It is with utmost respect and great humility for our community that we received this amazing chiropractic award. I thank God, our patients, staff, family, friends, colleagues and many others for this. We feel very bless in being considered. It is an award that we did not expect to receive, nevertheless humbly appreciate and accept. All of us at the office and rehab center share in this commendation. Being considered with these fine peer doctors gives all of us here a great sense of highly respected accomplishment. We will alway remain steadfast and ready to take care of all our patients no matter the complexity of their musculoskeletal issues. For over 25 years we have devoted ourselves to improve the lives of every loving soul walking through our doors. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. God Bless… Dr. Alexander D. Jimenez D.C.,C.C.S.T
The following was published on Public Register. Congratulations! You are now listed as one of the Top 3 Chiropractors in El Paso, TX. We want to Thank You for providing consistent high quality in your area of business. Our review team either approved or updated your business listing after checking customer reviews, history, complaints, ratings, satisfaction, trust, cost, and general excellence.
Dr. Alexander Jimenez DC
11860 Vista Del Sol, Suite 128
El Paso, TX 79936
Dr. Alexander Jimenez, DC
6440 Gateway East Building B,
El Paso, TX 79905
Businesses DO NOT pay us to list them ever. You DO NOT pay us for the listing any time. We believe that local businesses provide better and personal services locally. Local businesses know your city better since they live there too. Our policy is free to list because if you can pay to list, is it really the best business?
It has been an honor and a pleasure to work with you.
It�s obvious that Posture has become the new buzzword surrounding physical health and wellbeing over the past few years. We don�t have to look very far to understand why. Though there are many potential causes for poor posture, there�s no doubt the most widespread cause of our current posture dilemma is a direct result of our obsession with and our dependence on mobile devices. Tablets, smartphones and other technologies are not only a luxury but a necessity in our day-to-day lives.
It�s nearly impossible to avoid the onslaught of news articles and video segments cautioning the public of the harmful effects of long-term mobile device use on spinal health. As a result, our patients (and potential patients) are becoming increasingly aware of this issue as well.
This is great awareness, right?
The media is doing the hard work for us by effectively and efficiently reaching millions of people currently affected �by this epidemic. Arming them with information and questions they need to ask their healthcare providers in order to work towards finding a solution to their problem.
Perfect. That�s us, right?
Now, all we have to do is deliver the correct treatment regimen and the patient walks out of our office with perfect posture, a smile and the quality of life they�ve always dreamed of. Well� Not so fast�
Where do I go from here? Spinal function or spinal structure?
Unfortunately, like most of you are probably thinking at this very moment, it�s not that simple. But, why not? Shouldn�t it be? At one point in our careers, likely as na�ve chiropractic students in our first few trimesters, fixing spines was the ideal we were all hoping to achieve when we became doctors. Then, something changed.
Let�s reflect for a moment on the core principle our great profession is built upon;
bone(s) out of place ? nerve interference ? dis-ease and dys-function
From a global spinal perspective, it looks like this;
cervical curve loss & forward head posture ? nerve interference
? dis-ease and dys-function
As a young student this principle offered our analytical minds an objective means of measuring our success as a future spine care specialist;
correct the abnormal structure ? improve nerve function ? maximize health potential
Unfortunately, we were never taught how to correct abnormal structure and as we continued through the �clinical� trimesters in school we heard less and less about the importance of spinal structure and the overwhelming focus began to land on spinal function. Confused, conflicted, yet anxiously awaiting our release into the real world, we then began to put less and less importance on spinal structure as well and we carried that philosophy with us to our clinical practices. Likely thinking, structural spinal correction was merely for theoretical discussion and not practical application in a clinical setting.
Herein lies a major conflict. The very principle we were taught as the foundation of our careers is now something most of us have been encouraged to disregard because it�s too difficult to achieve, it�s too time consuming, it�s not possible, etc., etc.
Putting more focus towards structural spinal correction is the way forward.
Fortunately for our patients and ourselves, the structure dictates function principle is still very alive and well within us and I believe the latest advancements in traction technology will allow us to incorporate this principle with each of our patients like never before.
Throughout the next 10 months I, along with a few special guest contributors, will be engaging and challenging doctors around the world to take the lead in their communities to begin changing people�s lives by integrating cervical curve remodeling and posture correction into their existing treatment protocols.
We will be using a variety of information disseminating platforms such as blogs, infographics and ebooks to share case studies. Also, treatment protocols and latest advancements in cervical spine remodeling devices will be put in place to demonstrate how quickly and easily cervical curve remodeling and posture correction can be integrated into your existing clinic(s).
We care about posture. We care about quality of life.
Our goal is to create a collaborative, productive discussion. We are taking the lead and fighting this posture epidemic in the communities we serve. I encourage you to reach out and share your questions and ideas with us.
By Dr. Alex Jimenez
Doctors of Chiropractic Offer Tips for Good Posture
Proper Posture has become a passing thing that is�no longer paid attention to. However, through proper posture people would not be in�pain or in some form of disablement. The time has come to bring proper posture awareness.
