Tag Archives: muscle pain

Chiropractic can help your back pain

“I’ve got Sciatica!”

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As experienced chiropractors and massage therapists in Stafford and Newport, we are often presented with ‘I’ve got sciatica’ when seeing patients for the first time. But did you know that ‘sciatica’ isn’t really a true diagnosis?

‘Sciatica’ is just a term that describes any injury in the low back that causes pain down the legs or buttocks. It is derived from the name of the largest and longest nerve in that region: the sciatic nerve.

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Stop guessing and start healing.

“Sciatica” is a symptom, not a diagnosis. Whether it’s a pinched nerve or a simple muscle strain, our Stafford and Newport teams are here to find the root cause and get you back on your feet.

There are also different types of sciatica.

MRI broken

1. True Sciatica (The Nerve Issue) – Think of this as direct nerve irritation, usually caused by a “slipped” or bulging disc pressing on the spinal nerves.

  • The Rule: Your leg usually hurts significantly more than your back.
  • The Path: Sharp pain that travels deep into the leg, often shooting past the knee and into the foot.
  • The Feel: Often includes “electrical” sensations—pins and needles, numbness, or actual muscle weakness.

2. Referred Pain (The Muscle/Joint Issue) – This is much more common. It isn’t a pinched nerve; it’s your brain “misinterpreting” pain from injured muscles, joints, or ligaments in your back.

  • The Path: Dull or aching pain that radiates into the buttock or thigh but typically stops above the knee.
  • The Feel: No tingling or numbness. While it hurts to move, your muscles aren’t actually “weak” in a neurological sense.
  • The Rule: Your back usually hurts more than your leg.

It’s important to get it checked

In all cases it is essential to get a diagnosis with suitable treatment and advice as soon as possible. Nerve symptoms can become chronic or even permanent if serious and left too long.

We are experts in assessing and treating back pain with sciatica

Take the Next Step

If you’re dealing with muscle, joint, or nerve pain that’s impacting your quality of life, chiropractic care, massage or shockwave could be the answer — whether that means short-term relief or lasting improvements, our care could help. If you are unsure which may be best for you, please feel free to contact us.

BOOK IN NOW. to start feeling better, move more freely, and support your body’s natural healing. We’ll work with you to identify any underlying issues and give you the tools to maintain your health.

Stafford Massage Room

Clinics in Stafford & Newport

We can help you to achieve better health. Our team of experienced chiropractors and massage therapists are ready to help you. We look forward to seeing you.

Your team at Pure Health Chiropractic

Article by Ethan Mallett
Content and Media Manager

Back Pain – don’t let the fear stop you!

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For anyone who has experienced true back pain, we salute you. It can be agonizing, excruciating, and debilitating. Often, the fear of that next sharp, shooting spasm is just as bad as the pain itself.

The good news? Almost all injuries will heal.

Your pain will subside, and you will get back to normal activity. The key to recovery isn’t just treatment—it’s understanding your problem and losing the fear of it.

Need expert advice? – BOOK NOW

Beware of “Scaremongering” Language

We’ve lost count of the number of clients afraid to move because they’ve been told they have a “crumbling spine” or “crumbling discs.” This language is poor, misleading, and fear-inducing. It causes apprehension and a loss of control over your own health. If a clinician tells you your back is “crumbling,” it’s time to seek a second opinion. Most back injuries are manageable and capable of healing.

Case Study: From Surgery to Strength

Our chiropractor, Chris, is a perfect example of why you shouldn’t let a scan dictate your life. At age 23 (prior to being a chiropractor), he had a disc prolapse and surgery. By age 27 his MRI showed:

MRI broken
  • Multiple disc bulges.
  • Vertebral inflammation.
  • A narrow spinal canal.
  • Degenerative changes.

A doctor told him he had the “spine of a 65-year-old.” He was terrified. How would he cope? Would it ever stop?

The Results Today: Now nearly 50, Chris is stronger than ever. Thanks to his chiropractic training and neuro-mechanical nutrition, he can:

  • Ride mountain bikes down technical trails.
  • Squat his own body weight.
  • Deadlift twice his own body weight.

The degeneration on the scan hasn’t changed, but his function has. He still gets the occasional flare-up, but he knows exactly how to manage it – and he can help you do the same.

How to Take Back Control

There are no shortcuts to managing persistent back problems. It requires building stability, strength, and mobility. We recommend a multi-faceted approach:

  1. Appropriate Exercise: Tailored to your current level.
  2. Healthy Lifestyle: Focus on diet and nutrition.
  3. Movement Techniques: Incorporate Yoga, Pilates, or Massage.
  4. Professional Care: Chiropractic adjustments to maintain quality movement.

