Clinic News. We are open... time to get you(r) \'back\' on track....
It has been our greatest pleasure the last few weeks to be able to treat patients again, supporting those with acute problems who have suffered without chiropractic care.
By adhering to the social distancing rules we do have fewer appointment slots available for which we apologise. Sorry if we can't get to see you as quickly as you would like. We are prioritising acute care as much as we can. We have been assured by our governing body and insurance company, that routine maintenance appointments can resume from 15th June. May we suggest that you book these sooner rather than later because of the reduced availability AND please, please, please do cancel if you can't make it.
Did you check out the new online JaneApp booking system yet?? If not head over to the website http://www.beestonchiropractic.co.uk/appointments/ and get yourself hooked up. You should be able to log in with your email address - if you can't, it is because we either don't have your email address or it is incorrect on our system. It's ok though, make yourself a new account and we can synchronise them when you come in to clinic - easy.
If you want to book a group appointment for the family, set up connections within your account by using the RELATIONSHIP button on your account - this will find everyone in your family and you can block book together for appointments or just manage their appointments for them.
We have also had to alter the clinic opening hours to help reduce costs so instead of opening from 8am to 8pm every day, we are open from 11 am to 8pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 8am to 5pm on Thursdays and Fridays and Saturdays from 8am to 12 noon. The chiropractors have synchronised their days. We are also closed very briefly for a meal break and to allow thorough cleaning mid shift. So if you find our answerphone to be on at different times this is why. Please leave us a message and we will return you call.
We have been amazed how well our front desk team have managed to get to grips with the new patient management system and the abundance of new rules and regulations we are having to follow now to be able to work safely. If you have any worries about coming in please do not hesitate to contact us and we will help you resolve them. Don't forget we also offer Telehealth which is a video consultation to help you through.
We still have no word as to when our support therapists, Ruth, Jenny and Anne providing Massage Therapy and Acupuncture, will be back but as soon as we know we will open their diaries and get you all booked back in.
Check out this month’s advice on working from home, ways to improve oxygen and blood flow around our body - we all need this wearing masks all day.... and the benefits of Magnesium.
How to Deal with Muscles Pain While at Home
Adjusting to this new stuck-at-home lifestyle isn’t always easy. Often our new, relaxed routines include a lot of delicious food, horizontal bingeing, and restricted physical activity, which can quickly negatively affect our bodies. Here is some advice on how to fix a few common quarantine head, neck and back pains.
LOWER BACK AND HIPS PAIN
Complaints of lower back pain and hip tightness are on the rise, due to our less than active lives. The lower back is naturally curved inward; when it takes on an unnatural position for an extended amount of time, it can cause fatigue of the muscular tissues, leading to lower back pain. Sitting on a couch or bed working all day or just watching TV for weeks or months will eventually overload the hips, causing them to become tighter and less mobile.
The best ways to release tension and relax those muscles is to move often and take advantage of our daily walking to stretch and release muscle tightness. Yoga is a great way to remove lower back tension; the upward dog pose is perfect in releasing the hips of our weight and giving the lower and upper back a deep stretch.
TECH PAINS
The idea of working from home seemed like a great change, especially for those working in crowded offices. Unfortunately, the reality of working from home can be more challenging than expected. From sharing small apartments to hectic home-schooling days, finding a quiet room equipped to work can be difficult.
Many have been using their couches or chairs as desks, hunching over their computers and neglecting their spinal health. If a desk at a proper height is not available, or a chair with good back support is missing from the house, practice some hip-flexor stretches. Hip-flexor stretches release lower back tension, while regular standing breaks improve overall circulation.
HEADACHES
We look at our phones and technology every day. Still, over the past weeks if not months, the average screen time has increased for almost everybody. The combination of collective stress and anxiety, with increased screen time and a lack of movement has caused many to experience headaches and neck/shoulder tightness. The more our heads strain down to read from a phone or computer screen, the more weight our necks needs to support. This can cause tension-type headaches and neck pain.
To strengthen the neck muscles, stand with your back and head against a wall, tucking in the chin and gently pushing the head back, using the wall for resistance. Hold for three seconds, then release for three seconds. Repeat 15 times.
Try some easy at-home stretches and vary your posture and position every hour. Take advantage of daily walks to breath in fresh oxygen and get the legs moving. Small but targeted changes to our daily routine can help us stay away from at home muscle pains.
