Spinedango® – Spine Rehabilitation through Dance!

Working for many years in the field of the spine related disorders, we are always on lookout for the best physical exercise to follow and complement the care at the clinic.

Many patients are eager to dive into sports when the back pain is gone. This sometimes can cause more bad than good. Often people do too much or too soon and often just the wrong type of exercise for their condition.

One of the best exercises for the spine is dance. We came to this conclusion, that people who dance regularly rarely need our help and if they do, they improve quicker and stay well longer.

Not every type of dance is beneficial and not for everyone.

This new project was started in cooperation between Chiropractor and Professional Dance Instructor. We select and perfect the dance moves taken from mainstream Latin Dance. We make them work for those who are looking to improve the flexibility and strength of their spine and joints. We’ve called it Spinedango!

Today Spinedango® classes available in several locations in London and New Instructor training is offered to those who want to lead the Spinedango® movement. Very soon we will be running one-to-one classes at the clinic and are ready to offer corporate classes at place of your work.

Please watch the video below to see the benefits it can bring you and to hear the testimonials.

Spinedango Official website is here!

By many request of you, who need help changing the habits of smoking or eating or in need of dealing with past trauma or stress, we are delighted to proudly present our resident Hypnotherapists! Clinical Hypnotherapy at The Back Pain Centre is accredited by The British Society of Clinical Hypnosis (BSCH).

Robin Lockhart Clinical Hypnotherapist BA (Hons) Dip. Adv. Hyp

Jo Gowda Clinical Hypnotherapist MA (Hons) Dip. Adv. Hyp

Their intention to help you is reflected in the following message:

“Are you tired of smoking? Do you wish you could lose weight & keep it off? Have you had challenges dealing with pain from an injury or a condition? Perhaps you’ve tried lots of different things to help with marital issues… We use techniques including Hypnotherapy and other TranceFormational processes to allow our clients to nd the solutions to their problems that already exist within them…
Through a range of therapies we can help you to stop smoking, lose weight, set and achieve personal goals as well as deal with pain and a wide range of other personal challenges and issues…”

Jo and Robin are recommended to us through our clients who have had a great results from their treatments.

Please see a short story about each of our new colleagues below:

Jo Gowda is a fully-qualified hypnotherapist practising Structured Advanced Hypnotherapy and The Austin Technique. She also offers ‘Stop Smoking in One Hour’ sessions with an amazing 95% success rate.

She describes herself as a ‘humanist with a very practical outlook on life’ and initially this dichotomy made it difficult for her to find her place in life. Graduating with an MA in Social Sciences she found employment in one of the capital’s major banks. She felt, however, that she would prefer a job where she could make a difference in people’s lives.

She chose to retrain as a hypnotherapist because, unlike more traditional forms of therapy, hypnotherapy produces noticeable results relatively quickly – bringing much-needed relief to the patients.

Robin Lockhart BA (Hons) Informal and Community Education. Master Practitioner of NLP. Master Hypnotherapist accredited by American Board of Hypnotherapy and GHR in UK. A widely recognised Behavioural Change Specialist. over 30 years experience running therapeutic sessions for individuals and groups.

If you want to know more about safety and effectivness of Hypnotherapy, please watch this recorded webinar by Rob and Jo here:

Please phone the clinic for a nearest available appointment on 0208 989 3330

Have you ever noticed that little statement on the sign outside our practice? That statement that reads:

‘Dedicated to Getting People Well and Keeping Them That Way’

This statement is something that we apply to each and every patient we see at our practice but we felt the need to explain it a little further for you because it was born out of a very particular way of practicing, a way that has changed our practice and the health of our patients much for the better for many years now.

Most patients who consult with us for the first time have usually been experiencing their particular problem for many years. Some as much as 10-15 years and many have even given up hope of ever beating the pain that has been troubling them for so long.

Because of this, often the problem could be explained as quite deep seated. Of course every patient is different and special in their own way but generally if someone has had a problem that has been going on for 10 years or more then it can take some time to correct.

The good news is that the pain part of the problem is usually the first thing to go, which of course is always good to hear. However, this can bring its own problems. You see just because the pain has gone doesn’t mean the problem that caused that pain has been corrected.

That’s where the ‘Dedication to Getting People Well’ comes in, because it takes dedication both from the Doctor and the patient in order to correct these problems that are so often presented to us.
Many people understandably believe that once the pain has disappeared then so has the problem but unfortunately this is rarely the case.

