 Stress is known as the “Silent Killer” for good reasons.
Recent evidence generally suggests psychosocial factors may be considered risk factors for specific types of cancer and play a key role in the aging process (1). Psychosocial factors relate to the interrelation of social factors and individual thought and behaviour. In simple terms it is the influence that psychological factors and the surrounding social environment have on a person’s physical and mental wellness and their ability to function. Studies have shown that short-term stress boosted the immune system, but chronic stress has a significant effect on the immune system that ultimately manifest an illness. It suppresses parts of the the immune system. This suppression, in turn raises the risk of illness (2). Stress also leads to the release of histamine, which can trigger severe broncho-constriction in asthmatics. Stress increases the risk for diabetes, especially in overweight individuals, since psychological stress alters insulin needs (2). Stress also alters the acid concentration in the stomach, which can lead to peptic ulcers, stress ulcers or ulcerative colitis. Chronic stress can also lead to plaque buildup in the arteries (atherosclerosis), especially if combined with a high-fat diet and sedentary living (2). The relationship of stress with psychiatric illness is strongest in neuroses, which is followed by depression and schizophrenia (2). Recent studies found a link between stress, tumour development and suppression of natural killer (NK) cells, which is actively involved in preventing metastasis and destroying small metastases (2). Current lifestyle, improper sleeping habits, and unhealthy diet lead to psychological or social stress, which in turn is also known to influence the development of chronic lower back pain (CLBP) (3). If you feel you are suffering from stress we recommend that you seek advice. We can help by providing you with exercise and lifestyle advice and point you in the right direction to help manage your condition. We also do NET which is a technique designed to help deal with physiological stress. Come visit us if you would like to find out more. References
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 When people think of chiropractors, they tend to think about our work on the spine. But did you know that we work on ALL the joints of the body? Yep, that’s right, from your head all the way down to your toes.
We find that this whole-body approach is extremely important in helping you reach your full potential. And this is even more important with our little ones. Our clinical examination of children includes checking for dysfunctional movements of their arms and legs as well as their spine. A recent study done in Melbourne on 202 cases of neonates and infants under the age of 12 months found 153 cases had extremity dysfunction, with 177 instances present (1). Over 70% of these were the shoulder, followed by the wrist (5%), knee (5%), and elbow (2.5%). The majority of shoulder dysfunction was found on the right side. This has been suggested to be caused when the shoulder girdle (being the widest part) is passing through the pelvic outlet during the birthing process (2). Other causes have been listed as, in utero positioning of the baby, and post-natal. So, what is the big deal then? Well, the problem comes down to something we have talked recently about, proprioception; how well can the brain see/feel what your body is doing. A recent study has shown that peripheral joint dysfunction will alter the proprioceptive feed back to the brain in as little as 10 hours (3). This was reversed by correcting the joint dysfunction. This tells us that if we find joints in our arms or legs that are not moving properly, it can impact on our ability to use them properly. This is important when we think of our little ones when they are learning things that we may take for granted, such as; crawling, walking, or even feeding ourselves.
 In a fast paced world overflowing with complex protocols and expensive gadgets, the most powerful health hacks remain surprisingly simple — and radically effective. These are the top five that will help your body to naturally perform better, age slower and feel more stable day to day.
