Back Clinic Chiropractic. This is a form of alternative treatment that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of various musculoskeletal injuries and conditions, especially those associated with the spine. Dr. Alex Jimenez discusses how spinal adjustments and manual manipulations regularly can greatly help both improve and eliminate many symptoms that could be causing discomfort to the individual. Chiropractors believe among the main reasons for pain and disease are the vertebrae’s misalignment in the spinal column (this is known as a chiropractic subluxation).
Through the usage of manual detection (or palpation), carefully applied pressure, massage, and manual manipulation of the vertebrae and joints (called adjustments), chiropractors can alleviate pressure and irritation on the nerves, restore joint mobility, and help return the body’s homeostasis. From subluxations, or spinal misalignments, to sciatica, a set of symptoms along the sciatic nerve caused by nerve impingement, chiropractic care can gradually restore the individual’s natural state of being. Dr. Jimenez compiles a group of concepts on chiropractic to best educate individuals on the variety of injuries and conditions affecting the human body.
Can individuals improve their brain function by incorporating yoga as part of their routine to reduce stress and improve mental health?
Introduction
Many people are impacted by life stressors that can cause overlapping risk profiles in their bodies. Stress or cortisol is a vital hormone that affects organs and tissues in the body and can help regulate the body’s response to stress. Whether preparing for a big presentation, studying for an important exam, or dealing with a heavy workload, stress can play a part in these scenarios. Too much stress can impact not only the musculoskeletal function of the body but also brain function, which is why many individuals are looking for ways to lower stress levels in their bodies and give their brains a break. Today’s article looks at how stress is associated with brain function and how therapeutic exercises like yoga can improve brain function and relieve stress. We discuss with certified medical providers who inform our patients how stress can have a negative impact on the brain’s functionality. While asking informed questions to our associated medical providers, we advise patients to incorporate various therapeutic exercises like yoga to help lower stress levels in the body and improve brain function. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., encompasses this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
Stress & Brain Function
How often do you get headaches or migraines, causing you to be anxious constantly? Do you feel muscle tension or pain after a long, strenuous day? Or do you feel more tired throughout the day even though you slept a full night? Many scenarios correlate with stress and can impact a person’s well-being. While stress is often correlated with negative emotions , it is an acute adaptive response to environmental stimuli in the body and the brain. (McEwen & Akil, 2020) Now, the brain and stress have a wonderful relationship with each other, as the brain is the main controller for the body, providing neuron signals to each of the body’s systems and helping with stress reactivity when environmental factors are in play. Cortisol is a stress hormone that, at the basal levels, is highly important for maintaining healthy brain development and function. When dealing with a highly stressful situation can cause cortisol levels to be elevated and lead to the development of free radical formation that is toxic to the brain. (Herzberg & Gunnar, 2020)
When high-stress levels start to impact brain function in the body, the brain can inform the immune system to produce an excess of inflammatory cytokines to attach themselves to healthy cells and lead to the development of stress-induced inflammation caused by repeated social defeat (RSD). When RSD starts to activate the immune cells in the brain, it can enhance neuroinflammation and influence the endothelial cells of the brain to recruit and transport the peripheral monocytes into stress-sensitive neural regions. (Bower & Kuhlman, 2023) When this happens, it can take a person a long time to reduce their stress levels. However, many individuals who are dealing with stress can find therapeutic ways to not only reduce their stress levels but also protect and improve their brain function.
Is Motion Key To Healing- Video
Yoga For Brain Function
When it comes to reducing stress, many people can incorporate hobbies or therapies that they enjoy and help relax their bodies. One of the various therapies that can help reduce stress and improve brain function is yoga. Yoga is a mindfulness-based intervention that can be used for pain management and help improve pain-like symptoms associated with stress. (Krese et al., 2022) Now, yoga is incorporated into a non-surgical treatment plan for many individuals who have chronic stress affecting their bodies while improving their brain function. When people start doing yoga for the first time, a professional yoga instructor will begin to show them various poses to help stretch their muscles that are tight from the impact of stress, clear their minds from everyday stressors, and even restore their balance. Yoga may be highly effective for many individuals since it is a community-based and holistic intervention that can improve brain function through breathwork, stretching, and holding various postures and meditation. (Stephens et al., 2023) Additionally, yoga can help enhance the brain structure to improve the neurocognitive function of balance and concentration. (Babakhani et al., 2024)
Yoga Equals Stress Relief
Additionally, when people start to incorporate yoga as part of their routine, they will notice their stress levels go down due to being more mindful about what stressors are affecting them and making small changes in their lifestyle. At the same time, yoga can help stretch and strengthen weak muscles by enhancing motor capacity, including muscle strength, balance, and flexibility, and improving non-motor symptoms like alleviating cognitive impairment. (Fan et al., 2020) This is because exercises like yoga can help relieve stress, and when a person is concentrating on going to yoga, they will begin to see improvement in their bodies and brain function. Utilizing the beneficial properties of yoga can help many people be more mindful of their minds and bodies while also improving their brain function.
