We’ve all seen the “Sitting is the New Smoking” stories circulating online and in the news in recent years. (You may have even seen a story or two talking about how chiropractic care can help you be more active like this one.) Whether it's running, biking, swimming, lifting weights, or doing yoga, these days many people are focused on leading more active lifestyles. They’re looking for ways to spend less time sitting and more time moving. They’re scheduling blocks of time each day to complete a workout routine or to just be up on their feet and out of the house doing something they love. We all want to be more active, and sometimes we forget that a big part of that is making sure our bodies are able to handle it! Bottom Line: You've heard it before: regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your physical and mental health. It’s no secret that living an active lifestyle helps promote better overall health. Helping you maintain how well you can bend, twist, jump, and move overall is a big part of how chiropractic care can help you be more active. Daily physical activity / exercise can help you… ● More reliably manage your weight. ● Lessen your likelihood of developing certain health challenges. ● Reduce your overall stress levels. ● And improve your mental outlook. But, if you're like 80% of people (yes, 80% of us!), you might not be getting enough physical activity each week. And you might very well be one of the many living with daily aches and pains that keep you from being as active as you would like to be. That’s where we come in. As the go-to full-service, full body adjustment chiropractor in Paddington, we’re here to help you get out of pain - no pain medications required. Why it Matters: Chiropractic care has been part of the wellness conversation worldwide for well over 125 years. So, exactly how chiropractic care can help you be more active? The primary focus for chiropractors is movement-based care. We’re all about “move better, feel better, heal better.” Just like it’s no secret that living an active lifestyle can help improve your overall wellbeing… It’s no secret that when your neck, arms, shoulders, upper back, lower back, hips, legs, knees, ankles, or any part of your body isn’t “stuck”, you just feel better. You have one less thing weighing on your mind, you feel less “run down”, you have less of a need for those over the counter pain medications, and you have one less reason to cancel your plans. So, how do we help keep your body moving at its best? Read on. How Chiropractic Care Can Help You Be More Active Let’s start with Movement 101. Chiropractors focus on improving your neuromusculoskeletal function with spinal manipulation and other natural, movement-based techniques. Your overall health is influenced by three types of movement… 1. Segmental: how well your body's individual joints move. 2. Regional : how well your neck, low back, arms, and legs move. 3. Whole body : how well your whole body moves. Here’s how… ● Segmental Movement : Regular chiropractic adjustments can positively influence the function of your nervous system, help decrease aches and pains, and help relax your muscles. ● Regional Movemen t: Regular stretching can help to improve your range of motion and biomechanics and your energy levels. ● Whole Body Movement : Daily exercise can help to improve your mood and your sleep and help to lower your risk of chronic disease. When you’ve spend some time reading about how chiropractic care can help you be more active, take the leap to finally see a full body adjustment chiropractor in Paddington, Book today for a free consu lta tion here  or get in touch with us today at hello@livelovelifechiro.com  or (02) 8091 2021. LiveLoveLife is a short walk from Woollahra Village! Move better. Feel better. Heal better! Next Steps: Millions of people make new year’s resolutions to get more active each year… and each year, they might come up just a bit short. It happens. But this year, you have the tools and resources to succeed! Together, we covered some common sense steps for setting health goals and some simple ways to start cultivating a more positive mindset earlier this month. And now hopefully you understand just a bit more about how chiropractic care can help you be more active and the role it has to play in helping you finally meet and exceed your resolutions for the year ahead (whether they’re new or not!). With the proper support, your body can thank you in so many ways. So, if you’ve been sidelined by chronic aches and pains, let us know. As the go-to full body adjustment chiropractor in Paddington, we're here to help you get healthy and stay healthy so you can stay active and reach your goals! Book today for a free consu lta tion here  or get in touch with us today at hello@livelovelifechiro.com  or (02) 8091 2021. LiveLoveLife is a short walk from Woollahra Village! Dr Xavier Mirouze, Network Chiropractor, LiveLoveLife Science Source: How Often You Should Exercise. Cleveland Clinic. 2022. The Use of Spinal Manipulation to Treat Injury. J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2016.

Stand up straight! This is something most of us have heard or said at some stage in our lives but many of us may not fully realise that the impact of our posture goes way beyond physical appearance. While a good posture can make us look and feel confident and of course help us stand, walk, sit, and lie in positions that place the least strain on our body, it can also affect our breathing, digestive system, cardiovascular system and even brain! Normally, our posture is not something we consciously maintain as this is done by certain muscles (which are under the control of our nervous system) and we don't even have to think about it. When functioning properly these postural muscles prevent the forces of gravity from pushing us over forward and maintain our posture and balance during movement.  To maintain proper posture, it is necessary to have adequate muscle flexibility and strength, efficient and balanced postural muscles on both sides of the spine, normal joint motion and of course spinal function! Spine Health An upright spine is made up of three important spinal curves. A misaligned spine pulls on different muscles, overworking some and shortening others and these imbalances can lead to injuries in other parts of the body. Poor posture also distorts the spines natural curves and it’s probably no surprise that these changes can cause back pain, neck pain and headaches but over time, poor posture can actually lead to a loss of function and even deformity in the spine and further associated issues. Breathing To easily test how your posture can affect other systems in your body, stand up straight and take a deep, full breath in. Next sit down and slouch forward, take a breath here and you should easily feel the difference. Poor posture means our rib cage is unable to elevate and expand and potentially reduces our breathing capacity by 30% which means our body is not receiving the oxygen it requires to function optimally. When this becomes a constant process, our breathing muscles shut off which then forces our body to rely on muscles in our neck (which are only supposed to be accessory breathing muscles) and can end up causing neck conditions and headaches. Stress can also lead to poor posture because it causes you to breathe more shallowly, which leads to slumping. Digestion & Circulation Slumpy, slouchy posture compresses the space in your abdomen which affects your internal organs. Digestion is impaired if your stomach and intestines do not have the space required to process food efficiently and increased pressure on your