This year saw the 10^th anniversary of the ‘East Anglian Game and Country Fair’ held at the Norfolk Showground (www.ukgamefair.co.uk/welcome) but unlike last year which resembled the characteristic mud-bath commonly associated with Glastonbury’s rock festival, this year was bathed in sunshine and blue skies, though a little on the chilly side. The crowds were vast and most people took the opportunity to take their dogs as well which meant our own dogs, Archie and Monty had an outing with us for the day. Linda and I were also pleased to add support to several of our patients who were competing in various dog agility classes. Gill Martin and Diana Arthurson are seasoned ‘doggy’ people who have long been associated with dog agility.  I regularly treat them at the Practice with hip, knee and ankle pulls from all the running around that they do with their pooches.

They competed on the Saturday of the Fair and by the evening, Gill and Diana came away with an armful of rosettes with Gill winning a 1^st, 5^th and a 7^th place with her dog, Yogi and Diana getting a 2^nd with her dog Winston.

In addition, we also caught up with another person we know who is at the top of her field in horse equitation. Sue Barber and her husband Mik , own and run the ‘Pine Lodge School of Classical Equitation’ at her centre in Upper Stoke Holy Cross near Norwich (www.pinelodge-school.co.uk/) where Lusitano horses and riders are trained in the art of equitation. Sue’s team of top riders and horses performed a stunning display in the main arena on the Saturday and during her commentary of the demonstration Sue explained that it takes over five years to train one of these horses to the level required to compete and the stables has a string of prestigious awards whilst competing all over the world representing the United Kingdom at various equitation events.

It was a superb day out and with lots to do though it is made better if the weather behaves itself.

Use of the logo by kind permission of the ‘East Anglian Game & Country Fair’

Last week our resident “RockDoc” who is also ‘Creative Chiropractic’s Sports Chiropractor’ Robert, volunteered his time to work at the 2013 ‘Virgin London Marathon Expo’ at the Excel Centre. He worked with the Rocktape team applying ‘Rocktape Kinesiology Tape’ to the runners of the event. However, before understanding what Rocktape actually is, firstly you need to have a little understanding of what the science of ‘Kinesiology’ is.

What is Kinesiology?

This is also known as, ‘human Kinetics’ which is the scientific study of human movement and performance (as well as in animals). It looks at and addresses the issues associated with human mechanical, physiological and psychological systems. It also deals with looking at strength, motion and conditioning, muscular rehabilitation, posture, physical and occupational therapy as well as exercise and sport.

What is Rocktape? 

Rocktape is a premium brand of kinesiology tape used by a variety of health professionals around the world and was originally designed by a chiropractor in Japan.  It can be used to decrease pain, reduce inflammation, and help return the normal function of muscles and Robert uses it as a part of his chiropractic treatment plan with his patients in the Practice.  Here is a quote from one of the runners who was taped-up at the marathon expo, “I just wanted to let you know how Rocktape helped me get through the Virgin London Marathon.  I had been getting constant pain around my knee for about a year.  Whilst visiting the London Marathon Expo at the Excel, I had some Rocktape applied.  The pain immediately went away, and stayed away.  I managed 4hrs 30min, totally pain free in my knee”.

What can Rocktape be used for?

Rocktape can be used for all manner of sports (and non-sport) related conditions which include: -

• Neck and low Back problems
• Shoulder sprains
• Ankle issues including Achilles tendonitis
• Cruciate ligament damage to the knee
• Groin pulls
• Golfers and tennis elbow
• Postural issues
• Shin splints

So, if you have any problems which you feel Rocktape may help you with or if you have any up and coming sporting events whose competitors would benefit from taping prior to their event, then give our resident ‘RockDoc’ a call or send an email to the Practice and Robert will be more than happy to answer your queries – info@creativechiropractic.co.uk

What does the term reflexology mean to you?  Reflex treatment of hands and feet are commonplace, however, more recently this includes treatment of the face and ears too.  But what are the mechanics of it?  How does it work?  What is it really about? Is reflexology just an hour of massage, de-stressing relaxation or is it so much more?  Most people understand that in reflexology the feet are likened to the body as a whole.  The word reflex, from Bailleries dictionary, means to reflect. Different reflected areas, to the trained reflexologist, show as ‘out of balance’ through the systematic process of thumbwalking across the surface of the skin.  However, changes in the ‘disturbed reflex or tissue’ can be accomplished through a variety of techniques carefully chosen to ease symptoms and benefit the client.

