People are exposed to toxins, such as pesticides and air pollutants in food and the environment, on a regular basis. Meanwhile, other toxins are produced in the body through normal functions and microbes. That’s why it’s fundamental to support the liver, one of the major detoxification systems in the body. If the liver isn’t working properly, harmful compounds can start to pile up in the cells and tissues, leading to a variety of health issues. Liver detoxification is a two-step process that converts fat-soluble toxins into water-soluble toxins that the body can eliminate accordingly.
In the following article, we will discuss the importance of liver detox, what happens in the two phases of liver detoxification, and how you can support liver detox to promote overall health.
Contents
The Importance of Liver Detox
The liver is responsible for the detoxification of all of the harmful compounds and toxins that the body is exposed to on a regular basis. Moreover, it’s fundamental to eliminate these from the liver and the rest of the body regularly to tremendously reduce their negative effects. If toxins start to pile up in the cells and tissues of the liver, it can potentially lead to liver damage as well as a variety of other health issues. By way of instance, toxins are associated with obesity, dementia, and even cancer. And they are also believed to be a factor in chronic health issues, such as fibromyalgia.
There are two main ways that the body eliminates toxins. First, fat-soluble toxins are metabolized in the liver to make them water-soluble. Then, water-soluble toxins are sent directly to the kidneys where these are eliminated in the urine. Another of the body�s safeguards against harmful compounds is that the blood collected from the gut goes to the liver first. The blood from the gut may be especially high in toxins if a person has a leaky gut. Through the detoxification of toxins first, the liver can considerably reduce the number of toxins that reach other organs, such as the brain and heart.
Phases of Liver Detoxification
The liver is one of the main detoxification systems in the body. Detoxification or detox in the liver is separated into two categories. They are known as Phase I and Phase II liver detoxification pathways.
Phase I Liver Detoxification Pathway
The Phase I liver detoxification pathway is the first line of defense against harmful components and toxins. It’s made up of a collection of enzymes known as the cytochrome P450 family. The enzymes help neutralize substances, such as caffeine and alcohol. They offer protection by converting these toxins into less harmful components. However, if the byproducts of the Phase I liver detoxification pathway are allowed to pile up in the liver, they can damage DNA and proteins. It is ultimately the role of the Phase II liver detoxification pathway to make sure that those toxins do not pile up in the liver.
Phase II Liver Detoxification Pathway
The Phase II liver detoxification pathway neutralizes the byproducts of the Phase I liver detoxification pathway as well as that of other remaining toxins. This is done by metabolizing fat-soluble toxins in the liver to make them water-soluble so that they can be eliminated from the body. This process is known as conjugation. Glutathione, sulfate, and glycine are the primary molecules responsible for this process. Under normal conditions, Phase II liver detoxification pathway enzymes produce low levels of glutathione. Under times of high toxic stress, the body increases glutathione production.
We are exposed to toxins like pesticides and air pollutants in the food we eat as well as in the environment every day while other harmful compounds are produced by microbes through normal functions in the body. It’s essential to support liver function because it is our main detoxification system. If the liver isn’t working properly, toxins and harmful compounds can start to pile up in the liver which can eventually cause a variety of health issues. The phases of liver detoxification are a two-step pathway that converts fat-soluble toxins into water-soluble toxins that the body can eliminate accordingly. In the article above, we discussed the importance of liver detox, the phases of liver detoxification, and how you can support liver detox to promote overall health.�- Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C., C.C.S.T. Insight
Zesty Beet Juice
Servings: 1 Cook time: 5-10 minutes
� 1 grapefruit, peeled and sliced
� 1 apple, washed and sliced
� 1 whole beet, and leaves if you have them, washed and sliced
� 1-inch knob of ginger, rinsed, peeled and chopped
Juice all ingredients in a high-quality juicer. Best served immediately.
Just one carrot gives you all of your daily vitamin A intake
Yes, eating just one boiled 80g (2�oz) carrot gives you enough beta carotene for your body to produce 1,480 micrograms (mcg) of vitamin A (necessary for skin cell renewal). That’s more than the recommended daily intake of vitamin A in the United States, which is about 900mcg. It’s best to eat carrots cooked, as this softens the cell walls allowing more beta carotene to be absorbed. Adding healthier foods into your diet is a great way to improve your overall health.
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas*& New Mexico*�
Curated by Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C., C.C.S.T.
References:
Ask The Scientists Staff. �Liver Detoxification Pathways.� Ask The Scientists, 30 Jan. 2019, askthescientists.com/qa/liver-detoxification-pathways/#:~:text=liver%20detoxification%20pathways.-,Phase%20I%20Liver%20Detoxification%20Pathway,toxins%20into%20less%20harmful%20ones.
Watts, Todd, and Jay Davidson. �Phases of Liver Detox: What They Do & How to Support Them.� Phases of Liver Detox: What They Do & How to Support Them – Microbe Formulas�, 24 Jan. 2020, microbeformulas.com/blogs/microbe-formulas/phases-of-liver-detox-what-they-do-how-to-support-them.
DM; Grant. �Detoxification Pathways in the Liver.� Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 July 1991, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1749210/.
Dowden, Angela. �Coffee Is a Fruit and Other Unbelievably True Food Facts.� MSN Lifestyle, 4 June 2020, www.msn.com/en-us/foodanddrink/did-you-know/coffee-is-a-fruit-and-other-unbelievably-true-food-facts/ss-BB152Q5q?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=mailsignout#image=24.
Dealing with chronic back pain along with the COVID-19 pandemic can make it difficult to find relief on a regular basis. When regular massage sessions are not available these self-massage techniques can relieve pain and loosen tense muscles. Massage therapy has been shown to reduce low back pain, specifically for short-term purposes.
There are massage therapist/s that are open with precautions in place. But there�s a good chance the massage therapist will not be able to see an individual right away when the pain presents. Back pain will not wait so here are a few tips on self-massage that individuals can do at the house.
Contents
Safety First
Consult your spine pain specialist, chiropractor, or doctor to determine the cause of the pain and if massage will be beneficial. Before starting a self-massage regimen, be sure pain levels are not severe and you are able to perform the massage techniques. Any muscle region, spine included, can benefit from massage both professionally and self. If at any time during the massaging different pain presents other than the massage soreness, stop and evaluate what could be happening.
These self-massage tips are aimed at reasonably healthy individuals. Be mindful of herniated discs, any type of impingement, or spinal compression. If an individual has this type of injury acquire medical instruction on how to perform self-massage techniques specifically for these conditions from a physician, chiropractor, or physical therapist.
Self-massage
Massage therapy helps in relieving back and neck pain in different ways.
Relaxes muscles
Improves range of motion
Reduces injury
Maximizes healing
Better sleep
If working from home and too much sitting has your back tight, in knots, with muscle tension, and stress, self-massage is an answer that works. It is a great alternative until the massage therapy appointment.
Applied Pressure
One way to give yourself a massage is to locate the painful area/s and gently apply pressure with the thumb/s, moving the muscle/s statically by just rotating the arm/hand together with the thumb pressing on the area. If possible get into a comfortable stretching position and massage the area while the muscle, joint, ligament is stretched out and find the painful area and work it if not with the thumb technique then use a foam roller, massage tool, tennis ball, massage ball, etc, also done in slow circular motions.
When applying pressure, don�t push it to the limit like working out. That is not the goal. The objective is to work out the pain/soreness and loosen up the area. Therefore it�s best to start gently and gradually build up to stronger pressure as long as it feels correct and the pain does reduce. Gradually increase the intensity of the pressure, heat, sessions, etc. But do not overdo it, as that could worsen or cause further injury.
