Joints: Gliding Your Way to Better Health
Bottom Line:
If you've had neck or back pain that you could pinpoint with your finger or felt a sharp pain in your back when moving, the cause may have been some sort of dysfunction with one or more of the facet joints (often the lumbar facet joints) of your spine.
So, what are the facet joints?
Think of these joints as the “knuckles” of your spine that glide, slide, and stabilize.
They both add flexibility to your spine so you’re able to bend and twist your back and also help to keep you from “over doing” any of those motions (i.e., hyperextending or hyper flexing).
Needless to say, ensuring your facet joints are functioning at their best is important to making sure you're able to move freely, and if you think you might need facet joint pain treatment in Singapore, you've come to the right place!
Here’s what you should know.
Why it Matters:
As we age, our spinal discs also age, and it’s our facet joints - often our lumbar facet joints - that take on the extra load.
And, as you may have guessed, this excess stress and pressure can wear them down.
This can lead to the development of adhesions, bone spurs, and pain that can all limit our ability to move freely.
The good news? Targeted spinal adjustments can help break up adhesions in and around your lumbar facet joints, cervical facet joints, and the other joints in your spine to help reduce pain and restore proper motion.
That's why our team specializes in facet joint pain treatment in Singapore.
To recap, here’s what we know…
● The facet joints of your spine slide and glide to allow you to bend and twist your body.
● As we age, adhesions can develop in our facet joints that restrict how well we move.
● Adjustments help break up adhesions surrounding the facets so you can once again move freely and with less pain.
Chiropractic Care for Lumbar Facet Joint Pain Treatment
There’s a wide range of research supporting the use of chiropractic care for the management of adhesions and pain related to the lumbar facet joints and understanding the results of those studies can help you decide if facet joint pain treatment in Singapore may be right for you.
For your reference, here’s some basic terminology you’ll find helpful when reviewing any such studies:
● The facet joints are also referred to as “Z” (zygapophyseal) joints.
● Chiropractic care / adjustments is also referred to as SMT (spinal manipulative therapy).
● The term “gapping” refers to the physical manipulation or mobilization of the joints.
In one recent study, researchers set out to understand the effects spinal manipulative therapy and specifically gapping of the “Z” joints can have on the adhesions and pain in the lower back.
In other words, they wanted to understand the effects chiropractic adjustments can have on adhesions surrounding the lumbar facet joints and any related low back pain to help evaluate its effectiveness as a facet joint pain treatment option.
And as it turns out, they did in fact observe that study participants reported both a reduction in pain and a reduction in restricted movement after receiving chiropractic care.
We've observed the same in those patients receiving facet joint pain treatment in Singapore at our clinic.
Such results demonstrate why conservative care like chiropractic is recommended as first-line therapy to treat low back and pain related to the facet joints.
Next Steps:
The facet joints of your spine - whether we’re talking about the cervical facet joints or lumbar facet joints - crave movement.
Movement is medicine, after all!
Movement helps the facet joints stay healthy and may even help slow down the effects of aging.
Spinal adjustments have been shown to reduce adhesions in these joints and others so you can move more freely and with less pain.
When you move better, you feel better, and we're proud to be a part of the healthcare team that helps you stay active.
So, if you’ve been living with back pain and you're nearby, know we're here to provide the best facet joint pain treatment in Singapore, and our compassionate team is just a phone call away.
Science Source(s):
Facet Joints. Physiopedia. 2022.
Joint Changes Following Spinal Manipulation. JMPT. 2013.
Disc Issues and Chiropractic
Bottom Line:
Disc herniations, bulges, protrusions, and extrusions (oh my!) are some of the most common reasons people visit a chiropractor.
In fact, most people see a chiropractor not just because they have lower back disc issues but because such conditions have caused a significant impact on their quality of life.
The good news?
You can get natural, non-invasive treatment for a herniated disc in Singapore.
The research doesn't lie and backs up what we’ve witnessed for years - chiropractic care provides outstanding results for people with lower back disc issues.
Why it Matters:
A spinal disc has a soft, jellylike center encased in a tougher, rubbery exterior - referred to as the nucleus and annulus, respectively.
A herniated (or slipped or ruptured) disc happens when some of the nucleus pushes its way through the annulus, and while this can occur in any part of the spine, herniated discs are most often found in or near the low back.