Chiropractic adjustment has various applications. From the treatment of chronic pain and pre-existing conditions to early or sudden onset pain. Perhaps most frequently cited, sufferers of back and neck pain, sciatica, migraines and more have found relief from chiropractic medicine.
In fact, many medical doctors recommend that their patients seek chiropractic care for a variety of conditions before seeking more invasive measures such as surgery. This sentiment was (echoed by the American Medical Association) as recently as 2013.
Relieving Back & Neck Pain
Roughly 80% of adults have experienced back pain at some point. (In a study by Consumer Reports), �14,000 sufferers were surveyed. None of these individuals had undergone back surgery of any type. By the end of the study, Chiropractic adjustment was rated as the #1 treatment option.
At the conclusion of the twelve-week study, patients who underwent regular chiropractic adjustments were twice as likely to be pain free as those who were treated with medication. (Further research demonstrates) the validity of chiropractic adjustments as easily seen via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Patients with lower back pain often experience limited mobility in the lumbar spine region that produces degeneration as well as adhesions within the joints of the vertebrae. When patients received an MRI scan following a chiropractic adjustment, the imaging showed an increase in spinal gapping. This breaks up the adhesions, allows the joints to move freely, and lead to a reduction in pain.
Headaches and Migraines
Chronic head pain, including migraines is another common condition that chiropractic adjustment can provide relief for. Through manipulation, chiropractic medicine is able to relieve pressure off of the nerves and provide relief. Headache and migraine sufferers may find long-term relief with continued adjustments, resulting in lessening the severity of symptoms or the frequency of onset.
There is also published research showing the validity of these treatment options. In an (Australian study that tracked 127 migraine sufferers), those who received regular chiropractic adjustments reported a decrease in migraine attacks as well as the need to take less medication.
Considering the rising costs of healthcare, specifically prescription medication, mitigating pharmaceutical costs can provide extra benefits.
Foundation for Chiropractic Progress
In Support of Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care is becoming increasingly more widespread. Support from medical research and organizations such as The American Medical Association, as well as high profile supporters such as Tiger Woods, Jerry Rice, Aaron Rodgers have helped bring the treatments into the mainstream.
Today, Chiropractic medicine is practiced all over the world, and is an increasingly popular as well as effective form of treatment for a variety of conditions, including but not limited to the ones mentioned above.
(Some more statistics)
Utilizing chiropractic adjustments for treatment of back pain may help save Medicare costs by more than $80 million per year.
Back pain sufferers whose first point of treatment included a medical doctor or surgeon, went on to receive surgery 42.7% of the time. For sufferers who sought chiropractic adjustment first, surgery only occurred 1.5% of the time.
Chronic pain sufferers who sought treatment through chiropractic adjustment experienced a 20% reduction in overall care costs.
Is Chiropractic Adjustment Right for You?
The effectiveness of chiropractic adjustment in treating chronic and recent onset conditions is supported through research, scientific study, as well as patients just like you. If you are suffering from pain or discomfort in your neck, back, joints, or elsewhere,�contact a well qualified Chiropractor near you.
About the Author:
Dr. Alec�with Proactive Chiropractic and Rehab Centre extensively studied human anatomy, physiology, radiology, kinesiology and post graduate seminars in topics such as herniated disc, whiplash, functional movement, car accident rehabilitation. With over 10 years of experience, Dr. Alec helps care for patients with back pain, neck pain, headaches, knee pain, shoulder pain, foot pain, whiplash, etc. Treatment services include: spinal decompression therapy, functional rehabilitation, active release technique, gua sha, electro-stimulation, intersegmental traction, hands-on chiropractic adjustment, instrument assisted chiropractic adjustment and rehabilitation. Dr. Alec takes pride in providing individualized treatment for each patient, with lasting results.
Some People don’t believe in Chiropractic Treatment. However, chiropractic care is becoming increasingly widespread through�medical research. And�top supporters, such as Tiger Woods, Jerry Rice, and Aaron Rodgers have helped to bring�chiropractic�treatment into the mainstream.
Dr. Eric Goodman is the creator of Foundation Training, a highly effective protocol. Foundation Training focuses on body weight exercises that integrate as many muscles as possible to strengthen and elongate your core and posterior chain � which includes all the muscles that connect to your pelvis, whether above or below it � thereby alleviating many chronic pain issues.
The protocol has evolved over the years, and I�ve interviewed Goodman twice before, in 2013 and the most recent two years ago in 2014, covering various updates.
Goodman, who is trained as a chiropractor, is a pioneer in the world of structural biomechanics. His program teaches you to optimize your posture, thereby decreasing bodily pain and your risk of exercise injury.
�The idea is really simple. Our body is made to help itself. As long as we can get the muscles to align it properly, our breathing patterns to align properly, our pelvic muscles to be more stabilized, our posture will involuntarily become stronger,� he explains.
�My education is in chiropractic. I�m licensed in Colorado and California, but I only really see patients if they need an adjustment for some reason that they can�t do the poses.�
Why Foundation Training?
While in chiropractic school, Goodman developed severe low back pain. His doctors suggested surgery, which he wisely rejected. Instead, his own pain set him on the path of discovering a long-term solution, which ultimately resulted in Foundation Training.