Stretch
Although not directly massaging an area, stretching is a form of self-care that keeps the body loose and limber. Stretching out is recommended at the beginning of the day and before exercising. An example is runner�s lunge pose and a yoga pose called pigeon. These are excellent stretches for releasing the psoas muscle, located in the lower lumbar region.
Yoga can help by stretching and releasing the hips, glutes, and back muscles. As with massage don�t overdo the moves, overstretch, or hold the poses for too long. Consult with a doctor for any medical concerns where yoga could be dangerous and impair health.
Additionally, a family member, spouse, partner, or friend can be very helpful when stretching. Assisted stretches help and reduce the effort required to stretch oneself. Some assisted stretches include the supine twist and hamstring stretches. If you are the one assisting and want to guide the pain-relieving stretches, start gently, slowly, and pay attention to verbal and non-verbal cues, like a wincing face, and short breathing.
Utilize Massage Tools/Devices
Utilize self-massage tools and devices that can help deliver pain relief. Foam rollers and tennis balls can help with trigger points, areas of muscle pain and can help with the hard to reach areas.
Massage balls can also help to apply balanced pressure and even circular massage motion. These tools are typically sandwiched between the wall or floor and the individual who rolls drags or creates friction to effectively work the muscle/s tightness, and knot/s out. Motorized massagers can help with muscle tension in the lower side of the back, hips, and glutes.
Partner
Sometimes however there are areas difficult to reach and even if reachable massaging the area isn’t the same because of the awkward position. When this happens if possible use a spouse, family, friend, or partner to massage out those points. This could be the middle back and hamstrings to get a thorough massage.
Just like a professional massage therapist having someone else can be a great help in applying heat or ice to areas that can be troublesome. But if not then make do with what you’re able. Self-massage can be very helpful and beneficial until you are able to see your massage therapist, chiropractor, or physical therapist.
Whiplash Massage Therapy
Dr. Alex Jimenez�s Blog Post Disclaimer
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.*
Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*
Kinesio taping is common for injuries, but can also be effective for non-sports related injuries/ailments. Kinesio taping is a rehabilitative therapeutic taping method that facilitates the body�s ability to heal naturally. The tape provides support, and stability for muscles, and joints without restricting motion. Plus there is added soft tissue support prolonging the tape’s effectiveness. The technique can have added benefits when combined with chiropractic. This technique is the norm among athletes nowadays but can benefit everybody. As a chiropractic physician, I use the technique for:
Sports injuries
Sprains
Strains
Injury Prevention
Pregnancy
The taping involves applying the tape over and around muscles stimulating them to send neuromuscular signals that optimize performance and helps injuries heal naturally. This is a versatile treatment that can benefit everyone.
Contents
Pain Relief
We all get strained, overused muscles that can cause tension and soreness. Millions suffer from neck, upper, mid, and low back pain from poor posture or sitting all day. It reduces pain by relieving the pressure on the strained or injured area. According to a study, stroke patients with shoulder pain experienced relief and reduction in shoulder pain after three weeks of Kinesio Taping intervention. Another study published in the Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation had similar results for reduced pain in patients with tennis elbow. Kinesio tape therapy can improve pain symptoms while continuing to heal the specific muscle/s.
Reduce Inflammation
It also reduces pressure on the lymphatic system, which removes fluid from the tissues. Reduced pressure allows the body to drain fluids like lactic acid that can build up in an injured area. This benefit goes beyond just healing injuries. It helps reduce inflammation and swelling after surgery and with inflammatory conditions like lymphedema. Kinesio could be beneficial for individuals with chronic inflammatory conditions.
Overused Muscle Recovery
Taping improves blood flow, the delivery of oxygen, and nutrients to the affected area, which helps overused muscles heal quickly. This added benefit is one of the reasons taping is now used in everyday practice to treat:
Taping helps improve overall function. This is a key factor for optimal healing. A study found elderly patients with degenerative knee arthritis tried the therapy and experienced reduced pain, stiffness, improved knee joint function, and increased overall motion. For improved function Kinesio is commonly used on the:
Ankles
Back
Feet
Knees
Shoulders
Overall Benefits
One of the most important benefits, it comes without side effects from prescription meds.
It provides support without restricting the muscle�s range of motion
Individuals can continue to be active and not worry about overstretching the injured muscle/s, as the tape will let them know.
The tape can be worn 24-hours a day for several days per application.
This Kinesio taping technique is currently used by thousands of:
Physical therapists
Occupational therapists
Chiropractors
Medical doctors
Certified athletic trainers
Massage therapists
Correct Bad Posture with Functional Foot Orthotics
Dr. Alex Jimenez�s Blog Post Disclaimer
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.*
Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*
A spinal tumor is an abnormal mass of tissue either inside the spine or outside. It is also called a neoplasm meaning a new abnormal growth. They can develop in the bone, spread to other parts of the spine, or outside the spine, like the lungs and chest. Tumor cells can multiply slowly or very rapidly. Tumors are either cancerous or non-cancerous. They can develop anywhere in the spine:
Cervical – neck
Thoracic – mid-back
Lumbar – low-back
Sacral – sacrum
It is not uncommon for spinal tumors to develop out of a tumor from the individual’s breast, lung, kidney, prostate, or another area of the body that has spread out.
Contents
Symptoms
Whether cancerous or not, spinal tumors can cause a variety of symptoms, including:
Pain not related to an injury or physical activity.
Pain in the back or neck that presents suddenly, quickly worsens, especially at night. This can be an indicator of a spinal tumor.
Pain that radiates to other parts of the body, like the arms, hands, legs, and feet.
The pain continues even when resting.
Muscle weakness or loss of sensation, especially in the legs, arms, or chest.
Difficulty walking
Abnormal curvature of the spine not from poor posture
Paralysis
Loss of bladder or bowel control
Lowered sensitivity to heat and cold
An individual could have a dominating symptom/s or a combination.
Causes
As previously mentioned these tumors can originally develop in another part of the body and then metastasize to the spine. These types of tumors are secondary tumors. Research scientists are still trying to figure out what exactly causesprimary tumors that originate in the spine. One theory believes genetics plays a role.
Early diagnosis
The most common symptom of a spinal tumor is pain. Examinations and diagnostic tests will be conducted both physical and neurological. A doctor or specialist needs to see and evaluate the spine. This is essential in diagnosing a potential tumor. A doctor could also order:
CT scan
MRI
PET scan – Positron Emission Tomography
Myelogram if there are symptoms of spinal cord compression
If the imaging reveals a tumor, a biopsy could be performed. A sample of tissue will be examined under a microscope to see if the tumor is cancerous or not. If the tumor is cancerous, the biopsy will show the type of cancer and determine the stage of the disease. Depending on the tumor type and location, other tests/procedures could be recommended.
Treatment
There are many factors that go into creating an optimal treatment plan. This includes whether the tumor is cancerous or not, size, location, and symptoms. Types of treatment:
Observe and wait as small non-cancerous tumors that are not growing or impinging/pinching other spinal structures could only need to be monitored for changes.