4 Ways to Improve Blood Flow and Oxygenation
The news has recently reported many stories regarding COVID-19, including symptoms related to the virus. Many people report experiencing shortness of breath, low oxygen levels, high temperatures/fever and fatigue. We can all easily identify three of the symptoms just mentioned, but what precisely is blood oxygen level?
Blood oxygen level refers to the amount of oxygen circulating in the blood. The oxygen is carried by red blood cells, which collect oxygen from the lungs and deliver it to the entire body.
Blood oxygen level is an indicator of how well the body distributes oxygen from the lungs to the cells. A normal level varies between 75 and 100 mm Hg while if oxygen levels are below 60 mm Hg, it is considered low and medical attention might be required, depending on the individual’s medical history.
There are many ways to measure blood oxygenations; one of the most widely accessible is via a pulse oximeter. There are no proven ways to self-assess oxygen levels without a blood test or oximeter, but by paying attention to the following symptoms, it is possible to identify an imbalance.
Low blood oxygen levels can result in abnormal circulation and cause dizziness, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, chest pain, headache and visual disorders. Low levels can be caused by environmental and physical factors and can be aggravated if the patient suffers from respiratory or cardiovascular conditions.
Here are some self-care measures to help reduce shortness of breath, and improve blood circulation and oxygenation.
- Exercise. Any physical activity will help to improve our respiratory ability, letting our lungs expand and increase oxygenation.
- Bring the outside oxygen in. Open your windows daily to bring in new fresh air. Dress your room with some plants, so they take-in carbon dioxide and release oxygen—the more plants you have, the more oxygen and overall better environment.
- Quit smoking and vaping. This one is simple: smoking negatively impacts the lungs and the lungs of those around you.
- Eat green and raw foods. Eating vegetables and uncooked fruit preserves all the vitamins and minerals they supply. Fresh juices and smoothies are a great way to implement raw foods into our diet.
Maintaining good oxygen levels and blood circulation is essential at any age. Most people will not experience many oxygen imbalances in their life, but if you have found yourself experiencing shortness of breath and heightened fatigue, consult with a doctor.
Magnesium
Most of us are aware of the importance of calcium for our health – especially for our bones. But magnesium is another vital mineral for our bones, as well as for our muscles and nerves; it can actually be more difficult to get enough of this mineral in our diet than to get enough calcium.
Magnesium is needed for normal muscle and nerve function. Without magnesium, our muscle fibres wouldn’t be able to relax after they have contracted, and nerve impulses wouldn’t be able to travel around our body properly.”
Magnesium is vital for strong bones and teeth too. If you’re trying to improve or maintain your bone strength, it’s essential to include lots of magnesium-rich foods as well as calcium-rich foods. Magnesium is also necessary for our cells to convert the food we eat into usable energy, and also for healthy ‘psychological function’ including mood and how we deal with stress.
For these reasons, symptoms of not getting enough magnesium may include muscle cramping, tight or weak muscles, increased pain, and loss of bone strength, as well as lack of energy, low mood, greater susceptibility to stress, and even poor sleep or insomnia. The main sources of magnesium in our diet are plant foods, particularly green leafy vegetables such as kale, chard and spinach as well as seeds and nuts, particularly pumpkin seeds and hemp seeds.
The general adult recommended daily allowance for magnesium is 375mg. Like any nutrient, our requirements can vary and the amount of magnesium present in foods can also vary. But as a general rule, we need to eat four to five servings of one of these foods a day to get enough of this mineral. (One serving is about 80 grams or one handful green leafy veg, or two tablespoons of seeds, for example.)
Remember that drinking milk or eating cheese to get your calcium is not enough on its own to maintain strong bones – make sure you get plenty of those plant foods too! Also, don’t forget that weight-bearing exercise is one of the most important things to maintain bone strength.
We treat all conditions that affect any muscle or joint in your body, from your head to your little toe! One of the most common complaints that we treat is back pain and Chiropractic is recommended by the government authority, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) for acute and chronic back pain. Some of the other conditions that we treat are neck and headache, shoulder pain, leg and hip pain, knee and foot pain, sciatica and arthritis. Our registered Chiropractors all have at least five years of training. Treatment costs can be covered through most health insurers. If you are in any doubt, we are always very happy to talk with you on the phone to see if your condition will respond well to Chiropractic treatment. Call the clinic now to arrange an appointment time that works for you. 0115 9225085 If you would like to opt-out of receiving these newsletters please follow the unsubscribe link below, email alex@beestonchiropractic.co.uk or let us know at your next appointment.