�My passive care was good. I was getting chiropractic care. I was being stretched. I was being massaged and worked on. But I wasn�t strengthening my spine myself. That�s the difference that I made,� he explains.
�I don�t think that I will ever negate chiropractic, because I love chiropractic. I love the ability and capacity to align the body, align the nervous system and create a very good environment for different process to occur.
[But] if you�re going to get your neck adjusted, I want your neck to stay long and strong afterwards, because that�s what�s going to stop you from having that same adjustment again a week later.�
While obsessively studying anatomy, alignment and exercise in an effort to resolve his back pain, Goodman began to notice that he, and many other people who were in pain, could not move the way the body was designed to move, and this was causing a degenerative effect � and those who were moving properly were able to regenerate and increase strength, while reducing injury and pain.
�I was in chiropractic school. I really understood the body well. I decided that this is going to become an obsession. I�m going to figure this out. I can�t become a doctor, have patients come to me that are asking for my advice on an injury that I have that I can�t fix. It�s not OK.
So, over the course of about four years, I did that. I became very obsessed. I used my anatomy knowledge. I used my understanding of exercise.
I was a personal trainer actually long before a chiropractor. Foundation Training is what I came up with. It�s what I do for myself every single day, and it�s what I�ve been extraordinarily fortunate to teach to thousands of people at this point.�
The secret to Foundation Training lies in its simplicity: no gyms, no specialized equipment and no complicated stretches. By incorporating a series of powerful movements into your daily routine, you can move better, breathe better and get back to using your body the way nature intended.
Addressing Back Pain
Low back pain is a very common problem, and the most common reason why people seek out Foundation Training. In the video below, Goodman demonstrates a back extension exercise that is particularly helpful for back pain relief.
The premise is simple. By strengthening the muscles in your back, they will keep your spine properly braced through all the movements you do as you go about your day-to-day life.
Overall, about 7 out of 10 people who learn Foundation Training do so to address back pain, 2 out of 10 seek to improve their sports performance and the remaining 10 percent typically seek to address knee pain, neck pain, jaw pain, plantar fasciitis, carpal tunnel and other chronic pain.
How to Get Started With Foundation Training
In addition to their latest book, �True to Form,� Foundation Training offers a variety of ways to get the benefits of their system, including their free videos on their website at www.FoundationTraining.com.
Foundation Training also offers certification for clinicians, practitioners, trainers and instructors who are looking to share this groundbreaking and highly effective protocol with their clients and patients.
�There are probably more people using our free videos to get well than using our DVDs and books,� he says. �That�s awesome. That�s why we have free videos.
Our latest book, �True to Form,� is our illustrative process of bringing Foundation Training into your everyday activities � brushing your teeth, waking up from bed, reaching into the refrigerator, whatever, how to apply very simple movement patterns that make you stronger while you do that.
Then if you want to really get into it, we have DVDs and we have a new streaming website. If you�re really into it � come to our workshop or certification. If you come to our workshop and you decide you want to go through a certification, we take the amount of money you paid on the workshop, 100 percent of it, off the cost of the certification.�
While millions of people have gotten started through the free Foundation Training videos, the optimal way to get the most out of Foundation Training is the comprehensive step-by-step program offered on their website or a certified Foundation Training instructor.
The Importance of Posture for Ease of Movement and Health
As noted by Goodman, �Posture is a beautiful thing, except when it�s messed up.� Indeed, while I see many people walking the beach during my daily walks, poor posture is the norm, with hunching being one of the most prevalent posture problems. Indeed, �standing tall� is so basic yet most have forgotten how to do it. When you stand tall, your muscles actually work more effectively.
�We naturally adapt towards our chosen method of absorbing gravity � �Our muscles absorb force � Whether they�re contracting or expanding, they are absorbing or providing force. If you take the opportunity of gravity � this ever-present weight of your own body � and simply provide 5 percent more energy in absorbing it, 5 percent more conscious effort throughout the day, it�s going to change your life forever. It�s going to have people reacting to you differently. It�s going to have you reacting to things like anxiety differently. You�re going to feel the difference of a closed airway and an open airway.
You�re going to feel the tightness of your jaw from the head traveling to forward, contracting the back of your neck when you�re in a bad posture � You start interacting with people like a confident human being interacts.�
Patience and Practice
Most people have poor posture these days. Besides chronic peering down on your smartphone or tablet and excessive sitting, which encourages poor posture unless you�re paying careful and active attention to your body at all times, we�ve also been taught certain posture strategies that actually worsen posture rather than improve it.
Pulling your shoulders back to straighten your posture is one example. As noted by Goodman, this is a �compartmentalized correction� at a place that�s not actually causing the problem. More than anything else, the places that cause the problems in posture are the upper and lower ends of your spine.
A very basic explanation is that your upper and lower spine should be pulling away from each other, not compressing or falling toward each other. So the back and top of your head needs to be pulling away from your tailbone, straight up and neither forward nor backward.
As for how long it might take to correct your posture, it clearly depends on your individual and specific circumstances: how long you�ve had poor posture, how much time you dedicate to corrective exercises and the extent of your postural problems.
