. Warm up first.  If you haven't been active lately, it's best to start gradually. Do some slow stretches or take a short walk before joining that basketball game or digging up those overgrown bushes you've been meaning to get to.  2. Make a splash.  Water's buoyancy is a boon for your back. It not only eases lower back compression, it allows greater range of motion without the risk of falling. Warm water has the added benefit of relieving stiffness and relaxing tight muscles, which can aggravate back pain. 3. Skip the flip-flops.  Flip-flops and flats offer little support, putting stress on your back. Sandals can be a better way to keep cool. Look for styles that hold your feet securely—no slipping from side to s...

Do you suffer from work-related chronic pain? Does pain you experience affect you work? If you answered “YES” to both questions, then you belong to the big group of tradesmen who suffer from chronic pain. In fact, tradesmen account for the highest number of injuries, musculoskeletal conditions and other health risks of any other profession. Nearly a quarter of all plumbers, builders, roofers and other tradesmen experience back pain, sciatica, muscle stress and strains from lifting equipment, bending over all the time, tripping, slipping, and falling due to managing equipment.  What causes chronic pain? In some cases, chronic pain is associated with specific injury from the past. On the other hand, there are also people who suffer from chronic pain but didn’t experience any injuries at work. It’s because chronic pain is usually result of combination of different factors. It can also be related to conditions such as: Arthritis Lower back pain Nerve damage Neck Pain Dis...

Did you get hurt during your workout?  It’s time to grab the heating pad… or the ice pack… or both—who even knows! There’s a lot of confusion when it comes to using heat or cold to help treat common exercise injuries like strains, sprains, pulled muscles, shin splits, knee injuries and tenderness. Let’s put an end to it once and for all! Here’s your temperature care breakdown, so you know when it’s time to sing a song of fire or one of ice. Ice, Ice, Baby As a general rule, always choose ice for injuries and inflammation. Cold restricts blood flow and reduces inflammation and swelling. Whenever there’s bleeding in underlying tissue—think sprains, strains or bruising—ice treatment is the way to go. You can use cold therapy in two ways: immediate or rehabilitation. Immediate treatment: helps prevent the injured area from becoming stiff by reducing tissue fluid. Rehabilitation: aims to restore normal function to an affected area by reducing pain and spasms, ...

Local chiropractor urges routine spinal checks for children Bedford chiropractor Dr Surinder Sandhu is backing calls from a national organisation that parents should consider regular spinal check-ups for their infants and children. The United Chiropractic Association (UCA), which has 600 members in the UK and abroad, says the check-ups should be thought of in exactly the same way as dental checks. The UCA is highlighting the health benefits to children as part of its 2017 Spinal Awareness Week on 15-19 May.  The campaign – Checking Future Adults … Today! – points to research where parents reported unexpected improvements in their child’s health after having chiropractic care. UCA executive board member Dr Jonathan Clarke says despite it being shown that spinal check-ups can contribute towards children maintaining a healthy body, most parents don’t know about the benefits: “It’s an awareness issue,” he said. “Parents will get their kids’ teeth, eyes and hearing checked ...

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...

Bamboo is an incredibly strong and flexible plant, but many people do not initially understand how bamboo can be used to make some of the softest, most comfortable pillows on the market. Neither a standard pillow stuffed with bamboo pieces nor a pillow formed from hard layers of bamboo, bamboo pillows are instead specially treated to become extremely pliant threads and then woven into one of the world’s most sustainable and hypo-allergenic textiles. THE BENEFITS OF A BAMBOO PILLOW Bamboo fabrics and bedding material, including pillows, have become extremely popular in recent years. Any textile made from bamboo has a number of benefits over other types of organic material, including: Bamboo thrives without pesticides or chemical treatments, so all bamboo fabrics are naturally organic. As a hearty plant, bamboo contains natural elements which are anti-bacterial. Bamboo fabric absorbs sweat readily, making bamboo pillows naturally temperature controlled. Bamboo pillows ar...

To stand tall or not to stand tall? In my experience, so many people take their posture for granted, not realising how much it can impact there lives. I grew up walking around my grandmothers living room with a book or bottle balanced on my head. 'Keep your shoulders back, look forward, stand tall' she used to say. I found this highly entertaining and saw it more of a game than something that would help me later in life. On a daily basis, I see people that are in pain brought on by bad posture, sometimes working too long at a desk, sitting in a car for a long duration, lifting something in the wrong way or carrying a baby on one side. Granted, sometimes these things are unavoidable but most of the time these very bad habits can easily be changed. Too often I'll be walking through a supermarket and see someone hunched over pushing there trolley, more often than the older generation. This is likely to be caused by a lifetime of poor posture. Not only will...

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...