Sports Spine Specialist Chiropractic Team: Athletes strive to achieve their body’s maximum performance by participating in numerous training regimens consisting of strenuous exercises and physical activity and ensuring they meet all of their body’s nutritional requirements. Through proper fitness and nutrition, many individuals can condition themselves to excel in their specific sport. Our training programs are designed for athletes that look to gain a competitive edge in their sport.
We provide sport-specific services to help increase an athlete’s performance through mobility, strength, and endurance. Occasionally, however, the excess workouts can lead many to suffer injuries or develop underlying conditions. Dr. Alex Jimenez’s chronicle of articles for athletes displays in detail the many forms of complications affecting these professionals while focusing on the possible solutions and treatments to follow to achieve overall well-being.
Dr. Alex Jimenez, a chiropractor in El Paso, TX, and Dr. Mario Ruja, a chiropractor in El Paso, TX, discuss chiropractic care and sciatica or sciatic nerve pain. Sciatica, or sciatic nerve pain, is a collection of symptoms, rather than a single type of injury or underlying condition, that includes several common symptoms, such as pain, discomfort, tingling and burning sensations, and numbness. Severe symptoms can also include muscle weakness. Sciatica, or sciatic nerve pain, can be caused by a variety of health issues, including a bulging or herniated disc, DDD, piriformis syndrome, spinal stenosis, and spondylolisthesis, among other health issues. Personal injuries like sports injuries, work-related injuries, automobile accident injuries, and slip-and-fall accidents can also cause low back pain and sciatica, or sciatic nerve pain. Dr. Alex Jimenez and Dr. Mario Ruja discuss the causes and symptoms of sciatica, or sciatic nerve pain, in further detail as well as the treatments. Chiropractic care is a safe and effective, alternative treatment option that utilizes spinal adjustments and manual manipulations to diagnose, treat, and prevent injuries and underlying conditions associated with the musculoskeletal and nervous system, including sciatica. Dr. Alex Jimenez, a chiropractor in El Paso, TX, and Dr. Mario Ruja, a chiropractor in El Paso, TX, demonstrate how chiropractic care can help relieve sciatica, or sciatic nerve pain, by carefully restoring any spinal misalignments, or subluxations, that may be affecting overall health and wellness. – Podcast Insight
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Dr. Alex Jimenez RN, DC, MSACP, CCST
In the following podcast, Dr. Alex Jimenez, a chiropractor in El Paso, TX, and Dr. Mario Ruja, a chiropractor in El Paso, TX, discusses what metabolic syndrome is in more depth. Metabolic syndrome is a collection of conditions that can ultimately increase the risk of developing a variety of other health issues, including diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), a person may be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome if they have at least three of the following five risk factors, including abdominal obesity of more than 40 inches in men and more than 35 inches in women, fasting blood glucose levels of 100 mg/dL or above, blood pressure of 130/85 mm/Hg or above, blood triglycerides levels of 150 mg/dL or higher, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels of 40 mg/dL or less for men and 50 mg/dL or less for women. Having three or more of these risk factors can ultimately increase the risk of developing a variety of health issues, including diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. Dr. Alex Jimenez and Dr. Mario Ruja discuss in more detail how eating a lot of carbohydrates and sugar are ultimately associated with the risk factors of metabolic syndrome. � Podcast Insight
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Thank You & God Bless.
Dr. Alex Jimenez RN, DC, MSACP, CCST
Yoga has gained popularity because of its ability to reduce back pain, relax tight muscles, relieve stress and exercise in a safe calm environment. Developed thousands of years ago, the practice of breathing, posing and stretching offers a variety of important health benefits. As a chiropractor, I�m often asked about the practice of yoga. Those with back pain or have undergone spine surgery want to know if yoga can help them improve their physical and psychological health.
Reduced stress
Improved blood pressure
Increased flexibility
Increased stamina
Greater balance
Improved breathing techniques
In addition to the normal exercise benefits yoga offers, the practice serves as therapy for a variety of injuries and health conditions. Yoga embodies the physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness, and touches upon other forms of traditional exercise. The concept that yoga heals the body in its entirety mirrors chiropractic care. These foundations offer enormous benefits to those dealing with a variety of injuries and conditions. By incorporating yoga, individuals are able to reap amazing rewards.
A regular exercise plan needs to include a little cardio as there are huge benefits from pumping the heart rate up. Minimal loading exercises, like biking, and swimming are great. Pain can be managed by participating in cardiovascular exercises, however, yoga�s gentleness can complement the healing process.