�It may be a matter of weeks to months. I believe for some people it may be a year [to complete] the whole process. [But] they�re going to be feeling better along the way. They�re going to notice incremental changes. They�re going to see that their body is supporting itself better steadily. They�re thinking about it less. They�re feeling less pain. They�re feeling better posture. That�s when the real changes start to happen. But there�s no set timeline.�
Walking 101
Walking is foundational for optimal health, and walking with good posture can really maximize your benefits. Your choice of footwear can have a significant influence here. When walking in sneakers or heels, your heel is raised higher than your toes. This in turn makes your arch tighter, which completely alters your range of motion. So, to start, walk barefoot or find a pair of zero-drop shoes.
The rationale behind walking barefoot has to do with plantar flexion, the shortening of the muscles on the back of your ankle and the lengthening of the muscles at the front of your ankle and shin. When walking barefoot, you alter the way the back of your body absorbs force for the better.
Dorsiflexing is a tremendously important piece of walking. This is where you�re lifting the top of your foot toward your shin. When you�re walking with plantar flexion (due to wearing heels), you rarely dorsiflex, thereby contracting and shortening the muscles of your shin.
�That�s Step 1, making sure that there is good dorsiflexion in every step,� Goodman says. �Literally lift the top toes away from the ground. Lift the balls of the feet away from the ground and try to spread your feet a little bit. That will allow your hips to follow a much more natural range of motion. As your feet dorsiflex, it triggers these muscles of the inside and outside of your legs.
Those muscles have internal rotation capacity and external rotation capacity. Both of which are very important for walking � The ability of the adductors, the medial hamstring, the muscles of the inner part of the thigh, the inner upper part of the thigh, to contract during a walk, to spin that hip a little bit more neutral towards straight ahead �
Long story short, range of motion of the hips is so significant to walking. That range of motion is limited most frequently in people at the feet with plantar flexion, excessive plantar flexion or excessive external rotation.�
Head Posture While Walking
The other piece of the puzzle is the location of your head. Most people walk as if they�re sniffing their way forward, head leading the rest of the body. A more natural posture is to lift your chest upward, which allows your shoulders to lift and your chin to retract more or less automatically. So think: �Chest up, chin back.� Initially, this may feel and even look a bit awkward, but you�ll notice it�s a significantly more powerful way to walk, allowing you to engage more muscles.
�If you simply focus on chin back, chest up, shoulders big, broad, not backing down but out � if you focus on that � you�re going to be walking very different. You�re going to experience this really rhythmic counterbalance in your walk. When the right foot comes forward, the shoulder comes forward on the opposite side.
It�s just these nice little muscular glutes, hamstrings, calves, adductors across the body to the opposite shoulder and pec � So many muscles involved. It�s the SCMs that are very important as well to keep that chin back, chest up function happen.�
Preventing iPhone Neck and Dowager�s Hump
The chest up, chin back posture will not only make you look better, but proper posture may also help prevent osteoporosis and significantly reduce your risk of developing a dowager�s hump, which tends to be quite common among the elderly, and women in particular.
This forward slumped posture tends to be related to chronic improper posturing that worsens over time, eventually leading to the development of rigid intractable calcifications. The beginning of the progression of the dowager�s hump is typically the loss of thoracic extension.
�I think the lack of movement and stagnation in bone leads to calcification and typical degenerative changes. Degenerative changes along with spine make it less mobile � It supports it because the muscles aren�t, the discs aren�t. It puts very rigid support structures in place.
Now, can you imagine 20, 50 years from now, when it�s 60 or 70 years after cellphones and iPads came around, the dowager�s humps, we can start calling them the iPad hump � The younger you are, the more capacity you have to be plastic, to engage your body�s natural tendency to respond to stimulus in such a fashion that will get better and better at doing the thing you�re asking it to do.
If you�re often asking it to look down at your phone, please often ask it to lift your chest up, to pull your chin back and to just stand very firm on the ground. Just look at your phone while keeping your chin back and chest up.�
According to Goodman, even if you�ve already started to develop a slight hump, chances are you�ll be able to significantly improve your alignment provided your spine has not yet calcified. Exceptions might be if you have ankylosing spondylitis (AS) or diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH). Naturally, the younger you are, the more room for improvement there is.
One important aspect of Foundation Training is what Goodman refers to as compression breathing. With his breathing protocol, you literally re-educate the muscles surrounding your axial skeleton, the spine of your rib cage, teaching them to be in a state of expansion rather than contraction. You�ll find a demonstration of this technique in the video above, followed by another founder exercise.
�[This breathing technique] is something that�s always going to set our work aside from everything else. Not better. Not worse. Different. It�s an accessory,� Goodman says.