heart makes it harder for it to do its job, leading to impaired circulation and improper blood flow throughout the body. Brain Health Similarly, poor posture (specifically forward head posture) affects your Autonomic Nervous System which regulates the functions of your internal organs and controls everything that happens automatically in your body such as your heartbeat, breathing and digestion. Normal posture is required for processing of information that goes to your brain to be normal and forward head posture causes overreaction to stimuli and sends us into sympathetic dominance (fight or flight). For more information please read our recent blog post ' The effect of forward head posture on your brain'. Mood The connection between posture and mood goes both ways. People who are depressed tend to have poorer posture than happier people and posture seems to affect people’s mood. Good posture can help you feel less fatigued and have more positive emotions. When you consider all the information that travels between the brain and the body through the spine, it makes sense that a healthy spine feels good all over. Posture Tips Now you know the importance of posture, you must be wondering what you can do to improve yours! Here are some of our tips: 1. Focus on everything around you - Rather than being ‘pulled in’ by what is near, being aware of your wider surroundings uses different muscles in your eyes. The different feedback to your brain then causes your postural muscles to keep you more upright. 2. Strengthen your postural muscles - F ocus on exercises to strengthen extensors: back muscles, gluteal muscles and neck muscles. Do push ups, rowing exercises or supermans to keep those upper back muscles strong. 3. Stretch - Shoulder/chest: stand inside a doorway with your elbow and hand at 90 degrees and lean forward through your body to stretch your upper chest. Upper back: lie with your spine along a rolled up towel or foam roller with your hands out and knees bent, feet flat on the floor. Focus on breathing through your chest and relax here for 10 - 20 minutes. 4. Rotate your hand, palms facing forward - This is very simple, but by rotating your palms forward, you automatically open up your shoulders. This is a wonderful break to take when sitting working at the computer. 5. Reset your posture - S tand with your feet, buttocks and shoulders against a wall, with the back of your neck pressing against it and your chin in. Push the back of your head against the wall. This is how your posture should be. 6. Sit Less - Get a standing desk and don’t sit for extended periods, take little breaks when possible. If you must sit, have your feet on the ground, uncrossed with your  back supported against the back of a chair. 7. Technology Hygiene - L imit use where possible. Lie on your tummy when using technology or watching tv to encourage spine extension, strengthen upper back and neck muscles and keep airways open. Lift your smartphone to eye level to use. 8. Get your spine checked - A Chiropractor can ensure the alignment and segmental movement of your spine allows you to stand straight, to breathe completely and is supporting optimal control of your postural muscles through your nervous system. With a little awareness and willingness to make small, consistent changes you can feel, look and function better! Book today for a free consu lta tion here  or get in touch with us today at hello@livelovelifechiro.com  or (02) 8091 2021. LiveLoveLife is a short walk from Woollahra Village! Dr Xavier Mirouze, Network Chiropractor, LiveLoveLife

Let’s go ahead and lay all of our collective cards out on the table. Most of us spend way, way more time sitting at our computers or sitting down with our digital devices than we know we should. And, honestly, most of us are living with aches or pains as a result that we don’t really want anyone to know about. Our necks hurt. Our backs hurt. And our… legs… hurt? Yep. And if you spend your days working at a desk, we’re willing to bet you know exactly what we’re talking about. So, why does this happen and what can be done to help take care of all of the above? Read on. Bottom Line: It may seem odd to think that nagging leg, calf, or foot pain could be traced back to a low back problem… But if you've had pain in your leg or foot, a pinched nerve in your low back may be creating your issue! As the go-to back pain specialist in Paddington, this is something we see nearly every day in practice. Pain that travels along a spinal nerve is called radicular pain, and it's one of the most common types of pain that occurs as a result of spinal nerve compression. Nerve compression is often what causes back and leg pain to appear at the same time. And if a nerve in your low back is compressed or "pinched", your body is sure to let you know. Why it Matters: Pain is your body's way of saying "pay attention inside now!" It's your body's way of letting you know you’ve pushed past its limits. When a nerve is compressed or irritated — be it from a herniated spinal disc, bone spur, or ligament overgrowth — it can become inflamed and painful. What Causes Back and Leg Pain Your spinal nerves can be pinched or compressed by a bone, disc, or ligament. Let’s take a closer look at each scenario… ● Bone Spurs : Bone spurs can form as a result of joint damage associated with osteoarthritis, and these can sometimes grow large enough to pinch your spinal nerves. ● Disc Herniations : Disc herniations, bulges, or tears can invade the space of your nerves and that inflammation and pressure can cause narrowing of the canals.. ● Ligament Hypertrophy : Ligament hypertrophy (or overgrowth) can happen with age and injuries and lead to added pressure on your nerves. Whichever of the above may be causing your pain, it's important to know that all have a great chance of recovering without the need for drugs or surgery. Top research publications have shown that people struggling with sciatica pain can get fantastic results with chiropractic care. The numbers don’t lie. Since we’re talking about what causes back and leg pain, let’s use sciatica pain as an example. In one widely circulated study, researchers observed that 89% of patients suffering from symptomatic sciatica responded very well to chiropractic adjustments. In another recent study, researchers found that 60% of participants with symptomatic cases of sciatica benefited from chiropractic adjustments to the same degree as if they underwent surgical intervention (again, without any of the risks!). And what many may not know is that beyond adjustments, exercise and rehab can also help strengthen the muscles supporting your spine to reduce the likelihood of a relapse. Next Steps: Starting with chiropractic care is the smartest decision you can make. In our practice in Paddington, we utilize various treatments, including adjustments, to correct spinal conditions such as herniated disc to help relieve your leg and back pain and help prevent it from recurring. That’s a long way of saying our mission is to help people treat their compressed nerves and regain their quality of life. Taking non-invasive steps to reduce inflammation, re-establishing proper joint motion, and taking proactive steps to reduce the likelihood of the pain coming back are all part of our care plans. So, if you want to find out what’s causing your leg and low back pain, Book today for a free consu lta tion here  or get in touch with us today at hello@livelovelifechiro.com  or (02) 8091 2021. LiveLoveLife is a short walk from Woollahra Village! Dr Xavier Mirouze, Network Chiropractor, LiveLoveLife Science Source: Radiculopathy. Johns Hopkins Medicine. 2023.

