Keeping our bodies in check is an essential ingredient to a long and healthy life, and should not be neglected. We make time to regularly exercise, visit our dentist or GP, but often our muscular health can be forgotten.
“Prevention is better than a cure,” Edmund Rogers, Doctor of Chiropractic and director of Relief Chiropractic Health Clinic in Cambridge, tells us. “While we have a highly-trained and experienced team of staff who are able to treat all kinds of issues, we always encourage those without pain to have regular check-ups so they can remain healthy.”
Below, Edmund shares five treatments he advises to improve mobility, prevent physical problems and treat pain.
1. Chiropractic care
“Anyone at any age can benefit from chiropractic care,” Edmund explains. The treatment involves adjustment of the joints, relieving pressure, improving motion and enabling nerves and muscles to function properly. However, there is often a focus on treating the symptoms that people are experiencing and not the root cause.
"This can be problematic because it’s a short-term resolution, sometimes concealing a deeper problem," he says. "Medication can certainly be useful for certain cases, but when the real reason behind the pain is known, there is a far higher chance of resolving it long-term.
“Chiropractic isn’t a painkiller," he goes on to say. "It’s designed to directly address the problem, not the symptom. We will treat lack of function in the spine, regardless of whether the pain is experienced in the head, neck, shoulders or back. Often the symptoms will then disappear as the body heals.
“Simple stiffness can be a precursor to pain, so it’s best to get treated sooner rather than later,” he adds.
For those without any problems, Edmund recommends monthly adjustments but emphasises that every patient will have different needs. More regular treatments may be needed for patients with severe problems: “This can range from one to three times per week for around six to eight weeks, followed by reduced frequency in order to stabilise the spine as well as introducing exercises to aid recovery. We can suggest timeframes based on individual cases and what we think would be most suitable,” he says.
2. Laser therapy
“I’d recommend laser for anyone with scarring or chronic problems that have accumulated over a long period of time," says Edmund. "Laser therapy helps to treat inflammation in the joints and muscles, as well as aiding pain relief.”
The laser can encourage the injured tissues to heal and reproduce quicker. Edmund explains that the treatment is pain-free and can barely be felt by the patient. For those with acute pain or who tend to feel sore following a chiropractic adjustment, this treatment can be hugely beneficial.
3. Sports massage therapy
Despite what the name may suggest, this massage treatment is not restricted to athletes or those who engage regularly in sport. It is practiced by professionals who are specifically trained and experienced in advanced massage techniques. “The treatment involves a range of different methods and instruments to relieve overworked muscles and improve their patterns of movement,” says Edmund.
Whilst it can be useful alongside chiropractic treatments, Edmund explains how sports massages are also beneficial on their own. "They're great for treating individuals diagnosed with a soft tissue problem, for whom chiropractic may not be as suitable," he says.
4. Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy massage is a type of treatment designed to relax and calm the body. “Stress is complex – it can be caused by various factors and felt in different ways,” Edmund explains. “Our aromatherapist can create a custom blend of essential oils for each patient, tailored to their preferred smells and medical needs.”
If you want take the treatment further at home, the clinic has a range of different products from face masks to oil drops that can be used to treat mental, physical or respiratory stresses.
5. Reflexology
This is a form of foot massage with traditional roots that date back many years. “The practitioner will treat areas of the foot that are believed to correspond with other parts of the body," Edmund reveals. "The massage aims to reduce stress by targeting trigger points on the feet in order to relieve pressure throughout your body."
Reflexology is an incredibly relaxing treatment which can be easily integrated into other therapies within the clinic.
For more information on the treatments available at Relief Chiropractic Health Clinic, visit reliefchiropractic.co.uk/. To make an enquiry, contact admin@reliefchiropractic.co.uk or 01223 459240.
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