And it may surprise you to know that no two patients who've come to us seeking treatment for a herniated disc in Singapore are alike.
In some cases, those with lower back disc issues have no symptoms.
In other cases where a patient has been living with a herniated disc or other lumbar disc condition, they report pain, numbness, or weakness in other parts of the body.
The good news is that these symptoms tend to improve over time, and invasive intervention is not required in most cases.
That’s because your body has an incredible ability to heal without drugs or surgery - yes, even from disc herniations!
In fact, movement can be thought of as medicine for the body.
That's why our team specializes in natural treatment for disc herniations and more in Singapore.
We know that there are specific chiropractic techniques that can positively influence the pressure on your spinal discs.
Chiropractic Care as a Treatment for Herniated Discs and Lower Back Disc Issues
Recent studies have also shown that conservative treatment options like chiropractic adjustments can be more effective than spinal injections for treating disc issues.
Still more studies have shown that movement, reducing intra-discal stress, and opening up the channels your nerves pass through can improve how you feel and help accelerate the healing process.
Consider that disc herniation is most often the result of a gradual, aging-related wear and tear.
As we age, our discs become less flexible and more prone to dysfunction - oftentimes, most people can't pinpoint the cause of their herniated disc.
Sometimes, lifting a heavy object with your back rather than from your legs can lead to a herniated disc; the same can happen if you don’t have the support you need to turn while lifting said object.
It’s easy to see why maintaining disc health is so important.
Making time for regular exercise, making it a point to maintain good posture, and getting screened and adjusted regularly by your favorite chiropractor are so important to ensuring the health of your spinal discs.
● Exercise helps stretch and strengthen the muscles that stabilize and support the spine.
● Practicing proper posture also helps reduce excess pressure on your spinal discs.
● Chiropractic adjustments help maintain proper motion of the spine as a whole.
Remember, your body has an incredible ability to heal itself, and that’s what we’re here to help you with, especially if you've been looking for an alternative or more holistic treatment for a disc herniation in Singapore.
Next Steps:
We’ve said it once, and we’ll say it again - chiropractic care provides outstanding results for people with lower back disc issues.
As you just read, recent studies have shown that people with disc herniations have reported experiencing better, longer-lasting pain relief with chiropractic adjustments versus injections.
So, know that if you have received an MRI that indicates you might be living with some lower back disc issues, it certainly does NOT automatically mean that surgery or injections are your only options.
Give us a call today to discover a natural way to find relief.
Our doors are open, we specialize in natural, non-invasive treatment for herniated discs in Singapore, and we’re here to help!
Science Source(s):
Herniated Disk. Mayo Clinic. 2022.
Herniation Patients Treated with Spinal Therapy. JMPT. 2013.
The Brain + Spine Connection
Bottom Line:
Odds are, you've pondered on the brain-body connection a time or two here and there, and for good reason.
Every thought and movement in your life occurs through your brain or spinal cord - commonly referred to as our central nervous system.
The spinal cord both carries nerve signals from the brain to other parts of the body and receives sensory input from the body and transmits that information back to the brain.
Your spinal column is the armor that protects your spinal cord as it travels down through your body and branches off into the nerves that power that brain-body connection.
Every moment, millions (literally, millions!) of messages are moving along your spinal cord to maintain the necessary balance between your brain and body you need to function.
Needless to say, ensuring your spine as a whole is feeling and functioning at its best is important, and we're here to help if you're looking for holistic joint pain treatment in Singapore.
And here's something you may not know...
Recent research has shown that our hands-on chiropractic adjustments can positively impact the chemistry of your brain!
Read on to learn more.
Why it Matters:
Yes, chiropractic adjustments have the potential to alter the levels of different biochemical pain markers in your brain for the better.
So, what are biochemical pain markers?
When we talk about biochemical pain markers, we’re talking about chemical substances that can influence your perception of pain.
For example, let’s look at neurotensin and oxytocin in this brain-body connection.
Neurotensin is associated with pain blocking as well as the regulation of dopamine, and, similarly, oxytocin is associated with both a decreased sensitivity to pain and an improved mood.
Increased levels of each of these chemical messengers in the body can promote an overall reduction in pain.
It’s no wonder chiropractic adjustments are recommended first by many local healthcare professionals for neck, back, and joint pain treatment in Singapore.
Consider what we know…
● Your brain and body are in constant communication through your central and peripheral nervous systems.
