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More golf play, means more swings, and more injuries!

Are you ready for some spring golf?  Time to dust off your golf clubs, clean out your golf bag, and tee it up!  As most golf injuries are due to overuse, proper warmup is essential for peak performance.

Here are some of the most common golfing injuries:

Low Back Pain

The rotational stresses of the back swing can place a tremendous amount of pressure or strain on the spine, discs and muscles of the lower back.  Because the swing is one direction, overtime  this can lead to more serious problems of sciatica (pain down the leg) , disc  injuries, and degenerative disc disease or osteoarthritis.

Regular chiropractic adjustments, spinal decompression,and  myofascial release  are all treatments that work well to stabilize the lower back and maintain a healthy spine and allow pain free range of motion.

Golfer’s Elbow

This injury also known as medial epicondylitis  occurs when there is inflammation of the tendons on the inside of your elbow.  Repetitive motion leads to pain and point  tenderness at the elbow, and pain when striking the ball.  Strengthening and stretching the forearm muscles, and slowing down your swing can help take some of the strain away.  Try squeezing a tennis ball, or doing simple wrist curls and reverse wrist curls with a small hand weight.  Shockwave and myofascial release are treatments that are fast and effective in helping heal up the tissues in that area.

Bursitis

Bursitis is a common injury in the elbow as well as the shoulder.  The bursa is a fluid filled sac that acts as a cushion between the bone and skin.  With overuse, it can become inflamed and swell, making range of motion very painful. RICE, rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation is a common the treatment for bursitis, as well as lase r and ultrasound to decrease the inflammation.  Many people get bursitis and tendonitis mixed up and are unsure of the diagnosis.  Dr. Crowle can evaluate the area and effective come up with a treatment plan for you.

Rotator Cuff Tendonitis

The shoulder is often affected in golf.  People often experience pain when the arm is lifted away and overhead.  Overtime  tendonitis at the shoulder can make regular golfing very difficult.  Some people with chronic shoulder issues develop Frozen Shoulder, where their range of motion is very painful and they are not able to lift their arm in the full range of motion above their head.  Frozen shoulder is a long process and can take up to a year to regain full range of motion. Chiropractic adjustments, Shockwave and moyofascial release are all affective  in relieving pain, and helping you to continue golfing as you are healing .

Other Repetitive Injuries

Many golfers experience knee  pain due to the twisting of the swing, and the sideways force at the knee.  Meniscus injuries, as well as osteoarthritis over time can cause problems  in the knees.

Carpal Tunnel  is inflammation of the nerves and soft tissue of the wrist and  Dequervain’s tendonitis of the base of the the thumb are also prominent injuries in golf.

Tips on how to prevent these types of injuries:

Get to the course early. You need enough time to take care of your business in the golf shop, use the restroom, change your shoes, etc.  Remember, your warmup routine sets the tempo for the day, so move slowly and relax.

Begin warming up on the putting green. Putting is 40-percent of golf and the putting stroke is the slowest and smoothest of all strokes in golf, and then spend the next 10 minutes hitting chips around the green with a tee as a target.

Begin your full swing warmup with stretching. Stretching can improve your range of motion and light calisthenics such as jogging or jumping jacks will help get the body prepared.  Use your club to stretch your arms, shoulders and spine side to side and twisting.

Keep hydrated (water) on the course, and don’t ignore the early warning signs of pain and tenderness in these areas of your body.  Overtime they can get worse and become chronic issues, and lead to arthritis and degeneration.  Remember if you fail to warm up properly you are setting yourself up to fail when you play.

Having regular chiropractic adjustments and assessing the spine and extremities for weakness and imbalances can keep golfers injury free and back in the game.

Guest Article

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Headache Free is Possible says a Natural Health Practitioner

Headache Free is Possible says Natural Health Practitioner

Headache Free is Possible

Headaches are common, but they are not normal;and being headache free is possible says a natural health practitioner. By finding the cause of your pain, chiropractic care can give you relief to a discomfort that disrupts your life and often makes everyday tasks unbearable.

Headaches are one of the most common problems/symptoms that affect us. Headaches are also one of the most common symptoms, and there are numerous types of headaches such as tension headaches, migraines, trauma headaches, sinus headaches and rebound headaches.

