It hasn’t been done in a little while, so we thought we would compile 5 regularly asked questions and see what Nigel and Justin had to say about them.

1. So how many sessions do I have to attend before I start seeing any results?

Nigel: 300! ….Just joking….I believe you would start seeing results after the first visit. We treat on the first visit, so most people usually notice a difference after the first visit. Now this doesn’t mean they will be cured, but it gets the ball rolling. How many sessions before an injury or pain goes away varies between patients. It depends a lot on the severity, chronic or acute, compliance with treatment and exercises and so on. I like to take each appointment as it comes and judge from the progress the patient has made on each visit.

Justin: It depends on the injury, generally the books say 6 weeks is an average time frame for injuries to heel, but I’m with Nigel in that you can’t just judge each patient according to what the text book says. My aim is to get patients out of pain safely, efficiently and effectively. Sometimes that may take a couple days, weeks and sometimes months. The aim never changes though.

2. Shouldn’t I see a massage therapist or a physio if it’s a muscle issue?

Nigel: I always get annoyed with this question. I went to uni for 5 years and it all wasn’t just about the spine or bones. Hahaha. People need to remember first that muscles are attached to bones and joints, so by releasing the joint, in turn it releases the muscle. Adding to that, at our clinic both Justin and I work into muscles at pretty much every consultation. I’m not saying don’t go see a physio or one of our massage therapists, I’m just saying that as a chiro I treat everything muscular-skeletal.

Justin: What ever he said! It’s funny when I have a patient with me that I’m treating for a back issue and they tell me that they are seeing a physio for their ankle issue because chiros don’t deal with ankles. I guess this is all related to the misconception that chiros only treat back pain and/or spinal issues. We might analyse and treat people’s concerns differently to other health professionals but we do treat them. Chiropractors are musculoskeletal experts who are extensively trained in treating all types of muscular issues.

3. Do you get upset if one of your patients sees the other chiro in the clinic?

Nigel: Note to all my patients – if you see Justin instead of me, you are banished from the kingdom (laughs). Of course not, I’m just happy I have a chiro that I feel comfortable sending my patients to when I am not around. If they are happy seeing Justin from then on, that’s fine too, it just means that Justin is doing something good for the patient and I’m obviously all for that!

Justin: Never an issue. Being in this clinic I have felt that there is no competitive culture between either me and Nigel or between massage therapists. Everyone works so well together. I also believe we are all confident in the treatment we offer, so if my patients see another health professional, firstly I know they will be in good hands, and secondly, I feel good knowing that someone else was able to continue a high level of treatment and care.

4. I see all the kid’s photos on the walls, do you treat kids? Do they have major problems or something?

Nigel: Some kids have some major issues that I treat, but the majority come in because their parents want to make sure their child is given the best chance to prevent or minimise problems in the future. I think that is important. It could be as simple as training to ensure they don’t do certain things that may create postural concerns in the future, or more serious things that the parent never picked up, but easy for us to address and stay on top of it moving forward.

Justin: I’m still upset a picture hasn’t been dedicated to me yet! (laughs). Yes, we treat kids. I’ve noticed I see many young athletes. Some soccer players, basketball players and others. They are usually dealing with niggling injuries. Prevention is important, so I would say that if you have kids and you are concerned, it is always good to get them checked.

5. Should I take any supplements? Would they help?

Nigel: I say take it if your diet lacks it. One of the biggest sellers is magnesium. Many people lack it in their diet and it can help in so many ways. Another one is fish oil. It has so many benefits, but a lot of people lack fish in their diets, so they can benefit from it.

Justin: Whatever Nigel said. (laughs) It is there to supplement your diet. Our bodies need vital nutrients to stay fit, healthy and pain free, so make sure your diet is balanced, and if it lacks for any reason or you need a boost of a nutrient due to deficiency, then supplements are something you should look into.

We will try and get some more Q & A’s going, so we hope you liked this one!

Being a mum is a very special time. The whole process leading up to be a mum is special, and here at DHCTC we understand that. We have treated hundreds of women through their pre and post pregnancy journeys.

So what is it that we do for mums that makes us popular for pregnant women visiting our clinic?

Here are 5 of the most common reasons:

1. The pain relief
Mums experience pregnancy pain due to the bodily changes they endure. As the pelvis changes its position, the spine changes its curve, and the pressure of baby weight and internal pressure expands. Mums can go through a lot of pain. Safe and effective massage and chiropractic techniques are applied to help relieve pain. These are techniques we have been applying for over a decade and mums are loving the results.

2. The experience
As a mum, you want to make sure you are in experienced hands. You want to know that the person guiding you through this time knows how to treat you in a safe manner without causing harm or effecting your pregnancy. Well, having treated well over 200 women in our clinic alone the collective experience our health professionals have, can help our mothers feel comfortable when they enter and exit our centre.