�Decompression breathing, which can be taken and applied to any movement, any exercise, any activity � will do more for your spine, more for your chest and neck, more for your dowager�s hump � than anything else I can possibly teach you. The unique thing about it is our specific protocol of learning how to engage the diaphragm more appropriately by drastically strengthening the muscles that surround the rib cage.�
Here�s a quick summary of the compression breathing exercise demonstrated above:
Position your feet so that the OUTSIDE of your feet are parallel. This will make it appear as though you�re standing slightly pigeon-toed
Pull your chin back and lift your chest
Place your thumbs at the bottom of your rib cage, and your pinkies on your pelvic bone
With each breath, your aim is to increase the distance between your thumb and pinky fingers, as well as increase the width of your upper back. This occurs as you elongate the back of your rib cage. Each inhalation expands your rib cage, and each exhalation will keep the abdomen extended and tight. So each in-breath fills up your rib cage, and each out-breath maintains the height and width of your rib cage
Repeat five to 10 rounds with three to four breaths per round
More Information
You have many options when it comes to learning Foundation Training. You can start by reading through or listening to my previous interviews with Goodman, �How Foundation Training Can Help You Maximize Strength and Freedom of Movement� and �New and Revised Foundation Training Exercises Add Even Greater Health Benefits.�
For free video demonstrations and tutorials, be sure to check out FoundationTraining.com and the free videos they have available at their site. For even more in-depth information, pick up Goodman�s latest book, �True to Form: How to Use Foundation Training for Sustained Pain Relief and Everyday Fitness.� Join Foundation Training Connect or check out their free resources at FoundationTraining.com/free-resources.
Just remember, the key is to actually DO the exercises. Just reading about them or watching a video will do you no good. The good news is, even if you�re wheel-chair bound, you can perform the compression breathing exercises, which will, at bare minimum, help you breathe better.
�I have a friend that is [in a wheelchair] and we do some of those workouts. He�s a very good guy from Oklahoma City, but had a very tragic accident. I really hope I get to spend some more time with that guy and see what we can do just based on breathing,� Goodman says.
Foundation Training is a�program that teaches you to optimize your posture. By getting the muscles, breathing patterns, and pelvic muscles to be aligned properly and more stabilized, our posture will involuntarily become stronger,� decreasing bodily pain and risk of injury.
While automobile accidents are the most common cause of whiplash, it must be noted, that these aren�t the only possible incidents behind the well-known injury. Any type of accelerated motion which thrusts the head forward and then backwards with extreme force from the entire body can lead to whiplash. Accidents from sports can also cause whiplash-associated injuries but auto accidents are the most prevalent.
The unexpected jolt of the head can damage the complex structures of the cervical spine, leaving the tendons and ligaments within the neck intensely irritated and inflamed. Furthermore, the tendons and ligaments as well as other tissues of the neck may become overly stretched and torn.
A whiplash type injury may be suspected if the individual involved in an automobile accident experiences the following symptoms: neck pain and stiffness; worsening pain with movement; loss of range of motion in the neck; headaches, most often starting at the base of the skull; tenderness or pain in the shoulder, upper back or arms; tingling or numbness in the arms, fatigue and dizziness. Other individual�s may experience: blurred vision; ringing in the ears; sleep disturbances; irritability; difficulty concentrating; memory problems; and even depression. While these are some of the most common symptoms of whiplash, they may also suggest the presence of another type of injury or condition resulting from the automobile accident.
Thus, it�s essential to visit a qualified healthcare professional who can properly identify a whiplash injury and offer the required treatment to eliminate the resulting pain and symptoms.
Apart from assessing the doctor�s experience and qualifications, the victim of an automobile accident must primarily consider their geographical location and the type of insurance they are covered by when deciding on the type of doctor to visit following a whiplash type injury. Other factors that should influence the affected individual�s decision include whether they are represented by an attorney and whether they are living in a state where PIP, or personal injury protection, is mandatory.
Whiplash Specialists
A large number of people who�ve suffered injuries from auto accidents fail to receive the kind of medical care they require, occurring more frequently in the case of whiplash victims. It has been previously determined that the outcome of the patient�s rehabilitation depends on the type of doctor they receive care from.
Many individuals who�ve been involved in an automobile accident, regardless of the severity of the collision, will generally visit the emergency room, or ER, to have their injuries evaluated. The majority of ERs are designed to take patients out of life threatening situations. First, they immediately assess any visible injuries, such as open wounds and broken bones, treating them effectively on the spot. They may even prescribe medications to temporarily relieve the painful symptoms following a traffic collision. However, many victims are not treated for their whiplash injuries. The trained specialists from the ER, provide first-aid, X-rays and medications to remove individuals from life-threatening situations but they don�t readily treat soft-tissue injuries like whiplash. From there, patients are sent to see their primary care physician, or PCP, to assess the rest of their injuries, yet, they may still face hardships to finally receive the proper care they deserve for their injuries.
Primary Care Physicians and Whiplash
Unfortunately, many primary care physicians are not specifically qualified to treat automobile accident injuries and many of these may even deny patients treatment. For many years, whiplash-associated disorders have been misunderstood in the medical field. Many doctors believe whiplash is not a legitimate injury, however, those whom are suffering from whiplash can account for how painful it could really be.