New reflexology ideas and techniques are prevalent today.  For example, Chi reflexology has been developed by Australian Moss Arnold and maternity reflexology by Suzanne Enzer, herself a midwife during time spent in Australia. She has since trained countless midwives from around the world.  At Creative Chiropractic, reflexology includes vertical, advanced, clinical, ear and Korean Hand Therapy (KHT) as well as the traditional foot and hand method.

Vertical Reflex Therapy (VRT) is perhaps one of the most amazing reflexology discoveries yet.  Pioneer Lynn Booth discovered that by having access to the dorsal reflexes only (top of the foot) of elderly patients, some confined to a wheelchair, pain relief from arthritis and hip and back problems was noted. For VRT the body or legs need to be in an upright position.   This increases vitality because weight is born down through the body. The standing body’s response to constant pressure through the feet is to remain alert and responsive, ready to deal with stimuli through dorsal treatment.  VRT is often used as a five minute precursor or ending to traditional reflexology, or powerful tool as an individual treatment. Many recipients of VRT experience gradual improvement in muscular and skeletal problems as well as in other areas of the body.

Advanced reflexology techniques (ART) and clinical reflexology is the brain child of eminent reflexologist Tony Porter. These techniques loosen the articulations of the feet and encourage flexibility.  While the underlying principle of applying varied contact and pressure to the disturbed reflexes and working them in systems, ie endocrine, digestive, muscular, skeletal, ‘irons out’  the reflex with clients beginning to notice therapeutic changes.

Clinical reflexology is primarily aimed at those with a pre-diagnosed medical condition, but, for those who would like to try reflexology too. Clinical reflexology is prescriptive, based solely on information collected at initial assessments. The session is therefore shorter, working only the disturbed reflex areas but as often as possible until the area is no longer disturbed. So much so the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists held their first foundation course in Reflex Therapy in October 2012. Reflexology is not a cure but a useful tool to aid wellbeing.  What I do is different, come along and see that difference for yourself.

Look after your feet,

Susan Hancock  B.Sc(Hons), MAR, Art Reg’d

The ‘big toe’, AKA the Great Toe or ‘Hallux’ is a very important structure for correct lower limb function. On a day-to-day basis, we do not normally give too much thought to any of this unless it’s too big, too small, the wrong shape or it’s been injured! One of the injuries most commonly seen, particularly in athletes, is a condition called ‘hallux limitus’.

Hallux limitus is described as a limitation in the range of motion of the big toe which includes pointing the toe forwards (plantarflexion) or bending the toe upwards (dorsiflexion). It is a condition that can present itself either with or without discomfort although even without discomfort it is still something to be concerned about as a person could develop compensatory effects to the rest of the body, including the foot/ankle/knee/hip and low back.

No matter what the cause of hallux limitus, repeated dorsiflexion and/or compression to the joints of the big toe will eventually cause inflammation and, in turn, this will result in the early breakdown of the cartilage between the joints. Without appropriate treatment, the degenerative process continues, forming cartilaginous spurs which over time will calcify into bony spurs, known as osteoarthritis.

One such condition where this occurs is in the development of a bunion, known as hallux valgus. This is commonly seen in people with flat feet (medically known as ‘pes planus’) and can cause the big toe to be forced outwards. Over time, the joint will became deformed as it starts to angle towards the other toes. This situation often initiates the development of many other conditions due to the compensatory processes that occur through-out the rest of the body.

This is why during a ‘new patient’ examination at Creative Chiropractic we firstly look at the walking style or ‘gait’ of a person as this provides clues as to why a patient may be suffering for their presenting complaint. This complaint could be as a result of a long-standing ‘big toe’ problem. The big toe should be able to be bent upwards (dorsiflexed) to about 60º which indicates the normal range of motion for this joint. If you notice any limitations or pain in your big toe with dorsiflexion or you notice that your shoes are starting to wear unevenly on the soles or even if you become aware of a build-up of ‘hard skin’ (callus) on the feet and toes, make a point of getting it ‘checked-out’. Many people do not realise that as Chiropractors we also treat the mechanics of the foot as well as knees and hips.

