Pain Support.org

Chiropractors - Relieving pain by joint adjustments.

A Chiropractor corrects disorders of the joints, muscles and particularly with the spine. Spinal problems can cause pain, not only in the spine itself but in any other parts of the body - including the shoulders, arms, hips and legs.

Remember, most problems in these areas are associated to the spine as this is where the main nerve trunk is located.

A good Chiropractor should begin your treatment program with:

A complete medical history
Examination of your spine and its joints
They may even suggest you have xrays taken of your spine.

Finally, the Chiropractor will advise you if they can help with your particular problem or they will suggest other form of treatment as being more appropriate for your condition.

This method of treatment began in 1895, by a man named Daniel Palmer (1845 - 1913). This Magnetic Healer founded the Palmer School of Chiropractic - from the Greek Kheir, meaning Hand  and Praktikos, meaning Practical.   He stated, displacement of any part of the skeletal frame may press against nerves, which are the channels of communication, intensifying or decreasing their carrying capacity.

Here is an image that may explain things more... The Nervous System as used by Chiropractors.

Who can it help - this form of treatment has been used with great success with the following conditions:

Headaches, Neck pain, Back pain, Whiplash, Arm & Shoulder pain, Arthritis, Deafness, Dizziness, Hip problems and Leg pain.

Feldenkrais

The Feldenkrais Method® facilitates learning about movement, posture and breathing to ultimately increase the ease and range of our movement, improve flexibility and coordination. Through gentle movement lessons, we become more aware of how our habits may restrict our moving through life easily and pleasurably. We learn new, easier options for movement.

Who can benefit

What are the benefits

"The aim is a body that is organised to move with minimum effort and maximum efficiency, not through muscular strength but increased consciousness of how it works." -- Moshe Feldenkrais

Osteopathy - The skeleton maybe the key to your health.

The bodies largest system is the framework which consists of , the skeleton, muscles and ligaments.
This is what we use to run, jump, talk and carry out all types of physical activities.
Osteopathy is one of the most common forms of alternative treatments, its aims are to diagnose and treat our bodies mechanical problems.

Dr. Andrew Taylor Still (1828-1917), developed Osteopathy in the mid 1870's after he became dissatisfied with conventional medicine. His feelings were, if we stimulated our bodies natural powers of healing, this would be preferable to using the often dangerous drugs of those days. His detailed knowledge of human anatomy, combined with his earlier studies of engineering, made him very interested in treating the human body as a machine.

One of the earliest graduates of Osteopathy to work in Australia was Florence Mac George.
She was born in Tasmania in 1867 and she finished Dr. Still's course in 1900.
She worked in Europe and the US before returning to Melbourne in 1913.
She has settled in Nelson, in the south island of New Zealand.

Who can it help - as most of the Osteopaths work is aimed at the spinal area, over half the people who see an Osteopath, suffer from neck or lower back pain. They also help with most sports injuries including, knees, ankles, legs, wrists, shoulders, elbows and feet.

Hydrotherapy - Using water to stimulate the body into curing itself.

We have all, at some stage in our life, climbed into a hot bath to relieve sore and tired muscles or used ice packs to relieve swelling after an injury. Hydrotherapy is just the same as that.

Water is very important in our survival, our bodies are made up of over 60% water and we would survive only a couple of days without it.

Hot water or steam dilates our blood vessels, encourages sweating, relaxes muscles and joints and draws heat to the surface of our skin, so we can cool down.

Cold water or ice constricts blood vessels, reduces inflammation and congestion on the surface and stimulates the flow of blood to our internal organs.

The first Hydrotherapy centre was established in Britain, it was founded by Sebastian Kneipp
(1821 - 1897), who was a Dominican Monk from Bavaria. Kneipp believed the body could regulate and cure itself. Water was the principle means for the body to achieve this.

Who can it help - water in all its forms is said to help with:

Back pain, Neck pain, Joint problems, Muscular problems, Skeletal problems, Stress, Depression, Headaches, Sporting injuries, Burns and Sprains.

It is also one of the best forms of exercise, especially for the elderly. It is low impact, which means, it minimises the stress to our bodies. Our bodies weight is supported by the water, we are at a stage of weightlessness when in the water.