Here are a few reasons:
Prepares the body for healing
Practicing yoga stretches and elongates the body’s muscles, releasing tension and stress. It can serve to warm up the body and clear the mind, so a chiropractor can get to the root problem. Yoga complements chiropractic treatment by preparing the body to heal itself.
Strengthens joints and ligaments
Dealing with a health condition or injury is frustrating and can seem like it takes forever to heal. Implementing yoga into a recovery plan helps strengthen joints and ligaments, which aids in promoting healing and cutting down the time it takes to get better. Yoga works on the body as a whole and promotes greater well-being from head to toe. A stronger body offers more productivity than one that is stiff, sore, and unhealthy.
Increases range of motion
Depending on the individual’s specific condition, individuals may need a few visits to prepare their bodies before the main issue can be addressed. Yoga sessions increase a body’s flexibility and help with the range of motion in the neck, back, hips, and other joints.
Prevents injury/s
Yoga provides a continual way for individuals dealing with chronic conditions to manage and reduce pain, inflammation, and other symptoms. Yoga combined with chiropractic keeps the body aligned, balanced, muscles stretched, de-stressed, and the joints working properly.
Both also serve to keep posture correct, and ligaments strong. All of this creates a body that is less susceptible to future injury, illness, and stress. Individuals enjoy increased mobility for a lot longer without changing lifestyle.
The Best Way to Start
There are many different types of yoga. Most sessions usually last an hour and include breathing exercises, meditation and holding poses/postures that stretch and tone muscle groups.
To help visualize how yoga can help the spine, here’s an analogy:
Think of the spine like a cookie ice cream sandwich with the ice cream in-between and a gummy band wrapped around. The cookies represent the vertebrae, the ice cream is the disc cushion in between and the gummy band represents the ligament and muscles surrounding the area.
The tighter the gummy band is, the more it compresses the cookies and applies pressure to the ice cream.When stretching the gummy band, it loosens the pressure on the cookies and reduces the load/compression of the ice cream.
Exercise is crucial for recovery and rehabilitation. Yoga is a gentle way to get you back on your feet. It promotes circulation, relaxation, strength, and flexibility. Pure plane movements meaning moving forward then backward in basic movements are essential until the body becomes more flexible. Move carefully forward, sideways and cautiously backward.
At the beginning no movements combining bending and twisting.
The muscles need to adapt and become comfortable with these movements at first. Therefore, hold poses for at least 30 seconds without bouncing minimizing potential injury.
Certified instructor
Ask your doctor or chiropractor if they can recommend a certified yoga instructor; preferably with 500 hours of instruction. Search for small class sizes and a teacher that closely monitors movements and poses closely. It is important that the instructor be aware and make gentle adjustments or offer modifications to participants as needed.
Restorative Flow
Start off with a type known as Restorative Flow. It restores the flow from one part of the body to another with slow controlled movements/poses that emphasize stretching and correct breathing.
Listen to Your Body
When healing from injury/s, take it slow. Listen to your body and let it guide your movements so that it feels safe and comfortable. Do not push beyond. For most, a beginner or restorative Yoga class is best. Ask about modifying the poses so that the bending and twisting combinations/advanced postures are taken out so as not to overload the joints.
If you are on a budget consider purchasing an instructional DVD. DVD’s offer program variations of 20 to 60 minutes and are highly educational and easy to follow. Stretching pain/soreness is okay, but sharp pain is not.
Yoga could be an answer to many of the body’s issues, whether dealing with current conditions or just want to stay healthy in a new way check out the basics of yoga. Chiropractic coupled with yoga offers great benefits to those dealing with medical conditions or injury. Ask your chiropractor for an evaluation, and if adding yoga to your health program will help.
A healthy lifestyle combined with�exercise�creates toned muscles that protect the body/spine and improve blood circulation. Chiropractic is designed to bring pain relief, realign the spine, and restore the body to its natural balance through treatment and a strengthening program.
Spinal Blood Supply
The vascular system’s function is to nourish every cell in the body. This includes the:
Vertebral column
Spinal cord
Neural structures
Muscles
Blood
Blood contains:
Plasma – fluid
Red blood cells – erythrocytes
White blood cells
Platelets
Plasma and Cell Nourishment
Plasma, or the liquid part of blood, total’s to about 90% of blood combined with water, salts, hormones, and proteins. It delivers the proteins, fats, minerals, and lipids to each cell in the body. Cells can’t reproduce or repair any damage or injury to the body without nutrient replenishment.