1. Morning Light Exposure Getting outside within the first hour of waking is one of the easiest and most powerful biohacks. Natural light tells your brain “it’s time to be awake,” which helps set your body clock for the entire day. Why it matters:
2. Nervous System Regulation Your body works best when your nervous system isn’t constantly in stress mode. When you are stuck in fight-or-flight, digestion, hormones, focus and recovery all take a hit. Easy ways to regulate your system:
3. Eat to Support Your Mitochondria Your mitochondria are the energy factories inside every cell. When they work well, you feel sharp, strong and mentally clear. Feed them with:
4. Strength Training - build muscle Muscle isn’t just about looks — it is one of the most important markers of health and longevity. Why strength training matters:
5. Deep, Consistent Sleep Sleep is the ultimate “free biohack.” This is when your brain detoxes, your hormones reset, and your body repairs. To improve sleep:
When you focus on these five foundations, your body becomes easier to live in. You think more clearly, your energy becomes more stable, and everything — from metabolism to mood — gets stronger. Start here, keep it simple, and build the rest on top References 1. Wright, K. P., McHill, A. W., Birks, B. R., Griffin, B. R., Rusterholz, T., & Chinoy, E. D. (2013). Entrainment of the human circadian clock to the natural light-dark cycle. Current Biology, 23(16), 1554–1558. (Morning light plays a key role in aligning your internal clock.) 2. Houghton, C. A. (2017). Dietary polyphenols and mitochondrial function: Role in health and disease. Nutrients, 9(5), 465. (Polyphenols like quercetin, resveratrol and EGCG improve mitochondrial function.) 3. Stanford, K. I., et al. (2017). Improvement of insulin sensitivity and mitochondrial function in skeletal muscle with resistance and endurance training. Endocrinology, 158(1), 1–13. (Exercise boosts mitochondrial capacity and insulin sensitivity.) 4. Czeisler, C. A., & Gooley, J. J. (2007). Sleep and circadian rhythms in humans. Cold Spring Harbor Symposia on Quantitative Biology, 72, 579–597. (Sleep timing and regularity are critical for health.)  We get a lot of people visiting our practice due to Neck Pain.
Neck pain is commonly debilitating and often you struggle to do the things you love. Sleeping comfortably, getting out of bed or simply moving around is annoying at best. Neck pain can make you feel cranky and often you will snap at those you love. Correcting your neck pain helps you and often those around you (or at least we are often told). It is hard to know what to do, there seems to be many options….You deserve to live life uninterrupted, feeling great and thinking clearly! Neck pain is very common and has many different causes. Direct causes of mechanical neck pain are rarely identifiable. Most neck issues are functional problems as a result of imbalances in neck support structures. Over time this tends to result in degenerative change that then leads to greater problems with the anatomy itself which can be irreversible depending on presentation. For neck pain, a thorough diagnosis is important to lay the foundation for appropriate treatment and rehabilitation. Neck pain treatment reduces the likelihood of recurrent flare-ups and helps prevent the development of chronic (longer term) issues. There are lots of reasons why you might have neck pain, there are also many different symptoms with neck pain. Here at Little Sprouts Chiropractic (yes we see big sprouts too), we will help identify why you have the pain, then we will develop a game plan specific to you, to help you manage your recovery. We use natural and gentle means to help manage your recovery. Amongst other tests we look at muscle weakness patterns and dermatome or numbness patterns in the arms and hands to help diagnose the problem (1,2). One easy test you can do at home to determine if you have early signs of neck trouble (remember get to the cause before it becomes a big issue) is a simple range of motion test. Data from a scientific study suggests that there are early range changes associated with the development of neck pain (3). If you go through the following ranges: flexion, extension, side band and rotation; and there are ranges that hurt or are restricted, it would be worth getting screened. Another test we use is Spurlings test (4). The Spurling test is a medical maneuver used to assess nerve root pain (also known as radicular pain). WARNING DO NOT do this at home (there are some reasons why you should not do this test - we won’t be discussing here) a trained professional must use this test. The examiner turns the patient's head to the affected side while extending and applying downward pressure to the top of the patient's head. A positive Spurling's sign is when the pain arising in the neck radiates in the direction of the corresponding dermatome (skin supply) on the same side. It is a type of cervical compression test. Patients with a positive Spurling's sign can present with a variety of symptoms, including pain, numbness and weakness. In addition to the clinical history, the neurological examination may show signs suggesting a cervical radiculopathy. This can indicate a disc issue, other symptoms of this are usually numbness into the hands and pain although you may not be experiencing these issues. We are passionate about what being well means, and love seeing you and your family reach maximum potential and experiencing all that life can offer. If you have a neck issue of any sort make sure you get in early and get it properly diagnosed and checked out. References
 Pregnancy is a time of significant physiological, biomechanical and hormonal changes in the body. As chiropractors, we are uniquely positioned to support musculoskeletal health and functional movement changes during this journey. However, another key supporting role is exercise and safe movement, while considering the current exercise guidelines and safety considerations.