References
Babakhani, M., Rahzani, K., Hekmatpou, D., & Sheykh, V. (2024). The effect of super brain yoga on the cognitive function of hemodialysis patients. Heliyon, 10(16), e36384. doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e36384
Bower, J. E., & Kuhlman, K. R. (2023). Psychoneuroimmunology: An Introduction to Immune-to-Brain Communication and Its Implications for Clinical Psychology. Annu Rev Clin Psychol, 19, 331-359. doi.org/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-080621-045153
Fan, B., Jabeen, R., Bo, B., Guo, C., Han, M., Zhang, H., Cen, J., Ji, X., & Wei, J. (2020). What and How Can Physical Activity Prevention Function on Parkinson’s Disease? Oxid Med Cell Longev, 2020, 4293071. doi.org/10.1155/2020/4293071
Herzberg, M. P., & Gunnar, M. R. (2020). Early life stress and brain function: Activity and connectivity associated with processing emotion and reward. Neuroimage, 209, 116493. doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.116493
Krese, K. A., Donnelly, K. Z., Etingen, B., Bender Pape, T. L., Chaudhuri, S., Aaronson, A. L., Shah, R. P., Bhaumik, D. K., Billups, A., Bedo, S., Wanicek-Squeo, M. T., Bobra, S., & Herrold, A. A. (2022). Feasibility of a Combined Neuromodulation and Yoga Intervention for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Chronic Pain: Protocol for an Open-label Pilot Trial. JMIR Res Protoc, 11(6), e37836. doi.org/10.2196/37836
McEwen, B. S., & Akil, H. (2020). Revisiting the Stress Concept: Implications for Affective Disorders. J Neurosci, 40(1), 12-21. doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0733-19.2019
Stephens, J. A., Hernandez-Sarabia, J. A., Sharp, J. L., Leach, H. J., Bell, C., Thomas, M. L., Buryznska, A. Z., Weaver, J. A., & Schmid, A. A. (2023). Adaptive yoga versus low-impact exercise for adults with chronic acquired brain injury: a pilot randomized control trial protocol. Front Hum Neurosci, 17, 1291094. doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2023.1291094
Can understanding what knee tests are used help a healthcare provider diagnose the cause of individuals experiencing knee pain?
Knee Pain Tests
A knee examination is the first step in determining the cause of knee pain. Different knee tests may be performed during the exam to help the healthcare provider find the cause and develop an optimal treatment plan. These tests evaluate knee function and range of motion and look for conditions and injuries such as arthritis, meniscus tears, ACL tears, other ligament injuries, and kneecap issues.
Checking If There is Fluid in the Knee
Many individuals know if their knee is swollen, as they can see or feel the swelling. However, if there is excess fluid in the knee joint, the healthcare provider may compress the joint to feel for excess fluid. Fluid is often visible above the kneecap and can be compressed in this area. Fluid may also be detected in the back of the knee, referred to as a Baker’s cyst if the fluid has collected into a cluster. (Frush T. J., & Noyes F. R. 2015)
Arthritis Tests
Certain characteristic findings can detect knee arthritis:
Crepitus
Crepitus is the sensation when rough cartilage or exposed bone is rubbing when the knee is bent. (Lo G. H. et al., 2018)
The examiner will feel and listen for grinding as the knee is bent back and forth.
Deformity
As knee cartilage wears away, the knees can become progressively knock-kneed or bow-legged.
Limited Motion
If arthritis, bone spurs, and swelling prevent normal mobility, the knee’s range of motion often becomes limited.
Torn Meniscus Tests
Tests used to determine if there is a meniscus tear include:
Joint Line Tenderness
Joint line tenderness is a non-specific test in which the area of the meniscus is felt. It is considered a positive test when there is pain in this area.
McMurray’s test
This test is performed with the patient lying flat. The examiner bends the knee and rotates the shin bone.
This test is performed with the patient squatting.
The test is performed with the leg fully externally rotated or internally rotated, depending on whether the lateral or medial meniscus is being tested.
A click is heard or felt over the area of the tear.
ACL Tear Tests
These knee pain tests are for an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear:
Lachman Test
The Lachman test is one of the most reliable to diagnose an ACL tear.
With the knee slightly bent, the examiner stabilizes the thigh while pulling the shin forward.
The shin shifts too far forward with a torn ACL.
Anterior Drawer Test
This test is performed with the patient lying flat.