Other common problems that induce headaches are infections, hangovers, stress, fatigue, physical or emotional trauma, problems in the pelvis and lower back, and a malfunction in the upper spinal bones in the neck, affecting nerves, muscles, and blood supply to the head.

On the surface, headaches seem to come in a variety of forms – throbbing, pounding or stabbing. Chiropractors believe that most headaches are ultimately caused by the overloading of the nervous system.
There are an estimated 4.5 million Canadians spending upwards of $60 million dollars each year on over-the-counter and prescription drugs in search for a permanent solution. For some, the medication works, but for many the relief obtained is temporary.

Powerful drugs numb the nervous system so pain doesn’t register and can cause adverse effects on the stomach, liver, and kidneys. For anyone who is suffering from a recurring headache (two-three times a week), it is important to recognize it as a serious sign that something is wrong. Please remember that the headache itself is not the problem.  However, the headache is only a symptom that something else is wrong. Although a quick relief to the pain, drugs provide only a short-term solution to the problem, while the underlying cause of the headache goes untreated.

Migraines are one of the more painful types of headaches often leaving the sufferer in bed and immobilized. Most migraine sufferers notice symptoms that occur before the headache actually hits, such as visual changes, dizziness, muscle contraction, nausea, etc. The headache itself may last from a few minutes to a few days.

The chiropractic approach to headaches, especially repetitive headaches, is to take a good case history. Through the case history and consultation, we can determine patterns and possible causes. A good example would be a headache that begins several weeks after a car accident. In the majority of cases, we will find the problem is usually caused by one or more subluxations (misalignment of the vertebrae) in the neck.

It is important to know that a headache is a warning sign. The more frequent or more severe the headache, the greater the warning sign. Headaches that happen every day or almost every day are called rebound headaches and are caused by overuse of pain medicines. Often these headaches begin early in the morning. The location and severity of the headache may change from day to day. People who have rebound headaches also may have nausea, anxiety, irritability, depression, or problems sleeping.

Talk to your healthcare practitioner about the medicines you are taking. You can safely stop taking some medicines right away; while other kinds of medicine have to be slowly reduced. After stopping the headache medicine, it is common for your headaches to get worse for a few days. Do not make changes to your drug plan without talking with your doctor.

Make an appointment for an assessment or to discuss any questions you might have regarding headaches; and imagine what your life would be like pain free! Remember that headache free is possible says a natural health practitioner.

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Find Relief from a Herniated Disc with A Natural Health Practitioner

Your spine is made up of vertebrae and discs, so finding relief from a herniated disc with a natural health practitioner like a doctor of chiropractic makes sense.

Discs are like soft cushions between the bones of the spine. The discs in the spine let you move your backbone. When a disc between two bones in the spine presses on the nerves around the backbone, it’s called a herniated disc. The word “herniate” means to bulge or to stick out. Sometimes this is called a ruptured or slipped disc.

Herniated discs are most common in the lower part of your spine referred to as the lumbar spine. This area is constantly absorbing the impact of bearing the weight of the upper body.  The lower back is also critically involved in our body’s movements throughout the day, as we twist the torso in rotating side to side and as we hinge the back in flexion and extension while bending or lifting.

When part of a disc presses on a nerve, it can cause pain in the back and the legs. How bad the pain is depends on how much of the disc is pressing on the nerve. In most people with herniated discs, the pain spreads over the buttocks and radiates down the back of one thigh and into the calf. This is known as sciatica because the pain travels along the path of the sciatic nerve. Some people have pain in both legs, and will feel numb or a tingly sensation in their the legs or feet.

Here are some signs  If you have a herniated disc, the painful symptoms will worsen:

  • After you have been sitting down or standing for a long period.
  • During the night.
  • When you laugh, cough or sneeze
  • When you walk, even a short distance.
  • When you bend over backward

Becoming active as soon as possible is very important. Exercises can be helpful. The goal of exercise is to make your back and stomach muscles stronger. This will ease the pressure on your disc and make you hurt less. Ask your practitioner about safe exercises for your back, and start these exercises after your back is a little stronger and doesn’t hurt as much.

Spinal Decompression is painless, drug-free, non-surgical  treatment. Research has shown it to be highly effective for disc-related injuries, and most people who have a herniated disc are better in about 4 – 6 weeks.