With Chiropractic management, it’s not always just about the low back and the neck which most people associate with our professional health care provision. Have a look on the ‘Mr Bownes’ page of our website to see what other areas of the body we treat. We commonly refer patients to a Podiatrist who will assess and recommend the possibility of having inserts fitting into your shoes. These are known as ‘Orthotics’. This may be the simple solution and way forward to help ease any discomfort present in the toes/feet and help restore normal gait.

Creative Chiropractic recently teamed-up with Matt Jackson, a podiatrist and professional bike fitter in Norwich (www.thefootlab.co.uk), who custom makes orthotics to suit every style of foot. Like any sport, cycling can be improved through minor adjustments to the bike and/or rider and the introduction of foot orthotics is one such approach.

So, in future, don’t be so dismissive about your ‘big toe’, it could be the reason why your health is suffering. Take care of your feet, look at them regularly and provide them with descent footwear. So, let’s hear it and hats off to the ‘big toe’!

Mind your feet,

Michael

We, at Creative Chiropractic, have recently been looking at the impact high heel shoes maybe having on women and the way they could possibly be developing or exacerbating problems to their spinal health.

As a Chiropractor, and as Robert and Rachel would vouch, there are certain questions we are regularly asked by our patients, one being, “can the wearing of high heels aggravate my existing low back complaint and can they cause other problems?”.

The British Chiropractic Association has recently published an article on this subject and the latest data indicates that 59% of women wear high-heeled shoes for between one to eight hours a day. It may not be surprising then that shoes with an increased heel height have been linked to a higher incidence of low back complaints. With the feet and ankles in an elevated position, high-heeled shoes can change the foot-loading, causing an alteration in back muscle activation, affect pelvic tilt and result in a different walking pattern. High heels also raise the centre of mass of the body, thus affecting postural stability which can lead to changes in muscle timing and activity resulting in discomfort and fatigue. Other consequences include swelling and/or limited movement, promoting fibrosis (the formation of excess fibrous tissue) which affects the normal architecture of the muscles and alters joint loading thereby increasing the risk of repetitive low back strain injuries.

Studies have revealed that there is an increase in electromyography (EMG) recording (a technique for evaluating and recording the electrical activity produced by skeletal muscles) of the deep low back muscles with increased heel heights. More specifically, in younger women (20-25 years) both low (4cms) and high (10cms) heeled shoes resulted in significant differences in low back muscle EMG activity. In middle aged women (45-55 years) it was only high heels that resulted in this significant difference.

Other research has looked to see if wearing high heels affects any other areas of the body. An American study suggests that the patellofemoral joint (the joint between the thigh bone and the knee cap) can also come under increased stress when wearing high-heeled shoes creating patellofemoral pain and a Brazilian study questioned whether walking in high-heeled shoes could contribute to common causes of venous complaints such as pain, fatigue, and heavy-feeling legs. It was also found that walking in high heels reduced the muscle pump function of the legs (where the leg muscles contract on to the veins to push blood back up to the heart). The continuous use of high heels tends to provoke venous hypertension in the lower limbs and may represent a causal factor of venous disease such as leg ulcers, swelling, changes in skin pigmentation and eczema. Another American study using heel heights of just 3.8cms, looked at the changes in knee loading stress, called ‘torque’, which is thought to be relevant to the development and/or progression of knee osteoarthritis. The results showed a significant increase in knee torques and the conclusions advised women not to wear high heel shoes.

At Creative Chiropractic, we look beyond the symptoms of pain and focus on the causal factors of why the body has moved away from a state of ‘equilibrium’ resulting in discomfort, dysfunction and distress.

So, with the question being, “Are stiletto’s ‘high heel hell’ for your health? Well, I will let you decide!

Take care of your spines.

