Press Information
Credit crunch health benefits
Shropshire residents feeling the pinch as a result of the credit crunch could find it brings unexpected health benefits.
That’s the message from Chiropractor Dr Tom Gwilliam, at the Centre for Positive Health, in Wellington.
“When money is tight, people go back to basics and live more frugally, which is not all bad news.
“Many of us will turn away from expensive ready meals, which are often full of additives and in particular, may have a high salt content.
“Instead we tend to choose cheaper alternatives such as fresh vegetables in order to create meals from scratch, which does of course mean it’s easier to monitor exactly what’s going into your food.
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“This is excellent news for your body and your overall health, and it’s an unexpected positive benefit that comes from a really difficult situation.”
He advised people to eat foods currently in season, as they are cheaper because they haven’t been shipped around the world; to buy locally as the produce will be fresher and cheaper because there are no transport costs; and to avoid waste by only buying what you need.
Tom said another consequence of the credit crunch was that people were obviously looking more closely at their financial outgoings.
“For many people, it’s a time when they reconsider that expensive gym membership which seemed like such a good idea at the time, and yet they’ve made little use of it.
“This doesn’t have to mean that you miss out on exercise altogether, as it doesn’t cost anything to get out into the fresh air and walk. It will do wonders for your health, and it’s easy on your pocket too, so your well-being doesn’t need to suffer even when you’re cutting back on your spending.”
Tom said despite the challenges the credit crunch created, it was important to remember living frugally could be a refreshing change.
“It’s better for you, and will give your body a break from the usual excesses that we are all guilty of when money is more readily available.”
ENDS/Chiro credit crunch health rlse/December 3, 2008
For more information contact Rachel Jones, PR Liaison, 01785 823382 or email racheljonespr@aol.com
Holding back the years
Senior citizens across Shropshire are being urged to hold back the years by thinking about their health.
Dr Simon Pierce, of The Chiropractic Clinic, in Whitchurch Road, Wellington, said many of the aches and pains suffered by older people were due to the condition of their bones.
“Older patients often suffer from structural problems with their joints, namely arthritis, and many of their difficulties can be traced back to their spine.
“The most typical symptoms are pain and stiffness in their joints and back, and as chiropractors, we believe regular treatment can help make all the difference.”
Simon said the pain and stiff joints were caused because the supporting ligaments had lost much of their ability to stretch, and were less flexible due to age.
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“But chiropractic treatment involves adjusting the spine and other joints to help restore balance and mobility, and many of our older patients say it brings them pain free movement for the first time in many months.”
He said other conditions associated with the ageing process could also benefit from chiropractic help, including circulatory problems, degenerative arthritis, and pain when walking.
“We believe older people are among some of our patients who benefit the most from treatment, as their happiness largely depends on how they are feeling physically, and being in constant pain is very debilitating.
“There is no reason why they should have to put up with being in pain every day – despite the common thought that aches and pains are just part of getting older.
“By taking charge of their own health, and developing a positive attitude to maintaining a good level of wellbeing, they really can make a huge difference to their lives.
“It’s important though that older patients seek professional advice before they begin any kind of health programme, and that a full assessment of their overall health is carried out.
“Chiropractic can certainly help to improve their quality of life, in conjunction with a healthy balanced approach to other elements such as diet and exercise – and holding back the years is a definite reality.”
ENDS/Chiro keeping younger rlse/June 6, 2008
For more information contact Rachel Jones, PR Liaison, 01785 823382 or email racheljonespr@aol.com
Walk this way for better health
A Telford chiropractor is calling on local people to get out into the fresh air for the sake of their health.
Dr Simon Pierce, from The Centre for Positive Health, in Wellington, urged everyone to make the most of the start of Spring and start walking their way to better health.
“Walking is free, invigorating and enjoyable, and you can do it anywhere, which makes it a much more convenient way to exercise than signing up to an expensive gym.
“It’s one of the most simple and effective forms of exercise, and the only equipment you need is a good pair of comfortable walking shoes.”
Dr Pierce said the Department of Health was currently advising people to walk for 90 minutes, two to three times a week.
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“We have always advised our patients to take regular exercise, but it’s important to slowly increase the amount of time you set aside for your walk – ultimately we believe around 30 minutes, five times a week will really benefit your health.
“Today’s sedentary lifestyle means we see people’s health deteriorating as they get older – but regular walking can benefit your heart, tone up muscles, burn calories, and reduce the risk of many diseases.
“If you want to burn fat while you’re walking though, you need to exercise for over 45 minutes, without getting out of breath, otherwise you’ll be burning muscle and not fat.”
He said it was important to choose shoes with a cushioned sole to help absorb the impact of your walking, and to walk with your head upright, not looking down or stooped.
“Don’t carry weights or dumbbells either unless they are light enough not to interfere with the rhythm of your arm and leg movements which occurs naturally as you walk.
“You may find your thighs and calves are a little sore in the first few weeks, particularly if you haven’t exercised for some time, and if the pain continues or gets worse, you may benefit from consulting a chiropractor just to make sure you don’t have a serious problem.
“Walking is an activity that can make all the difference to almost everyone, so get out into the fresh air and put your best foot forward.”