Don’t let fear control your life. Getting good advice and maintaining quality movement is essential to your recovery.

[ BOOK AN APPOINTMENT NOW ].

Take the Next Step

If you’re dealing with muscle, joint, or nerve pain that’s impacting your quality of life, chiropractic care, massage or shockwave could be the answer — whether that means short-term relief or lasting improvements, our care could help. If you are unsure which may be best for you, please feel free to contact us.

BOOK IN NOW. to start feeling better, move more freely, and support your body’s natural healing. We’ll work with you to identify any underlying issues and give you the tools to maintain your health.

Stafford Massage Room

Clinics in Stafford & Newport

We can help you to achieve better health. Our team of experienced chiropractors and massage therapists are ready to help you. We look forward to seeing you.

Your team at Pure Health Chiropractic

Article by Ethan Mallett
Content and Media Manager

Sports and Remedial Massage

20% off Sports Massage in Stafford

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To help support all those training for the Stafford half marathon or simply getting more sporty in 2026, we are currently offering 20% all 60 minute sports massage with Hannah. If you are feeling the new niggles of your training plan or simply need loosening up, then get yourself booked in with a qualified therapist – this offer won’t last long!

Our Sports Massage Therapist Hannah is offering Sports Massage in Stafford on Thursday evenings and Saturdays to help you get back to your best.

BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT

Whether you’re dealing with a stubborn sports injury, feeling tight after an event, need loosening up before a big competition, or simply need support recovering from training — Hannah’s here to help you get back to peak performance.

Stafford Massage Room

About Hannah

Hannah is a qualified Sports Massage Therapist based at our Stafford Chiropractic & Wellness Clinic. She’s also a qualified physiotherapist, working full-time within the NHS. Her love of movement and sport began at just five years old as a competitive gymnast, and that passion has continued into adulthood through Pilates and regular gym training. Hannah has a strong interest in musculoskeletal health and injury recovery, and her professional training includes a range of soft tissue techniques to support rehabilitation and enhance performance.

She is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and is a member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists (CSP).

What is Massage Therapy

Our massage therapists offer sports, remedial (therapeutic) and deep tissue massage which is focused on the soft tissues of the body. This includes muscles, tendons, ligaments, and connective tissue. Before treatment, our qualified therapists discuss any areas of pain, tension or limited movement you may have.

For more information about how massage therapy could help you, please see our massage therapy page.

Take the Next Step

If you’re dealing with muscle, joint, or nerve pain that’s impacting your quality of life, chiropractic care, massage or shockwave could help. That could mean short-term relief or lasting improvements. If you are unsure which may be best for you, please feel free to contact us.

BOOK IN NOW. to start feeling better, move more freely, and support your body’s natural healing. We’ll work with you to identify any underlying issues and give you the tools to maintain your health.

Hannah Sports Massage

Good News! – Saturday Sports Massage appointments are now available

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Are you busy during the week and need a weekend appointment to sort out those niggles? Would you like a recovery massage after a tough week? Then we have good news for you!

Starting from 24th January, our Sports Massage Therapist Hannah is offering Sports Massage in Stafford and will be available on Saturdays as well as Thursday evenings to help you get back to your best.

BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT

Whether you’re dealing with a stubborn sports injury, feeling tight after an event, need loosening up before a big competition, or simply need support recovering from training — Hannah’s here to help you get back to peak performance.

Stafford Massage Room

About Hannah

Hannah is a qualified Sports Massage Therapist based at our Stafford Chiropractic & Wellness Clinic. She’s also a qualified physiotherapist, working full-time within the NHS. Her love of movement and sport began at just five years old as a competitive gymnast, and that passion has continued into adulthood through Pilates and regular gym training. Hannah has a strong interest in musculoskeletal health and injury recovery, and her professional training includes a range of soft tissue techniques to support rehabilitation and enhance performance.

She is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and is a member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists (CSP).

What is Massage Therapy

Our massage therapists offer sports, remedial (therapeutic) and deep tissue massage which is focused on the soft tissues of the body. This includes muscles, tendons, ligaments, and connective tissue. Before treatment, our qualified therapists discuss any areas of pain, tension or limited movement you may have.

For more information about how massage therapy could help you, please see our massage therapy page.