● Increased levels of neurotensin, oxytocin, and other similar chemical substances in the body can promote an overall reduction in pain.
● Chiropractic adjustments to your neck or back have been connected to immediate increased levels of those same pain-relieving substances.
Chiropractic, the Brain-Body Connection, and Joint Pain Treatment
In recent studies, researchers observed both decreased cortisol levels and improved motor control following chiropractic adjustments (spinal manipulative therapy).
What’s more, other recent studies have also shown that chiropractic adjustments can be more effective than spinal injections for treating disc issues.
In short, for those seeking pain relief, a strong case exists for chiropractic.
The results we discussed here are a big part of why many top medical organizations now operate under a conservative care first model for the treatment of chronic pain.
Next Steps:
Over the past 100 years, scientists, doctors, and other healthcare professionals have observed and learned a lot about the brain-body connection.
In our practice, we’ve seen first-hand just how chiropractic care can strengthen the connection between your brain and body, and we've helped many people seeking non-invasive joint pain treatment in Singapore feel and function better.
And considering that the spinal cord can send information to your brain at a rate of over 250 mph, it’s no surprise that those who walk through our doors leave with less stress and less pain after just a few minutes of adjusting.
Aging, healing, and your entire life experience happen through a constant concert of communication and coordination between your brain and body.
And keeping that all-important organ under your hat and everything underneath functioning at their best can help you maintain an optimal brain-body connection.
So, if you've had a hard time staying active due to pain, know that we specialize in holistic, gentle joint pain treatment in Singapore, and we're here to help.
We invite you to schedule an evaluation with our compassionate team of experts today.
Together, let's get you on the road to lasting pain relief!
Science Source(s):
Pain Perception After Spinal Manipulation. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2014.
Effects of Spine Manipulation on Pain. J Man ManipTher. 2019.
Spinal Cord Anatomy. Physiopedia. 2022.
Your Body is Designed to Move
Bottom Line:
Your body is built to move and the benefits of movement for your body are immeasurable.
Every spinal disc and every individual joint was designed to help you sit, stand, run, and do everything in between.
That's a big part of why we provide functional movement tests in Singapore - to help ensure every part of your body is moving the way it was designed to so you can feel and function your best for as long as possible.
Really, think about it...
Your discs are soft enough to allow you to flex and bend in every direction.
Your facet joints slide and glide in concert with one another so you can turn, twist, and extend.
Your vertebrae are connected by ligaments that support you as your push and pull.
Maintaining all those moving parts is important.
Your body is an incredibly strong, complex, and resilient system that both powers and is itself powered by movement and the benefits of movement.
In other words, motion is life and movement is medicine.
Here’s why.
Why it Matters:
Recent research has given us a glimpse at just how important movement is in our life.
For instance, it’s been observed that one of the benefits of movement of the spine is that it can stimulate and accelerate the body’s healing process, yet another reason that scheduling a functional movement test in Singapore is so important if you're not moving as well as you once did.
In fact, movement is so crucial to the body’s healing process that even people who have spine surgery are encouraged to get up and move as quickly as possible after surgery!
Here’s how it all breaks down:
● All of the bones, muscles, ligaments, and joints of your spine are designed to support daily movement.
● Blood flow, strength, and flexibility are all enhanced through movement.
● Movement of the individual segments of your spine can also affect how you heal.
It’s been said, "you don't get old then stiff, you get stiff then old."
Take it from us, that’s the truth!
Functional Movement Tests, Chiropractic Care, and the Benefits of Movement
As you may have guessed, as chiropractors we believe in the innate ability of the body to heal itself and the very real benefits of movement, so we’ve been trained to work with just about every joint in your body in addition to those in the spine.
Adjustments are just one of the non-invasive tools we use to help get them back to moving at their best - limb by limb, joint by joint.
One of the top benefits of spinal adjustments is that they can help dramatically reduce your daily aches and pains - and that’s especially important since pain is the #1 obstacle that keeps many people from enjoying their favorite activities.
Another way adjustments can help improve your quality of life involves resetting any faulty movement patterns so that your body is working together and moving well as a whole, and that's why we perform functional movement tests in our Singapore clinic.
Remember, move better, feel better!
In fact, in several studies, researchers observed that people receiving spinal adjustments reported a higher quality of life in general than those who weren’t - less pain, less down days.
