Chiropractor Castle Hill

How Neck Pain is Sabotaging Your Productivity

July 26, 2024 by Kaushal Bhuta Leave a Comment

Are you tired of that annoying neck pain that just won’t go away? And what’s up with that constant brain fog making it hard to focus? Believe it or not, these two pesky problems might be more connected than you think.

Neck pain is a common issue. Maybe it’s from hunching over your computer all day, sleeping funny, or just stress. Whatever the cause, it can make everyday activities a real pain. Then there’s brain fog—feeling like you’re in a mental haze, struggling to remember things, or having a hard time concentrating. It’s frustrating, especially when you need to be on top of your game.

So, how are these two connected? It all boils down to your spine and nervous system. Your neck, or cervical spine, is like the highway for nerves traveling to and from your brain. When something’s off in your neck—like a joint irritation or muscle tension—it can mess with those nerve signals. This can lead to headaches, dizziness, and yep, brain fog. Plus, chronic pain can make you sleep poorly and stress more, which just adds to the brain fog.

The worst part? Neck pain and brain fog can seriously mess with your productivity. It’s hard to stay focused and efficient at work or school when you’re constantly distracted by discomfort or feeling mentally sluggish. Tasks that should take minutes end up dragging on for hours, and you might find yourself making more mistakes. It’s not just frustrating—it’s costly in terms of time and energy.

So, if you’re over dealing with neck pain and brain fog, give us a ring or better yet come see us at the clinic. It will be the first step to feeling better physically and mentally, and to getting your productivity back on track. Don’t wait until it gets worse—act now and get back to feeling your best!

The Necks Backs Sports Guide To: Achilles pain and Planta Fascitis

August 24, 2017 by Kaushal Bhuta

By Kaushal Bhuta (Chiropractor) & James Teo (Podiatrist)

What is it?

Heel Pain is one of the most common conditions treated by Podiatrists. There are many causes of heel pain, however, it is usually the result of faulty mechanics in the way we walk. This can place too much stress on the heel bone and the soft tissue attached to it. At times, heel pain can also be the result of an injury, or systemic diseases such as arthritis and diabetes.

By far, the most common cause of heel pain is a condition known as plantar fasciitis. This is caused by inflammation of the long band of tissue that connects the heel and the ball of the foot. Excessive rolling of the foot has been long been established as the major cause of this inflammation, as this is the primary cause of excessive strain on the arch ligament. Symptoms usually include sharp pain in the heel first thing in the morning and following periods of rest, and aching pain in the heel on increased activity.

How Can it Be Fixed?

As there are many causes of heel pain, it is important to have the condition correctly diagnosed so that appropriate treatment can be implemented. Your healthcare professional such as your chiropractor or your podiatrist are trained do diagnose these conditions.

The Pain Spasm Cycle applies as much for this part of the body as for the neck, so for a diagram I would refer you to the picture on page 1.

At Necks Backs Sports we pride ourselves on trying to address each phase of the pain spasm cycle. Treatment for plantar fasciitis usually involves massage and stretching & strengthening exercises for the heel and calf muscles, icing of the heel to reduce inflammation, and strapping of the foot with shoe inserts (orthotics). The result is a strengthening of postural muscles and improved control of the ankle and foot.

Orthotics fitted by a properly trained podiatrist correct poor foot posture such as collapsed arches or poor foot movement patterns. Therefore the source of the problem is treated; without them the above treatment is rendered ineffective. They can also be made to fit most shoes (including dress shoes and high heels!). The result is a strengthening of postural muscles and improved control of the ankle and foot. Pain is also reduced and can vanish all together.

Do you have Golfer’s Elbow?

June 14, 2017 by Kaushal Bhuta

What it is and what you should do about it.

Tennis Elbow is a commonly used term thrown around, but did you know that it does not only affect tennis players? The condition also strikes Golfers, typists, gardeners, people who write a lot and any other activity you can think of that involves the use of the elbow.

The term is used for pain that strikes the outside part of the elbow. However, with Golfers, it also strikes the inner part of the elbow. If severe enough, the pain can radiate down to the hand & forearm. The condition can cause you to drop coffee cups and find difficulty in turning door handles or gripping objects. The most common cause is usually repetitive overuse of the muscles of the elbow, forearm or wrist and hence is commonly seen in those who may suffer from poor technique (which if you chose your friends carefully, is the guy you play with!).

So how do you get rid of it? Overuse of the muscle usually cause “knots” in the muscle, technically known as “trigger points”. These trigger points are areas of altered circulation, which need to be massaged out. Exercises need to be given to strengthen the muscle which would have become weakened from the injury. For a brief period of time, while the muscles are being strengthened a support may need to be worn to prevent restrain during activities of daily living. If the condition was caused by Golf then technique needs to be corrected.

The laws of golf

LAW 1: No matter how bad your last shot was, the worst is yet to come. This law does not expire on the 18th hole, since it has the supernatural tendency to extend over the course of a tournament, a summer and, eventually, a lifetime.

