Regular exercise is a great way to maintain spinal health, but sometimes overexertion can do more harm than good.  At our chiropractic and physio clinic in Brighton, we often see people who have sustained a back injury from improper technique at the gym. Most commonly, this comes from bad ‘form’ in weight-lifting, as this kind of exercise often targets the lumbar region and lower spine. However, sometimes even doing an exercise properly, like deadlifts, will cause back pain. Deadlifts are the commonest form of gym injury that we see. We recommend that you avoid dead-lifting unless you hav ..read more

There’s nothing more frustrating than finding that the path to recovery is longer than you expected. The cause of back pain is highly individual, often brought on by a combination of different factors, some of which you might not even be aware of. This means that no two journeys will be the same, even within the same diagnosis. Here we will explain why the progression to back pain relief varies so much from person to person, and what you can do to speed up your recovery.  What You Need To Know About Back Pain Recovery These are the main factors determining the speed of your recovery from ..read more

Disc bulges, also called disc prolapse, disc herniation or slipped disc are common in the spine but most don’t cause any symptoms. When they do cause symptoms you can get back pain and sciatica. With the right chiropractic care most get better in a few weeks. Sometimes, however, the disc bulge is so big it compresses not just the sciatic nerve but the spinal cord itself. This is called Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES) and is a serious and sometimes hard to detect condition that, when suspected, needs immediate attention. Read on to find out the symptoms and potential causes of CES.  What is Ca ..read more

Walking is a simple and effective way to maintain your spinal health. However, for many people, what should be an enjoyable experience can become a painful one due to lower back discomfort. If you’ve ever experienced this, you know how frustrating it can be.   Lower back discomfort while walking can manifest in a variety of ways. Some people may experience a dull ache or tightness in the lower back, while others may feel sharp, shooting pains. The discomfort can be localised to one side of the lower back or radiate down the buttocks and legs, indicating potential nerve involvement. I ..read more

Did you know that your spine needs almost constant movement to stay healthy?  Many people think that the spine needs to remain as straight as possible all the time. In fact, it has a natural S-shaped curve of its own. It consists of 33 bones stacked on top of each other, all with joints in between which allow for movement and flexibility. It’s also home to your central nervous system, which is linked to every process in your body, from metabolism to blood pressure to stress responses.  How much your spine moves will always be connected with your quality of life. As we get older, we t ..read more

Your body needs magnesium to run smoothly.  An average adult body contains around 25 grams of magnesium, 60% of which is stored in the skeleton. This macronutrient is a cofactor in the numerous biochemical reactions that continuously occur within the body. It is integral to the process of converting into energy, as well as regulating your nervous system and aiding in muscle contraction and relaxation.  However, a study conducted in the US found that more than 50% of adults aren’t getting the magnesium they need. This has been linked to a higher incidence of pain and inflammation.&nbs ..read more

Can you pull a muscle or even strain your back by coughing? And what can you do to prevent this sort of injury? Muscle strains can happen as a result of any unusual activity – you’d likely get a problem if you laughed or yawned repeatedly for hours. But coughing is essential for clearing lungs after an infection so it’s not something you can or should avoid, however much the muscles hurt.  The muscles supporting your spine have to contract and tense when the process of coughing expels air forcibly from the lungs. You’ll also feel sore and tender due to your immune response working as it s ..read more

You may have heard from a chiropractor or physio that a joint in your body has ‘locked’. So what does this mean? It might sound a bit overwhelming, but all this refers to is when you’re unable to extend or fully flex a joint in the spine or elsewhere. It can be unpleasant and surprising, as it’s usually accompanied by pain. Luckily, this condition is easily treated. What causes joint locking? Joint locking can occur anywhere in the body. ‘True locking’ happens when the joint gets physically stuck and is caused by a foreign object blocking free movement, such as cartilage or bone spurs. However ..read more

Does it feel like your back pain gets worse when the weather is cold, stormy or changeable? If the answer is yes, you’re not alone.  Every person is different, so it’s difficult to be sure why erratic weather seems to make back pain, arthritis and headaches feel more severe. It has been observed that a drop in barometric pressure allows tissue around the joints to expand slightly, which can result in worsening symptoms. Cold weather can cause tension in muscles – this is part of the rationale for ‘warming up’ before exercise, as heat helps to release stiffness from connective tissues. Wh ..read more

It’s Happiness At Work Week 2023! It’s time to put a stop to chronic pain in the workplace.  Whether your job is desk-based or physical or somewhere in-between, back pain can strike at any time due to daily habits, posture, lack of exercise or too much heavy-lifting. Many people hesitate to find help as they think it’s just part of their job, but it’s important to stop workplace injuries in their tracks to avoid problems later on.  Physical Jobs If your job requires a great degree of physical strength and stamina, such as gardening, construction, warehouse work, general manual labou ..read more