One of the world’s best known traditional treatments is acupuncture. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine as a means of unblocking the unseen flow of energy known as “qi” which is understood as the reason for a host of many health problems.

The Practice of Acupuncture

Acupuncture involves the insertion of very thin needles into specific areas of the skin that correspond to a specific organ meridian. In traditional Chinese medicine this action re-establishes the balance of energy flows in the body, creating harmony, and alleviating the symptoms experienced by the person.

However, among Western acupuncture practitioners, stimulation of the acupuncture points improves blood flow and stimulates the release of natural painkillers from the brain.

Health Benefits of Acupuncture

Although considered a pseudoscience by most members of the medical community, acupuncture has nonetheless, found its way into Western medical practices. A lot of studies have been devoted into the effectiveness of acupuncture for a variety of health conditions. Although some results were inconclusive, acupuncture has been proven to provide the following health benefits.

• Alleviates low back pain
• Improves the pain experienced in headaches and migraines as well as other types of tension headaches
• Reduces pain and inflammation in osteoarthritis
• Reduces pain associated with tennis elbow or lateral elbow pain
• Improves the symptoms associated with chronic knee pain
• Reduces nausea and vomiting after surgery
• Reduces post-operative pain
• Reduces the itching sensations related to allergic rhinitis
• Reduces nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy
• Reduces pain experienced by cancer patients but only in combination with or as an adjunct to mainstream narcotic opioid analgesics
• Reduces the pain and stiffness experienced by patients with fibromyalgia
• Useful as an adjunct to in vitro fertilization procedures
• May help reduce the swelling and tenderness of joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and contribute to the overall health of the patient
• May help post-CVA patients with neurologic deficits and dysfunction
• Reduces post-CVA shoulder pain when used in conjunction with exercise

Numerous other health benefits have been documented but are still awaiting more conclusive, scientifically-based evidences to generate widespread acceptance by the medical community. While it may still take some time before acupuncture will be fully integrated either as a treatment option in itself or as an adjunct to conventional treatments, many around the world are living testaments to acupuncture’s unrivaled effectiveness. We all know that health is wealth and so it would be a great advantage to be updated on the latest trends about this topic. Learn more and click here.

A safe work environment is as important as the quality of products and services a certain company provides its many customers. As no company operates without human intervention, the interface between man and machine and their immediate environment can produce issues that affect one another. At some point, the incidence of accidents cannot be avoided, despite precautionary measures being practiced.

The environment can be significantly altered because of man’s indiscriminate activities as well as constant exposure to machine wastes. Machines are much faster to break down because of man’s lack of prudence and the effect of the elements. And man can suffer a variety of health problems because of improper use of machines and the relatively unsafe environment with which he is working on.

More often than not, man feels the brunt of any breaks in this relationship through a variety of physical complaints. In many cases, office workers complain about back pains, neck and shoulder pains, carpal tunnel syndrome, visual problems, and stress just to name a few. Melbourne’s workforce commonly complains of musculoskeletal problems, forming the bulk of the work-related health complaints, that it is wise to visit Prahran physio clinic at the soonest possible time.

Injuries in the workplace are inevitable however they can be prevented. Whether the injury is simple or complex, the intervention of physical therapy can help relieve the worker involved. One important aspect in this situation is that physical therapy should be taken seriously in order to achieve full recovery. As a result, getting back to work brings back normality in life.

Workplace Related Injuries

In Melbourne, the top five business sectors where majority are employed with include healthcare and social services, manufacturing, retail trade, professional and technical services, and construction. In any of these workplace environments, there bounds to be some form of injury that can occur.

Workplace-related injuries can come from a variety of sources. It can come from an incorrect posture from the worker himself. Or it can also come from failure to observe basic safety protocols when operating machines. It is also possible to get injuries from work because of problems in the infrastructure such as faulty electrical wirings as well as overloaded circuitry.

Some of the more common types of workplace injuries include the following: 

Overexertion

Workers in the construction industries are pretty much exposed to excessive pulling and pushing movements as well as lifting heavy objects, holding onto surfaces for extended periods of time, carrying heavier loads than required, and throwing heavy items. These activities can create problems in the muscles as well as other health risks. It is usually the males who are into these kinds of jobs.

Fall Injuries

Whether it be falling on the same level or falling to a much lower level, fall injuries are simply a risk that people have to take.  Office workers can suffer falls as well by falling off their chair while sitting or when climbing up a stair and slipping.

Injuries Resulting from the Reaction of the Body

Improper bending, prolonged standing, slouched sitting, overextended reaching, and accidental slipping or tripping can all result in workplace injuries. One concrete example is office work.

Being Struck by Objects

More common among workers in the manufacturing and construction industries, the risk is nonetheless highly likely to occur anywhere else. Office workers may also be struck by a wayward trolley or some other movable equipment.

Repetitive Motions

Office workers are more prone to develop this type of work-related injury especially those who had to use the keyboard the whole day. In other industries such as in construction, repetitive motion injuries can also occur among workers that are constantly banging away at their piece of work.

Preventing Workplace Related Injuries

Preventing workplace injuries should not be an impossible thing to do. With the correct set of knowledge and the strong determination to implement safety protocols at the organizational level as well as among individual workers on a more personal manner, everyone in any company can minimize the risk of work-related injuries.

• Be guided by existing safety protocols including the management of emergencies should one arise.

• Companies need to have a regular health and safety inspection of their facilities to identify any areas that need to be addressed.

• Companies need to have a fully-staffed medical clinic to handle health-related concerns as well as work-related injuries before transfer to an acute care facility.

• Individual workers need to abide by safety regulations and protocols such as wearing the appropriate gear at work as well as exhibiting safe behaviors in the performance of his functions.

Work-related injuries have been a great concern for some time now. This is why health, safety, and industry experts agree that they key to improving overall efficiency and productivity is by ensuring a safe working environment for workers to feel secure.