Can spinal decompression treatments be incorporated for individuals with lumbosacral pain and improve posture?
Introduction
Many individuals only realize they have poor posture once they perform a movement that causes pain in the lumbosacral region of their body. Have you or your loved ones experienced muscle aches or strains after relaxing in a weird position? Or do you begin to notice that you are hunched over when walking from one location to another? Many of these scenarios correspond to how we present ourselves with our posture. Our posture helps support the upper body’s weight while stabilizing the lower body through the spine and ensuring that our body is in an upright position when we are in motion. However, as we age, so do our bodies and spine, which then causes us to be in a hunched position, causing our posture to degenerate. This causes lumbosacral pain to develop along the body’s lower extremities, leading to overlapping risk profiles that cause mobility issues, poor posture, and disability if not treated right away. When this happens, the surrounding muscles, ligaments, and tissues around the lumbar spine will begin to develop pain-like symptoms and can make a person’s life miserable. Luckily there are various techniques and treatments to improve poor posture and reduce lumbosacral pain affecting many individuals. Today’s article looks at how lumbosacral pain affects a person’s posture and how spinal decompression and MET therapy can reduce lumbosacral pain and restore good posture. Additionally, we work hand-in-hand with certified medical providers who incorporate our patient’s information to treat and minimize lumbosacral pain associated with poor posture. We also inform them that spinal decompression combined with MET therapy can help with lumbosacral pain while improving good posture back to the body. We encourage our patients to ask profound questions while seeking education from our associated medical providers about their pain-like issues. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., incorporates this information as an educational service. Disclaimer
Lumbosacral Pain Affects Posture
Have you noticed you are constantly slouching or being in a hunched position, only to feel muscle aches and strains in your lumbar-sacral region? Do you feel symptoms of tingling and numbness in your hips and buttock region after sitting down excessively? Or do you feel referred pain in one location and have to shift your weight to compensate for the pain? These pain-like symptoms and scenarios correspond to lumbosacral pain affecting your posture. The lumbosacral spine region has a natural curve that functions as a shock absorber to mitigate the body’s mechanical weight and stress when in motion. (Adams & Hutton, 1985) At the same time, it is susceptible to being constantly injured as the spinal disc is being compressed and can be herniated or damaged over time, manifesting into lumbosacral pain. So how does lumbosacral pain associate with poor posture? When individuals are dealing with low back problems associated with lumbosacral pain, the spinal disc in the lumbosacral region starts to have balancing issues when in motion. (Huang, Jaw, & Young, 2022) When people are dealing with difficulties balancing their gait cycle, it can cause their walking performance and postural control to be dysfunctional and cause the body to be misaligned, thus causing musculoskeletal issues to arise and affecting the lower body and its extremities. The surrounding muscles surrounding the lumbosacral region will begin to experience stiffness in the trunk region, which can cause musculoskeletal changes to the surrounding muscles when individuals start to be in an upright position. (Creze et al., 2019) When poor posture affects the trunk muscles, the surrounding accessory muscles start acting to compensate for the pain. To that point, lumbosacral pain associated with poor posture could lead to abdominal, low back, hip, and pelvic pain. However, many individuals can find various therapies and relieving techniques to improve posture, strengthen the surrounding muscles, and reduce pain-like symptoms.
Building A Stronger Body- Video
Many individuals can seek out various non-invasive therapies to alleviate the issue when it comes to improving posture and reducing lumbosacral pain. These therapies are cost-effective and personalized to the person’s pain. Treatments like chiropractic care and decompression can help restore good posture while realigning the body out of subluxation and help stretch the affected muscles. Coincidentally, non-surgical therapies can be combined with other treatments like physical therapy to strengthen the trunk muscles surrounding the lumbosacral region, thus reducing the load on the lumbosacral spine. (Callaghan, Gunning, & McGill, 1998) When people focus on their health and well-being, non-surgical therapies can provide a positive and safe experience with a team that can help reduce the pain the person has been dealing with their entire lives. The video above explains how these treatments work together to help you build a stronger body while revitalizing your energy and enhancing your health and wellness.
Spinal Decompression Reducing Lumbosacral Pain
When it comes to reducing lumbosacral pain associated with poor posture, many individuals can incorporate non-surgical treatments like spinal decompression and combine them with a personalized treatment plan to reduce the pain-like symptoms. What spinal decompression does to lumbosacral pain is that it helps mitigate intra-disc pressure while increasing disc space within the lumbosacral spinal region. (Amjad et al., 2022) Spinal decompression can help improve leg mobility and stretch out the affected muscles to kick-start the body’s natural healing process. Spinal decompression can even combine with physical therapy to help strengthen the lumbosacral region’s abdominal muscles and enable many individuals with poor posture to be mindful of how they present themselves.(Mielenz et al., 1997)
MET Therapy & Spinal Decompression Restoring Posture
When pain specialists like chiropractors and massage therapists incorporate spinal decompression treatment to reduce lumbosacral pain, they also utilize various techniques to strengthen the lumbosacral muscles to restore proper posture to the body. Many pain specialists use MET (muscle energy techniques) therapy to maintain while stretching the muscles and fascia in the affected areas. MET therapy combined with spinal decompression can help improve muscle shortness in the lumbar fascial tissue, improve posture, and even increase the lumbar and pelvic range of motion. (Tamartash & Bahrpeyma, 2022) These two non-surgical treatments can help many people by addressing their posture and movement dysfunction while strengthening their core stabilized muscles to reduce pain. (Norris & Matthews, 2008) Many individuals who want to regain their health and wellness can make small changes in their routine to improve their posture and be more mindful of their bodies to reduce the chances of lumbosacral pain returning.
