Crippling; Back Pain Risk for 6.5 Million Unpaid Carers in the UK...

BackCare Awareness Week (7-11th Oct) 2013: Caring for Carers

 

 

The UK is home to 7 million unpaid carers. These are people who provide regular, ongoing support and assistance to an ailing or disabled family member, friend or neighbour on a voluntary basis.

They represent an unpaid and often invisible workforce that saves the Government a staggering £119 billion every year – more than the Government’s entire annual NHS expenditure.

Due to the nature of their role, unpaid carers are often exposed to higher than usual levels of physical and emotional stress which puts their own health at risk.

Many carers help the person they care for with physical tasks, such as getting in and out of the bed, bath or chairs. Without advice and training in safe technique, the carer may be putting undue ‘biomechanical’ stress on their own bodies.

In addition to this, the role of carer, especially when caring for a spouse or close family member, can create unique emotional stresses. Both parties can struggle with issues such as dependency and loss, as they try to adapt to the changing relationship.

Over 70% the UK’s unpaid carers now suffer from back pain, and are a greater risk of developing chronic pain, which is highly disabling in a third of cases and life-long for the majority.

BackCare is working to help the UK’s unpaid carers with the launch of a national campaign called ‘Caring for Carers’ during this year’s BackCare Awareness Week (7-11^th October 2013).

The week will kick off with a radio day of live interviews on regional and national stations to raise awareness of the key issues. BackCare will be distributing a campaign pack featuring educational materials, including the Carer’s Guide and DVD.

The campaign is being run in collaboration with several organisations, including Carer’s Trust, Arc Learning, Guideposts Trust, Carers of Epsom, Action for Carers and the White Lodge Centre.

BackCare members and partners will also be running local events up and down the country in clinics and carer centres to coordinate with the campaign. To learn more about BackCare please visit www.backcare.org.uk, email info@backcare.org.uk or call 020 8977 5474

 

For more information about BackCare visit www.backcare.org.uk

To find out how an Osteopath can help you visit www.chartclinic.co.uk

60% of Adults in the UK may suffer from Back Pain at some point in their life. Osteopathy can help...

Back problems are extremely common. Research has shown that back pain and related problems may affect in excess of 60% of people in the UK at some point in their lives. This is largely due to the fact that the lower back supports most of your body’s weight.

It is possible to suffer with a variety of symptoms. This may be a tingling or burning sensation, dull ache or sharp pain.

Back trouble does not necessarily make just your back hurt, you may get symptoms in more distant areas like your hip, buttocks, groin or legs (commonly referred to as sciatica).

Problems with your spine and neck can also cause symptoms, for example dizziness, headaches, pain in the arm or shoulder, pins and needle and much more!

It is not always the case that one sudden event causes your back pain. This can be a result of strain over a longer period of time. If you are doing things improperly, for example, standing or sitting for a long time with bad posture. It is then that unexpectedly one straightforward movement like reaching or bending for something that triggers your pain.

There are generally two types of back pain, acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term, continuous, ongoing). Acute low back pain is more common and it usually last for 1 month and can occur any number of times, whereas long-term back pain tends to last for longer than 3 months. Acute back pain can be resolved quite quickly especially with manual therapies and exercise, with good advice from a health professional you can take action to prevent a recurrence.

Osteopathy and Back Pain

Osteopaths are professionally trained individuals who are skilled in diagnosing problems, as well as those that may need further investigation if required.

Around 30,000 people currently consult osteopaths every working day with more than 7 million consultations carried out every year (General Osteopathic Council). NICE (the National Institute of Clinical Excellence) guidelines recommend manipulative therapies including osteopathy for the treatment of low back pain.

Treatment with an Osteopath

Osteopaths use a wide variety of gentle manipulations, depending on your age, health and diagnosis. Treatment is different for each patient but typically includes techniques such as different soft tissue massage and joint articulation to release tension, stretch muscles, help ease pain and mobilise your joints. Occasionally, when we move joints you may hear a ‘click’. This is just like the click people get when they crack their knuckles.

Keeping a healthy spine and joints

When we are young our body is a little more forgiving, easily adapting to the stress and strains it is subjected to. As we grow older the body begins to lose some of the suppleness which gives the body flexibility to get by and adapt. This especially applies to the discs between the vertebra and cartilage. Frequent movement is vital for these structures to allow maximum motion to increase local circulation and nutrition to the nearby fluids and tissues.

The British Osteopathic association suggest the following tips to keep a healthy back:

10 top tips for back care

1. Keep moving and stretching
2. Take regular exercise
3. Take frequent breaks between repetitive tasks and vary the rhythm
4. Change position – avoid ‘computer hump’
5. Pace yourself when the work is heavy e.g. gardening
6. Adjust car seats, and on long journeys, have breaks and stretch
7. Watch children’s posture – don’t let them carry bags on one shoulder
8. Avoid strain when lifting especially when shopping and with small children
9. Is your bed the right bed or is it getting old?
10. Seek osteopathic advice earlier rather than later

Source: osteopathy.org/back-pain 1/2/2012

If you or someone you know is suffering with back pain, why not get in contact with Chart Clinic to see how we can help, we will be happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have.

