Dr Jo the Chiro

24/11/2025

📸 Which Scan Do You Actually Need?

Chiros are trained in radiology and often refer for imaging to confirm injuries — here’s the quick guide:

🦴 X-Ray → Best for fractures.
✔ Often bulk-billed
✖ Poor soft-tissue detail

🌀 CT Scan → good for Complex fractures & bony issues.
✔ Fast, detailed
✖ Higher radiation, sometimes gap fees

🧠 MRI → good for Disc bulges, nerve impingement, tendon/ligament tears.
✔ Best soft-tissue detail, no radiation
✖ Often NOT bulk-billed unless Medicare-eligible

🎯 Ultrasound → good for Tendinitis, bursitis, superficial tears.
✔ No radiation, real-time movement
✖ Operator-dependent; some gap fees

Always ask: Is imaging necessary for my injury and will it aid my recovery? Which scan will give me the most information for my potential diagnosis? Is it bulk-billed? Any gap fees? Smart imaging = better recovery 🙌

19/11/2025

11/11/2025

🦷✨ Braces, Expanders & Chiropractic Care – A Powerful Partnership!

Orthodontic appliances like braces, expanders, and retainers do so much more than straighten smiles — they help guide the growth and development of your child’s face, jaw, and airway. But did you know that chiropractic care can play a huge role in supporting these changes?

When a child’s spine, cranium, and nervous system are in balance, orthodontic treatment often progresses more smoothly and holds its results longer. 🌀

👶 Why chiropractic care matters during orthodontic treatment:

Cranial-Sacral work & SOT (Sacro-Occipital Technique): These gentle chiropractic methods help the cranial bones and jaw move in harmony. Since braces and expanders influence how these bones shift, balanced cranial motion supports more comfortable, effective orthodontic changes.
Retained primitive reflexes: Early reflexes that haven’t fully integrated can affect facial symmetry, jaw tension, and posture — all of which influence how orthodontic adjustments take hold. Chiropractic care helps identify and integrate these reflexes for better overall function.
- Improved nervous system communication: Chiropractic adjustments help ensure clear signaling between the brain and body, optimizing the body’s ability to adapt to orthodontic changes.

✨ Before and after orthodontic checkups, gentle chiropractic care helps your child’s body stay aligned, flexible, adaptable, and comfortable — allowing orthodontic work to “stick” more efficiently and naturally.

🪶 Think of it as teamwork: your orthodontist guides the teeth, and your chiropractor supports the structure and nervous system behind that beautiful smile.

💫 Growing healthy, balanced kids from the inside out!

06/11/2025

🌿 Gentle Chiropractic Care for Babies & Children 🌿

Hi, I’m Dr Jo, a chiropractor with over 20 years of clinical experience supporting patients of all ages — from newborns to adults. Over the years, I’ve completed extensive training in assessing and caring for babies and children, with a strong focus on safe, gentle, and individualised care.

👶 Families often visit to have their child checked for:
• Feeding or latching difficulties
• A head preference or limited neck movement
• Postural asymmetries (such as a head tilt or flat spot)
• General musculoskeletal tension or stiffness
• Discomfort associated with growth or increased activity or delayed developmental milestones

Each session begins with a thorough assessment to understand your child’s unique needs.

Techniques used are always gentle, age-appropriate, and tailored — often involving light fingertip pressure or gentle mobilisation suited to your child’s stage of development.

My goal is to support comfortable movement and healthy development, helping little bodies grow and function at their best.

If you’d like to learn more about chiropractic care for children or discuss whether it might be suitable for your family, feel free to get in touch — I’m always happy to answer questions. 💙
📞 (02)9878-5021 or book online at www.rnhc.com.au

22/10/2025

How long will it take for my injury to heal?

I hear this every day in the clinic — and honestly, it’s a great question.

So here’s a quick breakdown of how long it may for different injuries to heal (and why some take way longer than others). Of course there can always be variations to these!