References
Adams, M. A., & Hutton, W. C. (1985). The effect of posture on the lumbar spine. J Bone Joint Surg Br, 67(4), 625-629. doi.org/10.1302/0301-620X.67B4.4030863
Amjad, F., Mohseni-Bandpei, M. A., Gilani, S. A., Ahmad, A., & Hanif, A. (2022). Effects of non-surgical decompression therapy in addition to routine physical therapy on pain, range of motion, endurance, functional disability and quality of life versus routine physical therapy alone in patients with lumbar radiculopathy; a randomized controlled trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord, 23(1), 255. doi.org/10.1186/s12891-022-05196-x
Callaghan, J. P., Gunning, J. L., & McGill, S. M. (1998). The relationship between lumbar spine load and muscle activity during extensor exercises. Phys Ther, 78(1), 8-18. doi.org/10.1093/ptj/78.1.8
Creze, M., Bedretdinova, D., Soubeyrand, M., Rocher, L., Gennisson, J. L., Gagey, O., Maitre, X., & Bellin, M. F. (2019). Posture-related stiffness mapping of paraspinal muscles. J Anat, 234(6), 787-799. doi.org/10.1111/joa.12978
Huang, C. C., Jaw, F. S., & Young, Y. H. (2022). Radiological and functional assessment in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. BMC Musculoskelet Disord, 23(1), 137. doi.org/10.1186/s12891-022-05053-x
Mielenz, T. J., Carey, T. S., Dyrek, D. A., Harris, B. A., Garrett, J. M., & Darter, J. D. (1997). Physical therapy utilization by patients with acute low back pain. Phys Ther, 77(10), 1040-1051. doi.org/10.1093/ptj/77.10.1040
Norris, C., & Matthews, M. (2008). The role of an integrated back stability program in patients with chronic low back pain. Complement Ther Clin Pract, 14(4), 255-263. doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2008.06.001
Tamartash, H., & Bahrpeyma, F. (2022). Evaluation of Lumbar Myofascial Release Effects on Lumbar Flexion Angle and Pelvic Inclination Angle in Patients with Non-Specific Low Back Pain. Int J Ther Massage Bodywork, 15(1), 15-22. doi.org/10.3822/ijtmb.v15i1.709
Can adding calisthenics resistance training to a fitness routine provide health benefits like flexibility, balance, and coordination?
Calisthenics Resistance Training
Calisthenics resistance training requires no equipment, they can be done with minimal space, and are a great way to get a quick burn.
They are a form of resistance training using your own body weight that is low-impact, which makes it accessible to individuals of all ages and fitness levels.
They effectively help build agility, and cardiovascular health, and improve balance, coordination, and flexibility.
Benefits
Muscle Strength
Because calisthenics are easily adaptable to any fitness level, require minimal or no equipment, and are great for beginners and experienced exercise enthusiasts it is a fantastic full-body workout and an excellent way to build strength and muscle. Research supports that calisthenics resistance training can improve muscle strength in various ways.
One study found that eight weeks of calisthenics not only improved posture and body mass index/BMI but can impact strength, even with exercises not routinely performed. (Thomas E, et al., 2017)
During the study, one group did calisthenics and the other maintained regular training routines.
The researchers discovered that the group that did calisthenics increased their repetitions of exercises that were not included.
The group who continued with their regular training routines did not improve on what they could do before the eight-week study. (Thomas E, et al., 2017)
Cardiovascular Fitness
Regular participation in calisthenic resistance training can lead to improved cardiovascular health, including increased endurance and a healthier heart.
Certain calisthenic exercises, like burpees and mountain climbers, are high-intensity movements that can increase heart rate and blood circulation just from the movements.
Gradually performing these exercises at a faster pace, research indicates could potentially experience the same cardiovascular benefits from interval or treadmill running. (Bellissimo GF, et al., 2022) – (Lavie CJ, et al., 2015)
Balance, Coordination, and Flexibility
The movements require a full range of motion that stretches and strengthens the muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
These exercises can help decrease the risk of injury and make daily physical activities easier to perform without over-exertion.
Incorporating calisthenics resistance training on a regular basis can help improve posture, balance, and flexibility, depending on which exercises are recommended.
Exercises like stretches, lunges, and squats help to improve flexibility and mobility.
Exercises like single-leg squats and one-arm push-ups can work the balance, coordination, and proprioception of the body.
Mental Health
Exercise, in general, is known to improve mood, reduce stress, and improve overall well-being.
Calisthenic resistance training can have additional impacts on mental well-being.
For example, the discipline and focus required to perform the movements can help concentration and mental clarity.
One study found that calisthenics can reduce cognitive decline and may be useful for dementia prevention. (Osuka Y, et al., 2020)
Another study found that calisthenics helped mental well-being in individuals with diseases like ankylosing spondylitis and multiple sclerosis. (Taspinar O, et al., 2015)
Types
Bodyweight exercises that use an individual’s own body weight as resistance are the foundation. Common examples include push-ups, squats, and lunges. An overview of some of the types of exercises.