heart in a woman belly loving her pregnancy The short answer is actually No.  Experiencing back pain during pregnancy may be ‘ considered’ normal and while it is definitely common, it doesn’t necessarily have to be that way!  Your body is amazing & has the capacity to grow an entire human being inside of you. Given that is what a woman’s body is designed to do, does it seem right that our design would have to include pain?  Every woman and every pregnancy is different however the primary sources of back pain during pregnancy are due to: Structural changes and Spinal dysfunction in the joints of the lower back and the pelvis that occur with an expanding uterus. Expanding the pelvic structures causing muscle spasm and referred pain.  Stretching of ligaments causing pubic pain.  Increase in circulating progesterone, estrogen, and relaxin throughout pregnancy which decreases stabilization of the spine. As you probably know, your spine houses your nervous system which is in control of every major and minor function of your body including your growing baby!  If parts of your spine are not working properly, if they are stiff, restricted, out of alignment or unstable, it can not only ​cause back pain but it can also change the way your brain and body communicate with each other and have the potential to impact every aspect of your overall health and wellbeing.​ Chiropractic care aims to restore function to your spine to improve brain-body communication and improve the body’s capacity to regulate, heal and adapt efficiently and effectively. There are specifically designed Chiropractic techniques that allow us to care for pregnant women in a gentle and effective way. These techniques act to reduce pressure/tension from your spine, increase flexibility and strength, and help the pelvis to become stable and relaxed allowing the joints to move more freely during the pregnancy and also during labour. Chiropractic care throughout your pregnancy can have the following perks: Less Pain/Discomfort throughout Pregnancy Pelvic Alignment - which can assist your baby achieve optimal positioning during pregnancy and in preparation for birth. Shorter Labour - practice based studies show first time mums who receive Chiropractic care during pregnancy experience 25% shorter labour time1. Less Painful Labour - women having Chiropractic adjustments during pregnancy report less back pain during delivery1. Assist Recovery - after birth, whether vaginal or via c-section, changes to pelvic biomechanics can bring discomfort with walking, sleeping and nursing. Receiving regular Chiropractic care during pregnancy may assist in a faster recovery. Be Prepared -  for the extra stress on your spine  that comes with nursing and having a newborn!  It’s never too early to have an assessment and prepare for pregnancy and birth!  Book today for a free consu lta tion here  or get in touch with us today at hello@livelovelifechiro.com  or (02) 8091 2021. LiveLoveLife is a short walk from Woollahra Village! Dr Xavier Mirouze, Network Chiropractor, LiveLoveLife

Here in the studio we have been talking about forward head posture for a long time.  When you think about the way we live now, we are constantly looking down at our phones, hunched over a laptop or desk and not moving near as much as our body would actually like.  Chiropractors have realised the changes in general posture over time and the negative effects of forward head posture but now The Journal of Gait and Posture has published a study regarding this issue. The study compared a group of people with normal spine alignment to those with forward head posture and showed that if areas of the cervical spine (neck) are not functioning as they should be biomechanically, it could lead to distorted nerve impulses feeding back to the brain. Your cervical spine provides proprioceptive feedback to your brain and this sense of where we are in space is essential for our function and safety.  Poor proprioception can affect balance leading to falls and general clumsiness and links to our vestibular system can also contribute to motion sickness. The study used electrodes to record skeletal muscle activity and specifically measured the level and speed at which the skin reacts to stimulus or stress (our sympathetic response which is modulated by our nervous system). Given every organ, muscle and tissue in our body is under the control of our nervous system (brain and spinal cord) the results are relevant to everyone.  The significant findings regarding forward head posture included: Upper neck and head alignment affects your Autonomic Nervous System which regulates the functions of your internal organs and controls everything that happens automatically in your body such as your heartbeat, breathing and digestion. Important stuff right?! For processing of information that goes to your brain to be normal, normal posture is required. Those with forward head posture experience higher sympathetic activity (overreaction to stimuli controlled by your Autonomic Nervous System) compared with the group with normal head alignment. When our body is overreactive to stimuli poor posture is considered a stressor itself and sends us into sympathetic dominance (fight or flight). The study therefore found that forward head posture is associated with abnormal functioning of the Autonomic Nervous System and disturbance of cervical sensorimotor control. Previous studies revealed the relationship between forward head posture and neck pain and its potential to cause stress, early wear, tear and degeneration to the spine and this study supports previous work showing links between forward head posture and decreased brain function, distorted joint position sense (or proprioception), multisensory integration and decreased mental response times for complex rotation tasks. In our opinion we definitely have enough information to show head posture matters!  Do you need some help you with yours?? Book today for a free consu lta tion here  or get in touch with us today at hello@livelovelifechiro.com  or (02) 8091 2021. LiveLoveLife is a short walk from Woollahra Village! Dr Xavier Mirouze, Network Chiropractor, LiveLoveLife

For many of us, gone are the days where we can clean the house, go for a walk, play with the kids, play with our pets, or, if we’re being honest, simply go to sleep without putting ourselves at risk for neck or low back pain. Sound familiar? Surprise sleep injuries aside, if you’re all too familiar with back pain, you’ve come to the right place! As the leading low back pain specialist in Paddington, we know a thing or two about the common causes of low back pain. Keep reading to learn more about what might be behind yours and, more importantly, what you can do to say goodbye to low back pain. Bottom Line: Low back pain is the number one reason people worldwide visit their doctor and miss work. If you've dealt with it in the past (or maybe even right now), you know back pain can change your life in an instant. Not being able to enjoy hobbies, difficulty in your ability to work, and a sneaking suspicion that you may never get "back to normal" are all normal when you're experiencing a bout of back pain. So why do so many people here in [your city / town / neighborhood] and around the world struggle with back pain? In many cases, your daily habits are a big contributor to your back pain. 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. That repetitive stress combined with nagging injuries, a diet filled with inflammatory foods, or a lack of daily exercise and movement can all contribute to an increased likelihood of back pain. Common Causes of Low Back Pain Here are the three most common causes of low back pain… 1. Sprain/Strain Injuries: Repetitive stress can create inflammation and lead to sprains or strains. 