Unless the problem is corrected in the long term then that pain is likely to appear again. It is the reason why we spend a fair amount of time in the beginning getting to the cause of the problem – But once we have found that cause then we can get to work dedicating ourselves to correcting it and hence getting that person ‘Well’ again.

Once we have reached the point in a patients care programme where we have corrected the problem to the best of our ability then comes the second part of that all important phrase . . . ‘Keeping Them That Way.’

You see people rarely change their lifestyle and it’s their lifestyle that brought them to this point in the first place. When we say this we don’t mean it to sound like these people lead bad lifestyles at all, but it may be the way a person swings their golf club that caused the problem, or that their job means that they spend much of the day sat in front of a computer screen, or their work involves a lot of physical lifting – the list of lifestyle issues is endless.

Very often it is simply not realistic to expect people to change their lifestyle under these circumstances, however the good news is that they don’t necessarily have to.

Once the problem has been corrected we can often keep it that way by the patient attending the practice perhaps once per month to get their spine checked over and adjusted, along with a simple regular exercise programme. As we said before, every case is different and for some it may be every two months and for others it may mean every two weeks.

However, the important thing to remember is this. Once you have dedicated yourself to finally correcting the problem that has caused so much pain in the past, isn’t it worth maintaining it in that good condition?

Your Doctor of Chiropractic will explain to you what your case requires in order to keep it in good condition but there are three phases of care:

1. The Intense Phase – (Pain Relief)
2. The Corrective Phase – (Putting the Cause Right)
3. The Maintenance Phase – (Keeping it Right)

Those three phases of care are all summed up in that special phrase we use:

‘Dedicated to Getting People Well and Keeping Them That Way’

When you are a patient at our practice we will always endeavor to have that phrase apply to you, so the problem you first consulted with us for is kept at bay in the long term – that way you can continue your lifestyle the way you wish to live it, without being ruled by your back problem.

We are often asked what Chiropractic treatment involves? Most chiropractors talk about the “adjustment” but thatʼs not all we can do to help you.

We also have to consider what we ask our bodies to do on a daily basis. We live in a demanding environment which puts stress not only on our backs but also affects the function and alignment of our feet knees and hips. It is important to understand that back pain that comes on gradually, is almost always accompanied by changes to these areas as well.

Chiropractors know most patients have a whole series of symptoms and itʼs our job to connect the dots and treat you as a whole; not just your isolated symptoms. Within our clinic as well as offering standard Chiropractic treatment, using adjustments.

Our Chiropractors care about the whole picture and where appropriate will incorporate some extras, one of our most popular is orthotic arch supports.

Excessive pronation affects all joints.

How do flat feet affect us?

The human body originally developed to walk on soft terrains and uneven surfaces such as grass, sand and soil. In the modern world we tend to walk on much harder, man made surfaces e.g. tarmac, concrete or hard floors. Our feet react by collapsing the arch on the inside of the foot but this causes the shock of impact with the ground to travel up the body.

When the arch collapses it also causes other problems. It twists your lower leg inwards, placing stress on the inside of the knee. The buttock muscles have to tighten pulling the upper thigh outwards. The pelvis twists forwards increasing the curve in your lower back and putting a lot of stress on the low back joints.

We see a lot of patients who have had episodes of low back, knee and hip pain. After years of suffering they still donʼt know that they have flat feet. Other symptoms often caused by flat feet include: bunions and corns, heel spurs, tired aching legs, knee pain, and hip pain.

So how can this problem be corrected?

By using individually fitted, orthotic arch supports, these are a heat mouldable plastic shoe insert designed to support the arch on the inside of the foot.

Easy correction with orthotics

How will arch supports help me?

A small change at the bottom makes a huge difference all the way up to the top of the body. Your spine and especially your lower back is key to this change too. Nerves which manage and repair the structures in the legs, exit from your spine. If these nerves are under pressure because your back is stiff and sore, they can not perform well.

By adding a little support to your shoe you can fix the problems to the knee and hip, enabling you be more comfortable if you are on your feet all day or help you manage a 10 mile hike.

What else can I do?

Chiropractors want your spine to move like a well-oiled machine. They fix the low back pain with adjustments and you will be encouraged to do exercises to build your core strength.

Simply call us on the number below to schedule an appointment as a New Patient TODAY.

Don’t let foot problems rule your life – get it checked NOW!