Pulling
These exercises focus on training the muscles for pulling movements, which include the back, shoulders, and arms.
Examples include pull-ups, chin-ups, and rows.
Pushing
These exercises focus on training the muscles for pushing movements, like the chest, shoulders, and triceps.
Examples include dips, push-ups, and handstand push-ups.
Core
Core exercises focus on training the abdominal and lower back muscles, which are responsible for maintaining stability and balance.
Examples of core exercises include planks, sit-ups, and leg raises.
Single-Leg
Single-leg exercises focus on training one leg at a time.
These target the muscles of the legs, hips, and core.
Examples of single-leg exercises include single-leg squats, lunges, and step-ups.
Plyometric
Calisthenics resistance training focuses on powerful explosive movements.
Plyometric exercises challenge the muscles to work quickly and forcefully.
Examples include jump squats, clap push-ups, and box jumps.
Getting Started
Start by making sure calisthenics is an appropriate workout option, especially if you are a beginner or have pre-existing medical conditions.
Once cleared to exercise start with familiar movements that can be done with the correct form.
Pushups, bodyweight squats, planks, lunges, and other basic movements are a good place to start.
Make sure to warm up with light and easy motions that mimic the workout movements.
Aim to work each body part during the workout.
Try for at least two workouts a week.
It is recommended to split the movement patterns.
Reps can be counted or set a timer to switch exercises every minute. This is called EMOM-style or every minute on the minute.
Pick four to five exercises that target various areas.
For example, sit-ups can be done for the core, lunges for the glutes and thighs, planks can be done for the shoulders and core, and jumping jacks or jumping rope for cardiovascular.
Calisthenic resistance training is easily modifiable and can be adjusted to individual needs.
Core Strength
References
Thomas, E., Bianco, A., Mancuso, E. P., Patti, A., Tabacchi, G., Paoli, A., … & Palma, A. (2017). The effects of a calisthenics training intervention on posture, strength, and body composition. Isokinetics and exercise science, 25(3), 215-222.
Bellissimo, G. F., Ducharme, J., Mang, Z., Millender, D., Smith, J., Stork, M. J., Little, J. P., Deyhle, M. R., Gibson, A. L., de Castro Magalhaes, F., & Amorim, F. (2022). The Acute Physiological and Perceptual Responses Between Bodyweight and Treadmill Running High-Intensity Interval Exercises. Frontiers in physiology, 13, 824154. doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2022.824154
Osuka, Y., Kojima, N., Sasai, H., Ohara, Y., Watanabe, Y., Hirano, H., & Kim, H. (2020). Exercise Types and the Risk of Developing Cognitive Decline in Older Women: A Prospective Study. Journal of Alzheimer’s disease: JAD, 77(4), 1733–1742. doi.org/10.3233/JAD-200867
Taspinar, O., Aydın, T., Celebi, A., Keskin, Y., Yavuz, S., Guneser, M., Camli, A., Tosun, M., Canbaz, N., & Gok, M. (2015). Psychological effects of calisthenic exercises on neuroinflammatory and rheumatic diseases. Zeitschrift fur Rheumatologie, 74(8), 722–727. doi.org/10.1007/s00393-015-1570-9
Lavie, C. J., Lee, D. C., Sui, X., Arena, R., O’Keefe, J. H., Church, T. S., Milani, R. V., & Blair, S. N. (2015). Effects of Running on Chronic Diseases and Cardiovascular and All-Cause Mortality. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 90(11), 1541–1552. doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2015.08.001
Can spinal decompression treat individuals with chronic low back pain to reduce joint arthritis and strengthen the surrounding muscles to restore lumbar mobility?
Introduction
When many individuals are dealing with pain in their lumbar region, more often than not, they believe that it’s the surrounding muscles that protect the spine that is being affected. However, that is only half of the problem. Do you or your loved ones often feel a warm sensation within your lower back, hips, and knees that radiates pain within your joints? Well, joint pain can correlate with low back pain in its chronic state. Since the body and spine can degenerate over time, it can cause the joints to wear and tear while rubbing against each other, causing joint arthritis to develop. When arthritic pain is associated with chronic low back pain, it can lead to overlapping risk profiles that can lead to a life of disability and make the individual miserable. Many pain-like symptoms correlating with chronic low back pain can develop over time and cause mobility and stability problems within the body. Fortunately, many non-surgical treatments can reduce the progression of joint arthritis and alleviate chronic low back pain. Today’s articles examine the correlation between joint arthritis and chronic low back pain while taking a look at how non-invasive treatments like spinal decompression can not only reduce chronic low back pain associated with joint arthritis but also restore lumbar mobility. Additionally, we work hand-in-hand with certified medical providers who incorporate our patient’s information to treat and reduce the progression of joint arthritis associated with low back pain. We also inform them that spinal decompression can help restore lumbar mobility while enhancing muscle strength back to the lumbar region. We encourage our patients to ask profound questions while seeking education from our associated medical providers about their pain-like issues. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., incorporates this information as an educational service. Disclaimer
Joint Arthritis & Chronic Low Back Pain
Do you often experience stiffness in the morning that seems to go away after a few hours? Do you feel aches and pains at work, either at the desk or the requires heavy objects? Or do you feel your joints ache constantly that you are not getting enough sleep at night? These pain-like scenarios are associated with joint arthritis, which can develop into chronic low back pain. Many people know that the lumber spine and the lower extremities will experience high mechanical stress when the body is in an upright position without pain. As the lumbar spine and lower extremities begin to go through repetitive motions over time, that can cause the ligaments and surrounding muscles to have microtrauma tears, resulting in the development of joint arthritis, which can lead to inflammatory effects. (Xiong et al., 2022) Now inflammation in the body is beneficial and harmful depending on the severity within the affected area. Joint arthritis, especially spondylarthritis, is part of inflammatory diseases that affect the joint and the spine and can have various clinical manifestations. (Sharip & Kunz, 2020) The symptoms of joint arthritis include inflammatory pain in the affected area, joint stiffness and swelling, and muscle weakness. When dealing with inflammatory effects associated with joint arthritis, it can cause them to have a decreased quality of life, increase mortality, and become an economic burden. (Walsh & Magrey, 2021)
Now how does joint arthritis be associated with low back pain? When individuals start to make repetitive motions to their lumbar spine, it can lead to abnormal changes to the intervertebral discs. When unwanted pressure begins to compress the intervertebral disc constantly, it can cause wear and tear on the disc, causing them to crack and allowing the annular nociceptors to become over-sensitized. (Weinstein, Claverie, & Gibson, 1988) The affected disc then aggravates the surrounding nerve roots and muscles, causing low back pain. When individuals do their everyday normal, factors that cause degenerative changes to the intervertebral discs can lead to chronic low back pain. (Vernon-Roberts & Pirie, 1977) To that point, chronic low back pain associated with joint arthritis can become a chronic issue if not treated right away.