3. The extra information and tools
Elina, is well known for giving her pregnant mums the right tools and advice at every step of the way. With the right nutrition, home exercises and advice, mums rest easy knowing they have that extra support as they go through each stage of their pregnancy.

4. Post pregnancy care
Pregnancy care is so important, yet many mothers continue care due to the extra stress and pain they endure higher up. Mums will generally notice pain and discomfort in the lower part of their spine and associated joints and muscles, but after birth the pain can shift and can be felt higher up in the spine and associated joints and muscles. This could be due to baby carrying, feeding, and lack of sleep. Rectifying these issues is as important as during pregnancy.

5. We have the right tools and equipment.
We have the correct treatment tables, pregnancy treatment pillows, non-invasive adjustment tools, natural oils and creams to ensure our mums are treated with the best of care.

So next time you fall pregnant or someone you know falls pregnant feel free to contact us for more information or book an appointment with one of our experienced health professionals.

Looking forward to seeing you soon.

1. His passion for chiropractic is second to none!

When you go see a health professional you want to know that the person looking after you is confident in the healthcare they are providing. You want to know that the treatment works and that you are pain free and healthier for longer. This is something you will notice with Justin when you have a consultation. He truly believes in what he is doing and the treatment he provides. He has a profound understanding of chiropractic care and loves what it has to offer. He is an active CAA member and is involved with the teaching hierarchy of Chiropractic at Macquarie University. You can be confident that when you come see Justin he provides the best of evidence based chiropractic care that works!

2. He thrives on criticism.

When Justin started here, one of the first things he asked for was feedback from his patients. If a patient was happy after their treatment, Justin would work on how to make them happier. If there is an inch of room for improvement, Justin is the guy that would look to be perfect at it. This is what you want from a health professional. Someone that can grow and perfect their skills to ensure the best possible results for their patients.

3. He plays soccer and has played at a representative level.

Justin loves sport, soccer in particular. Having played at a representative level, Justin understands the demands competitive sport can have. Justin treats athletes on a regular basis, which has given him a greater insight into injury management. This experience has also allowed Justin to integrate his biomechanical and chiropractic knowledge into athletic performance and movement enhancement. So if you are involved in sport or athletics, sports chiropractic care with Justin is the way to go.

4. He has further qualifications in dry needling.

As Justin deals with a variety of conditions, he knows that some respond better to different treatment techniques. As dry needling is an effective complimentary treatment to the chiropractic method, Justin has the ability to utilise this treatment where required. With a wealth of experience and anatomical understanding, Justin provides a premium service.

5. He is an optimist

He is a glass half full type of person. This is helpful when you are looking to achieve results with a stubborn ache, pain or injury. Staying positive is important when it comes to pain/injury management. Having the right person motivate you and treat you with a positive frame of mind puts you at ease

Let us be a part of your health journey. To make an appointment, book online.

See you soon!

Back pain can be a result of a serious injury, gradual progression of aches and pains due to an underlying cause, and in some cases other external factors. Therefore, it’s important to always check with a health professional to ensure the steps you take are right for you.

It is estimated that 70-90% of Australians will suffer from back pain at some stage in their lives. Now that’s a staggering number of members of the population. Hence, we believe there are things you could do to help get rid of pain, and more importantly, keep it from coming back.

Here are a few things we believe are vital to help improve your back and to avoid, or get rid of pain:

Drink plenty of water

Your muscles and joints rely on water to move better. Especially the discs which are found between each vertebrae. When we’ve had an adequate amount of water through the day, it allows our discs to rehydrate so we are moving better through the day. When we don’t drink enough water and the discs don’t rehydrate, it creates a build up of pressure on the discs which can lead to other issues causing back pain. Following on from this, if your muscles aren’t hydrated they are unable to contract effectively creating tightness and a lack of flexibility which can also lead to pain.
Try to drink between 2.5-3 litres a day. Don’t wait to be thirsty as this can mean you’re already dehydrated.

Maintain a healthy weight

Here is a small exercise for you: go grab a large glass of water and hold it out for a minute. You will start to feel it getting heavier by the second. Now this may only be 350ml but over time it effects you. Now if you are even 5kg heavier then you should be, that extra weight will effect your muscles and joints as they try to hold your posture.
You can find out your BMI (body mass index) online or through a health professional to see if you are at an ideal weight. Try to keep as close to that ideal weight as possible. Studies have shown that the closer you are to your ideal weight, the less muscle and joint strain you will have. For men and women who generally put weight around the back and belly, this will be most important for you to reduce lower back pain.

So, find out your BMI and ideal weight and work out a plan to help you maintain a weight close to that number.

