Michael Petrie Osteopath

23/12/2021

Sending warm wishes to our patients and families for a Merry Christmas and a Happy Healthy New Year.

Michael Petrie Osteopath will be closed from Today 23rd December for the Christmas break until Monday the 18th January. In the mean time........

5 Tips to avoid back and neck pain over Christmas

Luggage
Always carry luggage or shopping bags evenly both sides, remember to bend the knees.
Pillows
Take your own supportive pillow when holidaying, camping or staying with family and friends.
Hydrate
Keep hydrated especially in this summer heat, up your H2o intake, dehydration will cause neck pain and headaches amongst other issues.
Summer Fitness
If your fitness level is not up to scratch don’t go into summer fitness boots and all, slow and steady with gradual increases will avoid injury.
Most Important
Relax into the holiday season with health, vitality, family, friends, good food and our beautiful coastal village haven.

Stay safe over Christmas Folks, See you in 2022!
Michael & Jane
Michael Petrie Osteopath

06/09/2021

Michael Petrie Osteopath has opened today and Michael is taking appointments Monday to Friday Afternoons only.

It is important to maintain your health both physically and mentally, especially at this time and we are here to support you.

If you are feeling unwell and isolating at home, please avoid coming to the practice, phone Michael to discuss options that may help you at home.

In the practice please be assured that we are adhering to all hygiene and hand washing precautions. We are minimising patient cross over in the waiting room and times between appointments are longer due to extra hygiene protocols that we have implemented.

Phone for an appointment or advice 0428 484 026.

20/06/2021

SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESS: Michael Petrie Osteopath
By Appointment 545 Woodburn Evans Head Road, DOONBAH
Phone 0428 484 026
• HICAPS & EFTPOS • MEDICARE EPC
• Work Cover & Veterans Affairs

30/05/2020

Michael Petrie Osteopath is open and Michael is taking appointments Monday to Friday. It is safe to Visit our Practice.

It is important to maintain your health both physically and mentally, especially at this time and we are here to support you. If you are feeling unwell and isolating at home, please avoid coming to the practice, phone Michael to discuss options that may help you at home.

In the practice please be assured that we are adhering to all hygiene and hand washing precautions. We are minimising patient cross over in the waiting room and times between appointments are longer due to extra hygiene protocols that we have implemented.

Phone for an appointment or advice.

11/12/2019

01/12/2019

Are you suffering from Smart Phone Neck, Computer Back or long hours behind the wheel, Drivers Slouch?

“Oh dear, Facebook is turning me into a hunchback!”
Sitting at a computer all day, or all night is affecting our posture and in turn our Musculoskeletal balance.

As humans, we are designed to be hunters and gatherers, picking fruit from the trees, vegies and herbs from the ground and chasing wild beasts with spears.

For far too many hours, humans are slouched over a computer many due to work causing spinal curvature which is also associated to driving for work for long hours and also excessive use of smart phones which I like to call smart phone neck, evolution could be an ugly thing in this instance!

The effects that I see in the clinic every day are, headaches from consistently tilting your head back or forward, stiff or painful neck from tight or shortening muscles, Jaw tension (TMJ) affecting head and neck, tight or round shoulders from hunching, and the list goes on.

So apart from going back to the bush, what do we do to avoid ending up in the Bell Tower of Notre Dam?

Helpful hints are many so here’s a few;

1. Make sure your chair gives you good support and that your desk is a comfortable height.

2. Have regular breaks, every 20 minutes or so, get up and walk around the room, stretch your muscles, drink water regularly.

3. Make a habit of pulling your chin into your neck for a few seconds multiple times a day to stretch the long muscles from the base of your skull down your neck to you upper back.

4. Make sure if your weight is on one leg such as crossing your legs be mindful of a balanced foot position by having both feet on the ground.

If the tightness, pinching or headaches persist, consult Michael Petrie Osteopath where, you’ll receive a good Massage Mobilization, Manipulation and advice. If your muscles are tight or out of balance it will pull your spine out of alignment and effect the free flow of the nerve causing a variety of symptoms. Michael can help correct this, usually in just a couple of treatments and get you back on track. Call for an appointment or further information 0428 484 026

18/07/2019

Prevention is far better than cure and Protein has such a massive part to play with our muscle system and its integrity.

Experiencing pain can be so debilitating, quite often it’s a whole approach to put a plan in place to alleviate pain and then prevent the further onset of pain when it comes to joint disease, injury or Osteo-arthritic change. Your protein source and intake is something to evaluate in the whole approach plan for strength and integrity. Our skeletal system is held together by the balance and tone of our muscles and ligaments, therefore it's super important to feed your muscles a quality protein source and help maintain a balanced skeletal structure.

Protein is vital for muscle growth, repair and maintenance, but it has many other jobs, including the building blocks for every organ, hormone and enzyme production, skin repair, building the immune system and supplying energy. Every cell in your body contains and needs protein!

How much protein do we need on a day to day basis? Depending on the size of your body depends on how much protein you should aim for each day. And what is the best way to make protein bioavailable to our cells?