Surgery
Radiation treatment
Stereotactic radiosurgeryworks by delivering a high dose of radiation specifically targeted at the tumor
Chemotherapy
Chiropractor Personal Injury Attorney Recommended
Dr. Alex Jimenez�s Blog Post Disclaimer
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.*
Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*
The body is capable of eliminating harmful components generated by the production of toxic metabolites and the ingestion of toxic substances. When these overwhelm the organs of detoxification and excretion, the body can store these chemicals in the connective tissues. Detoxification is essential for the restoration of the body�s regulatory mechanisms in order to improve function. In the following article, we will discuss what is detox and how each of the organs of detoxification is responsible for the proper functioning of the organism in general, among other fundamental tasks.
Contents
Liver
The liver performs a variety of fundamental tasks, including digestion and hormonal balance. It’s considered to be the body’s main detoxification system. Several functions of the liver include:
removing harmful compounds like food additives, toxic medications, and excess hormones, etc.
extracting waste material from the bloodstream and transforming them so that they can be excreted by the kidneys or intestines
eliminating toxic metabolites and other waste products from intestinal fermentation and putrefaction
a source of Kupffer�s cells which filter and eliminate foreign invaders, such as bacteria, fungi, viruses and cancerous cells
Kidneys
The kidneys help to purify the blood from harmful compounds, including food additives, toxic medications, excess hormones, and other chemicals, by extracting them from the bloodstream and eliminating them through the urine. For proper filtration of the blood, an individual’s blood pressure and volume should be stable. Furthermore, proper hydration is essential for proper kidney function.
Intestines
The gastrointestinal tract is also responsible for the detoxification and excretion of harmful compounds.�Throughout the different phases of digestion, harmful compounds are extracted and excreted by the liver into the bile and finally into the small intestine in order to continue through the intestinal tract to be eliminated in the stool. In the final phase of digestion, anything that can still be utilized in the colon, such as fiber, is ultimately broken down further with the help of the gut microbiome and it is transported to the liver for detoxification. The intestines are another essential detoxification system.
Respiratory Tract
The respiratory tract, including the lungs and the bronchi, eliminates harmful compounds in the form of carbonic gas. It may also excrete phlegm. Constant irritation by foreign invaders, such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, and cancerous cells, can cause the alveoli to act as an emergency exit for toxins that the liver, kidneys, and the gastrointestinal tract did not succeed in eliminating. These harmful compounds are transported by the bloodstream towards the lungs and bronchi where they are coughed up as phlegm. This phlegm consists of waste resulting from insufficient digestion and excretion.
Skin
The skin is the largest organ of protection and defense. It plays a fundamental role in the elimination of harmful compounds and it can help with kidney function. It evacuates waste products in the form of “crystals” that are soluble in liquids and are then eliminated in the form of sweat through the sweat glands. Crystals are the residues of the metabolism of foods that are high in protein, such as legumes, eggs, dairy products, fish, meats, and cereals. These may also result from an excess of refined sugar. Other types of waste products and harmful compounds are excreted in the form of rashes.
Lymph System
Finally, the lymph system is another main detoxification system. Lymph fluid allows waste products to leave the cells and be carried away to the bloodstream. Lymphatic capillaries are responsible for the defense of the body and purification of the body fluids to maintain its proper functioning.�Other sites of lymphocyte production are the spleen, the thymus, etc. If foreign invaders enter into the body, the production of white blood cells increases rapidly and proportionally to the intensity of the aggression. The lymph nodes that are closest to the site react first to defend and protect the body.
The body is capable of eliminating harmful components generated by the production of toxic metabolites and the ingestion of toxic substances. When these overwhelm the organs of detoxification and excretion, the body can store these chemicals in the connective tissues. Detoxification is essential for the restoration of the body�s regulatory mechanisms in order to improve function. In the following article, we will discuss what is detox and how each of the organs of detoxification, including the liver, kidneys, intestines, respiratory tract, skin, and lymph system, is responsible for the proper functioning of the organism in general, among other fundamental tasks. – Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C., C.C.S.T. Insight
Zesty Beet Juice
Servings: 1Cook time: 5-10 minutes
� 1 grapefruit, peeled and sliced
� 1 apple, washed and sliced
� 1 whole beet, and leaves if you have them, washed and sliced
� 1-inch knob of ginger, rinsed, peeled and chopped
Juice all ingredients in a high-quality juicer. Best served immediately.
Just one carrot gives you all of your daily vitamin A intake
Yes, eating just one boiled 80g (2�oz) carrot gives you enough beta carotene for your body to produce 1,480 micrograms (mcg) of vitamin A (necessary for skin cell renewal). That’s more than the recommended daily intake of vitamin A in the United States, which is about 900mcg. It’s best to eat carrots cooked, as this softens the cell walls allowing more beta carotene to be absorbed. Adding healthier foods into your diet is a great way to improve your overall health.
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas*& New Mexico*�
Curated by Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C., C.C.S.T.
References:
Issels, Ilse Marie. �Information on Detoxification and the Organs That Remove Toxins.� Issels Integrative Immuno-Oncology, 22 May 2015, issels.com/publication-library/information-on-detoxification/.
Dowden, Angela. �Coffee Is a Fruit and Other Unbelievably True Food Facts.� MSN Lifestyle, 4 June 2020, www.msn.com/en-us/foodanddrink/did-you-know/coffee-is-a-fruit-and-other-unbelievably-true-food-facts/ss-BB152Q5q?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=mailsignout#image=24.
Self-care practice when back pain flares up is a way for individuals to give themselves self-therapy attention in the midst of crazy schedules. It�s never been more important than now to be able to take care of oneself when back or any type of pain presents. For a few minutes, daily physical and mental health activities can make a difference.
Self-care is the ability to self-manage pain and take care of our constantly changing needs daily. Regular self-care is essential to our families, and friends well being. Pain is emotionally and physically taxing on the body. It brings and encourages mental/emotional and physical balance, which helps, especially when there is a condition that causes pain.
There is a connection between self-care and chronic pain that is being studied currently. Studies are finding that individuals practicing self-care in addition to regular medical care have significant reductions in pain and reduction in disability. So, alleviate back pain with a few self-care tips.
Contents
Hot Bath
Hydrotherapy better known as a hot bath can provide pain relief. Adding Epsom salt for these baths contains magnesium which can help relax muscles and the body.
Music can be an effective way to ease back pain. Research has shown that music can be a complementary treatment when addressing chronic pain. It helps especially when an individual is experiencing back pain along with a low/negative mood.
More Sleep
Poor sleep has been proven to increased back pain. Getting the proper amount of sleep is essential in addressing pain. Healthy sleep hygiene and bedtime routines will significantly help with the body�s recovery, healing, and general health.
Yoga
Yoga stretching is highly effective in relieving and avoiding/preventing back pain completely. Poses like the cat, cow, triangle, and child�s pose will generate relief along with improving balance.
Healthy Diet
Diet and lifestyle changes have been proven to reduce inflammation, which can cause chronic pain. Go with whole foods that are minimally processed. This will help reduce inflammation. Healthy weight along with healthy body mass keeps the spine healthy and free of the added stress from the weight. Therefore a sensible diet is the single most important factor in weight loss.
Connection
Isolation can exacerbate pain. Loneliness can be a significant risk factor in the development of pain, and with time, depression, and fatigue. Simply reaching out and connecting with loved ones, friends, co-workers, etc, could help in soothing the pain away.
Mindfulness
Mind-body therapy as a method to treat pain has been proven in various studies. Individuals taking part have reported significantly lower pain than those who only received traditional medical care. What happens is you are training your mind senses to be present and focused on what you are doing, the surroundings, etc, and not focusing, and getting lost in the pain. However, sitting down and meditating is not for everybody.