Movement matters during pregnancy and research shows that physical activity during pregnancy provides multiple benefits including:
It is important to talk to your healthcare provider about how your pregnancy and exercise regimen can be safe and effective for you as it should always be individualised. References:
 Can dealing with emotional stress affect our health and pain?
The overlying objective of the mind-body approach undertaken by NET was to normalize a physiological (body system/s) imbalance caused by an emotional trauma that could not be resolved because of a neurological or meridian deficit. This concept has been updated to specifically indicate that recollection of the past stress-related event has been deemed sufficient to recreate the same type of chemical conditions in the body, which could then be addressed by a combination of manual muscle testing and offering graded techniques to encourage the patient to access those emotions (1). A review of case study, cohort, and randomized clinical trial research included two larger studies. One was the striking demonstration by Monti of parallel changes of fMRI images of the parahippocampus with the reduction of cancer patient distress after NET applications, thereby revealing a possible neurological signature of NET (1). This study demonstrated significant brain changes pre and post sessions of NET. The second was the report by Bablis and coworkers that, compared to a placebo treatment, an NET regimen produced clinical and statistical significance with declines of Inflammatory and Immune blood markes also declines of virtually all physiological pain and disability markers by gains in quality-of-life indicators at baseline, 1, 3, and 6 months in patients with chronic back pain. (2) This study demonstrated that NET helps with improvements in life in pain and organ function. These beneficial effects in all outcome measures were sustained, as additional interventions at 3 and 6 months produced no further improvement while at the same time there was no deterioration of these measures during that period. The authors suggested that these results were consistent with the principle of resilience! NET is a powerful technique we use at Sprouting Health. If you are interested, contact our practice for an appointment and have a talk to one of our Doctors of Chiropractic. References
 Migraines are thought to affect 15% of the global population and sufferers commonly choose to self-medicate rather than seeking medical care. The quality of life of migraine sufferers can be greatly reduced, especially if the intensity is severe with regular frequency. From the intense pain to the neurological symptoms that distinguish migraine from other forms of headaches, medications are usually the first line of attack when a migraine strikes.
For a long time, Chiropractors have been aware that adjustments can help with various types of headaches and many studies of different kinds have been done before. Just recently, there was a new systematic and critical review (an analysis of collection of studies), published in the Asia Pacific Chiropractic Journal which suggests that specific manual Chiropractic adjustments, alongside soft tissue work may be effective in managing migraine. There are two (2) takeaway points from the study. Firstly, specific Chiropractic manual adjustments with soft tissue work may help in reducing intensity, frequency, and duration of migraine attacks. Secondly, it may also help in reducing the use of analgesic medications, which can have negative effects on the gut and other systems with long term use; as well as the potential addictive nature of it. While it is great that the study focuses on the role of Chiropractic. It is also important to consider that there’s still much to learn. Onset of migraines and other types of headaches can be multifactorial and connected to other stressors such as chemical and emotional stressors. If you suffer from migraines, and other types of headaches, consider Chiropractic care. Book a consultation with us, or come and return to our care to ensure that you get checked thoroughly and get adjusted so that you can continue to live the best life possible with less headaches or migraines. We look forward to seeing you soon! Allix F, Aubry A, Hoog V, Lorenzelli C, Sok S. The management of diagnosed Migraine patients through manual therapy: A Systematic and Critical Review. Asia-Pac Chiropr J. 2025;6.1. www.apcj.net/papers-issue-6-1/#AllixMigraine  In today’s world, we’re surrounded by technology, pollution, and chemicals — all things that can quietly drain our energy and speed up the ageing process. Our bodies are built to connect with nature, yet most of us spend most of our time indoors. Two simple ways to restore that balance — and support natural anti-aging processes — are negative ions and grounding.
