Why do I have neck and back pain?? 
And how can osteopathy help with this...

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ChiroCure Clinic Services Updated & Explained

​osteopathy & chiropractic for degenerative conditions

What is Degenerating Discs?

What are the stages of degenerative disc disease? Degenerative disc disease can be categorised by 4 stages. Stage 1 is the least severe and stage 4 is the most severe.

Causes & ​risk factors for degenerative disc disease The risk factors that may pre-dispose you to degenerative disc disease are: • Advanced age • Prior herniated disc or spinal injury • Job that requires strenuous physical work, prologed sitting • Lack of exercise • Obesity • Inherited genes • Smoking • Poor posture

Stages of degeneration Stage 1: In the 1st stage, the spine may loose its normal balance or arch, affecting the posture and inducing stress to the nerves and accelerated ageing process. You are not likely to feel any pain in this stage but you might experience a sense of discomfort. You may also feel sluggish or experience changes in your posture to compensate for the slight degeneration of the discs. Stage 2: In this stage, you may witness increased postural changes as the degeneration is greater. It has been projected that by age 40, about 78% of men and women exhibit moderate disc degeneration. During this phase, a person is much more likely to feel intermittent aches and pains as well as tiredness. Unfortunately, many people consider that the reduced energy and aches and pains are normal and not a sign of degenerative disc disease. Stage 3: Further postural changes occur in this stage. This is also associated with additional damage to the spine due to the possibility of severe nerve compression. Bone spurs may form and compress the nerves, leading to radiating pain and increased feeling of tiredness and exhaustion Stage 4: In the end stage or in advanced degenerative disc disease, the intervertebral disc degenerates and the disc space collapses resulting in herniation of the inner disc material through the disc wall. MRI or a CT scan may also reveal visible changes in the bony portion of the neighboring vertebrae. The pressure of the herniated disc on the nerves leads to pain and neurological symptoms. The symptoms of advanced degenerative disc disease depend largely on which spinal level the pathology occurs and the amount of herniation or stenosis involved.

How to relieve shoulder and upper back tightness after a long day in front of your computer?

Stretching your pectoral and upper trapezius muscles help alleviate pain and discomfort in your neck and mid back region allowing you to sit down with improved posture. Our practitioners are happy to show you how to stretch your tight muscles, next time you have a treatment. We also offer... EXERCISE GROUP FITNESS CLASSES EVERY SATURDAY!​​

​When Should You See An Allied Health Professional at ChiroCure Clinic!?

How Does Osteopathy & Chiropractic Help With Your Pain? Dr. Matt Explains

Dr Matthew Samartzis

Dr Matthew is one of experienced chiropractors at ChiroCure Clinic StKilda. He has a specific interest in the treatment and management of sports injuries, degenerative conditions and acute pain presentations including headache & low back pain. Dr. Matthew is passionate about providing holistic care that includes manual adjusting. 

Should you see a 
​Chiropractor or an Osteopath?

ChiroCure Clinic is open sat & sun for appointments!

Book Appointment

Our  imaging referrals and services

ChiroCure Clinic is open this holiday period!!​​

Author

Dr Tania Leski
Chiropractor @ChiroCure Clinic

​Massage Treatment Explained...

Treatment for… Muscle spasms Aching, tension, tight Mobility & Stiffness Increasing blood flow & circulation Alleviating soft tissue imbalances Posture Encourage the body into the correct position Encourage faster healing Relaxation & stress relief

Do you need a helping hand during isolation and social distancing?
​
If you can’t go to the gym or do outdoor exercise, but still want to stay strong and healthy... why not let us help you?​

The Foam Roller ​The Foam Roller is great for increasing mobility throughout your spine and extremities. You can focus on loosening tight and tender muscles, through direct pressure or stretching over the foam roller. ​It is a great tool that you can easily store and use anywhere at home that will help you strengthen and protect your body. We offer a detailed manual with images and descriptions, created by one of our chiropractors, to assist you to create a personalised rehabilitation program.  Manuals can be purchased online and mailed out, as well as supplied in PDF form so you can view it on your phone or tablet!!! Ask Your Chiropractor about these products and how they can help you reach your health goals while at home.

The Resistance Band A tool prescribed regularly by your Chiropractor to help correct postural abnormalities, strengthen weak muscles or muscle groups and stretch those that are tight and tender. Resistance Bands are a great alternative when you are not able to attend the gym, as it gives you the ability to strengthen or stretch specific muscles or muscle groups anywhere in your own home. The Resistance band can be accompanied by detailed direction through rehabilitation from your Chiropractor.    Exercises aim to:  Increase range of motion through specific movements, improve muscle Strength through Isometric, eccentric or concentric exercises & decrease Muscle tightness through stretching ​

Spikey Ball ​Last but not least, the Spikey ball is fantastic at pinpointing specific muscles that are tight and causing restrictions through movement. ​It plays a similar role to your Foam Roller, but with more specificity.    Through correct application the spikey ball can be used to complete self myofascial release exercises as well as trigger point therapy and massage in your own home. Exercise manuals aim to:  Release tight and tender muscles, prevent muscular pain and spasms,  & lengthen muscles to reduce pull causing misalignment.