Drink the Proper Amount of Water
Hypohydration, which is not enough water can increase pain. Therefore, drink up.
Stretching
Stretching will definitely decrease pain and allow for practicing mindfulness. It doesn’t matter when the stretching happens so long as, the individual sticks with it and continues development to further their ability and flexibility. Core abdominal exercises are very helpful for back pain and strengthening.
Go Outside
Many of us know that getting out in nature feels good mentally and physically, and it can actually relieve pain, too. Nature therapy or ecotherapy has shown to improve the psychological and physiological symptoms associated with chronic pain. Connecting to nature can have tremendous benefits for optimal health.
Heat Therapy
Heat, whether from a topical agent or heating pad can soothe the mind and spine. Check with a doctor before trying any type of heat treatment.
Frequent Breaks
Taking breaks is essential for the mind in keeping stress levels balanced. This can lessen back pain. Just a few minutes to stop whatever and take a few minutes for yourself and your health. Taking proper physical and mental rests throughout the day to stretch out, move around, and do something else. This will help keep things open and fresh, as opposed to going through the same thing over and over with less than optimal results. The mind needs to reflect.
Go Easy
Go easy on yourself, this is probably the most important form of self-care. If the pain is too intense, do not force yourself to work through it. Use the various techniques mentioned and go slowly, with the fundamentals of combating pain and chronic pain. Slow down whenever you feel the need.
Lower Back Pain Skating Boarding Injury Treatment
Dr. Alex Jimenez�s Blog Post Disclaimer
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.*
Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*
Most detox diets are normally short-term diet and lifestyle modifications made to help eliminate toxins from your body. A common detox diet may include a period of fasting and a diet of fruits, vegetables, juices, and water. A detox diet may also include teas, supplements, and enemas or colon cleanses. According to healthcare professionals, the role of a detox diet is to rest your organs, stimulate your liver function, promote toxin elimination, improve circulation, and provide healthy nutrients. Detox diets are recommended due to possible exposure to harmful compounds like heavy metals and pollutants.
Detox diets are also believed to help improve a variety of health issues, including digestive problems, bloating, inflammation, allergies, autoimmune diseases, obesity, and chronic fatigue.�However, there currently aren’t enough research studies on detox diets in humans and those that exist are considered flawed. In the following article, we will discuss the role of a detox diet on health and wellness.
Contents
Potential Benefits of a Detox Diet
Healthcare professionals have attempted to demonstrate the exact mechanisms in which detox diets can help eliminate toxins from your body. As a matter of fact, because of the current lack of research studies on detox diets in humans, there is currently little to no evidence which even demonstrates if detox diets can remove any toxins from your body as most of these rarely specify the type of harmful components they aim to remove. Moreover, your body is capable of cleansing itself through sweat, urine, and feces. Your liver also makes toxins harmless and then releases them from your body.
However, there are several harmful components that aren’t easily removed by these processes, including persistent heavy metals, phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), and organic pollutants (POPs). These generally accumulate in fat tissue or blood and can take an extended period for your body to flush them. These harmful compounds are generally limited or removed in commercial products today.
Detox diets may also have other possible health benefits and these can also help encourage the following, including:
Avoiding processed foods
Eating nutritious, healthy whole foods
Exercising regularly and sweating accordingly
Drinking juices, teas, and water
Losing excessive fat; weight loss
Limiting stress, relaxing, and getting good sleep
Avoiding dietary sources of heavy metals and POPs
Following these guidelines is generally associated with improved health and wellness, regardless of whether you�re following a detox diet.
Bottom Line
Many detox diets are typically short-term diet and lifestyle changes made to help eliminate toxins from your body. A well-known detox diet may include a period of fasting and a diet of fruits, vegetables, juices, and water. A detox diet may also include teas, supplements, and enemas or colon cleanses. According to healthcare professionals, the role of a detox diet is to rest your organs, stimulate your liver function, promote toxin elimination, improve circulation, and provide healthy nutrients. Detox diets are recommended due to possible exposure to harmful compounds like heavy metals and pollutants.
Detox diets are also believed to help improve a variety of health issues, including digestive problems, bloating, inflammation, allergies, autoimmune diseases, obesity, and chronic fatigue. However, there currently aren’t enough research studies on detox diets in humans and those that exist are considered flawed. In the article above, we discussed the role of a detox diet on health and wellness.
Detox diets are made to help eliminate toxins from your body. A detox diet may include fasting, followed by a diet made up of fruits, vegetables, juices, and water. A detox diet may also include teas, supplements, and enemas. The role of a detox diet is to help your organs rest, promote liver function, support toxin elimination, improve circulation, and to offer various healthy nutrients. Detox diets are recommended when a person has been exposed to harmful compounds like heavy metals and pollutants. Detox diets are also believed to help improve digestive problems, bloating, inflammation, allergies, autoimmune diseases, obesity, and chronic fatigue, among a variety of other health issues. However, further research studies are still required. – Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C., C.C.S.T. Insight
Zesty Beet Juice
Servings: 1Cook time: 5-10 minutes
� 1 grapefruit, peeled and sliced
� 1 apple, washed and sliced
� 1 whole beet, and leaves if you have them, washed and sliced
� 1-inch knob of ginger, rinsed, peeled and chopped
Juice all ingredients in a high-quality juicer. Best served immediately.
Just one carrot gives you all of your daily vitamin A intake
Yes, eating just one boiled 80g (2�oz) carrot gives you enough beta carotene for your body to produce 1,480 micrograms (mcg) of vitamin A (necessary for skin cell renewal). That’s more than the recommended daily intake of vitamin A in the United States, which is about 900mcg. It’s best to eat carrots cooked, as this softens the cell walls allowing more beta carotene to be absorbed. Adding healthier foods into your diet is a great way to improve your overall health.
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas*& New Mexico*�
Curated by Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C., C.C.S.T.
References:
Dowden, Angela. �Coffee Is a Fruit and Other Unbelievably True Food Facts.� MSN Lifestyle, 4 June 2020, www.msn.com/en-us/foodanddrink/did-you-know/coffee-is-a-fruit-and-other-unbelievably-true-food-facts/ss-BB152Q5q?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=mailsignout#image=24.
Truide has been working for the past 20 years in claims resolutions. She works hand in hand with patients and is available to resolve dispute resolutions. She also works as the patient liaison for clinical and legal matters.
Truide Torres Jimenez (Brief Bio & Her Personal Message) Driven by the passion of doing what is in the patient’s best interest, I wake up every morning with the drive to help those in need. The claims process for health care is full of pits, valleys, and difficult obstacles designed to strike fear in those in need. My duty is to do what is within the confines of the law, “whatever it takes,” to get those involved to pay attention to those who need help. That is what I am honored to do for our patients.
My Purpose: In finding my purpose, I find the bigger “Why” behind my business. This is essential in the challenges I have seen in these times. Each day, I search for God’s message in my purpose, which I pray takes me to another level. At the end of the day, I, too, do not want to work for the sake of working. As humans and God-fearing individuals, we like to know we’re aligned with what we feel we are called to do. So getting with my purpose and my “why” has always so important to me. I love people, and I want to help them, especially when they are in need.
My Commitment As defined, commitment is “the state or quality of being dedicated to cause activity, etc.” Without commitment, it is difficult, if not impossible, to push through challenges to reach our goals. My commitment is to serve my fellow person in their clinical needs and find the right solution for them.