What Are Negative Ions — and Why Do They Matter? Negative ions are invisible oxygen particles in the air that have an extra electron. They are nature’s way of “charging” the air and are found in abundance near waterfalls, ocean waves, forests, and right after a thunderstorm. When we breathe in these ions, they can help our bodies in surprising ways:
What is grounding? Grounding, also called earthing, is the practice of making direct contact with the Earth — walking barefoot on grass, soil, sand, or swimming in natural water. The Earth carries a mild negative electrical charge, and when your skin touches it, your body absorbs free electrons. This process is similar to breathing in higher amount of negative ions, theoretically providing similar effect. These electrons act like natural antioxidants, neutralising free radicals that cause inflammation and tissue damage. It is one big driver for ageing and chronic diseases.(2) 5 ways to stay younger at zero cost Spend time near moving water — beaches, rivers, and waterfalls are negative ion powerhouses. Step outside after rain — the air is richest in negative ions after a storm. Walk barefoot daily — even 10–20 minutes on grass or sand can make a difference. Bring nature indoors — open windows, add plants, and use salt lamps or small water fountains to help rebalance your indoor air. Take tech breaks — disconnecting from electronics and stay away from power points helps your body reset its natural electrical rhythm. Reference 1. Oschman JL, Chevalier G, Brown R. The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Journal of inflammation research. 2015:83-96. 2. Walther DS. Applied Kinesiology Synopsis. 2nd ed: Triad of Health Publishing; 2005.  Do you or have you ever suffered with gut pain, bloating and abdominal pain, nausea, gastroesophageal reflux disease? Even symptoms including joint/muscle involvement, headache, anxiety, foggy mind, skin rash, dermatitis, fatigue and weakness and even numbness --- These are the most frequently reported symptoms stemming from a possibly common issue. This is an important article that could make the world of difference to you if you do have these things!
Over the past two decades, the incidence of diseases believed to be induced by the ingestion of wheat and related gluten-containing cereals, including rye and barley, has increased (1). Non-coeliac gluten/wheat sensitivity (NCG/WS) is a syndrome characterized by intestinal and extra-intestinal symptoms occurring a few hours or days after the ingestion of gluten and wheat proteins in patients testing negative for coeliac disease and wheat allergy (2). It has been established that other foods can cross-react with gluten. Antigens from other foods cross-react with various wheat antigens (3). If a subgroup of patients on a gluten-free diet does not show improvement in their GI or other symptoms, attention should be given to dairy and other cross-reactive foods, such as yeast, corn, oats, millet and rice, as shown in a recent study (3). The study also commented that some oat varieties contain avenin, which cross-reacts with wheat, barley, and rye. What this means in simple language is that foods can potentially act like other foods that you may not have suspected. Patients who complain of symptoms following bread and pasta ingestion should not eliminate gluten and wheat, but they should correctly undergo the diagnostic work-up to rule out Coeliac Disease (CD) and Wheat allergy (WA) (2). A self-diagnosis of gluten / wheat intolerance must be avoided since, once the elimination diet is begun, it is very difficult to reintroduce wheat to study the patient. Treatment with gluten / wheat withdrawal should be started only when there is a clear evidence that the patient can be affected by NCG/WS (2). The first step of the diagnostic work-up for NCWS is based on the symptom assessment (scored from 1 as very mild to 10 as very severe) at baseline (when patients are still on a gluten/wheat-containing diet) and weekly for 6 weeks on gluten-free diet (GFD) by using the modified GSRS questionnaire. This is a Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) integrated with extraintestinal manifestations. A GFD-dependent symptom decrease of greater than 30% compared with baseline in at least three symptoms is regarded as a criterion to suspect NCWS (2). Since NCGS at this time is a poorly defined condition with highly subjective symptoms, a common clinical approach of eliminating suspected symptom-inducing foods followed by clinician-supervised re-challenge with close symptom monitoring has been advocated. In the most up to date literature/evidence This may prove superior to other methods due to its ease of administration and being more informative (4). If this resonated with you and you would like more information…… Come mon and see one of our Drs of Chiropractic and Kinesiology at Sprouting Health
 The leading cause of years lived with disability in most countries and age group is considered to be spinal pain (low back and neck) (1). Spine-related pain is increasingly more common in older adults as the population ages (2). It affects the overall quality of life, ranging from family life to work life for those who suffer from it. Do you or a loved one experience spinal pain? This is an important article that could make the world of difference to you.
