3 Best Exercises to Alleviate Morning Back Stiffness (And why astronauts are so tall).

Posted on by alexhornechiropractic

Getting the point? Considering injection for muscle/tendon pain?

Posted on by alexhornechiropractic

Muscle and tendon pain can be a real drag, and often injections are recommended or considered after failed conservative treatment. Especially by that bloke in the office!

But does it work, and are they damaging?

There are lots of injection options for tendinopathy; corticosteroid, platelet-rich plasma, hyaluronic acid, prolotherapy, tenocyte implantation, stem cell… the list goes on.

There are promising studies with each of these, and there is no ‘one size fits all’ answer.

Currently, corticosteroids remain the most common ‘safe bet’ for pain relief and  return to rehab. But they are short term strategies, with less effective long term results.

Although widely regarded as safe, animal trials of corticosteroids have showed that they can weaken tendons, however it is not conclusive in humans.

Platelet rich plasma (PRP), injects a concentrated mix of the bodies own cells to promote healing, and is gaining momentum. However the evidence is not yet certain as there are a wide variety of techniques and the procedure appears not to be completely perfected.

All other injections are considered more experimental when compared to corticosteroids and PRP.

So in conclusion, tell your office buddy that there is no clear winner! Having said that, expertly administered injections carry relatively few risks and do often help tendon rehabilitation. Therefore it is worth considering, especially when there is little response to therapy on its own.

Alex Horne Chiropractic… more than just a little prick.

Sources available on request

Yummy tummy, happy head!

Posted on by alexhornechiropractic
We know good gut bacteria blast stress hormones and reduce anxiety (in mice, and humans) and that happy tummies have numerous health benefits.
 
But how can we boost our bacteria and create the right environment for the tiny wriggly things?
 
One test showed adding simple foods to your diet was better than expensive supplements!
 
Drinking kefir was shown to be the best way to gain healthy bacteria, whereas eating prebiotic foods allowed a framework for them to thrive.
 
Prebiotic foods can be Jerusalem artichokes, chicory root, onions, garlic and leeks.
 
Great news! I’m skipping Holland and Barrett and heading to Waitrose….

What are the Up’s and Down’s?

Posted on by alexhornechiropractic

Standing desks… “What’s the fuss, isn’t it just another gimmick?”

Not at all, in fact chiropractors welcome the new influx of table tops and have been waiting for them for years! When you stand, you require more active core muscles which help support your spine.

Muscles account for 80% of lower back support, so if they are regularly shut off for too long, problems arise.

“So standing is the answer to all of my problems?”

Unfortunately not, it is possible to stand badly too and that can lead to discomfort. What is also important is to be able to move and change between positions regularly and the stand up desks provide a great tool for this. It’s not just for “the guy with back pain”.

Alex Horne Chiropractic – Be outstanding! Ask your Alex how you could benefit.

Need a good stand up desk? Check out this independent review of the best on the market. http://www.reviews.com/standing-desk/

Are you legit to CrossFit?

Posted on by alexhornechiropractic

CrossFit and HIIT keep my clinic busy! Not just with functional improvers, but often with injuries. So are you legit?

I am a big fan of Crossfit and High intensity interval training, as they promote a challenging and functional training enviroment.

The activities often push you to the extremes, be it power and speed, range of motion, or endurance.

But all too commonly I see athletes who aren’t mechanically ready for these extremes (see are you Fiit for HIIT).

For example, if your mechanics won’t let you execute a half-decent squat without compensating, leaking stress, is it sensible to do 100 explosive box jumps at speed?

It’s not what you do, it’s how you do it.

Granted, the perfect squat for example is hard to achieve and you shouldn’t mollycoddle people out of exercising. But it is vitally important to consider your limitations of flexibility, strength and control so you can work on them before leaping into the extremes.

So please, know your abilities, avoid injury and be legit to Crossfit!

Book a full functional exam online today

Alex Horne Chiropractic, too legit to quit.