Michael

The cliché, ‘where does the time go’ is never so true when I think that Creative Chiropractic is now well into its 6^th year of providing Chiropractic, Physiotherapy and Reflexology health care for Holt and the surrounding areas. Working, as we do, with our ‘Patient Centred’ philosophy, has enabled and allowed us to grow and develop into a Practice that we are proud of but most importantly one that our patients are very happy to be associated with. It therefore came as no surprise when we announced that at some time during 2013 we would be looking for a 3^rd Chiropractor to join the team. What we did not expect was Rachel Walker to come walking through our doors! Rachel, a former patient of mine some ten years ago, showed an interest in the Chiropractic profession and was so inspired that she took the plunge and headed for the ‘Anglo-European College of Chiropractic’ in Bournemouth to commence the full time 5-year study program required to become a Chiropractor and subsequently graduated in 2008. We are thrilled to have Rachel onboard and this is her story on the road to Chiropractic and motherhood: -

“After spending a while travelling around the World, I came back to the UK and quickly found work in banking. It was not long before I was itching to change career path though, so I signed up for a course at Norwich City College to gain qualifications that would allow me to study at university.  Whilst studying, I continued to work at the bank and from there I met a Chiropractor who gave me the opportunity to visit his practice and see what they did before I made my university course decision. Although I knew it had to be something that would involve working with the human body, it wasn’t until I had treatment by Michael and experienced for myself the major improvement to my knee complaint of 2 years that I picked his brains about studying Chiropractic”.

“In 2003 I began the 5-year Chiropractic Masters Degree course and graduated in July 2008. In my final year I met Darren, the man I would later marry. We have been together for nearly 5 years and we now have Reuben, our 18-month-old son. After practicing in a clinic in Dorset for several years, we moved up to my native Norfolk shortly before Reuben was born and now that I have the responsibilities of motherhood, the things I used to enjoy such as running, camping and hiking, have been put on hold for a while. I am, however, excited about the future and being able to do much more as a family. Chiropractic treatment enabled me to continue doing the activities I loved and I am delighted to be working at Creative Chiropractic as it provides me the opportunity to be able to help others do the same.”

‘The Team’ are looking forward to Rachel adding a touch of ‘finesse’ to the Chiropractic side of things and it does mean that  Robert and I had better start behaving ourselves! Rachel has a lovely way with her patients and she fully embraces our style of thinking and approach to patient management. So, exciting times yet again and who knows where we’ll be this time next year. One thing is for sure though, we’ll soon be saying, “where does the time go’?!

With the weather hopefully improving soon, mind your backs as you start to get out and do a bit of gardening!

Michael

As health professionals, we constantly provide help, advice, guidance and recommendations as well offering a constant stream of information for our patients about how they can improve their overall well-being. This sometimes extends beyond the confines of our Practice in Holt as we get invited to do talks to many different groups of individuals on various subjects around the local area. Sometimes, we have the opportunity to give something back to our respective Professions through teaching students who are following behind in our educational footsteps. Robert and I had the chance to run some neurology training last year with the 3^rd year medical students from the University of East Anglia (UEA) in Norwich and Holt Medical Practice. More recently, Hannah was invited back to run a teaching course at the UEA on Sports Massage to 3^rd year physiotherapy students.

Now, Hannah would admit that talking in front of a class is not her most favourite thing to do but whenever she has presented at the UEA, the feedback has been incredibly positive and as a result, they end-up wanting more! Therefore, it came as no surprise she was called upon ‘again’ to put her teacher’s hat. This is what she had to say. “Last December I taught, for the fourth consecutive year, the 3rd BSc Physiotherapy Students at the UEA.  The session title was ‘Introduction to Sports Massage Techniques’ and it formed part of their elective module: “Sports Injuries’.  The session introduced three Sports Massage Techniques: Soft Tissue Release; Myofascial Release and Myofascial Trigger Point Release”.

[As a point of interest, fascia is the soft tissue component of connective tissue that provides support and protection for most structures within the human body which includes muscle. This fascia can become tight and knotted causing pain which deep tissue work, called myofascial release, can resolve.]

Hannah continues,       “The session was two-thirds practical, allowing the students to get plenty of ‘hands-on’ experience which included learning the art of touch, getting the feel of soft tissue both superficially and deep and also allowing the time for 1:1 feedback with relevant questions.  The response from the students at the end of the day was very positive. They said that the session provided a glimpse of how the presented material and techniques were directly relevant and applicable to the clinical setting. As a teacher, it was a pleasure to have a group of keen and inquisitive student Physiotherapists and show them new ways to target musculoskeletal problems”.

I think it goes without saying that there could be a 5^th calling during 2013 for Hannah to don her teacher’s hat again. One thing is for sure, the students Hannah teaches will get a first-class ‘warts-and-all’ presentation into the world of private healthcare- what a valuable lesson that will be!

So, mind your ‘P’ and ‘Q’s’ when Hannah’s in the house!

Michael