My Dedication: “The quality of being dedicated or committed to a task or purpose is what I strive daily for every day.” I have always told my children that you commit to it once you have a purpose, and you see it through. I, too, try to live my life by those words. Yes, it’s work, and there is no substitute other than to dig in and get it done. There is no substitute for practice and preparation. Our success with our patients has always been dependent on the level of effort we as a team have been able to focus on with our independent and prioritized tasks mutually. I commit to being dedicated to our God-directed purpose.
Perseverance I believe that to persevere, you must show continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failures, or oppositions. With our patients and those we assist, we face many challenges and need and pray for the ability to push through and pick ourselves up when down. I can only imagine how my clients feel. For that reason, I push harder to help them. Simply put, each challenge we as a team overcomes, the closer we can help our patients and those in need. So we stay the course and overcome the fear and struggles our patients have and help them clinically persevere.
Personally, I have seen great injustices transpire on those that do NOT have a voice in today’s world. Whether a language barrier or just not knowing the rules. My job is to find out how I can help. If I personally can not help, I will find the right sources to open the possibilities. Then, I get the job done.
As a wife and mother of 2 children, 2 dogs and 3 cats, my passion is for God, Family, and the mission of serving my fellow man.
Call me if you need help with clinical matters:
Office 915-850-0900 / Cell: 915-252-6149
Truide Torres – Jimenez Patient Advocate: Injury Medical Clinic PA
Different spinal surgical procedures use various types of spinal hardware to stabilize the spine. When this hardware breaks or gets infected sometimes it could have to be removed. The reason for this spinal hardware, whether from injury, disease, or a condition, that area of the spine needs added support other than the bone, collagen, ligaments, and other tissues. Surgeons utilize this hardware to:
Stabilize the spine
Correct deformities
Regain motion
Height restoration
Pain relief
Help heal another area of the spine
The hardware ranges from rods, plates, cages, wires, spacers, etc. There are many types and are employed in various operations. Many spine procedures involve some type of hardware. A surgeon relies on this spinal hardware to complete procedures involving realignment of the spine or spinal fusion.
Many patients undergo spine surgery without complications, however, some have problems with the hardware. The most common issues are the hardware loosening, breaking, or the development of an infection. Unfortunately, when this happens it can mean that another surgical procedure may be necessary to remove the hardware/device. �
�
Contents
Spinal Instrumentation
All of these pieces of equipment are designed to remain in the body permanently. The hardware can be made from stainless steel, titanium, and titanium alloy. Spinal fusion is common, involves hardware, and could be necessary to help/correct:
Spinal deformity/s
Degenerative condition/s
Heal fractures
Other issues causing back pain
The procedure involves the surgeon grafting bone between two vertebrae. Then the hardware is used to hold those vertebrae together. This eliminates motion between them. This is how the vertebrae fuse into a single bone, which reduces or eliminates the pain. Like with any surgical procedure complications can include hardware failure. �
�
Spinal Hardware Removal Reasons
If the hardware loosens, gets infected, or the patient can feel some of the hardware under the skin a surgeon will likely recommend removal. Intense, excessive pain is often a symptom of a loose screw and other hardware complications. If the hardware is protruding under the skin the patient could feel a bump that could cause pain when touched.
Loose hardware could irritate the surrounding tissues and nerves, resulting in the patient feeling pain or hearing a grating, crackling, or popping sound. Loosened instrumentation can be caused by the bones of the spine not healing or fusing correctly. The hardware can also shift and break from the bones not healing properly. Other reasons for hardware failure shortly after surgery.
Lifting heavy objects
Participation in high-impact activities
Trauma from accident, slip, fall, etc.
Health conditions especially osteoporosis and osteopenia can increase the risk of the instrumentation loosening, breaking, and shifting.
Quite uncommon but some patients develop infections right after or weeks following the surgery. When the hardware gets infected the patient could feel pain along with the site of the incision draining, and fever. Key indicators around the incision site are:
Chills
Redness
Swelling
Tenderness
Sometimes there are allergic reactions to the hardware itself. However, this has decreased significantly in recent years. This was common with stainless steel before the use of titanium. �
�
How The Removal Is Done
This type of removal surgery is typically not considered an emergency unless the nerves or spinal cord are at risk of being injured/damaged. The exact procedure depends on the individual’s specific situation and case. However, it will be easier than the first surgery. Removal is typically nowhere near the extensiveness of the initial instrumentation placement.
Before the procedure, the surgeon will advise preparation tips, just as with the original surgery. To optimize recovery, patients should ensure they are in the best possible health that they can be. This means no smoking, light exercise, and even breathing exercises for optimal lung function.
Patients should not begin any new medication regimen prior to the surgery and should ensure all medications are known to the surgical team. The procedure will go in through the original incision and remove any scar tissue around the hardware. Depending on the situation the hardware could be reinserted or left out entirely.
�
Post Removal
Hospital stay depends on the individual situation. Some patients go home the same day and some have to wait. If there was an infection it more than likely means an extended hospital stay to make sure the infection is gone and has not spread elsewhere. The healthcare team will give directions just as with the original surgery which can include detailed instructions on:
Sitting
Sleeping
Showering
Taking meds
Sex
Recovery from hardware removal depends on the extent of the surgery. Contact the surgical team if experience new or unusual symptoms after the procedure, including fever, pain beyond the surgical soreness, numbness, weakness, tingling, and for problems/issues around the incision area, like bleeding, redness, swelling, and draining.
�
Bottom Line
Spinal hardware helps the spine heal, and ultimately reduces or eliminates the back pain improving quality of life. Instrumentation and devices can be defective, causing them to break, loosen, etc and need to be replaced. It’s just in this case the replacement has to take place in and around the spine. A doctor will assess the damage and decide if removal surgery is necessary, which will prevent further problems.