For Women, the recommended daily intake of protein is 0.75g per kilogram of body weight; for men it’s 0.84g of protein per kilogram of body weight (for older people it’s higher, approaching 1g protein per kilo of body weight). Let’s look at the average Australian woman, who weighs 71kg she would require 53g of protein per day and for the average Australian man who weighs 90kg, 75g of Protein per day.

Generally, most Australians have enough protein in their diets and it’s unlikely your protein deficient if you have a balanced diet.

There are many that advocate vast quantities of chicken or fish coupled with protein shakes to increase muscle mass, but there is no point following in their foot steps your body can only use so much protein, so if you eat beyond your requirement it won’t turn into muscle or reach your cells, you will just p*e it out. More Protein does not mean more muscle, daily exercise together with your daily requirement of protein over the course of the day will enable muscle growth and repair.

Studies suggest evenly distributing your protein throughout the day is better at stimulating muscle protein synthesis than eating most of your protein in one meal. The most effective way to get your sufficient amount of daily protein is through whole foods working on 20g of protein in three main meals. By combining exercise and sufficient protein spread out over the day you help your body keep your muscle, lose weight, while increasing your muscle strength and stamina.

Protein drinks and shakes are still and excellent source post exercise, they will keep your body in a fat burn stage for longer burning that toxic visceral fat also when you want to keep your energy levels up and you’re not quite ready for food yet. There are many protein powders on the market do the research, ensure the source is good quality and guaranteed.

Whole foods are the best source of Protein here is 15 Delicious foods filled with protein, for best results not only for our bodies but for our amazing diverse Northern Rivers farming community source local organic produce where you can, your body will seriously love you.

Whole Eggs – One of the healthiest and nutritious foods on the planet if you are not vegan, loaded with vitamins, minerals, healthy fats and antioxidants. Whole eggs are high in protein, but the egg whites are almost pure protein. 1 Large Egg has 6 grams of protein.

Almonds – These little beauties are loaded with important nutrients, including fibre, vitamin E, manganese and magnesium. 6 grams of protein per ounce (23 almonds)

Chicken breast – Perhaps the most popular protein rich food consumed tastes delicious and super easy to cook in so many recipes. 1 Roasted chicken breast contains 53 grams of protein without the skin.

Oats – Bring on these yummy little number and one of the healthiest grains on the planet. Loaded with healthy fibre, magnesium, manganese, thiamine and packed with other nutrients. ½ a cup of raw oats has 13 grams of protein.

Cottage Cheese – Low in fat and calories, loaded with calcium, phosphorus, selenium, vitamin B12, riboflavin and various other nutrients. 1 cup of cottage cheese has 27 grams of protein.

Greek Yogurt – Tastes delicious super high in nutrients. 170g container offers 17 grams of protein.

Broccoli – One of the super foods loaded with vitamin C, vitamin K, fibre and potassium. 1 cup of raw broccoli has 3
grams of protein.

Lean Beef – Super high in protein loaded with bioavailable iron, vitamin B12 and large amounts of other important nutrients. 85g serving of cooked beef with 10% of fat contains 22 grams of protein.

Quinoa – Currently among the worlds most popular superfoods. High in many vitamins, minerals and fibre and is loaded with antioxidants. 1 cup of cooked Quinoa has 8 Grams of Protein.

Whey Protein – Is a high-quality protein from dairy foods, shown to be very effective at building muscle mass and may help with weight loss. When your pressed for time and unable to cook a supplement can come in handy. Protein content various between brands can go over 20 – 50 grams of protein per serving. H**p protein powder is excellent in terms of a plant based Protein source.

Lentils – Super high in fibre, magnesium, potassium, iron, folate, copper, manganese and various other nutrients. Lentils are among the world’s best sources of plant-based protein and are excellent for vegetarians and vegans. 1 Cup of boiled lentils contains 18 grams of protein. Kidney beans and chickpeas are similar.

Pumpkin seeds – They are super high in many nutrients, including iron, magnesium and zinc. 28 grams has 5 grams of protein. Other seeds high in protein, Flax Seeds, Sunflower seeds and Chia Seeds.

Turkey Breast – Very similar to chicken breast in many ways. It consists mostly of protein, very little fat, tastes delicious and high in various vitamins and minerals. 85 gram cooked serving contains 24 grams of protein.

Fish – All types of fish are incredibly healthy for various reasons loaded with important nutrients and tends to be very high in heart healthy omega – 3 fatty acids. Salmon is 46% protein with 19 grams of Protein per 85 gram serving.

Brussel Sprouts – Ouch did someone say Brussel Sprouts, high protein vegetable and related to broccoli. One of the healthiest foods you can eat, is very high in fibre, vitamin C and other nutrients. ½ a cup of cook Brussel's contains 3 grams of protein.

So, there we have its folks some super yummy food to include in your diet and remember Protein is the building block to prevention and vitality when it comes to our muscle system. It is said that the more muscle mass we have the longer we shall live.

06/07/2019

Keeping warm makes such a difference, remember to layer your clothing and dress for the weather, soak in a magnesium bath, if you don't have a bath soak your feet in a magnesium foot soak, as we get older we don't want to get behind the eight ball with this super important mineral.