Spinal Decompression provides relief to severe back and neck pain sufferers by gently reducing the pressure within spinal discs. The bones of the spine are slowly and methodically separated and as the vertebrae are separated pressure is slowly reduced within the disc until a vacuum is formed. This vacuum “sucks” the gelatinous center of the disc back inside thereby reducing the disc bulge or disc herniation. Significant disc bulge reduction removes pressure off the spinal nerves and drastically reduces pain and disability. This “sucking” vacuum also pulls much-needed oxygen, nutrients and fluid into injured and degenerated discs allowing the healing to begin.

What can you do to help prevent a herniated disc?

Good posture (standing up straight, sitting straight, lifting with your back straight) can help your back by reducing the pressure on your discs.

  1. Bend your knees and hips when you lift something, and keep your back straight.
  2. Hold an object close to your body when you carry it.
  3. If you stand for a long time, put one foot on a small stool or box for a while.
  4. If you sit for a long time, put your feet on a small stool so your knees are higher than your hips.
  5. Don’t wear high-heeled shoes.
  6. Don’t sleep on your stomach.

If you or someone you know needs to find relief from a herniated disc with a natural health practitioner, please call Diversified Health Clinic for a free consultation.

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Natural Health Practitioner take a Close Look at Foot Problems

Natural health practitioner take a close look at foot problems, understanding that your feet are extremely complex structures composed of bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, tendons, nerves, blood vessels, and skin. They are subject to injuries and other problems caused by normal wear and tear over years of supporting the weight of your body and making it possible for you to stand, walk, run, and jump.

Natural Health Practitioner take a close look at foot problems

foot problems

The most obvious symptoms of foot trouble are pain and dysfunction (limping, favouring one foot or the other, inability to put weight on the heel and/or the toes). Foot pain can be due to ill-fitting, inappropriate footwear that cramps your feet; injuries that keep you from walking well–or at all; sprains which stretch or tear ligaments (which connect bones); and stress fractures of bones in the foot, which can result from accidents or overuse while engaging in sports or exercise.

Foot pain and dysfunction can force you to modify the way you walk and create significant stresses on the joints of your legs, hips, and lower spine. Your feet are the foundation for your entire body. Even without pain, foot dysfunction can cause your whole body to overcompensate, which can lead to back pain and even headaches.

No one is safe from foot problems. But older or overweight individuals, diabetics, and serious athletes and dancers who place great demands on their feet are more prone to foot disorders than others are.

The most common foot problem though is Pronation. In pronation, some of the bones of the foot drop to a less stable position because the foot arches are too weak to keep them in proper alignment. The arches themselves may be unnaturally stretched (“flat feet”), and stress on the entire foot increases. Another common problem — one that is often found along with pronation — is Plantar Fascitis, a stress irritation of the sheath of elastic tissues running nearly the entire length of the foot. If not treated, either condition can lead to progressive development of foot malfunction and discomfort.

Chiropractic or Physiotherapy can help overcome foot and ankle problems that can cause additional problems in other structures such as in your legs, hips, lower back. The practitioners can use a number of diagnostic tests, including examining your gait and foot function.  They will palpate (move) your feet and ankles to measure any limitations in range of motion to identify what is causing your pain, and determine the best course of treatment.

In addition, your practitioner may use Shockwave therapy, and recommend orthotics to help solve some of your foot problems. When your natural health practitioner take a close look at foot problems they can provide lifestyle counseling that can help reduce biological and psychological stresses on your body as a whole.

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Jumpers Knee Treatment

Jumpers knee treatment Jumpers knee treatment is just one of many knee injury treatments offered at Diversified Health. Anyone can be a victim of a knee injury; whether you are a professional athlete, a weekend warrior or  just doing your day-to-day activities. The knee joint is unique in that it carries body weight at the same time as it provides flexibility and mobility and this construction predisposes the joint to risk of injury from sudden movement and repeated wear and tear.

What can cause knee injuries:

• Ligament Sprains – Overstretching  ligaments are bands of strong tissue that stabilize the knee joint together.

• Cartilage Tears – Pressure from twisting and turning during weight-bearing exercise

• Tendon Strains – This is an overuse injury commonly caused by repeated jumping or “jumpers knee”

• Footwear –ill fitting footwear can affect the way you walk and can place stress on the muscles and tendons around the knee joint.