Take the Next Step

If you’re dealing with muscle, joint, or nerve pain that’s impacting your quality of life, chiropractic care, massage or shockwave could help. That could mean short-term relief or lasting improvements. If you are unsure which may be best for you, please feel free to contact us.

BOOK IN NOW. to start feeling better, move more freely, and support your body’s natural healing. We’ll work with you to identify any underlying issues and give you the tools to maintain your health.

Hannah Sports Massage

Welcome to our new Sports Massage Therapist in Stafford!

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We’re thrilled to welcome Hannah, our new Sports Massage Therapist, to the Stafford clinic!

Starting 20th October, Hannah will be available on Tuesday and Thursday evenings to help you feel your best.

Whether you’re dealing with a stubborn sports injury, feeling tight after an event, or simply need support recovering from training — Hannah’s here to help you get back to peak performance.

Book your appointment today and let’s get you moving better again!

Stafford Massage Room

About Hannah

Hannah is a qualified Sports Massage Therapist based at our Stafford Chiropractic & Wellness Clinic. She’s also a qualified physiotherapist, working full-time within the NHS. Her love of movement and sport began at just five years old as a competitive gymnast, and that passion has continued into adulthood through Pilates and regular gym training. Hannah has a strong interest in musculoskeletal health and injury recovery, and her professional training includes a range of soft tissue techniques to support rehabilitation and enhance performance.

She is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and is a member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists (CSP).

What is Massage Therapy

Our massage therapists offer sports, remedial (therapeutic) and deep tissue massage which is focused on the soft tissues of the body. This includes muscles, tendons, ligaments, and connective tissue. Before treatment, our qualified therapists discuss any areas of pain, tension or limited movement you may have.

For more information about how massage therapy could help you, please see our massage therapy page.

Take the Next Step

If you’re dealing with muscle, joint, or nerve pain that’s impacting your quality of life, chiropractic care, massage or shockwave could help. That could mean short-term relief or lasting improvements. If you are unsure which may be best for you, please feel free to contact us.

BOOK IN NOW. to start feeling better, move more freely, and support your body’s natural healing. We’ll work with you to identify any underlying issues and give you the tools to maintain your health.

Help your back pain with the “Dying Bug”

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If you suffer with a back pain or injury, it can be a real burden getting back to normal movement. Even simple tasks like getting in and out of chairs, turning in bed, or putting your socks on can be a real challenge.

Pain Affects Coordination and Stability

Often when we have a nasty back injury, our ability to activate the muscles which support our back and hips become compromised, often due to something called “pain inhibition”. Our muscles haven’t gone anywhere, they are still there and trying to work. But often injury can disrupt the nerve signals that tell them to activate at the appropriate time. This can affect our coordination, and creates instability when we move, causing more pain, and even sometimes re-injuring the area.

We can help you get better

As well as working on spinal and pelvic function with hands-on treatment, another way to start on the road to recovery is to begin working on activating these muscles again in a controlled manner. The “Dying Bug” track is a progression of exercises designed to help you learn to engage the spinal and pelvic muscles again, and give you the confidence to return to normal activities. Here, our Stafford and Newport Chiropractor Chris runs through some of the steps of the progression and explains why it is so important.

If you suffer from back pain, muscle, joint or nerve problems, then let us help you to achieve better health. You can book an appointment with our chiropractor Chris or massage therapist Liesa, by calling 01785 530911 in Stafford, or 01952 825042 in Newport. Alternatively you can book using our online diary.

We look forward to seeing you.
Chris Mallett
Principal Chiropractor
Pure Health Chiropractic & Wellness (Stafford and Newport)

Help your back pain with the Dying Bug

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If you suffer with a back injury or pain, it can be a real burden getting back to normal movement.

The Dying Bug track is a progression of exercises designed to help you learn to engage the spinal and pelvic muscles again, and give you the confidence to return to normal activities. Here, our Chiropractor Chris runs through some of the steps of the progression and explains why it is so important.

Subscribe for more content from Pure Health Chiropractic & Wellness for more advice, exercises, and product reviews:

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCes0…
Website: https://www.purehealthchiropractic.co.uk
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Follow our chiropractor, Chris on his channel MTBChiro for general advice and mountain biking adventures:

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themtbchiro/

Let us help you to achieve better health. You can book an appointment with our chiropractor Chris or massage therapists Liesa or Matt, by calling 01785 530911 in Stafford, or 01952 825042 in Newport. Alternatively you can book using our online diary.

We look forward to seeing you.