Check if your feet are aligned correctly

Please see below Meric chart – a traditional chiropractic nerves chart depicting the nervous system and what symptoms you may expect if it’s function is disrupted by dysfunctional spine.

If this nerves chart is difficult to read, just save it to your computer and view as normal image where you can magnify the areas of interest to see whether any of the symptoms listed are relevant to you. All you have to do is a “right click” on the image to “view it” or “save it”. And hopefully this will be a first step to solving some of your health issues.

Chiropractic nerve chart

More about spinal nerves chart:

Why Chiropractic is so powerful?

In this article we describe the importance and the influence of nervous system on all systems of your body.

You may have heard from some people how chiropractic is one of the most powerful and effective therapies we know of.

Some people talk of chiropractic miracles, where they have seemingly tried everything to cure debilitating diseases only to try chiropractic as their last resort and boom! It works. It’s amazing, a miracle! But is it?

You see it is not chiropractic that is the miracle, chiropractic is the power.

The nervous system is the miracle.

We believe that we work with the secret of life itself, the nervous system. And we don’t pretend to understand completely its incredible complexity and genius design. Maybe we never will.

Doctors of Chiropractic are highly trained – they complete a 4-5 year diploma covering pathology, radiology, anatomy, microbiology, obstetrics, orthopaedics, neurology, adjusting techniques, chemistry and much more – over 4,000 hours of study. So please, do not ever be in any doubt that your chiropractor is a highly trained doctor.

But having said all that, chiropractic does not add anything in and it does not take anything away. We do not use drugs and we do not operate – we put our trust in the nervous system. And do you know what? It comes through with results over and over.

Chiropractic makes sure that the spinal bones that surround the central nervous system do not interfere with its work.

That’s what a subluxation is. A subluxation occurs when the spinal bones become stuck or fixated and interfere with the function of the nervous system.

As soon as we release the nervous system from this interference – boom! The results start to come over and over again.

So yes, chiropractic is incredibly powerful, but it is the nervous system that has the amazing healing power and it is the nervous system that gets results.

This is why we encourage all our patients to follow their schedule of care, because it takes time to train the spine and the surrounding muscles out of their habit of interfering with the nervous system.

Your doctor of chiropractic will only recommend the visits you need, but it can take time. This is why patients who follow their schedule to the end often see results that they never believed possible.

Full chiropractic assessment with free X-rays. Expires 31/12/2015.

Doesn’t it make sense that as the nervous system controls everything, when it starts to function properly again then all kinds of problems start to come good?

Your nervous system is an amazing, incredible part of your body – give it a chance to do its thing and you will never look back.

If you are suffering from back pain, neck pain, pain down the leg, pins and needles in the arms and hands or headaches then the chances are that your nervous system is not functioning properly.

Call us TODAY to make an appointment and get your nervous system back on track.

If you want to know how the body is connected by nerves and what symptoms you may have if the nerves are not working properly,

you can look at the simple chart of nerves following this link: Meric Chart

Scoliosis – it’s one of those words isn’t it? We hear it from time to time but what does it really mean? And if it was that serious, a real problem, then we would all know about it wouldn’t we?

Well let us bring this problem sharply into your vision – right now.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame was the way he was due to a severe scoliosis. That’s what a severe scoliosis can do to you. Does it sound serious now? Of course it is serious – the effects can be devastating.

Now the Hunchback of Notre Dame is a mythical figure, and of course the narrative is a tragic love story. But be in no doubt, scoliosis is a condition to be taken seriously. It often starts at a young age, more often in girls than boys but both can experience this condition. And here’s the crunch. If it is not corrected by the age of about 16 – that’s it, it is not changing.

But chiropractic care is one of the few approaches that can really make a difference, especially if spotted at a young age – the condition can be corrected. If you leave it and just ‘keep an eye on it’ it can be too late. And this is just a tragedy.

So, what is it exactly?

Well if you were to look at a normal healthy person, face on and you could see their spine then it should be standing straight upwards. From the side view the spine is curved, from the front or back view it should be straight.

A Scoliosis is when the spine, when looked at from the front has a curve in it, in some cases more than one curve. So it bends from side to side as well as front to back. This causes the body to twist and the muscles go out of symmetry. The unfortunate person suffering from scoliosis often appears bent over with a hunch on their back. This effect can be slight or severe depending on the extent of the scoliosis.

Quite apart from the postural appearance, a scoliosis can cause any number of related internal problems, as well as low self esteem and a lack of confidence. So, if you are a parent can you spot it? Simply take a good look at your child’s posture:

• Is one shoulder higher than the other?