Arthritis Explained- Video
When reducing the effects of chronic low back pain associated with joint arthritis, many individuals seek treatments to relieve their pain-affected areas with a positive outcome. Non-surgical treatments could be the answer, combined with other therapies to reduce chronic low back pain. (Kizhakkeveettil, Rose, & Kadar, 2014) Non-surgical treatments can be customizable to the individual’s pain while being cost-effective. Many people with arthritic joints can benefit from non-surgical treatments as pain specialists like massage therapists and chiropractors can use various techniques to stretch out the affected muscles, increase the joint’s ROM (range of motions) and realign the body out of misalignment to promote the body’s natural healing process. The video above gives an overview of how arthritis can affect the joints, be associated with low back pain, and how these treatments can alleviate its symptoms through various techniques.
Spinal Decompression & Chronic Low Back Pain
Spinal decompression is a non-surgical therapy treatment that can help many individuals with chronic low back pain. Spinal decompression uses gentle traction on the lumbar spine to pull the spine, allowing the fluids and nutrients to flood back to the affected area and help the body naturally heal itself. When individuals start incorporating spinal decompression for their chronic low back pain, they will feel pressure off their spinal discs. (Ramos, 2004) When individuals begin to feel an improvement in their lumbar region after a few consecutive treatments, they will start to regain their lumbar mobility.
Spinal Decompression Restoring Lumbar Mobility
Spinal decompression can reduce the effects of chronic low back pain and restore lumbar mobility to the spine. Since spinal decompression uses gentle traction on the spine, the intervertebral disc will return to its original position, while the spinal cavity increases disc height. To that point, spinal decompression can cause individuals to improve mobility and cause them to return to their normal daily activities, as it correlates strongly with pain reduction. (Gose, Naguszewski, & Naguszewski, 1998) By incorporating spinal decompression as part of a routine, many individuals can regain their health without dealing with pain-like symptoms.
References
Gose, E. E., Naguszewski, W. K., & Naguszewski, R. K. (1998). Vertebral axial decompression therapy for pain associated with herniated or degenerated discs or facet syndrome: an outcome study. Neurol Res, 20(3), 186-190. doi.org/10.1080/01616412.1998.11740504
Kizhakkeveettil, A., Rose, K., & Kadar, G. E. (2014). Integrative therapies for low back pain that include complementary and alternative medicine care: a systematic review. Glob Adv Health Med, 3(5), 49-64. doi.org/10.7453/gahmj.2014.043
Ramos, G. (2004). Efficacy of vertebral axial decompression on chronic low back pain: study of dosage regimen. Neurol Res, 26(3), 320-324. doi.org/10.1179/016164104225014030
Sharip, A., & Kunz, J. (2020). Understanding the Pathogenesis of Spondyloarthritis. Biomolecules, 10(10). doi.org/10.3390/biom10101461
Vernon-Roberts, B., & Pirie, C. J. (1977). Degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs of the lumbar spine and their sequelae. Rheumatol Rehabil, 16(1), 13-21. doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/16.1.13
Walsh, J. A., & Magrey, M. (2021). Clinical Manifestations and Diagnosis of Axial Spondyloarthritis. J Clin Rheumatol, 27(8), e547-e560. doi.org/10.1097/RHU.0000000000001575
Xiong, Y., Cai, M., Xu, Y., Dong, P., Chen, H., He, W., & Zhang, J. (2022). Joint together: The etiology and pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis. Front Immunol, 13, 996103. doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.996103
Gender transitioning is the process of affirming and expressing an individual’s internal sense of gender rather than the one assigned at birth. How can learning the aspects of gender and gender transitioning help support the LGBTQ+ community?
Gender Transitioning
Gender transitioning or gender affirmation is a process through which transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals align their internal gender identity with their external gender expression. It can be described as a binary – male or female – but can also be non-binary, meaning an individual is neither exclusively male nor female.