2. Spinal Disc Issues : Disc bulges and herniations can press on your spinal nerves, leading to back pain that travels to other parts of the body. 3. Arthritis : As you get older, your body will naturally go through some degenerative changes, and if your spinal joints become inflamed, you may notice some pain. A whopping 80% of us will experience low back pain at some point in our lives, and none of us want to rely on pills to feel better. The good news is that, in most cases, sprains and strains and joint issues can heal pretty quickly with the right care. That's where we come in. An overwhelming majority of people recover from back pain naturally or with a little additional help from a chiropractor. So, if you’ve been searching for a low back pain specialist in Paddington, you’ve come to the right place! Research supports the use of chiropractic care for the treatment of all causes of and all types of low back pain. Get this. In a recent study, researchers found that low back pain patients with disc issues who received chiropractic care experienced the same if not more relief than patients who underwent invasive back surgeries. Next Steps: While it may feel like you'll never get back to your old self, the odds are in your favor that you will! And even if you typically seem to recover by taking it easy for a few days, it's still a smart decision to visit a chiropractor. Chiropractic care has been part of the wellness conversation worldwide for well over 125 years, and our chiropractic practice is proud to serve the Paddington community now and for years to come. Our low back pain specialists will work with you to determine both what’s at the root of your low back pain and the non-invasive treatment options that make sense for you. Research also strongly suggests that periodic chiropractic care - just like dynamic stretching and regular exercise - can help prevent future episodes of low back pain. So, if you haven't, be sure to have your next - or first - Book today for a free consu lta tion here  or get in touch with us today at hello@livelovelifechiro.com  or (02) 8091 2021. LiveLoveLife is a short walk from Woollahra Village! Dr Xavier Mirouze, Network Chiropractor, LiveLoveLife Science Sources: Back Pain Symptoms and Causes. Mayo Clinic. 2023.

Why Does My Neck Hurt? Your neck has a tough job. It has to hold, stabilize, and move the weight of your head every day for a lifetime. Holding up 11 pounds may not seem like a lot, but the seven bones and 20 neck muscles need to work together in perfect harmony to move your head around and keep that weight balanced. Postural changes, sudden injuries, and arthritis are a few of the primary causes of neck pain. Pain can often be traced to a problem with your neck’s muscles, bones, discs, or nerves. If you've ever been unable to turn your head for a day or two, you know how debilitating and life-changing neck pain can be. The sharp muscle spasms that restrict your ability to move can happen when your body tries to protect a spinal joint that isn't moving correctly. Almost every bone in your neck has a pair of sliding joints towards the back called facet joints. If an adhesion forms or the joint is stuck, your body will try to compensate or work around the issue for a little while. But, over time, this compensation can cause additional challenges. Sudden injuries, arthritis, and postural issues can all contribute to neck pain. The small sliding joints (facet joints) of your neck can become stuck and cause muscle spasms and pain. Gentle spinal adjustments combined with daily stretching can help restore the motion of your facet joints and reduce pain. Pain in your neck is your body's way of saying "pain attention"! Even if it eases up by the end of the day, it's smart to have us evaluate your motion. Movement assessments are part of our examination and provide us with incredible information about your body. By taking a proactive approach to your health today, you may be able to prevent future episodes of neck pain and stiffness. Stenosis: How a Pinch in Your Neck Can Affect Your Whole Body Have you been told that you have spinal stenosis? If so, you're not alone. Millions of people suffer from spinal stenosis each day, and it's the number one reason people over 65 years old have spine surgery. Spinal stenosis is the compression, or pinching, of your spinal cord. It can occur due to a disc herniation, bone spur, or ligament overgrowth. But drugs and surgery are not the only way to find relief. For many people, the most significant challenge associated with spinal stenosis is the decreased ability to get up and move! Severe pinching in your neck can cause issues with your arms and legs. One of the best ways to relieve the symptoms associated with spinal stenosis is to open up the spinal canal and take the pressure off the nerves and spinal cord. Many chiropractic techniques focus on decreasing the pressure on your spinal cord, relieving the symptoms associated with spinal stenosis. Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spaces within your spine, which can put pressure on the nerves that travel through the spine. Spinal stenosis is most commonly caused by degenerative changes in the spine related to osteoarthritis. Relief can often be found by building up your strength while improving the flexibility and stability of your spine with chiropractic care. After chiropractic care, many patients report decreased symptoms, the ability to walk further without pain, and improved overall quality of life. If you have been slowed down due to spinal stenosis, do not hesitate to schedule an evaluation with us. We will provide a complete evaluation and guide you toward the best treatment options to find relief. Is My Arm Pain Coming from My Neck? Pain in your hand, wrist, or arm can be frustrating. You don't realize how much you use your arms and hands until pain, numbness, or tingling gets in the way. Most of us don't usually think that an issue in our neck may cause our arm pain. But it's very common that arm pain can be traced back to a nerve issue in your neck. Hand, wrist, and arm pain often starts with a neck problem. When a spinal disc in your neck irritates or presses on a nerve, it can result in arm pain. Like the power lines that bring electricity to your house, your brain and spinal cord split into individual nerve roots that deliver information to every body part. The nerves in your neck are specifically focused on providing strength and sensation to your head and arms. A bulged or herniated disc in your neck can irritate or compress the nerves that travel to your hands, arms, and shoulders. A recent study of people with cervical (neck) disc herniation showed improvement in over 86% of people who received chiropractic adjustments Improving spinal mobility, decreasing inflammation, and improving your posture may help prevent future episodes of neck and arm pain. A painful arm with a pinched nerve in your neck rarely requires surgery. Most people can find long-term relief with conservative care, such as chiropractic. Getting rid of the inflammation and giving the disc time to heal are part of a complete plan we use each day to help our patients reduce their symptoms and get their lives back. Neck Pain: How To Find Relief An episode of neck pain can quickly hamper your everyday activities. Whether you began experiencing pain due to injury, degenerative spinal changes, or poor posture, it can be difficult to think about anything except the pain when you're struggling. It's estimated that 70% of people experience neck pain in their life, but you should know there is a path towards relief. Neck pain can create everything from headaches to pain in your arms and hands to pain directly on