See a Chiropractor

Treating back pain is what chiropractors are known for. When you do it for a long time and study it for the amount required by Masters of Chiropractic, you get very good at it. We have seen the results through our clinic over the past decade and it is most satisfying to see patients who have tried various avenues to get rid of their back pain, but feel they received the most relief after they have come to see us. Some of the latest research also shows that a chiropractic adjustment provides one of the safest and most effective relief for lower back pain.
Seeing a chiropractor will help realign the spine and take pressure off the muscles and nerves to get you pain free.

Lift weights

Strength training has been shown repeatedly to be highly effective in battling back pain. When muscles are weak they are unable to support the spine, adding pressure to your spinal discs and creating imbalances in your posture. By strengthening your core muscles and rectifying those imbalances you relieve pressure off your spine and allow your muscles to function correctly.
It could be in your best interest to see an exercise professional or a health care professional to ensure you are doing exercises correctly to get the most out of them.

If you smoke, STOP!

Researchers in America found a link between smoking and chronic back pain. They found that people, especially adolescents that smoked on a regular basis were found to be complaining of lower back pain. In comparison to those that never smoked there was a significant increase. So if you smoke and you suffer from back pain and you are trying different methods to relieve it, then apart from all the other good reasons to stop smoking, this is another one!
Look for a method to quit smoking that works for you and start the journey to better health.

Hope you enjoyed this blog post. Let us know what you think!

Let us be a part of your health journey. To make an appointment, book online.

See you soon!

Our current health system relies heavily on symptomatic relief and not enough on preventative care. This can create a certain mind set in individuals to treat problems as they arise, as opposed to creating avenues in their lives to avoid problems in the first place.~!

We are not saying that symptoms and problems will not arise, however if an individual can reduce the risk of both, then there is a greater chance to avoid them. A significant example of this is skin care. As is an area in our lives where we heavily promote preventative care. We wear hats, protective clothing, sun screen and use appropriate shelter, all to avoid skin cancer. By following the same example with other issues like, addressing poor posture in children to reduce the risk of back pain or injury in adulthood. Or not taking a pain killer when in pain, but considering the cause of the pain and preventing it from resurfacing.

Most people are ill informed when it comes to preventative pathways therefore humans naturally react to concerns as they arise. This is where changing the mindset comes into play.
So what can we do to change the mind set on health to become more preventative then reactive?
Below are 3 simple steps that can literally save your life:

1. Routine Health Checks

Such an essential part of healthy living. We are blessed to live in a country where healthcare is readily accessible, so don’t take it for granted. Schedule yourself in for yearly check ups with your GP. This will red-flag possible threats needed to take into consideration, assist in giving you peace of mind and help create healthier pathways for yourself.

2. Research your family medical history

Your genetics can play a part in your future health. If your family has a history of a particular condition, the likelihood of developing it is higher than normal. A classic example is heart disease. Does this run in your family? Then you may want to avoid a diet that increases blood pressure or cholesterol levels. Another example is a bunion. If it runs in your family, then always consider the right footwear and/or orthotics. The list goes on. The important thing is making yourself aware of the dangers and move in the direction of prevention.

3. If something doesn’t look right or feel right, usually it isn’t right, so do something about it.

Ignoring the warning signs and having the ‘she’ll be right’ attitude can at times be detrimental to your health and your life.
Here are some examples. If a lump appears that wasn’t there before and has no reason to be there, get it checked out. Although it may not be serious in most cases, it doesn’t hurt to check. It could be a life saver. Another example is posture. You look in the mirror and notice one shoulder sitting higher than the other, get it checked out. Or if you notice your child walks with their head tilted forward, get it checked out. These are clear early warning signs that effect most people in the long run. The longer you leave it, the harder it becomes to repair or align. Acting on those early warning signs can save you a lot of pain, time and money.

The moral of the story is, MAKE YOUR HEALTH PRIORITY NUMBER 1!
Change your mindset to act rather than react.

By getting yourself into a routine and making a habit of enhancing your health, you are adding better days to your life and hopefully more days to it as well.
The famous words ‘consistency is key’ ring here ever so loudly. Stay consistent with your checks and enjoy the benefits.

The Health Professionals here at Dulwich Hill Chiropractic and Therapeutic Centre are dedicated to obtaining better health. We are a team of people helping other people live healthy, happy and pain free lives.

Let us help you stay consistent and contact us today!

Well its simple, it controls everything.

Let’s get into a bit more detail. The Nervous System coordinates how the body works. It transmits signals to and from different parts of the body allowing it to function in a certain pattern. The controlling part of the nervous system is the Central Nervous System (CNS) which sends and receives signals through the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS). Through the 5 years that a chiropractor studies, they learn and understand the complexity of the nervous system and work to ensure it functions in an ideal environment.  

Health professionals understand the importance of nerve function, but here are 4 reasons Chiropractors focus on maintaining correct function of the nervous system:

1. It regulates every process of the human body. Right now, you are loving what you are reading as your nervous system allows you to. You can breathe, feel, digest, see, and think. It all works together to allow