The knee is bent 90 degrees, and then the shin is pulled forward to check the stability of the ACL.
Pivot Shift Test
The pivot shift test can be difficult, especially if the patient is experiencing discomfort and cannot relax the knee.
This test places stress on the knee joint and assesses the rotational stability of the ACL.
Other Ligament Injuries
For a suspected injury to other ligaments, including the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), medial collateral ligament (MCL), and lateral collateral ligament (LCL), the following tests may be used:
Posterior Drawer Test
The posterior drawer is performed similarly to the anterior drawer test, in which the patient lies flat.
The knee is bent 90 degrees; the shin is pushed backward to check stability and function and detect if the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) has been injured.
Collateral Ligament Stability
Side-to-side stability of the knee detects problems with the MCL and LCL.
The shin is shifted to each side, with the patient lying flat and the knee slightly bent.
The LCL or MCL damage causes the knee to open up too much, a condition known as varus (LCL) or valgus (MCL) instability. (Ohori T. et al., 2017)
Kneecap Tests
Tests for kneecap issues include:
Patellar Grind
In this test, also called Clarke’s sign, the patient lies on their back with the leg extended.
The examiner pushes the kneecap down to reproduce the knee pain while the patient flexes the thigh muscles.
Damaged cartilage can cause a grinding sensation/crepitus.
Patellar Tenderness
The examiner can slightly lift the kneecap and place direct pressure on parts of the underside.
The examiner looks for regions of sensitivity or pain.
Patellar Apprehension
This test indicates an unstable kneecap.
The examiner places pressure on the kneecap in a certain direction, and the patient may feel like the kneecap is going to pop out.
Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic
Knee pain tests typically check the range of motion, discomfort symptoms, and sounds that could indicate a specific type of knee injury. Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic works with primary healthcare providers and specialists to develop an optimal health and wellness solution. We focus on what works for you to relieve pain, restore function, and prevent injury. Regarding musculoskeletal pain, specialists like chiropractors, acupuncturists, and massage therapists can help mitigate the pain through spinal adjustments that help the body realign itself. They can also work with other medical professionals to integrate a treatment plan to resolve musculoskeletal issues.
Overcoming an ACL Injury
References
Frush, T. J., & Noyes, F. R. (2015). Baker’s Cyst: Diagnostic and Surgical Considerations. Sports health, 7(4), 359–365. doi.org/10.1177/1941738113520130
Lo, G. H., Strayhorn, M. T., Driban, J. B., Price, L. L., Eaton, C. B., & Mcalindon, T. E. (2018). Subjective Crepitus as a Risk Factor for Incident Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis: Data From the Osteoarthritis Initiative. Arthritis care & research, 70(1), 53–60. doi.org/10.1002/acr.23246
Gupta, Y., Mahara, D., & Lamichhane, A. (2016). McMurray’s Test and Joint Line Tenderness for Medial Meniscus Tear: Are They Accurate?. Ethiopian journal of health sciences, 26(6), 567–572. doi.org/10.4314/ejhs.v26i6.10
Ohori, T., Mae, T., Shino, K., Tachibana, Y., Fujie, H., Yoshikawa, H., & Nakata, K. (2017). Varus-valgus instability in the anterior cruciate ligament-deficient knee: effect of posterior tibial load. Journal of experimental orthopaedics, 4(1), 24. doi.org/10.1186/s40634-017-0087-3
Can individuals dealing with psoriatic arthritis find non-surgical treatments to reduce joint pain and improve skin health?
Introduction
The body is a complex machine with a communal relationship with the joints, organs, bones, muscles, and tissues, each of which has a specific function to ensure the host is alive. The brain is the main control system that gives each body’s systems, organs, muscles and joints a job. When environmental factors or pathogens enter the body, the immune system is the first one to defend the body and eliminate the pathogens to initiate the natural healing process. However, when the immune system is attacking the body constantly, over time, it can lead to autoimmunity and cause overlapping risk profiles in the body. This, in turn, can lead the development of chronic conditions and cause individuals pain and discomfort. In today’s article, we look at an autoimmune disorder known as psoriatic arthritis, its causes and symptoms, and how treatment can help reduce its pain like effects. We discuss with certified medical providers who inform our patients how psoriatic arthritis can affect the joints. While asking informed questions to our associated medical providers, we advise patients to incorporate various non-surgical treatments to reduce psoriatic arthritis symptoms and help manage joint pain that affects a person’s quality of life. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., encompasses this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
What Is Psoriatic Arthritis?