“30% of all back pain presentations in Australian emergency departments are for older adults, aged 65 and over” (3) In Australia, a number of chronic conditions have been shown to be associated with spinal pain in older women with arthritis, including cardiovascular conditions, diabetes and obesity (4). Low back pain in older adults have been associated with early retirement, difficulties in caring for themselves at home, increased disability, and decreases with their social well-being (5,6,7). The difficulty is being older is associated with non-recovery in adults with low back pain, in a cohort of older adults presenting for a new primary care visit for back pain, found that 77% had persistent back pain after 12 months (8). So it is important to get on top of it earlier. Can chiropractic care help with the management of back pain? In a recent research literature, where they did a retrospective study, looking at older adults with spine pain at a publicly funded facility utilising chiropractic care. The study looked at data between January 2011 and June 2020 of adults aged 45 and older. 240 patients were looked at from that data, and it was found that older adults with spinal pain experienced statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in pain (9). So it may not be too late to seek help with spinal issues with non-invasive and conservative therapy, even at an older age. Though a larger data set and more studies would be helpful in further substantiating these findings, the findings are positive. If you want to find out if chiropractic may help manage spinal pain for you or your loved ones, have a chat with one of our chiropractors to see how they can assist. “It is important to look into issues earlier rather than later” 1. Hurwitz, E.L., Randhawa, K., Yu, H., Côté, P. and Haldeman, S., 2018. The Global Spine Care Initiative: a summary of the global burden of low back and neck pain studies. European Spine Journal, 27(Suppl 6), pp.796-801. 2. Fu, J.L. and Perloff, M.D., 2022. Pharmacotherapy for spine-related pain in older adults. Drugs & aging, 39(7), pp.523-550. 3. Ferreira, G.E., Machado, G.C., Shaheed, C.A., Lin, C.W.C., Needs, C., Edwards, J., Facer, R., Rogan, E., Richards, B. and Maher, C.G., 2019. Management of low back pain in Australian emergency departments. BMJ Quality & Safety, 28(10), pp.826-834. 4. de Luca, K.E., Parkinson, L., Haldeman, S., Byles, J.E. and Blyth, F., 2017. The relationship between spinal pain and comorbidity: a cross-sectional analysis of 579 community-dwelling, older Australian women. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 40(7), pp.459-466. 5. Bevan, S., Quadrello, T., McGee, R., Mahdon, M., Vavrovsky, A. and Barham, L., 2009. Fit for work. Musculoskeletal disorders in the European workforce. London: The work foundation, 2009. 6. Rudy, T.E., Weiner, D.K., Lieber, S.J., Slaboda, J. and Boston, J.R., 2007. The impact of chronic low back pain on older adults: a comparative study of patients and controls. Pain, 131(3), pp.293-301. 7. Hoy, D., March, L., Brooks, P., Blyth, F., Woolf, A., Bain, C., Williams, G., Smith, E., Vos, T., Barendregt, J. and Murray, C., 2014. The global burden of low back pain: estimates from the Global Burden of Disease 2010 study. Annals of the rheumatic diseases, 73(6), pp.968-974. 8.Rundell, S.D., Sherman, K.J., Heagerty, P.J., Mock, C.N. and Jarvik, J.G., 2015. The clinical course of pain and function in older adults with a new primary care visit for back pain. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 63(3), pp.524-530. 9. Albertson, A.K., Maiers, M., Tailor, G. and Passmore, S., 2025. Utilization of Chiropractic Services among Older Adults with Spine Pain at a Publicly Funded Canadian Healthcare Facility: A Retrospective Study. Canadian Journal on Aging/La Revue canadienne du vieillissement, pp.1-8. |
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December 2025
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