The process can involve aesthetic appearances, changes in social roles, legal recognitions, and/or physical aspects of the body.
Social affirmation – dressing differently or coming out to friends and family.
Legal affirmation – changing name and gender on legal documents.
Medical affirmation – using hormones and/or surgery to change certain physical aspects of their body.
Transgender individuals can pursue some or all of these.
Barriers
Gender transitioning can be obstructed by various barriers that can include:
Cost
Lack of insurance
Lack of family, friends, or partner support.
Discrimination
Stigma
Addressing All Aspects
The process does not have a specific timeline and is not always linear.
Many transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals prefer gender affirmation to gender transitioning because transitioning is often taken to mean the process of medically transforming the body.
An individual does not have to undergo medical treatment to affirm their identity, and some transgender people avoid hormones or gender-affirming surgery.
Transitioning is a holistic process that addresses all aspects of who a person is inwardly and outwardly.
Certain aspects of transitioning may be more important than others, like changing one’s name and gender on their birth certificate.
Reevaluation and revision of gender identity can be continual rather than a step-by-step, one-way process.
Exploring Gender Identity
Gender transitioning often starts in response to gender dysphoria which describes the constant sense of uneasiness that occurs when the gender an individual was assigned at birth does not match how they experience or express their gender internally.
Some individuals have experienced symptoms of gender dysphoria as early as 3 or 4 years of age. (Selin Gülgöz, et al., 2019)
Gender dysphoria can be largely informed by the culture that surrounds the individual, specifically in cultures where strict codes determine what is masculine/male and feminine/female.
Unease Expressed in Different Ways
Dislike of one’s sexual anatomy.
A preference for clothes typically worn by the other gender.
Not wanting to wear clothes typically worn by their own gender.
A preference for cross-gender roles in fantasy play.
A strong preference for engaging in activities that are typically done by the other gender.
Dysphoria
Gender dysphoria can fully emerge during puberty when awareness about how an individual’s body defines them creates internal distress.
Feelings may be amplified when an individual is described as a tomboy, or a sissy, or is criticized and attacked for acting like a girl or acting like a boy.
During puberty, the physical changes can cause long-standing feelings of not fitting in and may evolve into feelings of not fitting in their own body.
This is when individuals can undergo a process referred to as internal transitioning and begin to change how they see themselves.
Gender transitioning/affirmation becomes the next step. Transitioning is not about changing or recreating oneself but about expressing their authentic self and asserting who they are socially, legally, and/or medically.
Social
Social transitioning involves how a person publicly expresses their gender. The transition can include:
Changing pronouns.
Using chosen name.
Coming out to friends, family, coworkers, etc.
Wearing new clothes.
Cutting or styling hair differently.
Changing mannerisms like moving, sitting, etc.
Changing voice.
Binding – strapping the chest to hide breasts.
Wearing breast and hip prosthetics to accentuate feminine curvature.
Packing – wearing a penile prosthesis to create a penile bulge.
Tucking – tucking the penis to conceal a bulge.
Playing certain sports
Pursuing different lines of work.
Participating in activities that might typically be seen as male or female.
Legal
Legal transitioning involves changing legal documents to reflect the individual’s chosen name, gender, and pronouns. This includes governmental and non-government documents that can include:
Birth certificates
Social Security ID
Driver’s license
Passport
Bank records
Medical and dental records
Voter registration
School ID
Provisions allowing for changes can vary by state.
Some states only allow changes if bottom surgery – genital reconstruction is performed.
Others will allow the changes without any form of gender-affirming surgery.
Medical transitioning typically involves hormone therapy to develop some of the male or female sex characteristics. It can also involve surgery to change certain physical aspects combined with hormone therapy.
Hormone therapy assists individuals to physically look more like the gender they identify as.
They can be used on their own and can also be used before gender-affirming surgery.
Hormone therapy takes two forms:
Transgender Men
Testosterone is taken to help deepen the voice, increase muscle mass, promote body and facial hair, and enlarge the clitoris. (M S Irwig, K Childs, A B Hancock. 2017)
Transgender Women
Estrogen is taken as well as testosterone blockers to redistribute body fat, increase breast size, reduce male-pattern baldness, and reduce testicle size. (Vin Tangpricha 1, Martin den Heijer. 2017)
Surgery
Gender affirmation surgery aligns an individual’s physical appearance to their gender identity. Many hospitals provide gender-affirming surgery through a transgender medicine department. Medical procedures include:
Facial surgery – Facial feminization surgery.
Breast augmentation – Increases breast size with implants.
Chest masculinization – Removes contours of breast tissues.
Tracheal shaving – Reduces the Adam’s apple.
Phalloplasty – Construction of a penis.
Orchiectomy – Removal of the testicles.
Scrotoplasty – Construction of a scrotum.
Vaginoplasty – Construction of a vaginal canal.
Vulvoplasty – Construction of the outer female genitalia.
Roadblocks
Transgender individuals are protected from public and private insurance discrimination under federal and state laws, including Medicare and Medicaid. (National Center for Transgender Equality. 2021)
Medicaid programs in nine states do not cover gender-affirming medical treatments, and only Illinois and Maine offer comprehensive standard care recommended by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health/WPATH. (Kaiser Family Foundation. 2022)
Medicare also has no consistent policy regarding the approval of gender-affirming surgery.