LAW 2: Your best round of golf will be followed almost immediately by your worst round ever. The probability of the latter increases with the number of people you tell about the former.

LAW 3: Brand new golf balls are water-magnetic. Though this cannot be proven in the lab, it is a known fact that the more expensive the golf ball, the greater its attraction to water.

LAW 4: Golf balls never bounce off trees back into play. If one does, the tree is breaking a law of the universe and should be cut down.

LAW 5: No matter what causes a golfer to muff a shot, all his playing partners must solemnly chant “You looked up,” or invoke the wrath of the universe.

Heel Pain

June 12, 2017 by Kaushal Bhuta

By James Teo & Kaushal Bhuta

As there are many causes of heel pain, it is important to have the condition correctly diagnosed so that appropriate treatment can be implemented. Treatment for plantar fasciitis however usually involves massage and stretching exercises for the heel and calf muscles, icing of the heel to reduce inflammation, and strapping of the foot with shoe inserts (orthotics). Orthotics work to correct any inherent mechanical abnormalities in the feet, therefore treating the source of the problem and not just a “band aid” solution. They can also be made to fit most shoes (including court/dress shoes!).

Your Chiropractor, with the help of a Podiatrist should be able to successfully treat most causes of heel pain.

Modern Living

May 12, 2017 by Kaushal Bhuta

There are four hallmarks of modern living that we see here at Necks Backs Sports. They are;

We are much more sedentary than in the past – We need to move. Movement of the body promotes circulation, increases heart rate and improves co-ordination. When we don’t move our body adapts by losing muscle and tissue mass (tone or firmness), lose heart and lung fitness and lose co-ordination and balance.
We seem to have a much higher intake of refined sugars and processed foods – We need to cut down our intake of sugars and processed foods. Screen your food carefully for hidden sugars as well as trans fats and sodium levels. For more on this please see a favourite website of ours – The Healthy Chef (www.thehealthychef.com). Wherever possible cook your meals from fresh, locally sourced whole ingredients.
We are more rushed and stressed than in the past – We need to learn to disconnect. Turn off your phone, take time out for yourself. I do this during my gym sessions, listening to inspiring speakers and in general trying to control my anxieties by looking on the bright side of things. A positive approach to life seems to lead to a much happier life.
We need to not try to cram so much into our life. – We spend less time on exercise & nutrition. Part of taking time out, for me, revolves around changing my daily habits to include 3 things that are inviolable parts of my day; exercise, meditation and keeping positive company either physically or mentally.

The good news is that studies have shown it is possible to restore function by training and therapy. At Necks Backs Sports we try to address these issues during the course of a treatment plan. We try to educate our clients as to how these lifestyle factors are contributing to their problems and offer treatments and advice aimed at providing lasting relief.

If you would like help to assess what lifestyle factors may be affecting your condition please speak with staff about completing our Lifestyle Questionnaire. This questionnaire will highlight areas in your life that may need some attention. Together we can help you improve your health and quality of life.

Is sitting damaging your back?

April 8, 2017 by Kaushal Bhuta

It seems to be a little-known fact that computers have ushered in a marvelous age of efficiency and speed. Prolonged sitting at a computer screen was not the position that human beings were designed for.

There are many studies that show prolonged sitting and by prolonged we mean that greater than 20 to 30 minutes squeezes water out of the disc (dehydrates) and as such makes the disc very venerable to strain. Again little known fact is that pressure on your spine is the highest in the sitting position in which the spine is under the greatest pressure due to the effect of gravity. The force on your back is approximately 100 when you are lying down, 200 standing and 400 sitting. As such, prolonged sitting tends to cause cracking of the discs and swelling in the joints. Both of these are extremely painful.

Interesting, I make note of the fact that these days I tend to see more people who do office work than ever before. I think that this is because the computer revolution has meant that every single office job involves some use of a computer. Very often it is improper use.

Here at Necks Backs Sports we are committed to a holistic solution to the problem. If you are suffering one of the symptoms illustrated in the box beside this text, then it might be a good idea for you to drop us an Email or give us a call or better still come in and see us, so that we can examine the tissues that may be put under strain because of seated posture.

Another service that we offer here at Necks Backs Sports is the ability to look at either your workstation and make basic changes or consult with our collogues who are Occupational Therapists. The interesting thing is that there is so much that can be done to easily prevent the damage that can arise from sitting at the computer.

Available are software programs that have been written such as Stretch break and there are countless exercises and routines that can be adopted in addition to changing your workstation. Ergonomic workstations and simple solutions have become readily available and cost-effective.

If you are suffering from headaches, migraines, back pain, wrist pain, arm pain, and sciatic pain all of these may be related to your sitting posture.

Please do call or drop me an Email if you are concerned about your symptoms. We do know professionals such as Holistic Health Services or Occupational Therapies such as Pro Work who could help with your ergonomic assessments and in-office procedures.