18 Wheeler Accident Chiropractic Rehab
Dr. Alex Jimenez�s Blog Post Disclaimer
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.*
Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*
PODCAST: In this podcast, Dr. Alex Jimenez, a chiropractor in El Paso, presents UTEP’s Engineering Program and Dr. Sarkodie’s team, Juan Corona and Valeria Altamirano, to discuss the genesis of the new dynamic Foot Heel Regulator and what it is. Leg length discrepancy is a health issue characterized as a significant difference in the lengths of an individual’s legs which can ultimately cause a variety of other health issues, including low back pain and sciatica, among others. Juan Corona and Valeria Altamirano describe why they started their leg length regulator product and how they’re planning to bring it to the public to help people with this health issue improve the overall quality of their lives. – Podcast Insight
[00:00:02] Today, we’re going to be presenting an amazing young group of individuals where we’re going to be discussing really what’s special in El Paso. We’ve got a lot of talent here in this town. And one of the things that we’re gonna be talking about is the actual professionalism. And the science actually what the college engineering does. Dr. Natalicia is an amazing, dynamic principal who’s left a legacy of engineering in the school of UTEP. And one of the things that we have is we have an amazing desire for our youth to want to stay. Now, I’ve been here for 30 years and I’ve been practicing for quite a bit of a long time. And what I’ve noticed is that when I first came to El Paso in 1991, a lot of the young individuals wanted to leave. It was a very common desire that if you lived out here, you wanted to leave. You wanted to go to Washington State. Washington. Harvard. But you didn’t wanna come back. Today, we have a school that is recognized around the world. And the science department is one of the most amazing departments and well respected. And it’s always in the top 10 with M.I.T. and in schools that are very high in engineering values. So I’ve met a lot of the students out here over the years and specifically engineering students and the amazing minds that they have and how intelligent they are. It doesn’t stop to baffle me. It makes me very proud as an individual, as a parent, as a community individual to present certain talents. And today we’re gonna be presenting a group of individuals that have begun a new process, a new endeavor in their lives, and a new beginning. [00:01:38][96.4][00:01:39] This beginning is one that is full of mystery, wonder, and amazing science endeavors. [00:01:45][6.1][00:01:46] The program that we’re gonna be discussing focuses on leg length regulations or what they call the leg length regulator. That’s the idea. One, Dr. Sara Cody, Dr. Thomas Sarkoty, who is their teacher, is one of the lead individuals and the one that is spearheading this program. And now I have the privilege of having these two young individuals. I have Juan Corona and Valeria. And tell me how you pronounce your last name. Altamirano. OK, so she’s got a really strong voice, so she will have no problem with introductory. So today I want to do is I want to talk to you guys about these two individuals and specifically about the leg length regulator. This leg length regulator is a new dynamic that is their baby. These guys are master students. That means they’ve gone through a long level education and they are in pre Ph.D. programs, which if they choose to, they can become the future in this new design. So I want to present it to you guys. I’m going to talk first with Mrs. Valeria, and she’s going to go ahead and tell me a little bit about this program as she’s one of the leads. And then the second chair is Juan. I want to be able to go over these things and to discuss what it is that this new product that is being actually genesis or begun here in El Paso is about so Valeria talk to me. Hello, how are you doing? [00:03:13][87.3][00:03:14] I’m doing really well. Thank you for having me here. [00:03:16][2.2][00:03:17] So you guys have started a new product and it’s this leg length regulator. Tell me a little bit about what it is, because I think El Paso wants to know what we’re doing in the engineering department. What is it? [00:03:26][8.9][00:03:26] So the leg length regulator is a new device that we’re trying to develop. And it’s to focus on patients that have leg length discrepancy. And what that is, is when your lower limbs are of unequal size. So a lot of people don’t really know that they have this kind of illness until they notice that they have a lot of back pain. It’s hard for them to stand right. It’s hard for them to walk. And they just experience a lot of uneasiness when they’re doing things. So for a class project, we were assigned to do research and make a device that of our choosing. And Dr. Sarkody had mentioned if we wanted to look into leg length discrepancy. So I went ahead and looked into it and I noticed that a lot of people are affected by it, especially children and elderly patients. So we went ahead and decided, okay, let’s build something for this cause. And that’s how it came to be the leg length regulator. So what it does is we’re trying to use an LVDT, which is a linear variable differential transformer, and it uses that along with a PD controller and programed into an Arduino. And it’ll help regulate the amount of pressure that’s being put on to the foot to help lift it back up to where it’s supposed to be so that the patient doesn’t feel pain. That’s the main goal here, is for that to eliminate pain. And so that children and adults can go on with their everyday lives without having this issue. [00:05:05][98.8][00:05:06] This is very much amazing. I want to ask Juan in a second here specifically about the idea and how he’s also perceived the beginning of this idea. But as a practicing physician over the last 30 years, I can assure you that leg length discrepancy is a huge problem. It totally throws and alters body mechanics. And one of the things that I can assure you is that when I evaluate each one of my patients, I actually measure for leg length discrepancy, whether it’s just a qualitative look or even a quantitative approach through x rays or different linear methods by measuring femur, hips and knees, tibias and all the good nuts. But we can figure these things out and we can look at the effects. And I will tell you this, that having an altered foot mechanics really throws off the human locomotion, the ambulation of the foot. So I’d like to know a little bit about Juan. Juan. Tell me. And your last name is Corona. Right. And you’re an El Pasoan. And tell me a little bit about the story behind you and this project. [00:06:11][65.4][00:06:13] I have an undergrad in mechanical engineering. So I’ve always been interested in the biomechanics field. I volunteered in some labs before and I approached Dr. Sarkody as part of my job for him to be my thesis advisor for my project. And as Valeria mentioned, we were in one class where we were asked to find what kind of problem and come up with some kind of a solution in a case. In our case, it was this leg length regulator then we would, that was the class. Then we had another class, which was it was more like a workshop. It’s called ICorps. And basically what they do is tell you and teach you how to sell your product and to see if it’s actually needed for a different kind of population. So, what we want to do, as Valeria mentioned, come up with a device that regulates the different lengths in your legs and to help people reduce their pain, their back pain, their knee pain, and all these different biomechanical issues that come with having this discrepancy. [00:07:23][70.6][00:07:24] You know, one of the things when you said biomechanical discrepancies, I have to think back to the years when smoking was real bad. It’s been one of the killers of the Americas and people in families through the nineteen hundreds. [00:07:38][14.0][00:07:40] One of the things is the surgeon general really fought hard and the system fought hard to put these little emblems on to smoking packages, which was smoking is hazardous for your health. Right. And everyone knew it was common sense but they took years to produce this one sentence. Later on, they went off and they put another sentence in there, says it could be also deleterious to pregnant individuals. Right. So this took a long time. It literally it’s sad to believe that it actually took to the 80s to put that statement on. Now, one of the things that I noticed is, is that the surgeon general has recently, and we’re talking about the last decade, has determined that arthritis is a disorder of biomechanical imbalance. Right. So now we know that biomechanical imbalance is one of the major causes of arthritis. When the body’s out of calibration, the body actually forms a level of imbalance. And the body responds, it’s just like when you work out, everyone who works out with their hands. They eventually get calluses on their hands and fingers. This is a normal process. Well, that’s because the body is under stress. The tissues are stressed. The body responds. Well, guess what happens when the body’s out of mechanics? Well, the bones in a process that is delineated by wolf’s law, which is a process of which accelerated mobilization of the osteoblasts, which are they work together, the osteoclasts and osteoblasts you ultimately form arthritis in the direction where the load is imbalancely placed. This is the way the body protects you. So one of the things is that if your body’s out of whack or your foot is not put in the right position, you will actually cause early degenerative changes not only in your foot, ankle, hip, knee, and pretty much the spine in different areas. Right. One of the things that people don’t know is that when we have, let’s say, a person who’s got arthritis in their back and they got a bad hip. Where do you begin? Which one do you fix first? And the smartest and the most astute surgeons will realize that you’ve got to first fix the hip first, because how can you fix a spine with a base all misaligned. Right. It’s almost like you’re building a house on