Do you experience swelling in your joints that causes pain and discomfort when moving? Do you feel your skin itchier and warmer than usual? Or have you noticed that everyday tasks are more difficult now than before? Many of these pain-like scenarios are associated with joint pain associated with an autoimmune or musculoskeletal condition. Since autoimmunity is developed when environmental factors cause the immune system to attack healthy cells, it can envoke pain and discomfort to the body. When a person is dealing with an autoimmune condition, it can impact not only the individual but also the rest of the body’s system. For instance, if a person is dealing with an autoimmune condition, they could be dealing with skin issues that can cause them to develop scaly, itchy, red skin patches known as psoriasis. If they have joint pain combined with psoriasis, it can develop into psoriatic arthritis. (Skornicki et al., 2021) Now psoriatic arthritis is a heterogeneous autoimmune condition with musculoskeletal involvement that can manifest various symptoms including inflammation and arthritis. (Hackett et al., 2022) This in turn causes many individuals to think they are dealing with rheumatoid factors.
Causes & Symptoms
As a multifactorial pathology, psoriatic arthritis causes care often influenced by a complex interplay of immunological, environmental, and genetic factors that cause its development. (Zalesak et al., 2024) When the immune system starts to attack the healthy cells in the body, the inflammatory cytokines can become haywire and attack the “problem,” causing the development of autoimmunity. Within this integration, some of the causes can include predisposing genetic backgrounds with the presence of environmental factors that can activate the innate immune system precipitate the onset of psoriatic arthritis. (Azuaga et al., 2023) Some of the symptoms can many individuals with psoriatic arthritis can include:
Tendon tenderness
Joint pain
Stiffness
Fatigue
Joint swelling
Skin rash
Musculoskeletal pain
However, there are ways to manage psoriatic arthritis, reduce joint pain from affecting a person, and help them manage the symptoms.
Arthritis Explained-Video
Treatments For Psoriatic Arthritis
When it comes to treating psoriatic arthritis, healthcare professionals need to develop therapeutic options to educate the individual and develop a treatment plan that can include conventional therapies and non-pharmacological therapies that are affordable and customized with the individual’s condition. (Ogdie et al., 2020) Since psoriatic arthritis is a complex inflammatory musculoskeletal condition and skin disease, individuals must try to find ways to reduce the inflammatory effects of causing more joint issues. Non-surgical treatments like chiropractic care, physical therapy, and diet changes can help mitigate the burden of psoriatic arthritis by reducing the complications and the socio-economic impact. (McGonagle et al., 2022)
Another way individuals can reduce the inflammatory effects of psoriatic arthritis is by consuming anti-inflammatory foods to dampen the inflammatory cytokines attacking the joints and going to physical therapy sessions like water aerobics to help stabilize the joints and help people be more mindful about their bodies. Since psoriatic arthritis can be managed through non-surgical therapy, low-weight bearing exercise regimes and incorporating anti-inflammatory foods to reduce inflammation can help people minimize psoriatic arthritis symptoms from impacting their health and wellness journey.
References
Azuaga, A. B., Ramirez, J., & Canete, J. D. (2023). Psoriatic Arthritis: Pathogenesis and Targeted Therapies. Int J Mol Sci, 24(5). doi.org/10.3390/ijms24054901
Hackett, S., Ogdie, A., & Coates, L. C. (2022). Psoriatic arthritis: prospects for the future. Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis, 14, 1759720X221086710. doi.org/10.1177/1759720X221086710
McGonagle, D. G., Zabotti, A., Watad, A., Bridgewood, C., De Marco, G., Kerschbaumer, A., & Aletaha, D. (2022). Intercepting psoriatic arthritis in patients with psoriasis: buy one get one free? Ann Rheum Dis, 81(1), 7-10. doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-221255
Ogdie, A., Coates, L. C., & Gladman, D. D. (2020). Treatment guidelines in psoriatic arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford), 59(Suppl 1), i37-i46. doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/kez383
Skornicki, M., Prince, P., Suruki, R., Lee, E., & Louder, A. (2021). Clinical Burden of Concomitant Joint Disease in Psoriasis: A US-Linked Claims and Electronic Health Records Database Analysis. Adv Ther, 38(5), 2458-2471. doi.org/10.1007/s12325-021-01698-7
Zalesak, M., Danisovic, L., & Harsanyi, S. (2024). Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis-Associated Genes, Cytokines, and Human Leukocyte Antigens. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania), 60(5). doi.org/10.3390/medicina60050815
Can cervical retraction be a good addition to a home exercise program for individuals with neck pain, spinal arthritis, or needing to strengthen their neck muscles?
Cervical Retraction
Cervical retraction is a neck exercise that involves gently sliding the head backward while keeping the chin tucked. It can help with:
Neck pain
Stretching and loosening the muscles at the back of the neck.
Headaches
Tightness
Improve posture
Improve flexibility and mobility
Preparation
Basic steps for performing a cervical retraction exercise:
Sit upright with good posture.