your neck. Different types of pain indicate different issues. The most common reasons for neck pain are strained muscles and stuck spinal joints. Each of these challenges can cause a lot of pain and may have you fearing that you have a more significant issue. But, with a proper examination, our team can pinpoint the cause of your pain and provide a complete plan of care to help you reclaim your life from neck pain. Facet joints are small spinal joints at the back of your spine which can become fixated or stuck and cause pain.Muscle strains can occur due to poor posture at your desk or sleeping in an awkward position. Motion heals: relief typically begins by reducing the inflammation and improving your range of motion. Next Steps: A small adjustment can make big changes in your quality of life. Our practice is focused on helping you feel (and function) better by improving your spinal motion and then providing you with the stretches and exercises you can do at home to continue your improvement. If neck pain has got in the way of you enjoying your life- Book today for a free consu lta tion here  or get in touch with us today at hello@livelovelifechiro.com  or (02) 8091 2021. LiveLoveLife is a short walk from Woollahra Village! Dr Xavier Mirouze, Network Chiropractor, LiveLoveLife Science Source: Intervertebral Kinematics of the Cervical Spine Before, During, and After High-Velocity Low Amplitude Manipulation.The Spine Journal. 2018 Spinal Stenosis. The Mayo Clinic. 2020 Symptomatic, Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Confirmed Cervical Disk Herniation Patients: A Comparative-Effectiveness Prospective Observational Study of 2 Age- and Sex-Matched Cohorts Treated With Either Imaging-Guided Indirect Cervical Nerve Root Injections or Spinal Manipulative Therapy. JMPT 2016 Spinal manipulation, medication, or home exercise with advice for acute and subacute neck pain: a randomized trial. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2012

If searching for natural ways to manage migraines has you considering chiropractic migraine treatment in Paddington, you’re one step closer to lasting relief! Read on to learn how we can help you get and stay out of pain, naturally. The Bottom Line There's hardly anything as disruptive to your daily life as a headache, especially when it's a migraine. Migraines often seem to arrive uninvited, although they may signal their impending attack with visual disturbances and nausea. Regardless of the symptoms, a migraine is one guest you'd rather not have. As the go-to provider of chiropractic migraine treatment in Paddington, we’re here to help you understand how to identify the onset of a migraine and understand natural ways to manage migraines. This knowledge is crucial to enhancing your quality of life. Let's explore the four stages of a migraine headache. The Four Stages of Migraine Migraine sufferers typically experience four distinct phases: Premonitory Phase This phase serves as a warning sign that a migraine is imminent. Common symptoms include mood swings, neck stiffness, and constipation. Aura Phase Approximately one in four migraine sufferers will experience an aura. Migraine auras often involve visual or sensory disturbances that precede the headache. Visual auras may result in flashing lights or blurred vision, while sensory auras can affect speech and cognitive clarity. Vision disturbances usually begin 20 minutes to an hour prior to the headache. Even in the absence of an aura, the headache itself can lead to vision issues. Headache Phase The actual migraine headache can range from moderate to severe and often affects only one side of the head. Migraine sufferers will find that their headaches worsen with physical activity, making rest essential. Postdrome Phase The postdrome is the final phase in the migraine cycle, occurring after the headache has subsided and leaving the individual feeling drained. Why It Matters We know that many individuals suffering from migraines do not receive effective care. In fact, in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, it's estimated that only half of chronic migraine sufferers seek assistance from a healthcare professional, despite the substantial disruption caused by symptoms such as: ● Throbbing, moderate to severe headaches on one side of the head. ● The onset of nausea and vision changes. ● Recurring episodes that can last from a few hours to several days. The majority of migraine sufferers rely solely on over-the-counter medications, despite the lack of guaranteed relief from migraines. Likewise, about half of those experiencing chronic or occasional headaches attempt self-treatment with over-the-counter painkillers, despite the increased risk of rebound headaches due to overuse. When it comes to migraines, this risk is particularly associated with combinations of aspirin, acetaminophen, and caffeine. We will say, given the symptoms and stages characteristic of migraines, it's no surprise that many people are unaware of non-pharmaceutical approaches to managing their attacks. This lack of awareness often leads many of our friends and neighbors to delay seeking chiropractic migraine treatment in Paddington. Natural Ways to Manage Migraines Rest assured, the recurrence of a headache is reason enough to consult a healthcare professional. As with cervicogenic and tension headaches, it's possible to reduce the frequency, intensity, and severity of your migraines through a blend of lifestyle modifications and chiropractic care. While the exact cause of migraines remains unclear, there are specific triggers often associated with their onset. Identifying these triggers and proactively modifying any daily habits linked to them is key to achieving long-term relief from migraines. Recent studies have shown a considerable reduction in the number of migraine days for participants who underwent chiropractic care. Next Steps You can start to alleviate your migraines effectively by being proactive with your daily habits. Opting for regular chiropractic care is one crucial step towards relieving migraine pain, so don't miss your next (or first!) adjustment. And if you're new to the idea of natural ways to manage migraines and are interested in exploring chiropractic migraine treatment in Paddington, our doors are always open, and we're eager to help you find relief! Now, what about those triggers we mentioned? Here are some of the most common: ● Consumption of alcohol, caffeinated beverages, or tobacco ● Periods of stress ● Exposure to intense lights or smells ● Periods of intense physical activity ● Changes in sleeping or eating patterns ● Certain medications ● Consumption of aged, salty, or processed foods and certain food additives As you can see, preventive measures such as dietary changes and stress reduction strategies make sense for migraine sufferers. And if you need help identifying which triggers contribute to your headaches, don't hesitate to ask us during your next visit. To ensure you're on the right path towards lasting relief from migraines, it's wise to consult with a healthcare professional. Remember, "Dr. Google" doesn't have a degree! Our empathetic team has personally experienced migraines, and we're here to support you. From advice to chiropractic adjustments and beyond, let us help you with some natural ways to manage migraines so you can leave those frequent migraines behind for good. Book today for a free consu lta tion here  or get in touch with us today at hello@livelovelifechiro.com  or (02) 8091 2021. LiveLoveLife is a short walk from Woollahra Village! Dr Xavier Mirouze, Network Chiropractor, LiveLoveLife Science Sources Chiropractic Therapy for Migraine. Eur J Neurol. 2017. Headache Disorders. WHO. 2016. What is a Migraine? Web MD. 2022.

