For Who?
Who will benefit from Cape Town Chiropractic?
NEWBORNS
Even under normal conditions the birth process is potentially traumatic. Pressure, tension and twisting affect the spine, cranial bones, muscular, nervous and skeletal systems of the new born.
During a normal delivery, a pressure of 20kg is applied to the skull and vertebrae of the child. If Medical interventions such as forceps or C-section are utilized up to 40kg of pressure may be applied.
Vertebrae are easily pulled out of alignment by excessive and forceful extension of the infants head.
The misaligned vertebra is called a subluxation.
Various symptoms such as colic, respiratory distress, fever, earache and a lowered resistance may be manifested in a young child due to abnormal body function caused by subluxations.
CHILDREN
The bones, muscles and other structures of children develop quickly forcing the body to adapt. It is estimated that a child from 0-5 years old falls on average 5000 times.
Each fall is a shock to the body creating additional micro imbalances to the growing child. Because of the body’s ability to compensate the result of these traumas may not be visible at first but when the body cannot compensate anymore the first problems appear. Different symptoms can occur: recurrent infection, colic, unexplained crying, bed wetting, earaches, childhood asthma, difficulty sleeping, scoliosis, hyperactivity, impaired concentration, etc
TEENAGERS
As teenagers grow their bodies undergo many significant hormonal changes that affect not only their physiology but also their posture.
The increase in ligament elasticity due to the change in hormones can promote the development of scoliosis or other spinal disorders that can affect their adult life.
Remember an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
ADULTS
Stress is a part of any adult’s everyday life and can take different forms: Physical stress from falls, poor posture, repetitive motions, lack of sleep or exercise, playing sport, accidents, etc.
Emotional stress like fear, grief or anger, affects our physiology, our posture reflects our emotional state, the posture of someone who is sad or depressed is different from a happy person’s.
Chemical stress (poor nutrition, medications, tobacco, alcohol, preservatives, environmental pollution such as herbicides, insecticides and other toxic substances) also affect our nervous system, muscle tone and spine.
These stressors affect the nervous system tone causing the body to tighten up as if it were bracing itself.
As the body tightens up the weakest joints of the spine are forced out of their normal position causing more interference in the nervous system preventing the body to perform vital functions and compromising health.
Chiropractic can’t eliminate the stress of modern adult life, but it can help improve your capacity to accommodate it and therefore improve your overall well-being.
PREGNANCY
Chiropractic care in pregnancy is an essential choice in your prenatal care. Pre-existing undetected imbalances in the spine become stressed as the hormones of pregnancy that serve to soften ligaments and soft tissues to ease the birth process, also decrease the stability of the spine and pelvic joints. In addition, the rapid growth of the baby causes an anterior displacement of the centre of gravity increasing the stress on the lumbar spine and pelvis. Spinal stability becomes harder to maintain as pregnancy progresses and spinal misalignments can occur called subluxations.
Regular care may prevent the subluxation that creates pressure to the legs, hips, muscles and organs of the body. Disturbances of the nervous system can cause various ailments in pregnant women such as lower back pain, heavy legs, sciatica, nausea, high blood pressure, cervical-brachial neuralgia, neuralgia paresthetica, pubic pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, dizziness etc. Proper nervous system health during pregnancy is crucial not only for the mother but also for the optimum development of the baby. As the baby develops, the uterus enlarges to accommodate this rapid growth, when the pelvis is imbalanced the ligaments connected to the uterus become torqued and twisted limiting the space of the developing baby.
This condition is known as intra-uterine constraint and can cause conditions such as congenital torticollis, breach presentation and a more painful, slower labour.
Difficult labour is something every woman wants to avoid. It can lead to medical interventions which can be traumatic for mother and child.
Chiropractic is a safe and natural method that can benefit any pregnant women right up until the time of delivery. It restores balance to your pelvic muscles and ligaments and therefore leads to a safer and easier delivery for you and your baby.
In a retrospective study; 16 of the 17 women studied showed a marked improvement in their symptoms. No side effects were observed with these types of care (as opposed to drugs commonly prescribed).
The results suggest that chiropractic care is safe and can be effective in reducing pain in pregnant women.
In one study conducted by Irvin Hendryson, M.D., a member of the American Medical Association board of trustees, it was shown that “women who received Chiropractic adjustments in their third trimester of pregnancy were able to carry and deliver children with more comfort.“
SPORTS
Regular physical activity is an essential part of a healthy and balanced lifestyle. However many sports activities also carry the risk of injury.
While bumps and bruises may not affect your athletic performance or health; sports related spinal or extremity misalignments called subluxations can!
Spinal injuries can restrict range of motion, reduce strength, slow reflexes, shorten endurance and decrease performance.
Problems can start with the spine and affect extremities, or begin with an extremity, like a knee or ankle and then create further compensation problems in the spine.
Chiropractic is also important to address the problems caused by children participating in sports.
Regular check-ups are recommended to help avoid problems later on in adulthood.
Many professional sport teams and athletes use Chiropractic to help them perform at their best.
Tiger Woods-
“Being a Chiropractic patient has really helped a lot… If you are tall like me, or if you exercise, I recommend Chiropractic. To me Chiropractic is as important as practicing my swing.”
Lance Armstrong: 7 Time Tour de France winner-
“I could not have won without the help of my Chiropractor.”
Joe Montana: Holder of 4 Superbowl rings, 3 Superbowl MVP’s & Player of the Year in 1990-
“Chiropractic care works for me.”
Evander Holyfield-
“I have to have an adjustment before I go into the ring. I do believe in Chiropractic. I found that going to a Chiropractor three times a week helps my performance. The majority of boxers go to get that edge.”
Pat Cash: Former Wimbledon Champion-
“I have been an advocate for Chiropractic for many years and have found it to be very beneficial not only when I have injuries but for keeping my body in good alignment and balance. I have been to see Nick during my Senior Tour matches over the last few years and can now appreciate when I need an adjustment before symptoms start. I want to keep my body in shape and make sure I can continue to play at a competitive level for as long as possible and Chiropractic will help me do that.”
SENIORS
As we age and lose mobility in our joints our posture changes; regardless of your facial appearance, if you walk stiff and stooped over, you simply look old.
Seniors can keep the mobility of their spine and joints through regular Chiropractic care and appropriate exercise.
Chiropractic adjustments align the spine to prevent stiffness, osteoporosis and limit the effects of degenerative arthritis that can lead to serious health problems.
Chiropractors are trained in a variety of spinal adjusting techniques appropriate for older patients.