Blog Posts & Newsletters

Combatting Workplace Injuries for a Healthier Workforce

It’s WorkSpace Week – that time of year when we at Suncoast Chiropractic turn our spinal health and wellbeing focus towards preventing workspace injuries and minimising the impact work-related disorders have on our patients to ensure they can work well everywhere.

An initiative of the Australian Chiropractors Association (ACA), WorkSpace Week is dedicated to minimising work-related disorders which can have a long-term, debilitating effect on physical and mental health and impacts workers’ overall quality of life.

These disorders can include a range of muscle and joint problems that occur anywhere in the body, especially in the spine. When these problems impact your nerves, they may alter body function and create health issues, such as numbness, tingling, weakness and other problems.

Body stressing caused by poorly executed lifting, pushing, pulling or bending, using computers in non-ergonomic workspaces (in an office or at home), poor posture, driving a vehicle and repetitive strain injuries can all cause work-related musculoskeletal disorders including chronic neck and back pain, shoulder stiffness and headaches that we can effectively treat at Suncoast Chiropractic.

Mental stress in the workplace can also impact workers physically and, if left unchecked, can trigger these disorders, including tension and cervicogenic (neck related) headaches that affect workers’ concentration, productivity, social engagement and overall wellbeing and quality of life. The good news is that work-related disorders caused by physical or mental stress can be minimised and respond to treatment if diagnosed early. For those at risk of these disorders, it’s important they consult a chiropractor because early intervention is the best protection.

Our qualified team can advise you on the steps to take to help prevent work-related back and neck injuries; how to set up an ergonomic workspace, how to effectively manage stress, improve posture, provide exercises to improve spinal health and stabilise core muscle groups, and provide guidance on rest and maintaining a healthy diet to promote overall health and wellbeing.

This WorkSpace Week, contact us at Suncoast Chiropractic on 5492 5588 to make an appointment or visit our website www.suncoastchiro.com.au. We can help prevent or effectively treat your work-related musculoskeletal disorder so you can work well everywhere.

Spinal Health Week – 20^th – 26^th May 2024
Spinal Health for every BODY

If you are one of the 4 out of 5 Australians who experience back pain, you’re not alone. Back pain is the single leading cause of disability globally and can often lead to poorer quality of life. Without proper treatment, the consequences can be severe, impacting your ability to lead a full and active life.

This Spinal Health Week (20-26 May) we are asking our patients and community to Consult a Chiro and stop back pain in its tracks. Right across the country, over 6.1 million Australians are suffering from debilitating back pain, making it a national health concern.

Regardless of your age or background, it’s highly likely that you or a family member will experience back pain, which may even become chronic if left untreated. Chiropractic care is a low-risk and effective avenue of treatment for back pain and chiropractors have been successfully helping people with back pain for over 100 years and fully understand the functioning of the spine and the nervous system which runs through it.

If you suffer from back problems and you’re tired of pain holding you back, chiropractic can help.

We at Suncoast Chiropractic are well-equipped to care for back pain. Spinal Health Week is a great time to make an appointment with us to find out how we can help alleviate the burden of back pain in your life. You can also visit spinalhealthweek.com.au for more information on how you can improve your spinal health and overall wellbeing.

Your nervous system manages everything in your body – actions, thoughts, sensations, and how you interact with the world. It has sympathetic and parasympathetic branches that enable you to respond to threats, or relax and heal.

Let’s explore this further

You can think of these branches as the accelerator and brake, working together to keep your body balanced and functioning correctly.

The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is like the accelerator, preparing you to respond to stress or danger – for “fight or flight”. It increases your heart rate and blood pressure, slows digestion, redirects blood flow to the muscles, and triggers the release of glucose for extra energy.

Your parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) is like the brake, also referred to as the “rest and digest” system. The PNS conserves energy and promotes relaxation and recovery. It reduces heart rate and blood pressure, supports digestion, fertility, and repair.

Sometimes, the accelerator “sticks” this happens when the sympathetic system becomes overly active. The nervous system is thrown out of balance and leads to a stage knowns as sympathetic dominance.

The causes vary, but its often triggered by the stressors of modern life, such as being constantly busy, overworked, financial struggles, mental health challenges and physical illness. As a result, we become trapped in a survival loop, neglecting relaxation and healing.

From a Chiropractic perspective, sympathetic dominance may cause issues such as: anxiety, digestive problems, fatigue, headaches, high blood pressure, increased heart rate or palpitations, low mood, physical tension and discomfort, shortness of breath, trouble sleeping.

These symptoms can occur with various other health issues, so seeking professional advise is essential. If you do have sympathetic dominance, there are steps ou can take to recover. Start by addressing the leading cause: ongoing stress. Find the sources of stress in your life and limit its impact.

Here are some practical lifestyle tips to bring back balance in your life:

• Practice mind-body techniques: meditation and deep-breathing can promote relaxation.
• Find relaxation through hobbies and activities you enjoy.
• Prioritize sleep – to be healthy, you must sleep well.
• Follow a wholefood balanced diet.
• Limit your caffeine and alcohol intake
• Quite smoking
• Exercise regularly with gentle activities like: walking, yoga, ZenThai Shiatsu, swimming, light resistance training, and flexibility exercises.

Please talk to Julian or Kathryn if you have any symptoms of sympathetic dominance.

Article taken from Your Chiropractor Newsletter 2024