There’s a reason you see so many commercials for “do-it-all” energy drinks like Red Bull and “have-it-all” energy shots like 5-Hour Energy… We are exhausted, people! The mid-afternoon energy crash is very real for just about every person you’ve ever met. And the mind-boggling thing is we’re often left wondering… why? If we got enough sleep, already had 2 coffees, didn’t skip lunch, and haven’t had a particularly stressful day, why is our energy still lacking? We think to ourselves that we must need something else like another coffee, caffeinated soda, energy drink, or energy shot to function because that’s just how life is with our teenage years behind us. Thankfully, as the leading combination chiropractor and wellness coach in Paddington NSW, we’re here to tell you those aren’t your only options. Bottom Line: Yes, the quickest and easiest way to boost your energy levels in a pinch often seems to be easy grabbing a second (or tenth?!) coffee, but boosting your energy level doesn't mean you need to rely on caffeine. When it comes to improving how well you’re able to maintain your mental and physical energy levels, it helps to switch your focus to optimizing rather than supplementing. Creating smart, healthy habits each day can be all it takes to help you increase your energy levels, mental focus, and overall endurance. Why it Matters: As we alluded to earlier, when you walk through a typical grocery store, you’ll often see dozens of products designed to help you “boost your energy” lining the shelves. Many of these synthetic stimulants aren't healthy, and some can even become addictive. What’s more, these can place unnecessary stress on your body. And doing the exact opposite and finding ways to destress your body and mind is actually the best way to naturally boost your energy levels. Let's take a closer look. 3 Ways to Naturally Increase Your Energy Levels Why are we really so exhausted? Because we’re stressed. Take it from the leading chiropractor and wellness coach in Paddington NSW. In our modern-day world, we’re subjecting ourselves to heightened levels of constant stress, to diets lacking in basic nutrition, and to increasingly sedentary lifestyles more often. So, instead of that daily quick fix, it's better to take a step back and consider the effect that your stress levels, exercise frequency, and diet can have on your energy levels. 1. Being stressed out consumes a ton of energy. Bringing down your mental stress levels with a relaxing activity like meditation and your physical tension with some quick physical therapy in the form of chiropractic care can help you reclaim that energy. 2. Daily exercise can help you sleep better, elevate your mood, and further improve your energy levels by boosting the amount of oxygen circulating in your body. 3. Eating foods with a low glycemic index (where sugar is absorbed slowly) can help you avoid a crash after meals and snacks, keeping you more energized throughout the day. Hopefully after reading the above list that idea of optimizing vs supplementing is becoming a bit clearer. Finding real ways to address those low-grade energy drains that often go unnoticed in our day to day lives and sticking to them is the best way to reclaim the energy we didn’t think we had. Next Steps: Energy zappers are all around you, and now you know where to look. Developing an awareness of your daily habits and making small changes can result in big changes in your daily energy levels. It looks like your days of using caffeine as a crutch are coming to an end, right? Right! And if you need help identifying and creating a plan to address your personal stressors and you’d like to get our recommendations regarding the exercises, stretches, and dietary and lifestyle adjustments that may be right for you, just ask us during your next visit. As chiropractor and wellness coach in Paddington NSW, we’re also standing by to provide the tension-relieving adjustments you need to keep moving and feeling your best. Book today for a free consu lta tion here  or get in touch with us today at hello@livelovelifechiro.com  or (02) 8091 2021. LiveLoveLife is a short walk from Woollahra Village! Dr Xavier Mirouze, Network Chiropractor, LiveLoveLife Science Sources: 9 Tips to Boost Your Energy Naturally. Harvard Health Publishing. 2020.