• Frequency/intensity of activity – Any change such as jogging or playing tennis on a different surface can affect the knee joint.

Treatments for knee pain:

A health care practitioner at Diversified Health Clinic will assess your knee to determine the source of the problem and to develop an individual treatment program.  Depending upon the type and degree of injury, the program may include practices such as Acupuncture, Massage Therapy, Chiropractic and Physiotherapy.

Treatments can include manual adjustments, and modalities such as cold laser, shockwave therapy, ultrasound, graston technique or neuro-mechanical adjusting tool.

Returning to activity:

At Diversified Health Clinic we can provide a program to help prevent re-injury as you return to normal activities, including stretching exercises to regain flexibility around the joint and strength training to build up the muscle in the Rehab Gym.

Another element of the rehabilitation program is to retrain balance and coordination. A knee injury involves more than just stress and strain to the soft tissue. It also affects the tiny receptors in the muscles, ligaments and tendons that ‘tell’ you where your knee is positioned. These receptors send signals to correct balance and shift weight.

Whether you require a jumpers knee treatment or a sprain/strain treatment, Diversified Health Clinic will provide you with numerous options that will include exercise programs that will help you strengthen your muscles and get you back participating in the activities you love.

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The Problem with Running & Walking in 2012…an Evolutionary Point of View…by a Natural Health Practitioner

The problem with running and walking in 2012…  an evolutionary point of view…by a natural health practitioner

– Written by Nick Milton

For those of you who like to run or who have chosen a sport that involves running, it’s getting to that time of year when you’ll be increasing your activity more and more as the ever elusive spring gets closer to arriving.

From working with various athletes over the years I’ve become accustomed to seeing a wide range of problems in the upper and lower extremities.  When it comes to running, either in sport, or as a hobby in itself, it’s important to remember that some precautionary measures are vitally important, after all, we weren’t evolutionary designed to be walking or running on hard surfaces.

Fundamentally our feet and ankles work at their best walking or running on sand, vegetation and earth.  Hundreds of thousands of years ago we were running barefoot whilst hunting to survive, much as some tribes in Africa still do today.  These surfaces have more shock absorbing qualities and allow for the curves of our feet to mould around whatever we are stepping upon.  This in turn, takes the stress off our joints, their articulations and the muscles and ligaments which support them.  The truth is our bodies have not developed any new strategies to cope with all the hard surfaces which are common place these days, so we need to use our common sense to prevent it becoming a problem.  Even simple standing or walking for your job all day can cause problems in the long run.

Of course, doing an adequate warm up and being diligent about stretching pre and post activity will all help, but there are a few other things you should bear in mind.

As most healthcare practitioners and the more serious runners out there will tell you, it’s vitally important to have high quality and supportive footwear which can absorb some of the energy created whilst you’re pounding the pavement/concrete/tarmac.  If you are really serious about your sport I also highly recommend investing in custom orthotics which allows your individual foot shape to work at its absolute optimum.  The common misconception about orthotics is that they correct bio-mechanical problems when in fact they merely are designed to adapt to your particular foot shape and gait.  These things need to be assessed by a qualified individual who has access to the newest technology.  Orthotics off the shelf will simple not suffice, they are in fact (in my opinion) not likely to help you at all.

If you would like to prolong your activity in running or any other sport it is also extremely important to have your feet, ankles, knees, hips and spine checked for any bio-mechanical dysfunction.  It’s no different from having your teeth checked or taking your car for a tune up.  Please don’t be fooled by thinking that if there is no pain – then everything is fine, this thinking will increase your chances of injury and will prevent you from reaching your full potential.

The nerves which control the lower limb and its various muscles and joints originate from the lower back,and any pressure on them as they exit the spinal cord (which could be caused by something simple like poor posture) or on their course down through your pelvis and legs can cause a wide range of problems.  It’s highly important to insure this is not the case before embarking on prolonged periods of physical activity, as this will improve your co-ordination, proprioception, strength and reduce fatigue.