ENDS/Chiro walking advice release/April 10, 2008
For more information contact Rachel Jones, PR Liaison, 01785 823382 or email racheljonespr@aol.com
Marathon Effort for Runners
Shropshire runners preparing for this year’s London Marathon are being warned to get the balance right with their training.
Dr Simon Pierce, of The Chiropractic Clinic, in Wellington, said excessive training was the cause of 90% of jogging injuries, and novice runners needed to prepare carefully.
“For those lucky enough to secure a place in this year’s London Marathon, preparation is definitely the key to a successful run.
“But despite the daunting challenge that such a race presents, it’s also important not to over-train or you could do yourself more harm than good.”
Dr Pierce said there were two main types of injuries which runners were likely to suffer – the acute trauma, which is a sudden injury, such as a torn ligament, or a broken bone; and the more frequent overuse injury.
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“These may include a condition commonly known as ‘policeman’s heel’, where the runner suffers pain in the bottom of their foot.
“You may also suffer sore Achilles tendons and if you do feel pain here, you must pay attention immediately, because if you try to ignore it and run through it, you could cause a serious long-term injury.
“Shin splints are also common, with pain on the front, the inside, and/or the outside surface of the shin bone, or directly on the bone itself – these are usually caused by a faulty posture, poor shoes, muscle fatigue, or failing to warm up properly.”
Dr Pierce said runners in training who suffered an injury like this should not panic.
“Increasing the mileage you are running every week will add pressure to your body that can result in a number of injuries and ultimately may break you down altogether.
“Remember that pain is a warning sign, but it does not necessarily mean your dreams of running the marathon are over.
“Professional help from a chiropractor will help to assess initially where the injury actually is, as the place where you feel the pain may not be the real site of the injury.
“We can then work on easing the pain and restoring mobility, and give you advice on how to resume your training and protect yourself at the same time.
“There is rarely a magic solution, but it’s better to seek help rather than carry on regardless and risk not being able to take part in the marathon at all.
“Make sure your jogging shoes fit well, that they’re comfortable and support your foot and ankle sufficiently, and ensure that you drink plenty of water – then your body should be able to cope with the challenge ahead.”
ENDS/Chiro marathon training release/February 28, 2008
For more information contact Rachel Jones, PR Liaison, 01785 823382 or email racheljonespr@aol.com
Games Consoles Warning
Teenagers and their families across Shropshire are being warned to take care when using the new style of activity game consoles.
Dr Simon Pierce, from The Centre for Positive Health, in Wellington, said nationally there had been reports of an increase in people suffering back pain after over-enthusiastic game playing.
“The new style of game consoles, such as the Nintendo Wii, are now increasingly popular, and they involve players taking a more active approach rather than the more traditional style of armchair play.
“But such activities can lead to injuries, and it’s important that people understand the risks they are facing.”
Simon said it was not necessary to use excessive actions, as the handsets were sensitive enough to detect all the movements a player made.
“You should though make sure the room is clear and that people, pets and objects are well out of the way before you start to play. But if you have overdone it in the family games console championships, don’t just suffer in silence.”
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He said possible injuries included a “cricked” neck – a sudden onset of pain in the neck and muscle spasm in the area above the shoulder blade, which often tends to affect young adults; or even tennis elbow, which comes from overuse.
“The repetitive action of gripping, twisting, and moving the wrist when you use the remote handset inflames the tendons attached to the muscles of the forearm which straighten the fingers and the wrist.
“And despite it’s name, it’s not only caused by tennis – the repetitive actions that come when you use these interactive game consoles are ideal conditions for it to occur.”
Treatment involves reducing the inflammation by using ice and resting the elbow as much as possible, followed by a rehabilitation programme of power stretching exercises for the elbow and affected muscles.
“The bad news is that the risk of this kind of injury also increases with age, as both your muscle strength and elasticity of your ligaments decreases after the age of about 30 – so if you’re taking on your teenage children, beware of your limitations.
“You should also take care towards the end of a game, when you’re likely to be more tired and more susceptible to injury.
“The games consoles though can be a valuable addition to the family home, as less time sitting down and more physical activity as part of your daily routine is a great start to a healthier lifestyle. But take care that you don’t overdo it, and take regular rest breaks – remember it’s supposed to be fun!”
ENDS/Chiro teenage game console rlse/January 25, 2008
For more information contact Rachel Jones, PR Liaison, 01785 823382 or email racheljonespr@aol.com
New Website Pays Off
Our new-look website is already proving to be a real hit when it comes to helping people find out more about the services we offer.
We have completely restructured the site – www.c4ph.co.uk – as part of a programme of change featuring all our marketing procedures.
Simon Pierce said: “We have already launched a whole new range of promotional leaflets to help patients and non-patients get a clearer idea of what chiropractic involves.
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“And we decided as part of the same process, we’d transform our website to make it more user-friendly and pro-active.”
The site is open to both patients and non-patients, and anyone who registers receives tips and advice on how to boost their wellbeing, and information on how chiropractic can help them improve their health.
“One patient said they had learned more about their health since they had been receiving our health interest articles through the website, than they had in 25 years of more traditional medical approaches,” said Simon.
“The advice articles are proving extremely popular with our patients, and it’s a great opportunity for people to take their time and fully understand what chiropractic entails.”
ENDS/New Chiropractic Website
For more information contact Rachel Jones, PR Liaison, 01785 823382 or email racheljonespr@aol.com