Massage - This may be the oldest form of healing.

Massage dates back to at least 3000 BC. It has been practised in the middle and far east since then. Hypocrites, known as the 'Father of Medicine'wrote sometime in the 5th century BC: 'The way to good health is to have a scented bath and an oiled massage each day.'Oil is still used today in all forms of massage, it has been this way since the 19th century when Swedish gymnast Per Henrik Ling devised Swedish massage. This is based on ancient massage styles and combines therapeutic massage with exercises for the muscles & joints.

The next step forward was during the 1970's, when American massage therapist George Downing formulated his idea of massage as a therapy, taking the persons whole being into account when dealing with a problem. He looked at the physical, mental & emotional sides as being the total problem and he incorporated the two other common forms of massage therapies, Reflexology & Shiatsu. His aim in doing this were to relax, stimulate and invigorate both the mind and body.

Today there are many different types of massage:

Who can it help - It is used to treat stress, tension, circulation problems, heart disorders, blood pressure problems, headaches, hypertension and insomnia.

Here is a link for more information:- Massage Association of Australia

Reflexology

What is Reflexology?

Reflexology is a wonderfully relaxing therapy that works on many levels, soothing, calming, balancing and boosting your entire body.

As a therapy reflexology is not invasive- only the feet, and / or hands and ears are worked. It is deeply relaxing yet surprisingly energising - all part of its balancing capacity. You may feel you are being pampered during a reflexology session but do not underestimate the powerful effects this treatment can have on all of your body systems.

All body systems benefit from reflexology but you may notice the affect on your circulation, nervous and lymphatic systems in particular.

Here is a link for more information:- Reflexology Association of Australia

TENS - Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation

What is TENS?
TENS is a machine which sends electrical impulses through electrodes placed on or near the painful site. This causes a tingling sensation that reduces pain, even pain that hasn't responded to other treatments. Usually though, TENS is used with other treatments prescribed by your doctor, and may even help reduce the amount of pain killers required.

One theory on how TENS works is that it blocks pain in the spinal cord. Another is that stimulation with TENS causes natural pain relieving substances to be released, thereby reducing pain.

Precautions:

Here is a link for more information:- Masters Medical - The TENS Specialist

Interferential

What is Interferential?
Interferential can be likened to TENS, however operating at very high frequencies, approximately 4000 Hz. These higher frequencies significantly lowers your skin resistance which allows penetration deep into the tissue and nerves whilst the sensation remains at a very comfortable level. Interferential pain relief capabilities are much higher and therefore more beneficial for people that live with Chronic Pain.

Interferential is safe and unlike most drugs has no known side effects.

How is it Different to Tens?
Interferential has important advantages compared with TENS such as:-

Benefits
Pain Relief (including all TENS applications)

Surgical Benefits
Used in association with surgical procedures Interferential reduces drugs for pain relief. It also speeds up the healing time post surgery:-

Who cannot use an Interferential device?
Individuals with a pacemaker or patients who are pregnant should not use an Interferential device. Consult your doctor or clinician first.

SCENAR

What is SCENAR?

SCENAR (Self Controlled Energo Neuro Adaptive Regulator) is a Russian medical technology that delivers non-invasive, non-toxic, computer modulated, therapeutic electro-stimulation, onto and through the skin in order to prompt the body's own healing mechanisms.

The SCENAR (Self Controlled Energo Neuro Adaptive Regulator) is a hand-held, therapeutic medical device, licensed use to alleviate pain and facilitate functional restoration and improvement.

Originally developed for the Russian space program, SCENAR is a world first in electrotherapeutic real time biofeedback.

Russian clinical experience over the last 25 years and anecdotal experience of therapists around the world suggests positive results in the treatment of a variety of conditions.

One of the biggest factors in the effectiveness of SCENAR therapy is its ability to induce the release of neuropeptides. While SCENAR also induces the body to release natural opium-like painkillers called endorphins (similar to the action of TENS), it is the release of neuropeptides that enables SCENAR to quickly heal injuries of all types.

Here is a link for more information:- SCENAR Health - Australia