Tuck your chin as far as you can comfortably.
Look up while keeping your chin tucked.
Rotate the neck 1-2 inches to each side.
Return to the starting position.
Stop the exercise if you experience pain.
You want to get good at this without loading the joints while learning the movement. Gently and accurately moving your head in alignment with the neck will help you find the correct head action as it moves. Then, it can be performed as a full exercise. Performing the movement correctly requires focus. This is why cervical retraction is done while sitting in a chair with proper posture. Individuals can also stand, but it is more complicated for the body to coordinate than sitting, but it can be done once the individual has practiced.
Sitting or Standing
Gently tuck your chin down toward your neck.
The focus is alignment.
Keeping your chin where it is, press your head back.
There will be soreness, especially for those with pain symptoms, but the neck should feel better.
Be mindful of any intense or severe pain resulting from cervical retraction.
Individuals with cervical spondylosis (neck arthritis) stop if pain presents. (Cleveland Clinic, 2023)
Other Neck Exercises
Another good neck-strengthening exercise is the isometric neck press. In this exercise, you move your head forward, backward, and to each side while your hand provides resistance. This develops flexibility and is recommended for those with arthritis in this area. (Sadeghi, A. et al., 2022) Other exercises include: (Pain Consultants of West Florida, 2019)
Neck extensions: Backward bending can help relieve nerve compression and ease the strain on the cervical spine.
Side rotation: This exercise can improve neck mobility.
Shoulder rolls: This exercise can help keep the neck and shoulder joints fluid.
Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic
If you have a neck condition or radiculopathy that causes pain or other symptoms going down the arm or are unsure how to do it, check with a healthcare provider or physical therapist before trying the exercise. Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic works with primary healthcare providers and specialists to develop an optimal health and wellness solution. We focus on what works for you to relieve pain, restore function, and prevent injury. Regarding musculoskeletal pain, specialists like chiropractors, acupuncturists, and massage therapists can help mitigate the pain through spinal adjustments that help the body realign itself. They can also work with other medical professionals to integrate a treatment plan to resolve musculoskeletal issues.
Sadeghi, A., Rostami, M., Ameri, S., Karimi Moghaddam, A., Karimi Moghaddam, Z., & Zeraatchi, A. (2022). Effectiveness of isometric exercises on disability and pain of cervical spondylosis: a randomized controlled trial. BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation, 14(1), 108. doi.org/10.1186/s13102-022-00500-7
Can individuals relieve back pain by incorporating core strength training to reduce pain and discomfort in their lower backs?
Introduction
Many individuals worldwide have dealt with back issues that make it difficult to complete any task that they are doing. Many often feel pain and discomfort radiating from the three sections of the back and can radiate from the neck, shoulders, and hips. When these areas of the musculoskeletal system are being affected, it can lead to a life of pain and chronic conditions that cause overlapping risk profiles. At the same time, some causes of back pain often correlate with environmental factors and weak core muscles. When a person is dealing with weak core muscles, they will experience instability and pain when they are mobile, leading to back pain. In today’s article, we look at what the core muscles are, how they are connected to back pain, and how strengthening them can reduce the effects of back pain. We discuss with certified medical providers who inform our patients how strengthening the core muscles can reduce back pain. While asking informed questions to our associated medical providers, we advise patients to incorporate various core strengthening exercises to prevent overlapping risk profiles correlated with back pain. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., encompasses this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
What Are The Core Muscles?
Do you feel a constant ache or pain in your back after lifting or carrying objects in a hunched position? Do you experience muscle weakness in your torso that you can’t stay in a plank position for a few seconds? Or do you experience radiating pain from your lower back to your leg? The core muscles are a group of muscles wrapped around the torso like a support belt that helps with stability, balance, and protecting the lumbar from injuries. The core muscles are found in the lower body’s front, back, and sides. At the same time, the core muscles can help generate intrabdominal pressure while moving the vertebral column. (Flynn & Vickerton, 2024) In the core muscles, the transverse abdominis muscle or the seatbelt muscle. This muscle works with the inspiratory muscles through elastic loading to evoke transversus expiratory activity when breathing and functioning in motion. (De Troyer et al., 1990)
Core Muscles & Back Pain
The core muscles, especially the transverse abdominis muscles, are often overlooked as many individuals frequently deal with numerous factors that cause low back pain. Common core muscles are associated with back pain because environmental factors can neglect the transverse abdominis muscles. Fatigue in the core muscles can cause repetitive asymmetric loading on the spine, which enhances susceptibility to back pain and other injuries. (Zemkova & Zapletalova, 2021) Since back pain is a multifactorial condition that is one of the leading causes of hospital visits and socio-economic issues, many individuals start to neglect the core muscles over time, causing them to be weak. Some symptoms correlated with weak core muscles include:
When this happens, many people start looking for treatment to reduce their back pain and help strengthen their core muscles.