We would like to warmly welcome our newest Chiropractor - Dr Matthew to the ChiroCure clinic team!  
Available during COVID lockdown 

​We are very  excited to be able to offer Dr Matthew's clinical experience and passion for health care to our patients and the local community. Dr Matthew is a registered Chiropractor with a double degree from RMIT, who grew up in the Northern suburbs of Melbourne.  It is evident in his approach to Chiropractic care, that he has a strong focus toward the function of the human body and the application of evidence based medicine. He believes that treatment can support optimal function through education, exercise, rehabilitation, positive thinking and chiropractic care.  Dr Matthew is dedicated to helping people from all walks of life towards a healthier path, so they can achieve their goals and have more energy to do what they love!! ​​He is looking forward to meeting you for care!

​ Appointment Availability: ​ Mon    2pm - 9pm Wed   12pm - 9pm Thurs  10am - 8pm Sat*   12pm - 6pm ​ Book now

​What is Fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition that often causes debilitating pain and associated symptoms including emotional stress and headaches.

7 common symptoms of fibromyalgia, and how we can help!!

#1 Chronic Pain  Fibromyalgia patients experience a condition known as central sensitisation. This means that the body is constantly in a state of wind-up where stimuli are perceived as far more painful than they should be. Central sensitisation causes the body to categorise non-dangerous stimuli as dangerous, leading to widespread pain in the body.  #2 Overwhelming Sensory Responses  For fibromyalgia patients touch is not the only sense that is easily overwhelmed, you may also experience changes in sight, smell, and hearing. Thus, a loud noise, bright lights, or pungent odour may prove exhausting, or trigger a flare-up in symptoms. Unfortunately, sensory overload is often unavoidable for a fibromyalgia patient.  #3 Extreme Exhaustion  The exhaustion associated with fibromyalgia can be debilitating. Exhaustion may be caused from the stress of dealing with pain on a continual basis. This may in turn cause sleeping problems.  incorrect sleeping posture or pillow support - we can help you with this at the clinic. #4 Difficulty Sleeping For someone suffering from fibromyalgia, sleep problems can result in a debilitating cycle. Lack of sleep actually causes a person to experience higher pain levels. However, that pain can also make it difficult to sleep. Our practitioners can offer recommendations on lifestyle changes that may help improve sleep habits, including therapeutic pillows and sleep posture. We can also offer support to help you find your best environment for sleep. #5 Associated Conditions ​Research has found a link between fibromyalgia and an increased risk of IBS - irritable bowel syndrome. Patients may also be at greater risk of suffering from emotional conditions including depression and anxiety. Whether the pain or uncertainty of the fibromyalgia symptoms and create negative effects in a patients social life, personal life or career.  #6 Cognitive Symptoms For many fibromyalgia patients, this can be one of the toughest parts of the condition to deal with. Pain can make it difficult to focus. This can affect both work and home life. Short-term memory issues and information retention problems are common. You may wander the house for half an hour looking for your keys only to forget what you needed to go to the store for in the first place. It can be tough to explain to family and friends what it is like to feel as though you are in a fog at all times.  #7 Chronic Headaches or Migraines  Fibromyalgia patients are at risk of experiencing for more frequent migraines or headaches, including tension headaches, as chronic pain and stress can lead to tension in the neck and shoulders and spine. Our practitioners can help with specific treatment techniques and home care exercises to relax the muscles around your tension areas.

Treatment options... ​Our practitioners can offer you chiropractic, osteopathy and remedial massage treatments to help manage your condition and symptoms. Our Chiropractors and Osteopaths will focus treatment around the cervical region, specifically the top two bones in the neck, being  the C1 and C2 vertebrae, as well as the cranial region.  ​ To learn if upper our cervical specific treatment is the right option for you, please come and see us at ChiroCure Clinic in StKilda. Our therapists will take a patient history and perform a physical examination. We may refer you to have some diagnostic imaging, which may help to determine the degree and location and extent of any upper cervical misalignments that are present. We will discusstreatment options and a plan of care can be determined to meet your specific needs.

ChiroCure Clinic will remain open for the duration of this second lockdown period.

Our treatment techniques

Spinal Manipulation Therapy

Also known as manual chiropractic manipulation, this chiropractic adjustment technique is the most commonly used of all techniques and is the one probably most familiar to patients. ​It involves a quick, yet gentle, pressure to the joint using the chiropractor’s hands. It often results in an audible ‘pop’. This sound is created by the change of pressure within the joint that results in gas bubbles being released.

Activator Adjusting

The Activator adjusting instrument provides a low force approach to adjusting within chiropractic care. The Activator instrument assisted treatment has been used on patients of all ages since the late 1960s and has a steadfast reputation for bringing relief to people with a variety of health concerns including back pain, neck pain and headaches. It is gentle and pleasant in application, and an audible 'pop' may be heard.

Impulse Adjusting

Drop Piece

Flexion distraction

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DRY NEEDLING TREATMENTS

Accredited practitioners

Dry Needling Explained

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