an even floor. So you’ve got to fix the pelvis in this situation. We’re fixing it from the ground up. Once we fix the issue from the ground up, we can actually place a situation where now the body’s in the proper mechanics and then we can deal with the back problem. It’s very hard to fix, a little back problem with a body that has a base that is offset. [00:10:05][145.4][00:10:06] So let me ask you this in terms of this new product because I’m really excited about this product for you guys as I’m a stand buyer in this really mumbo jumbo to me engineering process and all these linears and vectors that they kind of develop in the neato stuff that they do. I want them to tell us a little bit about what was their beginning, how did they do their research? How did you guys do your research? Either of you guys can answer, how did you do the research in terms of beginning the process? [00:10:32][26.2][00:10:38] So in order for us to… first Dr. Sarkody, he mentioned about this problem and he said that it was affecting some people, though, in order for us to double-check that we had to carry out some different kind of interviews with people that had. Well, we first interviewed different clinicians and patients that have this condition in order for us to see if it’s actually something that was present among the people here in El Paso. And it is actually pretty common. Very common. Yeah. So we started doing more research and then we started some reading some peer-reviewed articles, you know, to see what our main effects and why… And if I may. [00:11:18][39.9][00:11:18] … [00:12:58][0.0][00:12:58] Yeah, it has like 500 people in it. And everyone that’s in that group has been affected either by a family member or they personally have been affected by it. And so I messaged the group admin and I said, hey, I’m doing research. Can I join your group? I don’t have any relation to leg length discrepancy, but I’m trying to build a product to help patients that really need it. And she got back to me and she told me, yeah, definitely. Go ahead, like I’ll post it and see if people are interested. And so, yeah, I was able to get in and I got interviews and that’s kind of how I saw that a lot of patients are actually affected by it. And I didn’t know to what extreme until they were telling me their stories that they have to preorder their shoes, they have to send their shoes to a company to get them back. One little girl told me that she only has one pair of shoes because it’s the only one that works. So she’s sad because she can’t really be that little 12-year-old girl that wants to wear every single shoe out there. [00:14:05][66.8][00:14:06] Yes. Is that true? Is that true? I have women here watching in the background. Is it true? They all say yes. It’s very true. OK. You know what? Let me ask you particularly because now we’re entering the human component of actually leg length discrepancy. I don’t think anyone’s written the story about the humanity of it, or at least I don’t see them as much. But there is a humanity, a feeling, an empathy to it. What did you sense as you were hearing these stories from these individuals? [00:14:31][25.5][00:14:33] I was shocked because I didn’t know how bad it was for a person to go through this, because, I mean, you know, my legs are even. I would hope that they are. And it never occurred to me like, oh, I have to go by a different shoe because I need a wider heel to even out my body. And some patients told me that they are active, but it’s hard because when they want to work out, it causes more pain because of the back problem. And then they have to go to rehab and then they want hip surgeries so that they can fix everything. But then it happens again. And then some patients told me that they don’t have the funds to afford a hip surgery and just to go through all that struggle of trying to find something that’ll make them feel good about themselves and not stand out. But at the same time, make it work. Because that was one issue that I noticed. A lot of people do not like the extra heel insert because it’s so bulky and so big and so noticeable and people will stare and be like, why do you have a different shoe size? Like, it looks weird. So it makes them feel really uncomfortable and they don’t want to go out because of this. And so they just stick with regular shoes because they don’t want to be standing out and have people pointing like, hey, you have a problem and they rather take in the pain than fix it. So that really hurt me a lot. Knowing that there’s not something that can help them improve and be able to live their lives daily without having this in the back of their mind. [00:16:14][101.3][00:16:15] One of the things that you mentioned is and I don’t know if you guys are old enough to have. Well, probably not. But, you know, many people started realizing that the word why became the most important word, probably about a good decade ago. You guys were in middle school. The why that you have in order to do this project. What means a lot to me is that your compassion to it, it hurts you. What else did you feel? And I’m going to talk. I’m gonna ask Juan how he felt after he did his research. What did you feel when you did your research about the individuals and their plight to try to feel good? Valeria, go ahead. [00:16:54][38.9][00:16:54] Um, well, for me. What made me want to keep on going was asking them questions, like I asked them, what do you want? What is out in the market that you would buy? And they told me what it was. So with the information that they gave me, I started looking into different like redesigning our initial design so that it can fit their criteria so that it can help then and ask them questions about telemedicine. If a component was available, would you prefer that? And would you like to reduce the number of times you visit the doctors and they told me? Yes. And they were just really I was just basically trying to get what they wanted. So I can try to figure out how to put everything that they’re looking for into one design. [00:17:39][44.3][00:17:39] That’s amazing. Juan, what was the why that’s driving you in this project? Because you got to do you know, one of the things is, engineering is one thing? Right. Right. And that’s the math. That’s the lines, the physics, all the cool stuff that is, you know, the Oppenheimer stuff. For me, when we get to the humanity of it. How do you feel this project has empowered you? [00:18:01][21.6][00:18:23] And of course I’ve had some knee pain or back pain or my foot hurt sometimes after running. Depends on how much you run and everything. How often. And then it’s I think it’s pretty easy for a person to not relate. For example, I think when people say that they just have two legs with differing lengths, you might not think how much it affects them and how much it impacts their life. And really like in a more personal way, like, for example, someone that likes a certain sport. If they walk, how much they cause in order for them to get a different shoe that is able to help them reduce all these pain. So I think all these pretty small issues when it translates to their experience. I think that’s the thing that impacted me the most. Because you might not know how much this condition is actually affecting their life until you ask them and they tell you. You know, many people that have these types of conditions are prevented of doing some activity that they might like. In my case, it would be running. And I don’t know what I would do if I were not able to run, you know, because there’s a difference between not doing something because you don’t want to then not doing something because you can’t. That’s a big, big difference. Yeah. So like that you get taken away that choice. I think that’s something that really impacted me. So that’s why we really want to keep working on this device to improve it and to make it accessible because there are solutions right now, but there might not be as accessible and affordable for different people. [00:19:59][95.3][00:19:59] … [00:24:30][78.6][00:24:31] And no matter what kind of individual, the human foot was designed to last 100 years at least. OK, so there’s nothing in our lives that lasts 100 years. Nothing. No car, no computer, no house without constant maintenance. [00:24:43][11.8][00:24:43] So imagine the majesty of the foot dynamics. This thing was created for all has like a bunch of bones, all with an arc on it. Two trends, late forces. The whole thing is covered in curves so that it dissipates forces and translates energy and dissipates energy in the most amazing way. One of the things that the feet does have is that as you strike the foot, the first hip is called the heel strike. [00:25:08][24.8][00:25:08] The heel strike is the moment at which your heel strikes it. At that point, the whole body has to adapt to the opposite. The contralateral, the mechanics, the muscles on the opposite side of the body engage. They know that you have struck the floor. You know this because when you ever missed the heel strike on the stairs, you look like some sort of crazed animal trying to figure out where that foot’s going to land. Right. Your body jumps. So from the heel strike. So as the body goes forward, then it goes to the foot, the stance phase, the stance phases the next phase on the final phase, which is probably the next phase, not the final phase, which is basically the toe-off or the toe land and the toe-off the first metatarsal, which is the big toe. It actually translates to energy, but it was being guided by the heel strike. So all this matters. Okay. Now, based on how the body translates that energy and that foot, we can actually see what actually occurs to the body. Now, guess who’s adjusting to this foot? Heel stands and toe-off stage, the low back is the knees are the cushion mechanism. The meniscus is, the mortise joint in the ankle. These things are all adapting. The beautiful thing of the tibia and the fibula also adapting. So in this magical motion thing. Yeah. You know what? Sadly to say, but we could talk the story when we were young kids, that toe bone connected to the ankle bone, the ankle bone connected to the hip bone all the way to the neck