You may have more natural headache relief options in Paddington than you thought! Read on to learn more about the very real benefits of chiropractic care for headache relief. The Bottom Line Are you among the half of the world's adult population that experiences headaches year after year - maybe month after month or week after week? Then you know that while headaches may seem like a minor inconvenience, they can significantly impact your quality of life when they become chronic. In the time we’ve been providing natural headache relief options in Paddington, we've met numerous individuals who've been filling up their medicine cabinets and enduring headaches because their experience has taught them that constant headaches are an inevitable part of life. But, why accept daily headaches and pour money down the drain on countless headache medications when you can naturally alleviate them? That’s right. Let's look at how we can provide sustainable relief for your headaches and explore the benefits of chiropractic care for headache relief. Why it Matters Chiropractic care is increasingly recognized worldwide for its effectiveness in alleviating head, neck, or back pain. And among the main reasons individuals seek chiropractic help is to combat their recurrent headaches. We, as chiropractors, specialize in providing lasting relief from headaches in a myriad of ways. And if you live in or around Paddington and are seeking a chiropractor with an expertise in headaches, you're at the right place. Let's discuss what are perhaps the top 3 benefits of chiropractic care for headache relief. The Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Headache Relief 1. Comprehensive Assessment and Personalized Approach Our first step towards managing your headaches includes conducting a thorough history and physical examination. This helps us determine if spinal issues are contributing to your symptoms or if there are other possible causes for your headaches. Understanding your medical history and identifying your headache triggers allows us to guide you on lifestyle modifications that can help alleviate your headache frequency. For instance, your dietary habits can influence your susceptibility to frequent headaches. 2. Customized Chiropractic Adjustments and Care Research has shown that chiropractic care can significantly improve headache pain. For instance, cervicogenic headaches, which originate from neck-related issues, have shown to reduce in intensity, frequency, and duration with chiropractic adjustments. Chiropractic care also has demonstrated effectiveness for managing chronic migraines. In our medication-dependent era, the efficacy of chiropractic care in treating daily headaches is indeed encouraging news. Over-reliance on medications often merely masks symptoms, neglecting the underlying cause of headaches. Moreover, excessive medication usage can lead to rebound headaches. Chiropractic care offers a variety of safe, non-invasive, and non-pharmacological treatment options for headaches. These include lifestyle education, manual or device-assisted spinal adjustments, spinal mobilization, heat/ice therapy, massage, advanced soft-tissue therapies, and even strengthening and conditioning exercises. 3. Therapeutic Exercise Guidance To ensure long-lasting relief, we often incorporate strengthening and conditioning exercises into our care plans. For example, certain neck exercises can effectively treat cervicogenic headaches. We also provide you with a set of exercises that you can comfortably perform at home to ease your headaches between appointments. Next Steps It's time to put an end to those nagging headaches, and we're here to help you do just that! You don't need to visit the medicine cabinet every morning. The benefits of chiropractic care for headache relief are tangible and long-lasting. Movement is an essential part of the healing process, which is why spinal adjustments are highly effective. So, if you're looking for natural headache relief options in Paddington, don't hesitate to reach out to us! Whether it's been a while since your last adjustment or you're considering your first, Book today for a free consu lta tion here  or get in touch with us today at hello@livelovelifechiro.com  or (02) 8091 2021. LiveLoveLife is a short walk from Woollahra Village! Dr Xavier Mirouze, Network Chiropractor, LiveLoveLife Our team will be with you every step of the way from questions to adjustments to get you started on your journey towards a headache-free life! Science Sources: Headache Disorders. WHO. 2016. Chiropractic Therapy for Headache. BMC Res Notes.2017. Chiropractic Treatment of Headaches. JMPT. 2011. Spinal Manipulation for Chronic Headache. Spine J. 2010.

When patients ask me for advice on how to know if you have a spinal disc problem, there’s a story that comes to mind every time. Not too long ago, a friend of mine was over to help me out with one of my weekend projects. He had been out with his family for some celebration - I don’t remember exactly what for - and the first thing he did was go into the bathroom to change. Not 30 seconds later as I was getting some things together in the next room, I heard what I can only describe as a “yelp” come from the bathroom. I rushed over, knocked on the door, and asked him if he was ok, to which he replied “I think I threw my back out! I felt a sharp pain in my low back while I was putting on my shirt, and I don’t think I can move!” As I walked him out of the bathroom and over to the couch to take a look, he told me he was sure he had a “slipped disc” or something serious - that he needed to go to the ER right away. As it turns out, he had only strained a muscle in his back, so while that project of mine had to be put on hold for a bit and he had to listen to a bite sized TED talk from me about how to know if you have a spinal disc problem, he was going to be fine. Not only do a great deal many people think this is how a herniated disc would present, but they also think that a disc herniation automatically means they’re going to need some sort of surgical intervention. And if you came across this post while looking up options for spinal disc treatment in Paddington, the good news is that, even when it comes to spinal disc injuries, that’s often not the case. Bottom Line: Now don’t get me wrong. If you have a spinal disc problem rather than a back sprain or strain, that does not mean you won’t experience some level of chronic pain or discomfort. Every movement can seem to hurt, and because of the chronic nature of that pain, it can feel like you'll never be back to your old self - and often times, you may not even know what happened! Pain is the body’s way of signaling you to "pay attention inside now" -- it's a warning sign from your body. Ultimately, it's your body's way of letting you know it’s been pushed past its limits. And when it comes to back muscle sprains and strains and disc injuries alike, with the proper care and a little time, you can help the body heal more often than not without invasive measures. So, the big question I want to cover here is how to know if you have a spinal disc problem. Let’s dive in. Why it Matters: All disc injuries are not the same, and while there are cases where you can experience a sudden onset of pain, the way you experience that pain might not be what you expect. As the go-to provider for non-surgical spinal disc treatment in paddington, the most common type of spinal disc problem we see is indeed disc herniations. These injuries most commonly occur in individuals between 45-65 years of age whose discs have naturally become more dehydrated and stiff. When someone is diagnosed with a herniated or slipped disc, it means that one of their disc's inner layers has pushed through its tough outer layer. On that same note, when someone is diagnosed with a bulging disc, it means that that inner layer is protruding and likely very near to penetrating that outer layer. If