Other doctors refuse treatment to whiplash patients because they may not accept any kind of 3rd party billing, a paying method where the doctor seeing the car accident victim has to bill the party at fault�s insurance company or utilize PIP or med pay to receive compensation.�This is a commonly well-known reason for denial of treatment as a large number of primary care physicians, or PCPs, still don�t have the required authorizations to accept 3rd party billing.
Besides primary care physicians, medical doctors, orthopedics, chiropractors and physical therapists are several types of qualified healthcare professionals that specialize on treating automobile accident injuries such as whiplash. Among these, chiropractic treatment is the most popular, alternative treatment option for treating various soft tissue injuries or conditions.
Chiropractic Care for Whiplash
A wide number of people belonging to the legal and medical industry will disregard the idea of visiting a chiropractor to treat auto injuries. However, the fact is that a chiropractors are some of the only doctors who offer therapeutic treatments to accident victims. Treatment offered by medical doctors might include the use of drugs, although in many cases, they may also recommend physical therapy. This automatically highlights the importance of chiropractic care for whiplash victims because chiropractic care and physical therapy are very similar forms of treatment.
Whenever an individual who�s been involved in an automobile accident visits a chiropractor and complains of pain in the neck, the medical specialist will carry out a series of tests to determine whether the patient has suffered whiplash. Instead of focusing solely on the specific injury, chiropractors are trained to inspect the affected individual�s entire spine. Aside from soft tissue injuries like whiplash, chiropractic doctors may also check for: disc trauma or injury, tightness or tenderness, restricted mobility, muscle spasms, joint injuries, ligament injuries, posture and spinal alignment. They may also analyze the patient�s gait.
Besides checking for the above, chiropractors might also request X-rays and MRI of the patient�s spine in order to find out whether the spine features any degenerative changes which might have developed before the accident. To offer the best possible treatment, it is extremely important to determine which problems existed prior to the accident and which ones resulted from the accident. In most cases, insurance companies may argue that every single injury in the victim�s body is preexisting. This makes the role of the chiropractor considerably important as they will make sure to document all the previous and new injuries separately to ensure the insurance company pays for the patient�s treatment. In addition, the evaluation performed by the chiropractor also allows them to create the most effective treatment plan for each individual whiplash victim.
Stages of Treatment
The primary concern for chiropractors treating individuals who�ve experienced whiplash-associated disorders involves alleviating the inflammation in the neck, one of the main sources of pain for victims. Chiropractors often recommend ice therapy, or the application of ice pack against the affected area, multiple times a day. This remedy is capable of reducing both pain and inflammation. Once the inflammation subsides, they often carry out a variety of manual therapeutic techniques to restore and increase the individual�s strength, flexibility and mobility.
The kind of chiropractic treatment the individual will require depends largely on the severity of the whiplash encountered. However, it has been previously determined that the majority of individual�s with whiplash find spinal manipulations useful. The most common chiropractic treatment techniques involve, spinal adjustments and manual manipulations, to carefully re-align the structures of the spine and help reduce symptoms. The following spinal techniques are also used to treat whiplash injuries:
Instrument-assisted, this treatment involves the use of handheld instruments to provide a gentle massage by applying force onto the spine without utilizing any kind of thrust. Instrument-assisted chiropractic therapy is used mostly to treat older patients with degenerative joints; flexion-distraction, this technique involves the use of a non-thrusting motions, best described as a slow pumping action; specific spinal manipulation, this therapy involves the use of a mild thrusting technique and is mostly used for restoring motion to the affected joints. Specific spinal manipulation helps stretch the soft tissues, which makes the job of restoring motion to the affected areas of the spine easier; instrument-assisted chiropractic therapy, also known as the Graston Technique, is used during this form of chiropractic therapy to perform repetitive strokes on the injured body part; therapeutic massage, performed to ease muscle tension and stress in the injured region; interferential electrical stimulation, where a patient undergoing this type of therapy will see the chiropractor passing electrical current at a very low frequency through their body. This low frequency current helps stimulate the muscles and reduces inflammation; trigger point therapies, as the name suggests, involves the application of direct pressure onto specific points to alleviating muscle tension; and finally ultrasound therapy, capable of decreasing stiffness, pain, and muscle spasms in the affected areas. When ultrasound is passed through the patient�s muscle tissues, it warms up the treated region and increases blood circulation.
Neck Pain and Auto Injury
Chiropractic Recovery
Ultimately, chiropractors can help victims of whiplash in many ways. These health care providers can ensure that an individual� whiplash and its associated symptoms may subside completely. They always make sure to create a patient-specific treatment plan to make the process of recovery simpler for every individual.
Other than recommending immediate treatment for reducing the acute pain and inflammation, the chiropractor might additionally recommend a series of stretches and exercises, to help speed up the rehabilitation process as well as help increase the individual�s strength, flexibility and mobility.
Whiplash injuries, when left untreated, can cause severe complications. If you or a loved one have been involved in an automobile accident, visit a chiropractor immediately. By being prompt, you can even reduce your recovery time significantly. That�s not all; the chiropractor will also provide the required assistance to your lawyer, proving that the injury resulting from the accident wasn�t a preexisting injury or condition.
When you are injured in a car accident, you must get acquainted with your rights as soon as possible to receive the proper compensation and treatment for your specific situation. There is no such thing as a simple car crash.