bone, and we sing that song, but it’s very true. So this design is very important to me as an individual to look forward to what it has now. Let’s get into the dynamics and the science of it. Okay, what did you guys do? And by the way. I can only get into it as far as they want to get into it because it’s very unique and it’s very still in the developmental stage. What were the things that you were considering in designing the product? [00:26:51][103.3][00:26:56] Yes. So when we were in the design process, I actually drew up some sketches and I sent them out and said, hey, does this look okay? And we all came to an agreement to do kind of like a shoe insert because we saw that the shoe insert was available. And then the addition heel part of the shoes, so we all said like, OK? We want to get rid of the whole oh. It looks weird kind of aspect. So our first initial design was focus on the shoe insert. And then we started looking into different material, like for foam that’ll help do the adjustment. And then I looked into different electrical components because my background is in electrical engineering. So I went ahead. [00:27:45][48.8][00:27:45] … [00:32:17][34.2][00:32:37] Yes. So I did do research on it about what the program is. And it’s ICorps. And what they do is they help engineers or anyone in the science field to build different technology that could be needed out in the world. And you present what you have to this group and they determine if, kind of like, if you’re worthy or not to have to bring your idea to life because a lot of people, what I’ve learned from the regional ICorps program was that a lot of people think that they have a million-dollar idea. But when they present it and they do research and they do customer discovery, they start to realize that maybe no one really needs it. They just thought it was a cool idea. [00:33:24][46.3][00:33:25] Yeah. So there’s stages. And so you said there’s regional and there’s what is there national. OK, there’s regional. National. [00:33:30][5.3][00:33:32] Yes. So when we went out and at first I was like, I don’t know, like to be honest, I told myself, I don’t know if there’s an actual need for this kind of thing. So it was cool having to go out and find people that have this type of issue. And I’m glad that I did because now I know a lot of people do have this issue and they don’t realize that they have this issue till they’re about the mid 20s, higher 30s, and it’s kind of too late for them to figure out, like what to do and help adjust their posture and fix it. Compared to kids who are born with it, they have to deal with all this and then go through different appointments to help fix it. And then they can qualify for surgery, which can take time. So when I saw that, I realized that what we’re trying to do and what we’re trying to make, it has an impact and can help all these people so they don’t have to be like, OK. [00:34:31][58.5][00:34:31] I have limited options. What can I do? Either hip surgery or get a shoe that’s going to make me stand out. And so this device that we’re trying to develop shows that it can go above and beyond and help a ton of people. [00:34:46][14.5][00:34:47] Let me ask you this Juan. Obviously, this is first a great product, but then you’re going to throw your baby out to competition. Right. So tell me how you feel about that and how ready are you and what are the things that you’re gonna be doing to get ready for this competition? [00:35:03][16.4][00:35:04] Um, so, yeah, um, basically as Valeria mentioned, the ICorps program they teach us if our idea is actually, if there’s actually a need for people to get it and if people are willing to pay for a device, essentially know if we’re actually able to commercialize it. So in this competition, we have different of course people and people have a different device and we all think there are devices that most needed one but we actually have to prove that people need it and that it’s actually going to help their lives. So I think in the original part, we already, that part is already finished. But we’re looking to go for the nationals. I’m pretty sure it’s going to be tough. I mean, I’m pretty sure that like not everyone gets it gets there, but we are very confident. And how much is the device needed and how much these people would get their life improved if they actually get us through it? [00:36:05][61.4][00:36:06] I think we have it in our thoughts. And as you guys develop this, you guys are thinking of like which was your avatar, who really wants the product. I would assure you this, that as a parent if I see my son having an issue, I’m the avatar, I’m the dad because you’re selling the product to me because I’m the one that’s going to identify my little boy. My little girl has an issue. Right. [00:36:30][23.8][00:36:30] So I got to tell you, the way you package this stuff in the way you’re explaining it to me excites me to be able to help my son, my daughter in whatever situation is. So that’s very exciting to see. Now, in terms of getting it on with the competition, let’s talk about getting it on with the competition because we’re gonna get it on. Right. So as we do the process, have you guys thought that process out in and how we’re going to present that at the regional? I think first it had to go to regional correct or has it been not we’re not past regionals or we are past regionals. [00:37:03][32.2][00:37:21] I have, um, I saw that it was a seven-week program and they told us that the first four days are heavy because you have to go to seminars and it can be from 8:00 in the morning all the way to 6:00 in the afternoon. So you need a lot of time. And then another thing that they told me was if we do want to do this for the regional, we had to contact 25 or conduct 25 interviews. And at the national level, you have to do 100 interviews. So it’s four times greater than what it is at regional. [00:37:59][38.1][00:38:16] And then we can also use LinkedIn to go for more of the doctors and people that actually focus and specialize in like leg length discrepancy. But it’s good to know for the customer segment of who’s actually going to be purchasing this because that’s where our money is going to be coming from. Yes. You know, it’s gonna be a lot of work, but we’re committed. And I’ve already looked at my schedule and I’m like, OK, this day is gonna be dedicated just to do this and things like that. And I’ve been pushing things around so that way I have the time to do what is needed and to get it done efficiently and successfully. [00:38:56][39.6][00:38:57] You know, full disclosure, I’ve been invited to be part of the mentor program along with Dr. Sarkody in different responsibilities. I look forward to working with these individuals and knowing the entire team to be able to bring the product to whatever it is that it’s supposed to be. It’s already written. But we’ve got to make it happen. Right. So we’ve got to propel this product. So I was brought in by Juan. He found me out. I was you know, I was bouncing around and I think Kenna also bumped in and we kind of crisscrossed and we got e-mails and they told me about this product. I thought it was an awesome idea because I have seen the effects. I can tell you that if I had an option like this, it would be unbelievable or a great choice for individuals that have from scoliosis to back problems to hip problems. Because we live in a world where when I started practicing, there was no such thing as the Internet. Now, as far as whether it is and did indicate that it’s a fast thing, my daughter, she was able to do things, you know, do a whole project by just getting on social media and doing things in minutes. That took me years to do. The people out there are highly educated. And now with the Internet and the resources that they’re out there, this is gonna be a big thing. I do believe. I believe in their vision. I believe in their why. [00:40:18][81.4][00:40:20] … [00:45:45][68.6][00:45:50] Well, you know, I can see you’re holding your cards to your vest there. Well, I tell you, I’m very impressed with you guys I’m fans of you guys. And I look forward to having you guys back into doing the podcast and discussing different avenues. Now, each one of these we did a lot of general talking. We didn’t get too deep into the subject matter for that. And that is by design. By the way, until we are able to really present this product, we won’t want to give the competition any of the ideas. Because then you guys, you know, you see the leg length regulator 2 and you’re gonna be really upset. Right. So as we do this kind of ideas today, we’re gonna be filling in some of the videos in the background. That’s gonna be just basic and generic. But I look forward to assisting you guys. And in the ability to push you guys out there and make it happen, because we’re gonna get it on right. Guys, we’re gonna get it on. We’re gonna get it. We’re going to take on these I.T. technical individuals and we’re going to bring it home because we have a stronger why. Right. And that’s what I want to make sure that as we encompass these new dynamics, I look forward to seeing my cohort, Dr. Sarkodie, in this process. And we’re gonna be bringing him into the next podcast and discussing, you know, the insights, the genesis in this product, and the reasons why the developmental process from his point of view, what he sees into his design, along with his personal experiences in moving biomechanical dynamic apparatuses that he has had. Because as I understand, Dr. Sarkodie has had a vast amount of experience in body and mechanical dynamics, specifically when we’re dealing with gait dynamics. [00:47:31][101.0][00:47:33] So UTEP, you know, has brought in a lot of great order around the world and is attracting great scientists from around the world. And what we need to do is we need to support our teams and our individuals. So. Enough said and we look forward to seeing you guys into the future. So God bless. And again, we had Juan Corona and Valeria Altamirano. [00:47:54][21.8][00:47:55] All right. Sounds good. All right. Thank you so much, guys. [00:48:00][5.2][00:48:01] Thank you. [00:48:01][0.0]
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