Need help recovering? – Get £5 off Sports Massage

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Are you training hard for an event this year? Sports massage can help you recover faster and train harder, so to help you get that personal best, we are currently offering £5 off sports massages with Matt until the end of March 2019! Get yourself booked in now, and let us help you perform to your best!

Terms: Expires 31st March 2019. Valid for Sports Massage in Stafford with Matt Price (Sports Massage Therapist) only, usual price £35. We reserve the right to withdraw this offer at any time.

Sleeping and your bed

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As a Chiropractor, I am often asked for advice on pillows, beds and mattresses and which ones can help to prevent back or neck pain. In truth, there is no single answer that suits all.

Research by the British Chiropractic Association in 2013 showed that of those experiencing back or neck pain, 30% said that their pain could be brought on by a night’s so-called ‘rest’. We all come in different weights, shapes and sizes, but have one thing in common: we spend more than a third of our lives in bed, so choosing the right bed, pillow or mattress is essential to help reduce the risk.

Which is better, a hard or soft mattress?

The best mattress is a ’supportive one‘. A 16 stone person sleeping on a mattress may not get the same support as a 10 stone person sleeping on the same mattress. If you are lying on your side, your spine should be parallel to the mattress and your spine should not sag (bed too soft) or bow (bed too hard). The longer you can spend lying on a mattress before you buy it, the more accurate this feeling will be.

Your pillow should be an extension of this i.e. your neck should be a continuation of the straight spine and not too high or too low. In clinic we sell the fantastic Complete Sleeprrr pillow and highly recommend it if you suffer neck problems and need a new pillow. For more information visit: Which Pillow Do We Recommend?

 

How do I know if my current bed/mattress needs replacing?

Are you and your partner getting comfortable nights sleep? If the answer is no, your bed may be the problem. Can you feel the springs through the mattress? If the answer is yes, it is definitely time to buy a new one. Is the bed more than 8 years old? If the answer is yes, consider purchasing a new one – beds wear out and may sag or lose support with time.

How do I minimise back or neck problems?

Try and adopt a sleeping position which creates less physical stress on the back. For example, lying on your side is better than lying on your front with your neck twisted to one side. Also try to avoid being in any one position for too long, and if your partner moves around a lot at night, try separate beds for a while as your partner’s movement could aggravate YOUR back condition!

Let us help you to achieve better health. You can book an appointment with our chiropractor Chris or massage therapists Liesa or Matt, by calling 01785 530911 in Stafford, or 01952 825042 in Newport. Alternatively you can book using our online diary.

We look forward to seeing you.

Straighten Up UK!

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Recent consumer research by the British Chiropractic Association has shown that people of all ages are experiencing higher levels of back pain and discomfort and much of this is related to poor movement or posture. In the Midlands particularly, incidences of back pain have increased 12% on 2017, and we are the most likely to develop back pain before the age of 30!

As a nation, we live busy and yet sedentary lifestyles. We are dashing about one minute, full of stress and time pressured, and then subjecting ourselves to long periods of sedentary behaviour by driving for long periods, playing computer games or watching television. This often leads to de-conditioning, fatigue and ultimately poor movement, stiffness and pain. Every year, back pain results in billions of pounds in losses to the nation due to lost days at work and sickness benefit payments; not to mention the significant impact this is having on a sufferer’s quality of life.

Chiropractors are keen to highlight this issue to show people in the UK ways in which they can help themselves towards a healthier lifestyle through education, advice and if necessary a treatment plan.

As part of this, the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) has introduced an exciting programme called Straighten Up UK, designed to improve posture and help prevent back pain by promoting balance, strength and flexibility in the spine. Chiropractors want to encourage adults and children alike to start using this set of simple, three minute straighten up exercises. They are designed to be done on a daily basis and become part of the daily routine, just like brushing your teeth.

The exercises can be adapted to suit individual capabilities (although please discuss with your GP, chiropractor or other healthcare practitioner first). There are kids’ and adults’ versions of the website and leaflets, so everyone can take part. Further information about chiropractic and the programme can be obtained by visiting www.chiropractic-uk.co.uk.

If you are struggling with back pain that won’t settle after more than a few days, it’s recommended that you see a qualified professional, such as a chiropractor, who can assess you and recommend a care plan to help get you moving again.

Let us help you to achieve better health. You can book an appointment with our chiropractor Chris or massage therapists Liesa or Matt, by calling 01785 530911 in Stafford, or 01952 825042 in Newport. Alternatively you can book using our online diary.

We look forward to seeing you.

Pure Health Chiropractic