A new study has shown that visiting a Chiropractor after injuring your neck or back is far more effective than using over-the-counter medications. Paul Skelton talks to a Melbourne Chiropractor about the common problems suffered by electricians.

I’m a lifelong ‘cracker’. In fact, I can vividly remember the first time I cracked my knuckles. I was eight-years-old. It stung, but it quickly became a habit.

These days I can crack my knuckles without applying pressure. And it doesn’t end there; I can now crack my wrists, elbows, shoulders, toes, knees, back, chest and neck.

But it turns out that this is a bad thing.

After starting my first ‘desk job’ in 2005, I started to experience horrible neck pain, but I thought little of it. I ignored the pain and let it go… for about seven years.

In March 2012 the pain had become so unbearable that I could barely move my neck. I entered my symptoms into Dr Google, which told me I might be pregnant, but that didn’t seem right.

A friend of mine suggested that I see a Chiropractor. I was incredibly sceptical – I had heard the horror stories. But the pain was bad enough for me to ignore that and make an appointment.

And I’m glad I did.

Neck pain affects three out of every four people at some stage of their lives, particularly sedentary office workers chained to a desk.

The cost in over-the-counter pain killers, medical bills and lost productivity is substantial, but more important is the toll the pain takes on an individual’s physical and mental well-being.

However, in a recently published study, research showed that for those with neck pain, Chiropractic care had significantly more pain relief benefit than medication. It’s just about finding the right Chiropractor to suit your needs. To me, ‘high volume’ practitioners that spend three to five minutes with their clients seemed dangerous and just a tad bit useless. Remember that Chiropractors are doctors, so treat the process of finding one the same way you would select a GP.

The Chiropractors’ Association of Australia explains that “a Chiropractic adjustment is the skill of using a specific force in a precise direction, applied to a joint that is fixated, ‘locked up’, or not moving properly. This adds motion to the joint, helping the joints to gradually regain more normal motion and function”.

Dr Katelyn Jacka, the director of True Health in the Melbourne suburb of Ormond, Victoria, became a Chiropractor in 1996. She has particular interest in treating tradies, chronic problems, children and post pregnancy recovery but has worked with people from all ages and health backgrounds.

She says tradies service their equipment more than their bodies.

“When it comes to health care and your body ignorance is not bliss. Pain and symptoms are a language that tradies do not understand. We do.”

Katelyn says electricians, in fact all tradies, are highly susceptible to back and neck injuries.

“Sparkies tend to get themselves into strange positions to do work, which can lead to lower back, neck, shoulder and arm conditions such as tennis elbow or repetitive strain injuries (RSI).

“They perform repetitive movements (injuring shoulders and arms), they lift and twist (hurting their lower back), they look up with their arms up (straining their neck), and for some strange reason they hit their head a lot (causing concussions and neck injuries).

“Tool belt injuries are also common. A tool belt weighed down more on one side leads to pelvic misalignment.”

Electrocution is also a hazard and can cause a muscle spasm, which if located around a joint may lead to it misaligning.

“I once treated a 6’4” sparkie who had worked in a small space for 45 minutes, with his ear on his shoulder. His neck was stuck in that position until his treatment… 48 hours later.

“I have also seen far too many electricians with concussions and head injuries. Their heads seem to attract flying objects!”

Of course, there are several precautions an electrician can take to minimise the potential of injury.

“Strangely with sparkies I really want to say ‘watch your head!’.

“Further, lifting and twisting at the same time leads to lower back disc injuries and sciatica. Try to keep the heavy stuff close to your centre when carrying it.

“Also, be healthy, strong and keep or get some abs. Wouldn’t your job be easier if you were stronger?”

Katelyn says one of the biggest problems is people who attempt to perform Chiropractic adjustments on themselves (something that I am guilty of doing myself).

“I see so many tradies who crack their own neck. DO NOT ADJUST YOUR OWN NECK!

“There are blood vessels in there as well as nerves and bones with spikey bits on them. You can really cause yourself damage or just lots of instability. No matter how good it feels, do not do it. That’s my job – it takes knowledge and skill and is an art to do properly. No self neck cracking!

“When pain goes away I’m sure that most people think they’re better. I, however, wonder what has compensated to balance that problem.

“Just because you’re pain free does not mean that you’re well, and it definitely does not mean that you are as strong or as healthy as you can be. Our bodies degenerate and age slowly and quietly, but letting issues go untreated speeds this process up.

“Plus, an ignored problem usually ends up getting worse. It’s much better to have an adjustment, massage or acupuncture earlier than surgery later.”

Chiropractic care has for a long time been the subject of many myths and misunderstandings. These have largely been proved unfounded.

“The main myths include that if you go once you have to go forever. The truth is that once you feel how it feels to be misalignment-free you just want to go back,” Katelyn says.

“The frequency of your visits to a Chiropractor ultimately varies upon the goal of the patient. A healthy 16-year-old apprentice with his first spinal injury will have a very different road to recovery when compared to a 50-year-old, dehydrated, smoker with no abs.

“There is also a belief that a Chiropractic adjustment hurts. It’s true that adjusting an inflamed joint just after an injury can be painful, but there are ways around that, such as using low force.”

Perhaps the most prolific myth surrounding Chiropractic care is that it’s dangerous, but it turns out that going to a Chiropractor is remarkably safe.

Chiropractors have an excellent safety record. And, in relation to the treatment of neck and back pain, studies have shown that a course of Chiropractic care was 250 times safer than a course of anti-inflammatory drugs.

It’s all about finding the right Chiropractor for your needs.

“The youngest patient that I have ever treated was only four hours old. The birth had been a long and difficult one and the baby could only turn their head to one side,” Katelyn says.

“It is important to know that no-one has the perfect body or the perfect spine. Our bodies would love to lead a symmetrical, trauma-free life, but they don’t.

“I recommend that everyone be checked by a Chiro at least once a year. In a perfect world every one to three months would allow us to keep your spines functioning at their best.

“There are several Chiropractic techniques. Some Chiropractors adjust only using their hands, some only with an activator. Ask around to find the Chiropractor and the technique that suits you.

“I also like to empower my patients with exercise, and general health info. Health is a choice – a lot of people just don’t realise this until it’s too late!”

Six months after first seeing Katelyn, I have since found a whole new range of motion in my neck. I can even do shoulder checks in my car!

Despite being incredibly reluctant to go in the beginning, I’m quite annoyed I didn’t go sooner.