Red Blood Cells/Oxygen
The primary benefit cells derive from blood is oxygen. Oxygen is needed to burn glucose for energy. This oxygen comes from red blood cells. Oxygenated blood pumps from the heart through the arteries while deoxygenated blood returns to the heart through the veins. The pulmonary artery is an exception, as it carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs and is reoxygenated there. The pulmonary vein then takes the oxygenated blood back to the heart from the lungs.Then the oxygenated blood gets circulated throughout the body.
White Blood Cells/Immunity
White blood cells are the components of the immune system and fight infection/s and bacterial toxins.
There are different types of white blood cells, these include:
Neutrophils
Eosinophils
Lymphocytes
Basophils
Monocytes
Each has a different job. These antibodies are transported through the circulatory system.
Platelets/Clotting
Platelets control bleeding from injury/s by creating a clot, through a series of chemical reactions. The spine is served by the body�s system of arteries and veins.
Strengthening
Exercise instructions for specific conditions are given by a physical therapist or chiropractor. The following exercise tips apply to everyone. Remember injury prevention is key for a healthy body.
Warm-Up
Before starting any exercise, it’s important to warm up. A series of dynamic moves can boost your heart rate and warm up the muscles during your work out. Select whole-body movements like leg lunges combined with arm motion or walk in place while raising and lowering your arms. Once you’ve warmed up, you can stretch without risk of injury.
Appropriate Footwear
When buying tennis shoes, check for stability, flexibility, and comfort. During your test walk, make sure that the shoes feel firm and move through your entire range of motion for a stable gait. Footwear should be flexible enough to give easily at the base of the toe for a smooth gait, and there should be cushioning at all the right places with plenty of room for the toes to move. Shoes that properly fit your feet means that your walk will be more natural and healthy during exercise and in motion.
Keep Posture In Mind
Perhaps the biggest reason that these exercise tips are so important is that strong and flexible muscles will help you have proper posture. Be mindful of the following as you move:
When sitting, the feet should be on the floor, shoulders should be relaxed, and forearms should remain parallel with the ground.
If standing for an extended time, make sure to maintain posture by tucking the stomach muscles in.
When standing for a very long time, shift the weight from one foot to the other and from the heels to the toes and back again.
These simple tips for maintaining proper posture will passively work muscles and result in a healthier spine.
Stretch Muscles
Finally, it is important to target large muscle groups with passive exercises. Use your weight to slowly stretch your hamstrings, piriformis, and entire back. Passive stretching is gentle and relieves stress points that cause back pain. These gentle exercises provide a great deal of relief and are easily adjusted to fit your fitness level.
A chiropractor will work with you to create an exercise program that is optimal for you. Be sure to follow through with the plan and include these tips in your regular work out.
Sit-Ups/Crunches/Planks and the like
We have ligaments that connect bone to bone, and tendons that connect muscles to bones. All of these structures work together to help move and to stay balanced. Strengthening one area of your body, like the spine, should include strengthening the surrounding areas where the spine really takes the weight. And that is the core.
For the back, abdominal strengthening is important because the abs act as a front/forward anchor for the spine. They work as a counterbalance for the back muscles which means that both muscle groups need to be strong to keep the spine properly supported. If the abdominal muscles are weak then the back muscles have to work harder to support the spine.
This can lead to sprains or strains, and back pain. Strengthen, stretch, and stabilize the muscles. These are the keys to keeping the spine healthy. Building up muscle strength, keeping muscles flexible, and working on the core will help stabilize the spine. A physical therapy exercise program includes strengthening, stretching, and stabilization specific to each individual’s condition. Don’t skip the abdominal exercises when dealing with back pain, they will help in the long run!
You don’t have to be highly athletic to do back extensions. They’re common in yoga, Pilates, and other stretching and strengthening exercises. Health and fitness begin with the desire to improve oneself. When desire and belief are strong enough, it leads to action. When done properly and consistently, success follows. Considering all that the back goes through in a typical day, it isn’t much of a stretch to think that pain could present at times. This is especially true if the back is not properly aligned.
Strong back muscles can reduce injuries and improve posture. There are some muscles along the length of the spine that support the spine. One of the most important�deep muscle groups in your back is the erector spinae. If this muscle group becomes weak, back pain can start to present.
Back Extension
Back extensions can be done:
Using a machine
With an exercise ball
No equipment or objects at all described below
When beginning it’s a good idea to consult a certified personal trainer that has experience rehabilitating people with back pain. They will also teach proper form, body mechanics and alignment. Before doing any exercises consult your chiropractor or primary doctor.
Three You Can Do
The Cow Pose
Begin on hands and knees.
Hands are shoulder-distance apart and knees are hip-distance apart.