Others report family or partner disapproval as the main reason why they discontinue gender affirmation. (Jack L. Turban, et al., 2021)
If you know someone who is transgender or is considering transitioning, learning about gender and gender transitioning and how to be supportive is a great way to be an ally.
Enhancing Your Lifestyle
References
Gülgöz, S., Glazier, J. J., Enright, E. A., Alonso, D. J., Durwood, L. J., Fast, A. A., Lowe, R., Ji, C., Heer, J., Martin, C. L., & Olson, K. R. (2019). Similarity in transgender and cisgender children’s gender development. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 116(49), 24480–24485. doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1909367116
Irwig, M. S., Childs, K., & Hancock, A. B. (2017). Effects of testosterone on the transgender male voice. Andrology, 5(1), 107–112. doi.org/10.1111/andr.12278
Tangpricha, V., & den Heijer, M. (2017). Estrogen and anti-androgen therapy for transgender women. The Lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology, 5(4), 291–300. doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(16)30319-9
National Center for Transgender Equality. Know Your Rights in Health Care.
Kaiser Family Foundation. Update on Medicaid coverage of gender-affirming health services.
Center of Medicare and Medicaid Services. Gender dysphoria and gender reassignment surgery.
Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund. Health insurance medical policies.
National Center for Transgender Equality and National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Injustice at Every Turn: A Report of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey.
Turban, J. L., Loo, S. S., Almazan, A. N., & Keuroghlian, A. S. (2021). Factors Leading to “Detransition” Among Transgender and Gender Diverse People in the United States: A Mixed-Methods Analysis. LGBT health, 8(4), 273–280. doi.org/10.1089/lgbt.2020.0437
Can musculoskeletal therapies treat individuals with upper crossed syndrome to relieve pain, improve posture, and strengthen the muscles in the neck, shoulders and chest?
Upper Crossed Syndrome
Upper crossed syndrome is a condition in which the muscles of the shoulders, neck, and chest become weak and tight, and is usually brought on from practicing unhealthy posture. Symptoms typically include:
Neck stiffness and pulling sensations.
Jaw tension and/or tightness
Upper back tension, lack of flexibility, stiffness, and aching soreness.
Neck, shoulder, and upper back pain.
Tension headaches
Rounded shoulders
Hunched spine
Upper Crossed Syndrome and Posture
The condition affects healthy posture by creating imbalanced muscles between the upper back and chest.
The tight short muscles in the upper chest get overly stretched and remain in a semi-contracted state pulling on the back muscles.
This causes the muscles in the upper back, shoulders, and neck to get pulled and weaken.
The result is a hunched back, forward shoulders, and protruded neck.
The specific muscles affected include the trapezius and the levator scapula/side of the neck muscles. (Hospital for Special Surgery. 2023)
Prescription anti-inflammatory medication for pain symptoms – short-term.
Individuals may be advised by the chiropractic therapy team to avoid too much bed rest and to limit or avoid activities that can cause pain or worsen symptoms. (Cedars-Sinai. 2022)
Studies have shown chiropractic spinal manipulation effectively reduces neck, spine, and low back pain symptoms. (Gevers-Montoro C, et al., 2021)
Increasing or decreasing physical activity as recommended by the therapy team.
Using ice or heat packs to relieve pain and increase circulation to promote muscle rehabilitation and healing.
Using topical pain creams or gels.
Over-the-counter nonsteroidal – NSAIDs, like Advil or Motrin and Aleve.
Muscle relaxants to relieve tension short-term.
Enhance Your Lifestyle
References
Hospital for Special Surgery. Move with the purpose to combat upper and lower crossed syndromes.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Back pain.
Seidi, F., Bayattork, M., Minoonejad, H., Andersen, L. L., & Page, P. (2020). Comprehensive corrective exercise program improves alignment, muscle activation, and movement pattern of men with upper crossed syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. Scientific reports, 10(1), 20688. doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-77571-4
Bae, W. S., Lee, H. O., Shin, J. W., & Lee, K. C. (2016). The effect of middle and lower trapezius strength exercises and levator scapulae and upper trapezius stretching exercises in upper crossed syndrome. Journal of physical therapy science, 28(5), 1636–1639. doi.org/10.1589/jpts.28.1636
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Back pain.
Cedars-Sinai. Back and neck pain.
Gevers-Montoro, C., Provencher, B., Descarreaux, M., Ortega de Mues, A., & Piché, M. (2021). Clinical Effectiveness and Efficacy of Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation for Spine Pain. Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland), 2, 765921. doi.org/10.3389/fpain.2021.765921
For many individuals with low back pain, how does spinal decompression alleviate muscle stress as part of initial treatment?