To take that a step further, sport-specific performance improvements are yet another one of the fantastic benefits of movement powered by spinal adjustments.
Achieving optimal flexibility, biomechanics, range of motion, and movement are all reasons why many leading athletes get adjusted consistently as part of their training.
Whatever you do, chiropractic care can help you feel your best so you can do what you need to do and do what you love to do reliably for years to come.
Next Steps:
We believe that encouraging healthy movement and regular physical activity is a big part of our job as your wellness team.
So, if you have any questions about getting a functional movement test in Singapore or other stretches, exercises, and different ways to proactively stay healthy, don’t hesitate to ask!
And be sure to follow us on social media for even more great wellness tips daily.
We want to help you leverage the benefits of movement - whether you’re young or young at heart - so you can keep your spine and body feeling, moving, and functioning at their best for as long as possible.
We also encourage you to stay proactive with your health by making sure you have your next appointment scheduled.
And if it’s your first time visiting our practice, know that from questions to functional movement tests in Singapore to treatment, we’ll be here to help you every step of the way.
Science Source(s):
Effectiveness of Nonsurgical Treatment with Stenosis. JAMA Netw Open. 2019.
Organic Healthcare: No Prescription Necessary
Bottom Line:
Did you know that chiropractors and holistic chiropractors are one and the same?
The term chiropractic comes from the Greek words cheir (hands) and praxis (practice).
It literally means "done by hand," and chiropractic is among the most popular health treatments sought by those seeking holistic healthcare in Singapore.
Since the beginning, chiropractors have been focused on helping the body heal itself naturally without the use of prescription medications or invasive surgeries.
In some ways, chiropractors were the world's first 'organic" health professionals!
And while modern chiropractic began way back in 1895, many people still don’t exactly understand how chiropractic care works… or when it makes sense to see a chiropractor.
Let’s start with the basics.
Why it Matters:
If you've been living with aches and pain, it's often connected to distorted movement patterns that affect your neuromusculoskeletal system - your brain, nerves, muscles, bones, joints, cartilage, tendons, etc.
And those abnormal movement patterns can happen for a variety of reasons that range from long hours at a computer and repetitive stress to sudden injuries.
Correcting those abnormal movement patterns with gentle, safe, effective, and non-invasive treatments is where chiropractors shine and why you shouldn’t hesitate to seek holistic healthcare in Singapore from a chiropractor if you’re in pain.
For many, a few targeted adjustments to the affected joints can help reset any distorted movement patterns which in turn can make a significant impact on their overall pain levels, mobility, and well-being.
In one recent study, researchers observed a measurable improvement in the biomechanical and functional performance in low back pain patients immediately following adjustments.
Participants were able to both move and complete tasks more efficiently and freely and with less pain.
In yet another study, researchers found that chiropractic care was associated with significant improvements in health-related quality of life over time, especially in pain.
Chiropractic Care is Holistic Healthcare
It’s important to point out that chiropractors - aka, holistic chiropractors - follow a whole person approach.
It’s not all about the adjustment.
For example, chiropractors perform a comprehensive history and examination during your first appointment.
This helps us determine what may be the result of any spinal issues and it also gives us the important information we need to advise you about simple lifestyle changes that have the potential to help you find lasting relief from other symptoms and boost the results of your care.
Let’s take a moment to recap…
● Abnormal movement patterns, chronic stress, and an inflammatory diet can often cause aches and pains in your spine and joints.
● Our care plans are designed to help you reach your health goals as quickly as possible.
● Adjusting the joints of your body can both help to decrease your pain and increase your functional ability.
Next Steps:
Many of our patients made the decision to contact a holistic chiropractor because their health goals are focused on staying active and pain-free, naturally.
If that sounds like you and you've been curious about your holistic healthcare options in Singapore, call us today!
Chiropractors use several safe, non-invasive, non-pharmacological treatments including lifestyle education, adjustments, massage, and even exercises to help you get and stay well.
And you can rest assured that our care plan recommendations will be based on both our findings and your personal health goals.
We work together with you, from identifying and addressing the cause of your symptoms to finding practical, natural long-term resolutions.
We’re here for you, so don’t hesitate to give us a call to get started today!
Science Source(s):
Does Manual Therapy Affect Biomechanical Outcomes? Chiropr Man Therapies. 2020.
Quality of Life in Chiropractic Patients with Low Back or Neck Pain. Spine. 2019.