Certain injuries or conditions which may have developed following an automobile accident may become chronic or permanent if left untreated. If an individual is experiencing neck stiffness or headaches after a traffic collision, it�s absolutely wrong to assume that this will subside in a few days. A minor discomfort could turn out to be a more serious complication. Often, people injured in auto accidents develop scar tissue that remains with them throughout the rest of their lives and without the necessary treatments or exercises, these can become stiff and greatly limit an individual�s ability to move properly. The above issues generating from a car accident show how important it is for people to seek immediate legal and medical help. Chiropractors are known for their expertise in managing soft tissue injuries and the resulting chronic and traumatic pain; as a result, they are often considered to be the best healthcare professionals to consult after a car accident.
Symptoms of neck pain that radiate to the shoulders and down the arms can be caused due to a variety of injuries and conditions, most occurring as the result of complications to the cervical spine and its surrounding structures. A subluxation, or spinal misalignment is one of the most common results of neck and back pain, however, the gradual degeneration of the spine can also create issues over time if not treated accordingly.
A cervical disc herniation is a frequent complication caused by the wear and tear of the tissues around the cervical spine, primarily a degeneration of the discs found cushioning each vertebra of the spine. This condition originates in the upper spine and can generally be referred to as a pinched nerve, ruptured disc or a herniated disc.
Anatomy of the Cervical Spine
The upper region of the spine is commonly described and identified by healthcare professionals as the cervical spine, which primarily functions to support the weight and movement of the head. The cervical spine is made up of seven vertebrae, from top to bottom, C1 through C7. Each vertebrae in the neck is separated by intervertebral discs which consist of a fibrous tissue, known as the annulus, with a soft nucleus at the center. The annulus and the nucleus that make up each disc function simultaneously to provide each vertebra of the spine to absorb the shock of every movement of the spine as well as help the pressure of these be distributed evenly, separating each vertebrae individually to allow smooth movements.
However, when the annulus of one of these intervertebral discs ruptures, the nucleus can occasionally separate from the center of the disc. If this occurs, the disc is no longer able to properly separate the vertebrae as this process alters the natural shape of the discs, which could often lead to the compression and irritation of the spinal nerves. The symptoms of pain, discomfort and numbness experienced in the neck, shoulders and arms can be closely associated with the compression and irritation of the nerves surrounding the cervical herniated disc.
Causes of Cervical Disc Herniation
The gradual degeneration of the different structures of the body which occurs naturally over time is one of the most common causes of cervical disc herniations, although, these can generally develop until a person is in his 40�s. Other causes for cervical disc herniation includes trauma from improperly lifting heavy objects, equipment or machinery or from other physical activities such as an abrupt, intense twist. Additionally, cervical spine complications may be caused due to damage or injury resulting from an automobile accident or other personal injury accident.
Whiplash is a common injury caused due to the sudden force of an impact, which results in the jolting, back-and-forth motion of the head and neck in any direction, most commonly due to an auto collision. During a whiplash-associated injury, the structures that surround the cervical spine, primarily the tendons, ligaments and nerves, are stretched beyond their natural limit, partially or completely tearing the tissues around the cervical spine. Furthermore, the normal alignment of the spine may be affected, causing a subluxation in the vertebrae of the neck.
As a result, the intervertebral discs found between each vertebrae can become ruptured, leading to the compression or irritation of the spinal nerves, causing symptoms of pain and discomfort, among others, associated with a cervical disc herniation.
Symptoms of Cervical Disc Herniation
Cervical disc herniation could be the cause of an individual�s painful symptoms in their neck, shoulders, and/or arms. The following symptoms could suggest the presence of a cervical disc herniation, however, it�s essential to visit a healthcare professional to receive a proper diagnosis and similar symptoms could suggest the presence of another injury or condition.
Pain, discomfort, or burning sensations originating from the neck and traveling down one or both arms;
Pain with movements of the head or neck;
Pain in the shoulder region;
Tingling or numbness in one or both arms;
Weakness in one or both arms;
Limited mobility or difficulty properly moving the neck, arms or hands;
Difficulty sleeping due to neck, shoulder and/or arm pain.
Diagnosing Cervical Disc Herniation
Your healthcare provider should be able to properly refer you to the best doctors and specialists in the region to properly diagnose your injuries and/or conditions before following through with treatment. Chiropractic care is a common, alternative treatment options that is preferred by many individuals with spine complications. Chiropractic specialized on the diagnosis and treatment of injuries and conditions associated to the musculoskeletal and nervous systems.
Foremost, when visiting a chiropractic office, the chiropractor will perform a thorough physical evaluation to determine the exact cause of the symptoms. In addition, the spine specialist may also take a closer look at the individual�s medical history, including previous test results and prior doctor visits. If necessary, the doctor of chiropractic may issue additional tests if necessary, including X-rays and MRI scans. Once the healthcare professional has concluded the diagnosis and has resolved the source of the symptoms, they will provide the patient with information regarding their injury or condition as well as cover the risks and benefits of each treatment option which may be available to the individual. The chiropractor will determine the individual�s best treatment options according to their specific type of injury or condition and depending on their severity.