Running the Virgin Money London Marathon 2014? Here are a few last minute things to help you prepare...

 

It’s been a long, gruelling journey to get to this point, but it is finally hear. Some of our runners have already pounded the streets home successfully after completing to Brighton marathon last weekend, now for the biggie the Virgin London Marathon!

Runner’s, this week you should relax, you have been tapering for the past few weeks, now just enjoy this final week and look forward to the big day, the adrenaline and the uplifting support from the crowds, the experience alone will be amazing!

If you want to keep an eye on the weather visit the MET office website, this will help you prepare for what clothing you will need on the day, http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/events/london-marathon

In the next few days it’s worth doing a few things in final preparation:

• Rest and relax, you have done your training, now enjoy the rest and wait for race day.
• Consider a Sports Massage to help you physcially and mentally prepare.

• Eat sensibly this week; add an extra carb to your meals, such as jacket potato, rice or pasta.
• Trim your toenails before race day – to avoid any discomfort in your shoes.
• Pick your clothing for the appropriate weather.
• Check your running shoes – Remove any twigs, stones etc. from soles and check the laces are not fraying.
• Drink plenty of fluid the day before race day – your urine should be a pale straw colour.
• On race morning apply some petroleum jelly or similar lubricant to sensitive areas such as nipples, thighs and between arms and chest to avoid chafing.
• Eat something light on race morning bagel, toast, cereal or a banana are all good choices. Avoid eating too heavy a meal the evening before.

Good luck to all our marathon runners :-) - we will see you Monday for a well earned sports massage

"Why Weight?" A guest blog from Weight management consultant Wendy Fry

 

 

Many people already know that they are overweight and the majority of those that are have tried all kinds of diets only to drop some weight and then put it all back on.  It’s frustrating isn’t it! That loop of dieting and binging, exercising and then giving up. You know you want to reduce a few clothing sizes but it feels hopeless and you want the weight to stay off for good. 

Lower back pain, knee pain as well as other joint  and health problems are often a result of carrying too much weight around, not only does the weight physically weigh us down, emotionally it drags us down too and we feel as if we’re going round in circles.

 

 

Fear not...help is at hand:

IMAGINE THIS ……..

FREEDOM FROM THINKING ABOUT FOOD ALL THE TIME

EAT WHATEVER YOU WANT AND STILL LOSE WEIGHT

 

NO CALORIE COUNTING, LOW CARB OR LOW FAT

 

FEEL HAPPY ABOUT THE WAY YOU LOOK

 

POWERFUL MOTIVATION TO EXERCISE

 
NO NEED TO DIET ANYMORE

 

OVERCOME CRAVINGS

 

 

HypnoSlimmer is a 4 week programme utilising a combination of modern clinical hypnosis, NLP, EFT and Mind Management that addresses the most common reasons for weight gain. The focus is different to a normal slimming programme in that it allows you to eat what you want, when you want! If this sounds too good to be true, you’re probably wondering what the catch is. The “catch” is simply that you learn to eat only when you’re hungry, and stop eating when you’re full. Most of us have learned to ignore that signal from our body over years of conditioning.

 

 

Hypnotherapy will help you to tune into those signals once again. By allowing yourself to eat what you want, but stopping when you’re full, you remove the sense of deprivation you normally get on a diet, and you begin to see food as something that’s still enjoyable, but just not as important any more. Hypnotherapy can help you to become more conscious of your eating habits and to take control of them, rather than have them control you.

Most traditional dieting systems will programme your mind to think about food all the time, counting calories, planning meals, avoiding certain foods. As far as we are concerned, this approach is totally wrong. No wonder you end up being bigger than before you actually started the diet.

 

So why weight?

Contact Wendy Your Licensed Hypnoslimmer Consultant today and register for your

FREE CONSULTATION

 

Wendy Fry HYP Dip-NLP Dip-LCH Dip-MAAMET –MBIH

 

020 8641 4504 - 0793 0353 941

 

Info@bepositive.me.uk

 

 

Wendy Fry is an Emotional Health and Weight Management Consultant.

Her services include Hypnotherapy-Hypnoslimmer and Virtual Gastric Band

Life and Success Coaching-NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming)

EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) and Matrix Reimprinting.    

www.bepositive.me.uk

www.hypnoslimmer.co.uk      

 

Give Your Body An ‘MOT’ With A Deep Tissue Sports Massage

Taking up exercise in the New Year has tremendous health benefits. Be it at the gym, jogging outside or a fitness DVD at home.  If you are regularly training it pays to take care of your muscle and joint health. Whether you’re new to exercise or a seasoned athlete, you will benefit from sports massage treatment.

