Durham Family Chiropractic

Pain Relief

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Chiropractic for Equestrians by our guest blogger

Horse Riders seem to have that canny ability to put their horse’s needs above their own. I know many horse riders who will have the osteopath or chiropractor out to their horse on a regular basis, but when it comes to their own aches and pains, they are strangely reluctant.

I have received regular chiropractic treatment over the years and have found that this has really benefited my riding position, as well has helping with pain and injury after riding altercations….yes, horses can be dangerous and you can get hurt when you and your horse have a difference in opinion!  I think that my chiropractor Stuart Bennett must just shake his head when I walk in after another riding accident, smelling of horse and generally filthy!!

Let me tell you a bit more about my background, I first sat on a pony when I was 18 months old and that was where my love affair with all things horses began. I have now been riding for about sixteen years and have regularly competed in Pony Club Area and Championship events over the last few years. I have also worked as a groom for a couple of event yards and currently work as a groom and volunteer as a show rider at Kynren, in Bishop Auckland, whilst I finish my college course. I have two horses of my own, purchasing Max, my Irish Sports Horse recently with my hard earned wages. He is my little project and I am hoping to compete him at BE100 by the end of summer. All in all, I get to muck out up to 20 horses a day and ride 6 to 8 so, hopefully my personal opinion and experience counts for something.

It makes logical sense to me that if you are unable to sit correctly on your horse due to pain or muscle tension, then you are going to be constantly stressing your horse’s back which will only cause them to have problems as well. All riding requires a good upright posture, with shoulders back and no slouching. You need to maintain nice soft arms in order to have good soft contact. If you have a load of tension through your shoulders, this is simply not going to happen! [Read more…] about Chiropractic for Equestrians by our guest blogger

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Top Tips to Combat Hayfever Naturally

Nature can be cruel! Just when we are over the worst that Winter has to offer looking forward to the Spring sunshine, those suffering with seasonal “hayfever” allergies, are probably sighing and stocking up on their tissue supplies. Thankfully nature also provides us with, natural remedies, and natural ingredients that can provide some relief from hay-fever symptoms and help to prevent their return.

Sneezing, running nose, and itchy eyes, nose and throat can be a miserable problem for those suffering from hay-fever (allergic rhinitis) and the figures are rising, as 20% of the population are now affected by allergic rhinitis (Allergy The Unmet Need)

The chief reasons for seasonal change allergies are airborne dander, dust-mites, feathers, moulds, and pollen. The immune system of sufferers overreacts to the normally harmless particles in the air. The airborne pollens cause the body to produce antibodies, and it releases a natural substance called histamine. Histamine irritates the upper respiratory passages (nose, throat, eyes and sinus), resulting in swelling and other hay-fever symptoms.

[Read more…] about Top Tips to Combat Hayfever Naturally

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Exams becoming a pain in the neck?

The exam period can be a stressful time for many students: Long periods of revision hunched over a book, computer or notes and then the exams themselves, with hours of focused concentration.

Consumer research (2017) by the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) found that 37% of 16-24 year olds have struggled with back or neck pain in the past.

Our Chiropractor, Stuart Bennett says:

“The pressures of assignments and studies mean that a lot of time can be spent behind a desk and whilst stress doesn’t cause back and neck pain it can exacerbate the symptoms, so it’s important that students take steps to ensure this doesn’t affect their work. Simple actions such as taking regular breaks, drinking water and doing exercise can help prevent these symptoms and keep you focused. “

We at Durham Family Chiropractic have helped many of our students and this is what  Megan has to to say:

Exams and writing my dissertation, totally stressed me out and I was constantly suffering with tightness in the shoulders and headaches. Thanks to regular adjustments from my chiropractor and a healthy lifestyle,  I kept my head clear and survived my studies in one piece!”

[Read more…] about Exams becoming a pain in the neck?

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Why Getting Adjusted makes Perfect Sense

Every year we tend to plan ahead and set goals for our future. One’s health and wellbeing is often top of these lists.

The United chiropractic Association offer a list of reasons why getting an chiropractic adjustment is good for you and therefore a perfect choice for you to consider adding to your personal goals Each statement is supported by peer reviewed articles which back up the benefits of regular chiropractic care.

[Read more…] about Why Getting Adjusted makes Perfect Sense

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Be Ski Fit and Ski Safe!

Be safe on the Slopes!

The ski season is almost here with promising looking snow falls in Europe!

Most people believe that ski injuries happen on the first day, but Stuart Bennett DC, who is also a keen skier himself, says, “After three days of skiing and using unaccustomed muscles, skiers become confident but are physically tired and their capability isn’t necessarily matched to their confidence, this is when an injury is most likely to occur”.

[Read more…] about Be Ski Fit and Ski Safe!

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Sitting, Sleeping and Standing by Neil Thomas DC

The way you are Sitting, Sleeping and Standing could be Causing you Chronic Pain and Recurrent Injury.

The way we sit, sleep and stand can greatly influence our spinal health. Everything we do day to day can result in excess stress to our body’s, leading to or maintaining spinal dysfunction. It is very common to hear patients say that their back ‘went’ or they experienced excruciating pain after getting up from their sofa or chair, or that their back pain is aggravated by sitting. Many patients may say that standing helps but when they sit their pain gets much worse; of course, the opposite can also be true.

The rules are referred to as SSS (Sitting, Sleeping, and Standing) and they need to be followed exactly during treatment and beyond so that improvement is not hindered. These three rules will be explained to you and demonstrated at your first visit so that you will leave feeling confident when following the recommendations. During treatment, following these three rules is the only thing that you need to do to make sure that you are keeping the stress on your body to a minimum and are improving as expected. Many people are stuck in bad habits when it comes to the way they sit, sleep and stand and sometimes it can be difficult to break these habits; it is, therefore, important to address these barriers to recovery. [Read more…] about Sitting, Sleeping and Standing by Neil Thomas DC