Introduction
Many working individuals know that low back pain is a common problem that causes them to go to their primary doctor to get examined and miss out on work. Low back pain is a multifactorial musculoskeletal condition that causes overlapping risk profiles to affect the body’s lower extremities. Low back pain can correlate with musculoskeletal disorders like sciatica, abdominal pain, leg pain, and DDD (degenerative disc disease). It can range from acute to chronic, depending on the severity the individual is dealing with when it comes to pain. At the same time, low back pain can be non-specific or mechanical as the surrounding muscles, soft tissues, joints, and ligaments are affected and dealing with symptoms of muscle strain, unwanted pressure on the joint, causing stress, and muscle aches. Since the body and the spine naturally age, it causes more stress on the lower back as individuals begin to hunch over more when walking or carrying heavy objects, which causes more strain on the back muscles, leading them to a life of disability. Luckily, non-surgical treatments have become more available to reduce the effects of muscle stress associated with low back pain and alleviate the pain-like symptoms in the lumbar spine. Today’s article focuses on how numerous factors can cause muscle stress to the lower back and how spinal decompression can reduce its effects while alleviating low back pain. At the same time, we work hand-in-hand with certified medical providers who incorporate our patient’s information to treat and mitigate muscle stress on the lower back. We also inform them that non-surgical treatments like spinal decompression can help alleviate residual pain-like symptoms associated with low back pain and help them return to their daily activities. We encourage our patients to ask profound questions while seeking education from our associated medical providers about their pain-like issues. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., incorporates this information as an educational service. Disclaimer
How Factors Cause Muscle Stress To The Low Back
Do you feel gradual or consistent pain in your lower back after carrying a heavy object from one location to another? Are you constantly taking medication for your low back pain to finish the workday? Or do you feel pain in your sciatic nerve that gets aggravated when you are in motion, and you feel relief when resting? Around the world, many people have dealt with low back pain and its associated symptom at some point. Since low back pain can be either specific or non-specific, pain can come from spinal issues that cause referred pain to a different body location or normal repetitive factors that cause discomfort to the surrounding soft tissues, muscles, and ligaments. Some symptoms correlating with low back pain include progressive motor or sensory issues, urinary retention, abnormal neurologic issues, spinal misalignment, or soft tissue abnormalities. (Will, Bury, & Miller, 2018) When many working individuals are dealing with non-specific low back pain, the surrounding soft tissues and muscles can become weak and overworked, which causes overlapping risk profiles and results in the development of low back pain.
Many working individuals with demanding jobs, whether physical or sedentary, will often strain their lumbar region from lifting/carrying heavy objects or being hunched over constantly at the computer. When a person continues to put repetitive stress on the surrounding muscles, it can cause chronic pain over time and become a major cause of work loss. (Becker & Childress, 2019) Low back pain can cause the individual to be more stressed since they are missing out on work. Low back pain can also be due to lumbar instability from the intervertebral disc and surrounding muscles and ligaments under constant pressure. (Hauser et al., 2022) Since the body and spine age over time naturally, many individuals dealing with low back pain will begin to feel their joints and muscle structures loosen over time, leading to musculoskeletal symptoms that prevent the spine from destabilizing. This can cause the individual to limit their ability to participate in daily activities and even reduce their quality of life. Luckily, non-surgical treatments can reduce the effects of low back pain while revitalizing the lumbar region so many people can continue their daily activities pain-free.
From Injury To Recovery-Video
When treating and reducing low back pain, many pain specialists like chiropractors and massage therapists can incorporate non-invasive treatments to ease low back pain. Non-invasive treatments like chiropractic care and spinal decompression can help reduce muscle stress on the lumbar region with mechanical or manual spinal manipulation and help relieve the affected lumbar area. Now spinal decompression and chiropractic care have a wonderful relationship as they use negative pressure on the intervertebral disc to increase nutrient flow back to the spine and help kick-start the body’s natural healing process. (Schimmel et al., 2009) These treatments are not only non-invasive, but they are also safe and cost-effective while being customizable to the person’s pain. The video above explains how these treatments can reduce soft tissue injuries and the effects of musculoskeletal pain on the lumbar region.
Spinal Decompression Reducing Muscle Stress From Low Back Pain
Non-surgical treatments like spinal decompression are incorporated into a person’s personalized health plan to reduce the effects of low back pain. Spinal decompression uses gentle traction on the spine to diminish the compressive load on the intervertebral disc to reduce herniation while stretching the lumbar spinal muscles and ligaments to decrease muscle spasms. (Sari et al., 2005) When individuals start to feel relief in their lower back due to spinal decompression as they begin to feel general improvement in the lumbar region. (Borman, Keskin, & Bodur, 2003) Since spinal decompression uses gentle traction on the spine, this gentle force can relieve radicular symptoms associated with the lower extremities. (Krause et al., 2000) Additionally, the effects of spinal decompression can be a positive experience for many individuals dealing with low back pain. (Pellecchia, 1994) When it comes to reducing low back pain, utilizing non-surgical treatments like spinal decompression can help improve mobility back to the individual and reduce the pain they were experiencing before. When people begin to think about their health and wellness, they can experience relief from the pain and get back to normalcy.