• Do they seem slightly twisted in their posture?

• Do they seem slightly bent over rather than straight backed?

• Are they starting to form a hunch on their back, however small?

Full chiropractic assessment with free X-rays.

If you suspect that your child may be suffering from a scoliosis, Act and Act Now! TODAY! Procrastination is another day nearer to a potentially permanent problem.

Call our practice for an appointment and bring your child along for a thorough examination. There is a good chance we can help. We will see your child half price during summer months too. This is £20 for consultation, examination, X-rays (if necessary) and a comprehensive report of findings with personalised recommendations.

Just one thing – you do not want a doctor to have to say to you, ‘I’m sorry, it’s too late for your child.’ A colleague of ours, a fantastic doctor, had this experience. He said, ‘The mother cried when I had to tell her that, and I cried with her.’ It is such a sad story.

There is usually time just as long as you take action now. Take a good look at your children. Ask them questions, be inquisitive because everything will seem normal to them.

They are our responsibility, let’s do our best to protect them from this awful condition…

The Back Pain Centre

020 8989 3330

Health – what is it? What constitutes healthy living? Is it a healthy diet and a healthy mind?

Well, we all have our opinions. Some feel that everything in moderation is the way to health while others would never let a drop of alcohol pass their lips. Nobody has the right to tell others how to live their life. However, some facts are beyond opinion. There are things that we can do that we know will help all of us live longer, healthier lives. Three spring to mind immediately.

Number one is water. Water is the elixir of life. If you were stranded on a desert island there are a few essentials that you would need in order to survive. Shelter is one, food is another, but water would have to be the priority. You could survive without shelter and you could survive for quite a time without food but you would have to have water.

The more water you can drink the healthier you will feel. Most people do not drink anything like enough water. If you can drink two and a half litres every day then you will really benefit. Two and a half litres? You may wonder how on earth anybody could drink that much in a day. But as you become accustomed to taking on that much water it becomes easier. Very often when we think we feel hungry, the real reason is that we are actually thirsty. Try drinking some water the next time you feel peckish and start working your way toward those two and a half litres per day. Start as you mean to carry on – drink a half litre (500 ml) of water when you wake up in the morning. You can squeeze some fresh lemon into it if you want to make it more interesting. Keep a bottle of water with you. The most common concern is, ‘Will I be constantly visiting the toilet?’  You may have to ‘spend a penny’ a little more often initially but it will quickly settle down and it is very good to flush out the toxins in our bodies. 

Then we have number two – eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. We all have different diets but recently even fast food restaurants have been offering more fruit and vegetables. They are a must if we want to be fit and healthy.  

Full chiropractic assessment with free X-rays.

How ironic that when they were rationed during the 1930s-40s everybody craved fresh fruit and vegetables, yet now that they are plentiful most of us do not eat enough of them. But what is enough?  Well it is difficult to eat too much of this goodness, but if you have at least two types of vegetable with each meal and some fresh fruit during the day you should be fine – just as long as you are consistent, by which we mean every day. It is interesting that nature helps to enjoy variety by making our fruit and vegetables in a wide range of colours. Variety is important to our healthy diet so try to have a range of colour in your diet.

So, what is number three? I’m sorry but it’s that one most of us try to avoid. Yes, you’ve guessed it – number three is exercise. But actually, in order to be healthy it is not necessary to be addicted to the gym. If you just make sure that you take a good walk every day that will make a big difference. Then if you want to take things further then you can – there is plenty of help and advice out there if you want it. But how far should we walk each day?  

Well here is a good idea.  Go out and get yourself a pedometer – a small gadget that fits in your pocket and counts your steps. How many steps should we take per day?  Ten thousand! That’s right, but it is not as far as you might think. The average stride is approximately 18 inches – 2 feet (sixty centimetres). That makes ten thousand steps measure about Two and a half miles, maybe a little more – but it’s really not very far! If you struggle at first, then start with as few as you can comfortably manage and work up to ten thousand gradually. Start with a thousand steps and gradually build up to ten thousand day by day.  Never push yourself too far; there is plenty of time to build up your distance.  This kind of exercise has the added benefit of increasing our production of endorphins which make us feel much better in body, mind and spirit.  

Following these simple guidelines will certainly add years to your life and life to your years.

Good luck and happy walking.

Neurac ® Treatment using Redcord ® equipment in London!