Discover The Benefits Of Chiropractic Care- Video
Strengthening Core Muscles
Before people reduce their back pain and return to their daily routine, they would have to be assessed by a pain specialist like a chiropractor to assess fully what environmental factors are causing the back pain. After the assessment, a chiropractor can work with a physical therapist to reduce back pain and strengthen the core muscles to prevent back pain from returning. When it comes to core strengthening exercises, they focus on either the deep or superficial muscles of the torso, which might produce different effects on lumbar motion. (Puntumetakul et al., 2021) Additionally, core stability exercises can reduce pain in the back and disability reduction and improve a person’s quality of life. (Kanwal et al., 2021) Engaging the muscles through core strengthening exercises can help achieve optimal strength with twisting and side-bending movements to reduce back pain.
Pay Attention To Engaged Core Muscles
However, individuals need to pay attention to engaging their core muscles while maintaining a neutral spine position for stability and preventing back pain. (Cigdem Karacay et al., 2022) This allows individuals to be consistent with strengthening their core and to commit to short workouts incorporated as part of not only their routine but also as part of their customized treatment plan. When it comes to reducing back pain, it is important to ensure that the core muscles are engaged to help build strength and stability, decrease back pain, and improve functionality. When people start strengthening their core muscles, they will be able to be more mindful about how to present themselves and live healthier lives.
References
Cigdem Karacay, B., Sahbaz, T., Gurtekin, B., Yildiz, S., & Ozcan, E. (2022). Effectiveness of whole-body vibration exercise and core stabilization exercise in chronic non-specific low back pain: A randomized-controlled study. Turk J Phys Med Rehabil, 68(2), 184-194. doi.org/10.5606/tftrd.2022.7060
De Troyer, A., Estenne, M., Ninane, V., Van Gansbeke, D., & Gorini, M. (1990). Transversus abdominis muscle function in humans. J Appl Physiol (1985), 68(3), 1010-1016. doi.org/10.1152/jappl.1990.68.3.1010
Kanwal, S., Yaqoob, I., Shakil-Ur-Rehman, S., Ghous, M., Ghazal, J., & Namroz, N. (2021). Effects of core muscle stability on low back pain and quality of life in post-menopausal women: A comparative study. J Pak Med Assoc, 71(1(A)), 37-40. doi.org/10.47391/JPMA.151
Puntumetakul, R., Saiklang, P., Tapanya, W., Chatprem, T., Kanpittaya, J., Arayawichanon, P., & Boucaut, R. (2021). The Effects of Core Stabilization Exercise with the Abdominal Drawing-in Maneuver Technique versus General Strengthening Exercise on Lumbar Segmental Motion in Patients with Clinical Lumbar Instability: A Randomized Controlled Trial with 12-Month Follow-Up. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 18(15). doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18157811
Wattananon, P., Sinsurin, K., & Somprasong, S. (2020). Association between lumbopelvic motion and muscle activation in patients with non-specific low back pain during forward bending task: A cross-sectional study. Hong Kong Physiother J, 40(1), 29-37. doi.org/10.1142/S1013702520500043
Zemkova, E., & Zapletalova, L. (2021). Back Problems: Pros and Cons of Core Strengthening Exercises as a Part of Athlete Training. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 18(10). doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18105400
Can individuals incorporate the beneficial properties of l-theanine into their routines to reduce stress and improve brain function?
Introduction
More often than not, many people worldwide are constantly in stressful situations. People worry about the smaller things, from deadlines to piles and errands that must be done as soon as possible. Now, when environmental factors start to cause overlapping risk profiles associated with stress, it can lead to neurocognitive dysfunction and other comorbidities affecting the body, which is why there are numerous ways for people to reduce their stress and function in a healthier lifestyle. One of the ways to reduce stress can be found in a local grocery store, incorporating L-theanine. Today’s article focuses on how stress can affect the brain and how L-theanine can combat stress and help improve brain function. We discuss with certified medical providers who inform our patients how L-theanine can help reduce chronic stress that is affecting the body and how it can affect their brain function. While asking informed questions to our associated medical providers, we advise patients to incorporate mindful techniques and L-theanine as part of their routine to improve their brain function and prevent chronic stress from reoccurring. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., encompasses this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
How Stress Affects The Brain
Have you experienced the 2 p.m. slumps that you constantly run on low energy after a hectic work or school day? How often do you experience brain fog that makes you unable to function properly? Or are you constantly stressed and feeling muscle aches and pains? Everyone knows stress is a major influence on their daily lives and can impact their mood, well-being, and health. (Schneiderman et al., 2005) Hence, stress comes in two forms: acute and chronic. Depending on the situation that the person is experiencing, stress can affect not only the body but also the brain. Short-term or acute stress can help enhance the immune response to the body, giving it a little boost of energy; however, in its long-term or chronic form, it can dysregulate the immune system and affect the brain function of the body. (Dhabhar, 2014)
Now, many people are thinking, how does stress affect brain function? The brain is the main organ for stress reactivity and helps distribute neural circuitry that determines what threats are coming that cause stress to the individual. (McEwen & Gianaros, 2010) When a person is dealing with a highly stressful situation, the brain determines that this situation is threatening and causes the individual to deal with stress cortisol levels. Hence why, many individuals are dealing with headaches, general aches, and pain around the neck and shoulders; stress causes issues with brain function; it can disrupt the neuron signals in the body, which leads to the development of inflammation, chronic illnesses, and neurological conditions to arise. Fortunately, there are numerous ways to reduce stress to prevent brain dysfunction and enhance the body while relaxing it.