Sports Massage Therapist, Hayley Meeking from Reigate’s Chart Clinic explains,

“Exercise in all forms of sport, training or even from manual work means that our body’s are working repeatedly and this can place a lot strain on your muscles and joints. This strain may lead to muscular imbalances, increasing the risk of suffering an injury.”

“Like driving a car, using it regularly causes wear and tear.  To preserve its condition you take a car for a service and MOT, so why wouldn’t you give your body the same level of treatment?”

A Sports Massage will help to...

Maintain your flexibility, allowing you to exercise more efficiently

• Reduce your body’s recovery time between exercise sessions
• Help with aches, pains and post-exercise soreness
• Locate and treat areas of tension due to muscular imbalances
• Minimises the chances of suffering an injury
• You will feel good; consider it a well deserved reward for your body’s hard work!

 To find how we can help you or to book an appointment contact Chart Clinic on 01737 248 023 or email info@chartclinic.co.uk

Getting fit in 2013? Kick-start the New Year with Chart Clinic’s exercise tips…

The end of the festive season sees millions of people in Britain pledge to make a New Year’s resolution. Unfortunately many of these good intentions will be abandoned by the end of January.

A December of office parties, entertaining and overindulging through the Christmas holiday are a great reason to make us want to kick-start 2013 with a healthy diet and some exercise.

Exercise related injuries are a regular occurrence in the New Year, something that we see all too frequently at our Reigate clinic.

If getting fit is on the top of your list, here are a few tips to keep you motivated and avoid injury - the two leading causes of quitting an exercise program.

• Pick a type of exercise you will enjoy– you are more likely to keep at it.
• Perform a warm up routine and stretch before and after you exercise, also do a warm down afterwards. Doing this before and after exercise decreases the chance of hurting yourself, as muscles are less likely to get injured if they are warm and relaxed.
• Build up slowly, if you haven’t exercised in a while ease yourself back in gently, a beginner to running won’t be able to run a marathon right away, mix brisk walking with some light jogging and increase distances gradually.
• Even if you are not a beginner to a sport, think about taking some coaching or a lesson. Improving your technique will decrease your chances of picking up an injury.
• Avoid being a ‘weekend warrior’ by spreading exercise throughout the week. Overdoing it at the weekend will put you more at risk of injury.
• Listen to your body. Pain, swelling and stiffness are your body’s way of telling you to ease back on an exercise routine. If you find that these symptoms do not resolve themselves, or are beyond what you consider normal, it may be time to seek medical attention.
• Prevent injury, and boredom, by balancing cardiovascular exercise, weight training and stretching in your exercise routine.
• If in doubt ask, seek advice from a professional, sports injury specialists can offer advice on taking up an exercise regime and injury care.

Wishing you a Happy New Year and a New You, Good luck!

To find out more how an Osteopath or Sports Massage can help you, or for more information visit our website www.chartclinic.co.uk or call 01737 248 023

 

Taking the pain out of Christmas

It is here again, Christmas is almost upon us. The Christmas and New Year period can be a stressful time, with lots of social commitments, shopping, visiting friends, family and the office party,  all changes to your usual daily routine that can compromise your nutrition, exercise and healthy regimes leading to an increased risk of problems like back and neck pain. Below are some tips to try and avoid aches and pain this Christmas.

 

 

• Holiday Indulgences

Overindulging at Christmas can lead to weight gain placing more strain on your joints and muscles.

Try to keep a healthy diet, don't over indulge at every party, eating and drinking in moderation will help keep off those extra pounds. Keeping to your gym routine can be tricky, but gentle exercise such as walking can help prevent joints from stiffening up and keep you feeling energetic.

 

• Shopping Safely

Carrying heavy bags or awkward presents can put pressure on your spine and strain your shoulder muscles, leading to neck and shoulder pain. Take things easy, distribute weight evenly by using a suitable sized back pack or shopping trolley and take regular breaks mid shopping-spree.

 

• Preparation is key

Wrap up warm in the cold, if you are sitting for long periods outside take a thick blanket or cushion to prevent a numb or painful behind. Prevent excessive postural strain by wearing your most comfortable shoes to walk in.

Whilst hanging Christmas decorations take care if you are climbing on stools or ladders. Get some help, use a safe ladder and avoid over stretching to hang that high up decoration.

Drink plenty of water, hangovers and the resultant dehydration do not help with muscular and joint pain and can make some spinal conditions worse. 

 

• Back care at Christmas

When lifting that oversized Christmas turkey out of the oven, bend your knees and keep your back straight, if you are in pain get somebody else to do the heavy lifting.

Don’t spend too long trying to beat the kids on their new sports computer game, but do remember to get some regular exercise be it walking, stretching or cycling. Stay warm use hot water bottles to soothe aching and tired muscles, a hot bath with some relaxing lavender oil or Epsom Salts can help relax and aid muscular aches.

If you are suffering with any muscular or joint aches and pain, consult a professional for some guidance and treatment. Chart Clinic offers free advice and consultations, for more information visit www.chartclinic.co.uk or call 01737 248 023.