💪 Muscle strains

Muscles have good blood flow = faster healing.

Grade 1 (mild pull): 2–3 weeks
Grade 2 (partial tear): 4–8 weeks
Grade 3 (full tear): 3–6 months

🦵Ligament sprains

Think ankle sprains — they take longer because ligaments don’t get much blood.

Grade 1: 2–4 weeks
Grade 2: 6–10 weeks
Grade 3: 3–6 months (and sometimes surgery)

🧵 Tendon issues

These are more stubborn. Poor blood flow + lots of wear & tear.

Mild strain: 4–6 weeks
Partial tear: 3–6 months
Full tear: 6+ months

🦴 Bone fractures

Bones usually heal well if they’re stable.

Simple break: 6–8 weeks
Complex: 3–6 months
Stress fracture: 6–12 weeks depending on location

💡 Why the difference?

Blood flow = faster healing
Bigger injuries take more time, especially if surgery is required
Rehab matters
Age, health, and lifestyle all play a role

Everyone heals at a different pace — but with the right treatment plan and some patience, your body can bounce back. 🙌

17/10/2025

📅 World Menopause Day
Let’s talk hormones and your body 💪💛

After 20 years as a chiropractor, I’ve seen how menopause is so much more than hot flushes. It’s a full-body shift affecting:

🧠 Brain clarity
🦴 Bone density
🦵 Joint & muscle function
❤️ Heart health
💤 Sleep & energy
🌀 Mood & memory

⚠️ Common symptoms:
🔥 Hot flushes
😴 Sleep issues
🧠 Brain fog, irritability
⚡️ Joint & muscle pain
🔄 Cycle changes
📉 Low energy & metabolism shifts

As estrogen & progesterone decline, women often feel confused, unprepared — even dismissed.

But with the right support (including body-identical hormones, movement, nutrition & lifestyle), things can get better.

👐 In my clinic, I use a gentle, holistic chiropractic approach to help women through this transition with less pain, more mobility & confidence in their changing bodies.

You don’t have to just push through. Let’s support your body — and honour this transition. 💛

📍DM to chat or book a consult.

15/10/2025

🌍 Happy World Spine Day! 🌀
Today is a powerful reminder of how important your spine is — not just for movement, but for your overall health and well-being.

Your spine supports your body, protects your nervous system, and plays a key role in how you move, feel, and function every single day.

✅ Poor posture
✅ Sedentary lifestyles
✅ Repetitive strain
All of these can lead to spinal issues that affect everything from your energy levels to your immune system.

That's where chiropractic care comes in. 👐
Chiropractors are trained to assess, treat, and prevent spinal dysfunction, helping to:
🔹 Improve posture
🔹 Reduce pain and stiffness
🔹 Enhance mobility and flexibility
🔹 Support nervous system function
🔹 Promote long-term wellness

💡 Taking care of your spine is a lifetime investment in your health. On this , stand tall, move often, and don't ignore the signs your spine may need some care.

👉 Book a spinal check-up with your chiropractor — your back will thank you!

06/10/2025

✈️ 🚗 Just got back from a trip and feeling like your neck and back took a vacation without you? 😩

Long flights, cramped car rides, unfamiliar beds, flat pillows, lumpy couches—yep, it all adds up. What was supposed to be “rest and relaxation” can leave you feeling more twisted than your suitcase straps.

Whether it’s a stiff neck, lower back tightness, or just that overall “crunched” feeling… your body is telling you it needs a reset.

👐 That’s where your chiro comes in.

A quick post-travel adjustment can:
✅ Loosen up tight joints
✅ Relieve tension and discomfort
✅ Improve posture
✅ Get you feeling like you again

You’ve unpacked your bags—now it’s time to sort your spine.
📅 Book your appointment today and let’s get you moving better.

24/09/2025

🦷💀 Pelvis & Jaw: What’s the Connection?💀🦴

Did you know that pelvic instability and TMJ (jaw) dysfunction are often linked?