Did I also mention chiropractors don’t just specialize in backs? We recognize and advocate that it’s definitely a huge part i.e. to release pressure from the nervous system for best communication between brain and body.  Please understand that we also have very thorough training in orthopaedic problems and we spend years learning how to release tension from the joints, muscles and nerves of the extremities as well as the spine.  I promise you’d be surprised by how simple and effective our treatments are for these kinds of problems.

Here at Diversified Health we are well trained and superbly equipped to help you with all your health requirements whether that’s rehabilitation after an injury or prevention of it in the first place.  I certainly know which one I prefer!!

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Our Health Clinic Answers the Question, What is Chronic Back Injury?

Our health clinic answers the question, What is Chronic Back Injury?  A healthy back is straight, moves easily and is free of pain. When there is pain in any area of the back for a very long period of time, this is called chronic back injury, or chronic back pain.

The most common area for chronic back injury is the lower back; also called the lumbar spine.

Back pain is usually defined as either acute or chronic. Doctors may diagnose low back pain as acute if it lasts less than a month and is not caused by serious medical conditions. If the pain persists, it is considered chronic back injury, also called chronic back pain. This constitutes only 1% to 5% of back pain cases.

Chronic Back pain

Herniated discs are also a common source of back pain. Inside each disc is a jelly-like substance and 80% of the disc is water, which makes it very elastic. A disc does not contain any blood and relies on nearby blood vessels to keep it nourished. A herniated disc occurs when the cartilage between the vertebrae tears. As a result the cartilage and its contents will bulge out from between the vertebrae, often putting pressure on the nerves in the area.

How Common is Chronic Back Pain?

  • Almost 20 million (2 in 3) Canadians will have at least one episode of back pain in their lifetime.
  • 600,000 (1 in 50) Canadians will be disabled by it.
  • Chronic back injury occurs in both men and women.
  • It can affect people of any age, but older people are more likely to have chronic back pain.

Back pain is the most prevalent medical disorder in industrialized societies.

What are the Warning Signs of Chronic Back Injury?

  • If you have pain in the back that lasts for longer than a few days but less than a month this is called acute back injury.
  • If the pain lasts longer than month this is called chronic back injury.
  • The pain can be anywhere in the back. It can be in one area only or spread across a wide area.
  • Your back might be stiff and the muscles swollen. This combination of pain, stiffness and swelling is called inflammation.
  • Some injuries will cause muscles spasms in the back, and pain or weakness in a leg.

Back pain can develop anywhere from the neck to the lower spine. The pain can be localized or spread across a wide area and radiate from a central point. Muscle spasms may occur at the site of the pain. Some people also get pain or weakness in a leg as a result of back injury.

What causes Chronic Back Injury?

  • Many times the cause of chronic back injury is not known.
  • Poor posture is the most common cause of back pain.
  • Injury due to lifting heavy objects is also a frequent cause of back pain.
  • Being overweight and not exercising enough can increase your risk of back injury.
  • If your back is weak you can get back pain when you get upset or feel stressed.
  • Some types of arthritis can cause chronic back pain.

How to avoid Chronic Back Injury;

  • Be kind to your body. After doing heavy work, or doing the same task over and over, stop and rest.
  • Use your back, arms and legs in safe ways to avoid putting stress on joints.
  • When you lift a heavy item keep it as close to your body as possible. Keep your back straight and use your legs to do the lifting.
  • Use helpful devices such as a cart to carry your grocery bags.
  • Maintain a healthy weight to avoid putting extra stress on your joints.
  • Be aware of your posture and be sure to stand and sit straight.
  • Wear proper walking shoes that support your feet and help keep your back and legs straight.
  • Sleep on a firm mattress and support your neck properly with pillows. Do not sleep on your stomach as this can strain your neck.

Receiving regular maintenance treatments from your health practitioner is a great preventative measure; so when our health clinic answers the question, What is Chronic Back Injury? You will already know how to avoid this condition.

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Victoria Health Clinic can Diagnsois Tennis Elbow

Victoria Health Clinic can diagnsois Tennis Elbow, but first, what is Tennis Elbow.  Tennis elbow is an inflammation, soreness, or pain on the outside of the upper arm near the elbow.  The medical terminology for this condition is lateral epicondylitis.

Tennis elbow is caused when the muscles in your forearm known as tendons (they are attached to the bone on the outside of your elbow) are used repetitively.   Over time small tears develop in the tendon and this can lead to pain where the tendon is attached to the bone. A good example of this is playing tennis or other racquet sports; although any activity that involves repetitive twisting of the wrist can lead to this condition!