Secrets Of Optimal Wellness- Video
How Does L-Theanine Combat Stress?
When finding natural ways to reduce stress, many people will search for different ways to relax and ease the stress. One of the ways many people can reduce stress is by sipping some green tea. Green tea contains polyphenolic compounds and about 1 to 3% L-theanine that can positively affect stress and mental health consequences in individuals. (Almudhi & Gabr, 2022) Additionally, drinking green tea or taking L-theanine supplements as part of a daily routine can be combined with relaxing hobbies to lower stress and boost energy levels. L-theanine is also an amino acid with stress-relieving effects that can improve glutamine and dampen inflammatory effects. (Unno et al., 2024)
How Does L-Theanine Improve Brain Function?
L-theanine can help improve brain function when consumed in tea form and decrease the risk for neurodegenerative disorders as a potential therapeutic agent. (Valverde-Salazar et al., 2023) Additionally, when individuals start to consume L-theanine, it can provide positive neuroprotective effects and cognitive function, which helps increase alertness and reduces brain fog. (Sokary et al., 2023) When individuals start thinking about their health and wellness by consuming L-theanine in tea form, it can provide beneficial properties combined with therapeutic options to help reduce chronic stress levels and improve brain function so they can have a healthier and stress-free life.
References
Almudhi, A., & Gabr, S. A. (2022). Green tea consumption and the management of adrenal stress hormones in adolescents who stutter. Biomed Rep, 16(4), 32. doi.org/10.3892/br.2022.1515
Dhabhar, F. S. (2014). Effects of stress on immune function: the good, the bad, and the beautiful. Immunol Res, 58(2-3), 193-210. doi.org/10.1007/s12026-014-8517-0
McEwen, B. S., & Gianaros, P. J. (2010). Central role of the brain in stress and adaptation: links to socioeconomic status, health, and disease. Ann N Y Acad Sci, 1186, 190-222. doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.05331.x
Schneiderman, N., Ironson, G., & Siegel, S. D. (2005). Stress and health: psychological, behavioral, and biological determinants. Annu Rev Clin Psychol, 1, 607-628. doi.org/10.1146/annurev.clinpsy.1.102803.144141
Sokary, S., Al-Asmakh, M., Zakaria, Z., & Bawadi, H. (2023). The therapeutic potential of matcha tea: A critical review on human and animal studies. Curr Res Food Sci, 6, 100396. doi.org/10.1016/j.crfs.2022.11.015
Unno, K., Taguchi, K., Matsuda, T., & Nakamura, Y. (2024). Stress-Relieving Effects of Green Tea Depend on the Ratio of Its Special Ingredients and the Infusion Conditions. Molecules, 29(19). doi.org/10.3390/molecules29194553
Valverde-Salazar, V., Ruiz-Gabarre, D., & Garcia-Escudero, V. (2023). Alzheimer’s Disease and Green Tea: Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate as a Modulator of Inflammation and Oxidative Stress. Antioxidants (Basel), 12(7). doi.org/10.3390/antiox12071460
Can individuals utilize chiropractic care to reduce sciatica pain and help restore mobility to their lower back and legs?
Introduction
Many individuals are always on the move and utilize the lower half of the body to go from one location to another. From the lower back to the feet, many individuals do repetitive movement that causes the lower back muscles to be constantly stretched. This, in turn, can lead to overlapping risk profiles that can affect the lower back and a long nerve connected to the lower back, known as the sciatic nerve. When numerous issues affect the sciatic nerve, many individuals experience pain and discomfort over time, which can develop into something chronic without treatment. Luckily, when individuals begin to think about their health and wellness, it reduces the chances of pain and discomfort from returning. Today’s article looks at the causes of sciatica and how non-surgical treatments like chiropractic care can help relieve sciatica pain and restore mobility to the lower back and legs. We discuss with certified medical providers who inform our patients how sciatica pain correlates with the lower back. While asking informed questions to our associated medical providers, we advise patients to incorporate non-surgical treatments like chiropractic care to reduce sciatica pain and help realign the body. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., encompasses this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
What Causes Sciatica?
