We, Aussies, have a real history with horses, don’t we? They’re as much a part of our country as the desert, kangaroos, and…chiropractors? Well, maybe the horses have been around a bit longer than chiropractors. But, speaking of horses and chiropractors, did you know that there are equine chiropractors out there that can be beneficial in rehabilitating and maintaining the health of your horse? That’s right. After a chiropractic adjustment, there can often be immediate and amazing changes in your horse, physically and visually.

Of course, those changes won’t last without an effective program of rehabilitation because the problem most horses experience is that their used to their joints and muscles being out of the alignment. The chiropractor may put the joint back into proper place, but the memory of the muscles and the habits your horse has developed to compensate will probably result in the joint returning to what it considers a ‘normal’ state. An effective program of rehabilitation will help your horse to maintain the new and proper alignment through a progressive exercise program that allows the changed muscle positions and correct movements to become habit.

The chiropractor can give you a proper plan of rehabilitation exercises and, it’ll come as no surprise that the longer your horse has been out of correct alignment, the longer the rehab period will be. Just like your own muscles, your horse’s muscles need time to develop strength, mass and flexibility. If you have ever had a broken leg or arm, then you know that the muscles of that limb atrophied and didn’t return to normal as soon as the cast was removed. In fact, it required an extended period of carefully planned physical therapy. Remember this when you plan the recovery of your horse after chiropractic treatment.

Here’s to happy, healthy trails…for you and your horse!

Technorati Tags: chiropractic adjustments, chiropractors, equine chiropractors, horse health

We, Australian Chiropractors, know that chiropractic can be of great benefit to you, helping to ease your low back pain and other associated symptoms during your pregnancy, such as heartburn, nausea, and swelling. And, of course, chiropractic is safe for both you and your baby.

We are happy to report, however, that in addition to chiropractic care, a study published in the September issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology reports that a week of continuous auricular acupuncture can reduce pain and disability in pregnant women with low back and posterior pelvic pain.

Shu-Ming Wang, M.D., of the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn., and colleagues conducted a randomized, controlled trial and found that women receiving auricular acupuncture reported the best results. At the seven-day mark, about 80 percent of the acupuncture group reported a clinically significant reduction in pain, whereas only 56 percent of the sham acupuncture group and 36 percent of those in the control group did.

Although Wang and colleagues concluded that long-term efficacy of auricular acupuncture as a treatment for pregnancy-related low back and posterior pelvic pain clearly shows promise but is “still inconclusive,” it may be a valuable adjunct to chiropractic care when needed.

A bonus to seeing a chiropractor routinely during your pregnancy, however, is that it has been shown to actually decrease labor time. Why? Simply put, if the pelvis is aligned properly, the muscles contracting during the labor process are more efficient and won’t have to strain against misaligned joints.  And, should the need arise, certain trained chiropractors can also help a mother who has a breached baby. This is done by using the Webster Technique, a low force technique to manipulate the uterus and get the baby into the proper presentation for delivery. A simple Google search on the Webster Technique can give you much more information.

For more on the study go to alegent.com

Technorati Tags: acupuncture, chiropractic, chiropractors, low back pain, pregnancy

You’ve heard Chiropractors in Australia say, time and time again, “Motion is Life,” and that regular chiropractic care, exercise, and other healthy activities are good for body and soul. We, humans, were designed to walk, to run, to dance, and to move all the muscles of our body for our entire lifespan. So, naturally, it follows that we either “move it or lose it!”

Our aging “Baby Boomer” population is discovering just how true this cautionary advice is when it comes to energy, vitality, mobility, and good health in later years. With every year of our life, we have much to gain from being physically active…and plenty to lose by living an immobile or sedentary lifestyle.

An article I just read proves my point about this, mates, that our lack of movement and sedentary lifestyle causes obesity and other age-related problems. The article said that THE blueprint for a healthy nation has drawn headlines about controversial ”sin taxes,” but its toughest challenge will be to get Australians off the couch, says the public health campaigner Mike Daube.  ”The truth is that we may think of ourselves as a sporting nation but [we] are becoming a sedentary, car-focused and obese nation. We are a great nation of sports watchers,” said Professor Daube, the president of the Public Health Association.

He was deputy chairman of the National Preventative Health Taskforce, which this week proposed an array of measures to counter obesity that is threatening to afflict 6 million Australians by 2020 unless the population shifts behaviour to embrace physical activity.

As our age-related risks of chronic disease increase and our weight increases as well, regular physical activity can actually slow down the trend. In addition, research has shown that people who have already developed coronary artery disease, osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Type 2 diabetes, and other age-related chronic diseases can benefit substantially by increasing their physical activity and, therefore, often can manage their chronic illness with fewer medicines.

Furthermore, some studies suggest that the cardiovascular benefits an individual gets from physical activity may also help the brain stay healthy. “Physical activity influences the frontal region of the brain,” says Dr. Bradley Hatfield, professor of Sports Psychology at the University of Maryland, College Park. So, if you’ve been wondering what the best thing is that you can do to keep your brain young, the answer may be for you to take a long walk. A key factor is that exercise thickens the brain tissue and builds more synapses in the brain.  The brain has 10 billion nerve cells, called neurons, and on average, neurons are connected to each other through 10,000 synapses.  Every time we exercise, more synapses form and the active brain gets stronger.

On a regular basis, being physically active increases the quality of life (period).  Some of the benefits include improved energy levels, mental sharpness, balance, strength, flexibility, and weight control. Moreover, regular aerobic exercise has been shown to help in the management of depression, anxiety, and stress.

With Australians now among the most overweight in the world, it will be the activity campaign that’s likely to face the most resistance, Professor Daube says. The taskforce has suggested tax incentives to get us active, similar to a program in Nova Scotia in which parents get a $150 credit for registering a child for sport or recreation. It urges the inclusion of health and physical education in the national core curriculum for schools and children up to year 10 to be given a minimum of two hours physical activity a week.

The report says if more people were active for just 30 minutes a day, the health system would save $1.5 billion a year. It sort of gives “move it or lose it” a whole new meaning!

Full article is at: theage.com

Technorati Tags: chiropractors, health, obesity, taskforce

Stuart O’Grady urges Tour Down Under cyclists to mind their backs!

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