References
Becker, B. A., & Childress, M. A. (2019). Nonspecific Low Back Pain and Return To Work. American Family Physician, 100(11), 697-703. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31790184
Borman, P., Keskin, D., & Bodur, H. (2003). The efficacy of lumbar traction in the management of patients with low back pain. Rheumatol Int, 23(2), 82-86. doi.org/10.1007/s00296-002-0249-0
Hauser, R. A., Matias, D., Woznica, D., Rawlings, B., & Woldin, B. A. (2022). Lumbar instability as an etiology of low back pain and its treatment by prolotherapy: A review. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil, 35(4), 701-712. doi.org/10.3233/BMR-210097
Krause, M., Refshauge, K. M., Dessen, M., & Boland, R. (2000). Lumbar spine traction: evaluation of effects and recommended application for treatment. Man Ther, 5(2), 72-81. doi.org/10.1054/math.2000.0235
Pellecchia, G. L. (1994). Lumbar traction: a review of the literature. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther, 20(5), 262-267. doi.org/10.2519/jospt.1994.20.5.262
Sari, H., Akarirmak, U., Karacan, I., & Akman, H. (2005). Computed tomographic evaluation of lumbar spinal structures during traction. Physiother Theory Pract, 21(1), 3-11. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16385939
Schimmel, J. J., de Kleuver, M., Horsting, P. P., Spruit, M., Jacobs, W. C., & van Limbeek, J. (2009). No effect of traction in patients with low back pain: a single centre, single blind, randomized controlled trial of Intervertebral Differential Dynamics Therapy. Eur Spine J, 18(12), 1843-1850. doi.org/10.1007/s00586-009-1044-3
Will, J. S., Bury, D. C., & Miller, J. A. (2018). Mechanical Low Back Pain. American Family Physician, 98(7), 421-428. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30252425
For individuals, does knowing about food condiments nutritional values help with overall health?
Food Condiments
Condiment options go beyond the standard mayonnaise, ketchup, and mustard. Today there are various options to use as toppers, to marinate, tenderize, increase flavor, and add an appeal to the dish. Most condiments don’t provide much nutrition, but some do contain healthy ingredients like herbs, spices, heart-healthy fats, and antioxidants.
Healthy
The food condiments that are made the healthiest are those that are low in calories and unhealthy fat and they are made with less or no processed additives and quality ingredients that provide health benefits.
Pico de Gallo
This is a low-calorie, low-fat, nutrient-dense salsa that can zest up any meal.
It is made with tomatoes, onions, jalapeños, and lime.
Easily make your own to control sodium levels.
Top salads, vegetables, or protein with the salsa to add flavor.
Use as a dip for fresh raw vegetables as a snack.
Mustard
Mustard is a very low-calorie – 5 calories in 1 teaspoon, low-carbohydrate, and fat-free condiment that can increase the flavor of food by adding a sweet, sour, or spicy kick.
Most traditional mustards – yellow and spicy – are made with mustard seed, distilled vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, spices, and turmeric.
This means that mustard contains little or insignificant calories, fat, protein, and carbohydrate in one serving.
Studies have shown that turmeric can provide health benefits from a compound called curcumin.
Preclinical studies suggest that curcumin can act as an antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and neuroprotective properties. (Abrahams S, et al., 2019)
Flavored mustards, like honey flavor, can contain added sugars, therefore, it is recommended to read the label before eating.
Balsamic, red or white wine or apple cider vinegar can be used on side dishes, salads, sandwiches, and to marinate.
This condiment ranges from 0 calories to 10 calories per tablespoon and contains no sodium.
Studies have shown that apple cider vinegar can reduce fasting blood sugar in individuals at risk for type 2 diabetes. (Johnston CS, Quagliano S, White S. 2013)
Hot Sauce
Hot sauce is made from red chili peppers.
Top eggs, vegetables, or whole grains with a few dashes.
Studies suggest that adding spice can help satisfy hunger, help curb appetite and possibly speed up metabolism. (Emily Siebert, et al., 2022)
Read labels as sauces can contain added sugars.
Ketchup
Because of its carbohydrate and sugar content, ketchup is a condiment that needs to be portion-controlled, especially for individuals with diabetes who are following a modified nutritional plan.
Although much of the fat is unsaturated/healthy type, it can be hard to portion control this food condiment, which can result in excess calorie intake.
Barbecue Sauce
Barbecue sauce is moderate in calories, around 60 in two tablespoons, but it can contain a large amount of sodium and sugar.
Most brands can contain 10 to 13 grams of sugar/equivalent to 3 teaspoons and 280 to 350 milligrams of sodium.
The recommended serving size is two tablespoons.
Individuals trying to watch calorie and sugar intake are recommended to stick to one serving.
Sour Cream
Sour cream contains 60 calories and 6 grams of fat in two tablespoons.
Regularly consuming saturated fat has been linked with heart disease, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
A healthy substitute for sour cream can be a tablespoon or two of low-fat or non-fat plain Greek yogurt.
Regardless of the healthy or non-healthy food condiments, it is recommended not to drown the food in them and stick to the recommended serving sizes.
Benefits of Healthy Diet and Chiropractic Care
References
Abrahams, S., Haylett, W. L., Johnson, G., Carr, J. A., & Bardien, S. (2019). Antioxidant effects of curcumin in models of neurodegeneration, aging, oxidative and nitrosative stress: A review. Neuroscience, 406, 1–21. doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.02.020
Spicy brown mustard. FoodData Central. U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Johnston CS, Quagliano S, White S. Vinegar ingestion at mealtime reduced fasting blood glucose concentrations in healthy adults at risk for type 2 diabetes. J Funct Foods. 2013;5(4):2007-2011. doi:10.1016/j.jff.2013.08.003
Siebert, E., Lee, S. Y., & Prescott, M. P. (2022). Chili pepper preference development and its impact on dietary intake: A narrative review. Frontiers in nutrition, 9, 1039207. doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.1039207
Ketchup. FoodData Central. U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Caesar dressing. FoodData Central. U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Vinaigrette. FoodData Central. U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Mayonnaise. FoodData Central. U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Sour cream, regular. FoodData Central. U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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