Inhale and arch your spine by rocking your pelvis toward the floor.
Look up toward the ceiling.
As you exhale, move back to your starting neutral back position.
Inhale, and repeat. Link your inhales and exhales with your movement.
Do the cow stretch 5 to 10 times once a day.
Upper Back Extension
Begin on your stomach with a small pillow or�rolled�towel under your hips.
Arms should be along your sides.
Slowly lift your upper body off the floor and contract your low back muscles.
Hold 3 seconds before lowering back to the floor.
Repeat 10 times.
Opposite Arm/Leg Extension
Start on your stomach with legs together and arms stretched in front.
Breathe in and tighten your tailbone as you lift your arms and legs off the floor (about hip height and if you can higher).
Pump the right arm down and left leg down so they just graze the ground, and then bring them back to hip height and pump the left arm and right leg down.
Alternating right arm/left leg and left arm/right leg in small movements. Keep your eyes toward the mat.
Repeat 3 times every day.
These are just a few back extensions that can help you build strong back muscles. Do these exercises regularly to decrease and prevent back pain.
Belief Action Success
All of us want to be living healthy lives.
When realistic, specific and measurable goals are expertly set-up in a health program what really keeps us from getting there is a break in the link that falls between belief and the action. And that is the excuses that seem to pop up at those moments.
Every time I try to exercise or eat healthy, something comes up
Someone or something else is responsible for the situation.
We know what we need to do but just don’t want to do it. We believe that something out of our control prevents us.
Be Proactive
It means more than just taking initiative. It means a responsibility or you can think of it as a response and the ability for our own lives. People that become proactive do not blame circumstances, conditions, etc for their behavior or lack of behavior. It is a product of their own conscious choice. Once you realize the power you have, obstacles become welcome challenges to be overcome. With just a little success, confidence grows and commitment to health and fitness goals becomes a priority.
Back Pain Specialist
NCBI Resources
Dealing with joint or muscle pain can be a daunting experience. It�s important to work on maintaining�mobility and flexibility. The more flexible, the less likely to be injured. One of the best ways to improve flexibility is through stretching. A�chiropractor�can recommend stretches, or you can use some of these basic techniques
Two types of muscles exist in the body, and they are voluntary or the ones that we can move and involuntary or those that move on their own like the digestive and heart muscles. Both can be made stronger and more resilient through exercise and physical activity. We’re shall focus on the voluntary muscles that move and support the spine.
When there is a lack of muscle strength and flexibility it can create an environment for back pain. The muscles connect to the bones through the tendons. When contracted the signal concentrates through the tendon, and moves the bone/s. The tendons are attached to the bones. When the tendons get inflamed, tendonitis can occur even in the spine.
Muscle layers
Some go deeper while others are more superficial and at the surface. The deeper muscles are the ones that stabilize and secure the bones. The abdominal muscles along with the hips and legs can play a part in back pain/problems.
A doctor might have told you that to have a healthy spine. That is great news, however, we all need to build a strong core, which includes the abdominal muscles, to help stabilize the entire torso. There are four types of abdominal muscles.
The Corset
The deepest is the transversus abdominis, which wraps around your body just like a corset. These muscles contract if you place your hands on your waist and cough. On the sides of your body, there are two sets of oblique muscles. The internal obliques go deeper, while the external obliques are closer to the surface. The obliques enable us to twist and bend from side to side.
The Six-Pack
And of course, there is the rectus abdominis which we all know as the six-pack. These can be sculpted into the washboard abs but they do not help in stabilizing the spine/back. The job of the abs is to pull you forward like when doing sit-ups and crunches.
They do help compress the deeper ab muscles, but to stabilize the spine, you want to strengthen the deepest ab muscles. The corset, internal obliques, and back muscles are the ones you want to work. One of the most effective ab and back workouts is Pilates. It targets all abdominal and spine muscles in a gentle way.
Flexors
Within the body are two muscles on either side of the body, called the iliopsoas muscles, or the psoas (so-as). These are the hip and thigh flexors which lift the thighs like when�walking, going upstairs.
When in a stationary position, the psoas enables you to bend forward or flex the hips. When sitting, the psoas stabilizes the spine into an upright position. It is one of the largest and thickest muscles, and it extends from your lumbar vertebrae, crosses in front of each hip, and attaches on the inside top of the thigh bone. When we sit for long periods it constricts or shortens the psoas, which causes soreness/pain when you stand.
Layers
Spinal muscles are made up of layers. The deepest are small and are attached one vertebra to another. The deepest level are the interspinalis muscles, which connect the spinous processes; thank them for helping you stretch backward.