Do you feel numbness or tingling sensations in your legs, making walking unbearable? Do you experience pain or discomfort in your lower back after lifting a heavy object? Or how long have you stretched your body after sitting down or standing excessively at work? Many of these scenarios are often correlated with low back pain. However, low back pain is always connected with sciatica and can impact the body. While the sciatic nerve plays a huge role in direct motor function to the hamstrings and lower extremities, sciatica is when environmental factors impact or compress the sciatic nerve, causing pain-like symptoms to the lower extremities. (Davis et al., 2024) Since the sciatic nerve is large and travels down to the feet, it allows mobility to the lower extremities. When many individuals experience low back pain, they will also experience sciatica.
Sciatica also means that pain will always be transmitted along the sciatic nerve root, leading to various impairments and socioeconomic consequences and affecting a person’s quality of life. (Siddiq et al., 2020) Many of the causes of sciatica pain can vary as they are all correlated with low back pain. Some of the various environmental factors that can cause sciatica include:
Physical inactivity
Excessive sitting or standing
Poor posture
Musculoskeletal conditions
Another environmental factor that leads to the development of sciatica is disc degeneration. This can cause the nerves to be irritated due to herniation and cause asymptomatic overlapping risk profiles (Zhou et al., 2021). When people are dealing with the overlapping risk profiles of sciatica, many often seek treatment to reduce the pain and restore mobility to the lower extremities.
Sciatica: Causes, Symptoms, & Tips- Video
How Chiropractic Care Reduces Sciatica
Since sciatica is commonly experienced as a frequent symptom cause of low back and leg pain, the symptoms can range from a mild tingling sensation to a burning sensation, and treatment is needed. Many individuals will seek out non-surgical treatments to reduce the pain caused by sciatica. Non-surgical treatments are non-invasive, affordable, and customizable to the individual. One of the non-surgical treatments is chiropractic care, which can help many individuals dealing with sciatica. A chiropractor can diagnose a person’s sciatica and assess the root cause of the symptoms to provide the most appropriate form of treatment. The main goal for chiropractic care is to restore the natural mobility of the spine and provide progressive relief from pain and stiffness in the lower extremities while improving a person’s daily living. (Kruse et al., 2019)
Chiropractic Care Restores Lower Back & Leg Mobility
Chiropractors utilize manual and mechanical spinal manipulation to increase lumbar spinal mobility and flexibility and improve the legs biomechanically. (Siciliano et al., 2024) Chiropractic treatments can also use various methods like neural mobilization intervention to decrease the pain and restore nerve function in the lower extremities and lower back. (Peacock et al., 2023) This allows individuals to have a reduced disability from sciatica associated with low back pain, and it is possible to prevent sciatica from occurring in the future. As many people begin to become more mindful of what is causing their sciatica, they can find effective ways to improve their spine’s well-being and prevent sciatica symptoms from affecting the lower extremities.
Kruse, R. A., White, B. A., & Gudavalli, S. (2019). Management of Lumbar Radiculopathy Associated With an Extruded L4-L5 Spondylolytic Spondylolisthesis Using Flexion-Distraction Manipulation: A Case Study. J Chiropr Med, 18(4), 311-316. doi.org/10.1016/j.jcm.2019.02.001
Peacock, M., Douglas, S., & Nair, P. (2023). Neural mobilization in low back and radicular pain: a systematic review. J Man Manip Ther, 31(1), 4-12. doi.org/10.1080/10669817.2022.2065599
Siciliano, T. B., Gudavalli, M. R., & Kruse, R. (2024). Spinal manipulation and mobilization forces delivered treating sciatica: a case report. Front Integr Neurosci, 18, 1356564. doi.org/10.3389/fnint.2024.1356564
Siddiq, M. A. B., Clegg, D., Hasan, S. A., & Rasker, J. J. (2020). Extra-spinal sciatica and sciatica mimics: a scoping review. Korean J Pain, 33(4), 305-317. doi.org/10.3344/kjp.2020.33.4.305
Zhou, J., Mi, J., Peng, Y., Han, H., & Liu, Z. (2021). Causal Associations of Obesity With the Intervertebral Degeneration, Low Back Pain, and Sciatica: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne), 12, 740200. doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2021.740200
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