The symptoms that are associated with tennis elbow are a weak grasp, elbow pain that gradually worsens and a radiating pain from the elbow down to the wrist when grasping or twisting.

Diversified Health’s treatment plan for tennis elbow is a combination of Shockwave therapy, and Graston Instruments .  The practitioner will also assign specific exercises to stretch and strengthen the muscles of your forearm.

Patients can assist in the treatment by avoiding the activity that caused the symptoms for several days; apply ice 2 -3 times a day to help with inflammation, as well as taking an anti-inflammatory such as Traumeel.

Be sure to ask your practitioner about any changes you can make to your work environment, technique or sport’s equipment that you are currently using.

Victoria Health Clinic can diagnosis tennis elbow, and provide treatment so please give us a call at 250-382-0018 to find out more information!

 

 

 

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To B or Not to B, that is the Supplement

b12These days, you simply can’t eat enough food to obtain all of the proper nutrition you need due to the fact that our soils have been depleted, or it may be difficult to find enough locally grown produce to fulfill our needs. You know that supplements are beneficial, but do you know the key questions to ask yourself about buying the right vitamins, minerals and other nutritional supplements?

For example, are you sure that the echinacea product you’re taking is the correct species of the plant? The correct portion of the plant? Processed to provide optimum bio-availability? Are you sure those coenzyme Q10 capsules contain COQ10 and not just a mixture of riboflavin and folic acid which looks just like COQ10?

Wide price differentials exist among particular nutraceuticals, and one reason can be differences in the quality of the raw material between manufacturers. There’s natural diversity in the genetics of the plant that have a long-term impact as to the final quality of the packaged product. Some plants may have high levels of active ingredients, while others may have none.

Vitamin B for instance, supports healthy cardiovascular an nervous system function, as well as the ability to boost energy levels.  But what brand, what dosage and when should it be taken are questions that you should be asking before taking any nutraceutical supplement.

If you’re unsure about the quality of the vitamins, minerals and/or supplements you are taking, ask for suggestions or recommendations by your health care practitioner.  The practitioners at Diversified Health Clinic use only the highest quality nutraceuticals.

Remember, if you ever have any questions or concerns about your health, talk to us. We’re here to help, and enjoy participating in your life long good health!

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Is Spinal Decompression Right For Me? | chiropractor victoria bc

If you are asking the question, is spinal decompression right for me? | chiropractor victoria bc; there is a good chance that you are suffering from neck or back pain.  Spinal decompression provides relief to severe back and neck pain sufferers by gently reducing the pressure within spinal discs.

The bones of the spine are slowly and methodically separated using a state-of-the-art decompression table (Diversified Health Clinic uses the Kennedy Decompression Table). As the vertebrae are separated pressure is slowly reduced within the disc until a vacuum is formed. This vacuum “sucks” the gelatinous center of the disc back inside thereby reducing the disc bulge or disc herniation. Significant disc bulge reduction removes pressure off the spinal nerves and drastically reduces pain and disability. This “sucking” vacuum also pulls much-needed oxygen, nutrients and fluid into injured and degenerated discs allowing the healing to begin.

Is Spinal Decompression Right For Me? | chiropractor victoria bc

Spinal DecompressionTable

On your first visit to Diversified Health Clinic your practitioner Dr. Krisjan Gustavson will take a detailed medical history, and a through physical exam, which can include a variety of diagnostics tools.

Therapy sessions typically last 20 minutes with most people feeling pain relief with as few as 3-5 treatments. It is important to remember however, that pain subsiding does not infer that your discs and spine are healed, so it’s critical that patients follow the treatment protocol prescribed by their practitioners in order to achieve the full value of the decompression therapy.

What conditions can benefit from using a decompression table

  • Severe or chronic low back and neck pain
  • Sciatica
  • Degenerative disc and joint disease
  • Herniated or Bulging disc
  • Numbness, tingling or burning pain

Lumbar decompression effectively treats these conditions to help patients live a pain-free life and return to a more active lifestyle.

Please contact us for a free consultation which will help to answer the question; is spinal decompression right for me? | chiropractor victoria bc.

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