you’re wondering how to know if you have a spinal disc problem, it helps to know that the pain most commonly presents in two ways: ● If the disc bulges far enough to press on a spinal nerve, you may notice pain that travels down your arms or legs. ● If the inside of your disc pushes through the outer layer, it could also cause severe inflammation resulting in pain. How To Know if You Have a Spinal Disc Problem Do you have a muscle sprain or strain in your back? Or do you indeed have a disc issue? The best way to know for sure is to, of course, make an appointment with us for a timely evaluation. Our expert team specializes in non-invasive, natural spinal disc treatment in Paddington, and we do offer same day appointments for new and existing patients. If for some reason you can’t see us right away - perhaps it’s late at night, you're traveling, or there’s some other reason - here are some key indicators often associated with either sprains and strains or disc injuries. ● As is the case in the story I shared earlier, you’re most likely to experience a sprain or strain while or immediately after completing everyday tasks and movements. The pain can be intense and is often localized to the area of the back that was affected. ● Disc injuries on the other hand might not be attributable to a specific event, and the associated pain or discomfort (numbness, tingling, or weakness) often tends to be referred to and felt in the arms or legs on one side of the body (though some pain may be felt in the back). Now, we should note as we discuss how to know if you have a spinal disc problem here that there are occasions where disc herniations are asymptomatic, which is why we recommend keeping up on your adjustments even when you’re not in pain. Next Steps: Regardless of the type of back injury you experience, the good news is that your spine is incredibly resilient and very capable of healing without the need for invasive procedures, injections, and surgeries. Research has indicated time and again that movement-based care like the spinal adjustments and spinal rehab we provide in-house can be incredibly effective at helping you heal from disc injuries. And, well, we’ve all been there! You don’t need to spend any more time Googling for an answer to the question of how to know if you have a spinal disc problem because you have us. Just like our team is here for each other when we suffer a back injury, we’re here for you. If you’ve been living with back pain or some pains and discomfort in an arm or leg that you just can’t seem to remedy, don’t hesitate to pick up the phone and let us know. We specialize in providing non-invasive spinal disc treatment in Padington, and we’ll work with you to figure out what is at the root of that pain and to put together a plan to help you get out of pain and back to doing what you love, naturally. Book today for a free consu lta tion here  or get in touch with us today at hello@livelovelifechiro.com  or (02) 8091 2021. LiveLoveLife is a short walk from Woollahra Village! Dr Xavier Mirouze, Network Chiropractor, LiveLoveLife Science Sources: Bulging Disk vs. Herniated Disk: What's the Difference? Mayo Clinic. 2022. Exercise for Sciatica from a Herniated Disc. Spine-Health. 2021.

Stress... You know it, you feel it and unfortunately it's not going away any time soon. Here’s how you can understand the effects of stress on your health and what you can do to increase your resilience in these difficult times! What is stress? Can it be good?  Stress is vital for survival as it defends us from the challenges of daily life, otherwise known as “stressors”. The importance lies in the type and duration of stress and how we deal with it.  Good stress (Eu-stress) lasts only a very short period of time, you can overcome it and recover with a sense of exhilaration or accomplishment. Historically that stress would have allowed you to run away from a dangerous predator and reach a tree to climb to safety.  Bad stress (distress) can last days, weeks or even years and typically leaves you feeling a lack of control, irritable, emotionally drained and physically exhausted. Common stressors fall into three categories: Physical (sitting, lack of sleep, injuries); emotional (conflict, relationship issues, responsibilities) and chemical (pollution, diet, medications).  It is probably quite easy for you to pinpoint some of your everyday stressors and how long they have been affecting you. Stress is experienced through your nervous system which controls everything that happens in your body including organ function, hormonal secretion, digestion, immune response, healing and regeneration.  Your nervous system has two gears, ‘fight or flight’ and ‘rest and digest’. You can only be in one gear at a time, like a car with drive or reverse, you can either be in fight or flight OR rest & digest. When you are experiencing stress your nervous system is in fight or flight. What happens to your body when you are stressed?  This survival mode means your body is laser focused to get you to safety. Heart racing, blood pumping, muscles flexing, fuel burning, everything it takes to get you up that tree and away from that lion. But there is no lion… When your body thinks you are desperately trying to escape danger your vital centres (heart and lungs) become overworked, your creative thinking, concentration, ability to learn, problem solve, remember details or be considerate and empathetic to others goes out the window. When your nervous system is stuck in fight or flight, your body can’t properly digest food for healing, repair and regeneration,  your immune system also reduces in its capacity. These effects of long term stress  often leading to aches, pains and injuries that will hang around and a body that is more susceptible to coughs, colds, flus and other viruses. Definitely not what we want this winter!  Signs your stress levels may be too high These common signs of chronic stress can indicate you are living life primarily in fight or flight: Sleeping less than 6 hours per night and experiencing restless, broken sleep. You NEED your coffee and/or use alcohol or other drugs to switch off. You are anxious, aggressive, not happy or suffer poor mood regulation. You constantly feel overwhelmed and are increasingly forgetful. You suffer headaches, neck pain & upper back pain.  Building resilience with simple strategies We know reducing stress is not always easy but why not try some of the following: Sleep - 7+ hours per night Breathe - using your abdomen rather than your chest Exercise - walking and yoga are an excellent to start Nourish yourself - keep it real, fresh and nutrient dense Limit exposure to technology and screens - these send your nervous system into 'fight or flight'  Cultivate Gratitude - Begin each day by saying out loud 3 things you are grateful for Look after your spine - optimal spinal function will power up your nervous system to shift gears into rest & digest and may help boost your immune system  Stress & spinal function  Your spine is the protective casing for your nervous system and the motor for your brain.  The function of the spine can therefore affect every aspect of your health including how you experience and deal with stress and how well your brain is able to do its job. At LiveLoveLife we are passionate about helping people live their best.  We offer world-class Chiropractic care along with proactive education, positive support and early intervention, which is key in reducing the long term impact of spinal health issues and stress to ensure you are building a strong, healthy and resilient body for the future.   Want your health to be different? Want your life to be different? Then you have to DO something different. Book today for a free consu lta tion here or get in touch with us today at hello@livelovelifechiro.com or (02) 8091 2021. LiveLoveLife is a short walk from Woollahra Village! Dr Xavier Mirouze, Network Chiropractor, LiveLoveLife