Soaking in Magnesium for up to 20 minutes be it body or just your feet, will allow Magnesium to absorb sub-dermal meaning bypass the digestive-tract and bio-available to your cells (quicker absorption, sometimes more guaranteed if you have digestive issues) , it will not only help with winter aches and pains but has many other health and longevity benefits as well, (Epsom salts is magnesium or something a little more fancy Ancient Mineral Magnesium Soak will get you sorted)...

Our beautiful Mascots at Michael Petrie Osteopath have got it sorted..

03/07/2019

Prevention is far better than cure when it comes to many diseases and the most under diagnosed disease in the world is Osteoarthritis, we see so much of this disease in our clinic, it’s slow and progressive and when it becomes acute it’s painful, and there is no known cure only treatments to stop it in it’s tracks.

Keeping our bodies alkaline is one thing we can do to help prevent joint and mobility changes and disease. An alkaline body gives your cells more oxygen. Take 5 minutes to read on for some super helpful education and tips on acid/alkaline and how some simple changes can not only prevent but help in terms of treatment for existing Osteoarthritis and many other diseases.

Let's start with a simple chemistry lesson. The amount of acid in the body is measured on the pH scale, with zero to 6.9 being acidic and 7.1 to 14 being alkaline. The body tries to maintain a pH of 7.4, which is moderately alkaline. Looking at it from an easy chemistry point of view at the chemical level, pH stands for potential of hydrogen. An acid has many hydrogen ions, while an alkali has few hydrogens but many oxygen ions. An alkali has lost many hydrogen ions and therefore contains a lot of oxygen rich hydroxide, mix it with your blood and your blood will also contain a lot of oxygen-rich hydroxide. An acid has many lost hydrogen ions that it wants to donate, mix it with your blood and your blood becomes a hydrogen-rich oxygen-deprived acid.

Around 70 per cent of the human body consists of water, which makes it especially sensitive to the balance between hydrogen and hydroxide ions in your food and drinks. You can bring large changes in your body’s acid or alkaline levels through your choices of foods and beverages.

All living cells need oxygen to survive. An alkaline body facilitates the healthy life of all its cells while an acidic body starves its cells of this life-giving element. An alkaline body means that cells live longer and perform their functions better, helping to prevent things like inflammation and disease
Our metabolism requires Oxygen for the burning of material throughout the body that would otherwise be stored. This burning process also supplies your body with its energy and heat. An alkaline body is clear of stored fats and toxins and we will be more energetic.

Without exaggeration, a lack of oxygen is responsible for almost all diseases, many bacteria and fungi flourish in oxygen-starved environments. Nutrients from food cannot provide your body with any benefits until they combine with oxygen in cells, every bodily function benefits from oxygen. If the body is acidic, calcium and magnesium do a poor job of developing bone, protein struggles to grow muscle, Omega 3 essential fatty acids cannot improve concentration, iron cannot build red blood cells and so on.

At least 70 per cent of your food should be alkaline or neutral. Alkaline and neutral food include all green and leafy vegetables, all yellow/orange vegetables, potatoes, almost all fruit, most nuts and almost all seeds. Most whole grains are a bit more acidic so should be eaten in moderation. Limit your intake of red meat, fish, chicken, eggs, dairy and avoid all breads and cakes that contains refined carbohydrates and sugar. Replace white pasta with rice with whole grain pasta and brown rice or quinoa. Use herbs, apple cider vinegar or lemon juice instead of acidic condiments.

Most of your beverages should be alkaline or neutral. Pure orange, watermelon, apple, mango, peach, pear, lemon, lime and grape juices are good alkalis. So are all green vegetable juices or smoothies. Limit milk coffee, tea and soda’s. Drink water, water, water (filtered) at least eight glasses of water per day so you remain hydrated and help your kidneys filter waste material out of your body.

Increase your fitness and Sweat out waste material doing daily exercise, build your fitness gradually.

Ensuring your food and beverages are alkaline will really help your body absorb minerals and nutrients from your food, provide great energy and set you up for optimal health throughout life and increase longevity, preventing many diseases caused by inflammation in the body.

You can test your pH level’s by purchasing a pH testing kit from your local chemist (Saliva test and Urine test), these are the 2 ways to test your pH, in short a saliva test tells you if you have sufficient amounts of mineral stores within your body to digest food an optimum reading is 7 to 7.4.

A urine test will give you an indication of how well your kidneys are flushing the acid from the day before, again optimum level 7 to 7.4. Your first urine sample for the day is quite acidic so best to take the test on your second sample for the day to give you a more accurate result. There are other things such as bacterial infections and so on that can alter the test strips keep this in mind.

Start with testing your body to see how your body is tracking in terms of Acid/Alkaline. If you need to make some lifestyle changes make those changes simple and achievable to begin with and then build on your changes from there to make your goals achievable. Laugh with health and vitality folks. Over and out!

24/06/2019

All Osteopathic Treatments involve consultation, massage, mobilisation, manipulation, pain prevention plan and advice. Offering Hicaps, Eftpos, Medicare, EPC, Workcover, Veterans Affairs