The transversospinalis group forms a chevron pattern along the back and helps with side bending, twisting, and assists in back bending. The next layer up is the erector spinae. The main job of this group is bending, but also assist with�bending to the side . When muscle spasms occur, it’s often the erector spinae muscles.
The next level consists of the rhomboids. These are situated between the shoulder blades. Exercise or physical therapy can realign the vertebrae if there is upper back, shoulder and neck pain. The wings on either side of the back are called latissmius dorsi. These stabilize the back and help in doing all kinds of activities, like pull-ups.
Next are the trapezius (traps) muscles that extend from your neck and midback to the shoulders. These muscles help move your neck and lift the shoulder blades. When there is tension, there is a tendency to lift our shoulders, which is what makes these muscles tight and sore. It�s never too late to increase strength and flexibility. Look at activities that you and your friends/family can enjoy and turn them into a regular thing.
Athletes and Custom Foot Orthotics
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A�chiropractor�is the ideal�medical professional to consult with for any unexplained pain in the musculoskeletal system. They are highly qualified professionals that their specialty is treating conditions like lower back pain and they are very affordable. If you or a loved one have pain give us a call. We�re here to help!
Everyday exercises that increase the strength of the abdomen/core along with the back muscles will optimize your body to resist spinal injuries.
Your spine goes through a lot each day. It provides structural support and houses the central nervous system that carries impulses from the brain throughout the body. When it doesn’t work as it is supposed to, the entire body can be affected. Chiropractic has long been praised as a way to keep the back healthy.
The spine is the primary support for the body. When it breaks down, the body suffers. Regular chiropractic care keeps the spine properly aligned, which keeps the body in proper alignment.
Chiropractic helps with joint health as well as the health of the related muscles and ligaments. Your chiropractor can also recommend stretching and strength-building exercises to help keep your spine strong and in optimal form.
Try the following everyday exercises as the day progresses.
Rotate the shoulders, forward and back.
Turn the head slowly from side to side.
Imagine an airplane taking off, just over your right shoulder. Feel the neck stretch, and follow the plane as it goes up, around and down, until it disappears behind the other shoulder. Reverse and do the same from the left side.
When there is a break or pause in your day waiting at the elevator or for a traffic light to change pull in the abdominal muscles, tighten and hold for 8 seconds without breathing. Relax and increase the count gradually when you feel ready. After a week or so, practice breathing the way you normally do with your abdomen flat and contracted. Try this when you sit, stand, and walk.
Before rising out of bed in the morning, push your head against the pillow and hold for 6 seconds. This strengthens the neck muscles and helps you wake up.
Chiropractic helps keep the spine flexible and loose to prevent injury/s. A strong flexible spine reduces the chances of a misaligned back and could experience pain.Your quality of life will greatly improve being more flexible and mobile.
Continued Everyday Exercises
As you get ready for your day, brushing teeth or shaving, pull in the abdominal muscles and hold them as hard as you can.
Make a habit of starting your day holding stomach muscles in.
In the car, waiting in traffic make the most of it, grab the steering wheel on either side of the wheel at three o’clock and nine o’clock. Try to pull the wheel apart and hold it for a few seconds. Then do the same but push inward. You can also push with your palms against the roof. Also push against your knees using the muscles in your forearms, chest, and abdomen.
Waiting for an elevator, push your toe against the bottom of a wall and hold. You should feel it in your rear, abdomen and low back.
You can strengthen your grip and arms by squeezing a solid object like an office landline phone receiver and then let go and repeat.
While talking on the phone, stand over your desk waste-basket with legs straight, squeeze in using the muscles in your legs and hips.
You can also choose to do some exercises that can be done anywhere and in public.
Chiropractic Improves Posture
Proper posture is beneficial for the entire body. Proper alignment keeps the muscles working correctly and in strong fashion. This prevents over wear and tear on the joints surface and keeps the muscles working effectively and efficiently. Good posture prevents injury and helps with organ function.
Chiropractic optimizes overall health by keeping the body balanced and in tip-top form. Many think that its only purpose is to treat back pain, but it actually focuses on total body wellness.
Reduce Excessive Foot Pronation with Custom Foot Orthotics
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Having healthy body composition means�there needs to be more lean body mass i.e.�muscle mass�and less body fat.�Strength training/CrossFit�helps by raising the�metabolic rate�while lowering body fat. The increased muscle strength helps maintain correct posture and body mechanics in whatever you do.
Physical activity reduces the chance of injury while increasing physical performance like being able to climb stairs or carry groceries with added confidence.
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