AMI Chiropractic Clinic Blog

Is Your Phone Causing Tech Neck? Bottom Line: Staying connected to friends and family, catching up with emails, reading the latest news, watching our favourite TV episodes and playing games can come at a price! As a society we are spending to much time looking down at our mobile phones. Screen time may be anything from 1, 2, 3 hours or more depending on your use. Let's face it, a lot of these hours are spent in an awkward forward head posture that experts have begun to call 'tech neck'. A 'tech neck' can result in neck and upper back pain, stress and tension, headaches, spinal disc issues, and even trapped nerves. Here at the AMI Clinic in Bedford we work with people who are experiencing these symptoms associated with a 'tech neck'. We offer advise our patients on how poor posture using a mobile phone can lead to dysfunction and symptoms abd advise on how simple stretches, using the correct posture  and postural exercises can ...

How To Prevent Spinal Disc Injuries Bottom Line: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. I often wonder if the author of that quote happened to have a disc herniation. By investing in a pro-active approach to your spinal health now, you may be able to avoid suffering from a disc injury later in life. And, while there is no specific protocol to guarantee you will never have a disc herniation, there are a few action steps you can take now to lower your risk. In fact, researchers have recently discovered that you can reduce your chances of suffering from a herniated disc by keeping your spinal muscles strong. Why it Matters: An active lifestyle, regular exercise, and even Chiropractic adjustments are all considered essential aspects of optimal spinal health. Degenerative changes to your spinal discs and weakened muscles around your spine can increase your risk of a disc herniation. In our practice, we focus on helping you live an active and healthy lifestyle to ...

Hot Spinal Discs:  Can an Inflamed Disc Heal? Bottom Line: It’s called a “hot” disc for a reason. Disc herniations cause a tremendous amount of inflammation that can irritate nearby nerves and cause pain. But, did you know that inflammation is actually…a good thing? In fact, inflammation suggests a high likelihood of relief with conservative care. Confused? Well, the inflammatory process is the first step of the healing process! A disc that is “hot” or inflamed is a sign that the healing process has already begun. Why it Matters: New research indicates that an inflamed disc can “activate” healing throughout your immune system. Tiny blood vessels begin to form around the herniation, causing your immune system to release certain chemicals that help the disc to heal and reabsorb. What’s even more exciting is that when conservative care, such as Chiropractic, is added, researchers found that not only can the disc herniation heal, but it can completely resolve! ...

A Spinal Disc Bulge or Herniation: What’s The Difference? Bottom Line: The bones, discs, ligaments, and muscles of your spine are designed to help you maintain proper spinal alignment, posture, and movement. Between each set of bones or vertebrae is a small rubbery disc. These discs act as small shock absorbers for your spinal bones and nerves. They have a tough, rubber-like outer layer called the annulus fibrosis and a soft jelly-like center that is called the nucleus pulposus. As you age or encounter injuries, the curve of your spine may fall out of alignment. This can place uneven stress on your spinal column and discs, increasing the chance of having a disc break down and herniate. Why Does It Matter? A disc herniation occurs when the outer portion of the disc ruptures (or tears) and the soft inner portion squeezes out. This type of injury can cause pain at the site of herniation, or sometimes the herniated disc can pinch a nearby nerve, causing pai...