Through fascia, dura mater, and the nervous system, your pelvis and jaw communicate constantly. Instability in the sacroiliac joint can lead to compensation all the way up to the jaw — and vice versa.

In techniques like SOT (Sacro Occipital Technique) and AK (Applied Kinesiology), we see this all the time:
➡️ Pelvic misalignments = jaw tension
➡️ TMJ dysfunction = low back pain
➡️ Cranial imbalance = postural issues

Common symptoms:
🔁 Headaches
🔁 Low back/SI joint pain
🔁 Jaw clicking or clenching
🔁 Neck stiffness
🔁 Balance issues

🌟 Chiropractic care helps restore balance from head to pelvis through:
✔️ Pelvic blocking & stabilization
✔️ TMJ & cranial corrections
✔️ Neurological muscle testing
✔️ Postural re-education

If you're treating the pelvis without checking the jaw, you might be missing a key part of the puzzle. 🧩

📍It’s all connected.

23/09/2025

Dr Jo the Chiro is available:

Monday, Wednesday and Friday at West Gosford within Central Coast Spinal Care Centre and

Tuesdays and Thursdays at Ryde Natural Health Clinic

Book online today at https://johannamcfadgenchiropractic.com.au.

23/09/2025

👣 Is Your Child Complaining of Heel Pain? It Might Be Sever’s Disease.
⠀
Sever’s Disease (Calcaneal Apophysitis) is one of the most common causes of heel pain in active kids, especially between the ages of 8–14. It’s not actually a disease — it's a growth-related overuse injury that affects the growth plate at the back of the heel.
⠀
🧠 Common Signs & Symptoms:

* Heel pain during or after sport
* Limping or walking on toes to avoid pressure
* Swelling or tenderness at the back of the heel
* Pain when squeezing the sides of the heel
⠀
🏃‍♂️ It’s often triggered by a combination of rapid growth, tight calves, high-impact sports (like soccer, basketball, or running), and poor footwear.
⠀
👐 How Chiropractic Can Help:
* Gentle adjustments to improve ankle and foot mechanics
* Stretching and mobilizing tight muscles (especially calves & Achilles)
* Postural assessments to reduce biomechanical stress
⠀
🦶 What Else May Be Needed:
Podiatry: Custom orthotics or heel cups to support growing feet
Footwear Advice: Supportive, shock-absorbing shoes are key — ditch the worn-out sneakers!
Acupuncture: Can help reduce pain and inflammation naturally
⠀
🏡 At-Home Care Tips:
* Daily calf stretches and foam rolling
* Icing the heel after activity
* Temporary rest or modification of sports
* Wearing cushioned sandals/shoes indoors (avoid barefoot walking)
⠀
💡 With the right care and a team-based approach, kids typically recover fully — and can get back to the sports they love pain-free.
⠀
Have questions about your child’s heel pain? We’re here to help!
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31/08/2025

🌸Women’s Health Week: September 1-5🌸

This week is all about celebrating and empowering women’s health! Did you know that chiropractic care can play a vital role in supporting women through their health concerns?

Here are the Top 5 Women’s Health Concerns and how chiropractic care can help:

1. Back and Neck Pain – Pregnancy, hormonal changes, and daily stresses often lead to discomfort. Chiropractic adjustments provide relief and improve mobility.

2. Headaches & Migraines – Misalignments can trigger headaches. Chiropractic care helps reduce tension and frequency of migraines.

3. Hormonal Imbalances – Proper spinal alignment supports nervous system function, aiding hormonal regulation.

4. Stress & Anxiety – Chiropractic care promotes relaxation and improves nervous system health to better handle stress.

5. Posture & Pelvic Health – Pregnancy and daily activities impact posture. Chiropractors optimize spinal alignment for better pelvic function.

Let’s prioritize women’s health this week and beyond and make time for health checks and open discussions about our health.