Chiropractic Care for Cervical Disc Herniation
Chiropractic treatment utilizes spinal adjustments and manual manipulations to carefully restore the natural alignment of the spine, gradually re-aligning the vertebrae to reduce the pressure being applied against each structure. Chiropractic adjustments and manipulations can ultimately help decrease the compression and irritation of the spinal nerves, relieving the symptoms associated with cervical disc herniation. Subsequently, by reducing the individual�s pain and discomfort, their original strength, flexibility and mobility may also be gradually restores, helping them return to their normal lifestyles in no time.
Additionally, a chiropractor may recommend a series of stretches and exercises to speed up the rehabilitation process. Also, certain lifestyle changes may be implemented to ensure the recovery process proceeds smoothly without further issues. Physical therapy can also be an excellent treatment option to provide the patient with the necessary strength, flexibility and mobility to regain their original way of life.
In conclusion, in the instance that the individual is in need of further treatment through the use of other medical procedures, a chiropractor may refer the individual to other spine specialists that can provide other beneficial treatments and curative methods. In severe cases of cervical disc herniation, a patient may be referred to a spinal surgeon for treatment.
Chiropractic Care and Headaches
Complications affecting the cervical spine, such as a cervical disc herniation, can develop a variety of other symptoms, including headaches. Constant head pain can source from many types of issues along the upper region of the spine, commonly manifesting after an automobile accident or other form or personal injury accident. Fortunately, chiropractic treatment can help restore the original function of the structures surrounding the cervical spine, decreasing the symptoms, including headaches, improving the individual’s lifestyle.
For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .
By Dr. Alex Jimenez
Additional Topics: Neck Pain and Auto Injury
After being involved in an automobile accident, the tremendous force of the impact can cause damage or injury to the body, primarily to the structures surrounding the spine. Whiplash is a common result of an auto collision, affecting the bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments and other tissues around it, causing symptoms such as neck pain. Neck pain is a common symptom after an automobile accident, which may require immediate medical attention to determine its source and follow up with the appropriate treatment.
This Sunday over 111 million people will tune into watch the SuperBowl. Behind the scenes both teams and coaches have been fine tuning their game plans as they prepare for the biggest game of their lives. As part of the players preparation there have been a few lucky individuals with direct access to care for these athletes. �Referred to as the �magic workers� by some players these men are the team Chiropractors who serve both the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots.
For the last 12 years, Dr. Gerry Ramogida and Dr. Jim Kurtz have had front-row seats to the spectacle of NFL games as chiropractic consultants for the Seattle Seahawks. Attending every game, �Dr. Ramogida was supposed to stay with the team for just a couple of years so he could show the trainers how to use some of his soft-tissue techniques. But as players got used to getting adjusted by him on�game days, a temporary job turned into a permanent one.
�There�s so much behind the scenes that you don�t get a sense for when you�re watching a game. It�s a massive effort. I am just happy to be a part of the preparation as these guys get ready to go out and do what they do best, compete.�
In a interview with Global News�Dr. Ramogida stated, �Over the period of that first season and into the next year, things very quickly became integrated. It�s been a great experience,� he says.
In recent news, The Professional Football Chiropractic Society (PFCS) has taken pride in announcing that all 32 teams in the National Football League offer their players and personnel chiropractic physician services as part of the triage in managing and preventing injuries. According to the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress, this distinction is a benchmark for the profession and documents the important role that chiropractic care plays in optimizing athletic performance.
�The robust need for chiropractic care in the NFL has been deeply driven by the players� desire for peak physical conditioning and not simply for injuries,� states Spencer Baron, D.C., �From the earliest years of full contact football, their bodies are subject to structural stress that doctor of Chiroprctic (DCs) are specially trained to care for. �
Attending this weekend to the New England Patriots is Dr. Mike Miller. �Over twenty five years ago he became the official chiropractor of the New England Patriots. Since that time, he�s treated hundreds of players, watched ownership of the team change hands three times, and seen the Patriots go from one of the worst franchises in the National Football League to a team readying themselves to play in the Superbowl this weekend.
In a interview with Dynamic Chiropractic Dr. Miller states that his position with the Patriots involves him being present during mini-camps, training camp, preseason games, regular-season games (both home and away), and postseason games.
During the games, I see an average of at least 40 players, coaches, and other personnel who are affiliated with the team. I would say just about 90 percent get chiropractic services, because the present coaching staff of the Patriots has almost mandated chiropractic care with the players. The coaches speak about it at team meetings, as the new players and rookies come into the team in the preseason. During mini-camps, they explain the significance of chiropractic, and that we have a chiropractor who has had phenomenal results in dealing with injuries and preventing them from occurring, and that they would like the players to proactively be treated [by] me and begin a chiropractic course of care.
During the season, if there are any injuries, they (the medical staff) will generally send the player to my office to be evaluated. By game time, just about everyone on the roster is adjusted, and you start to learn the idiosyncrasies of each player, because each one wants certain things checked on them. Some are very firm with extremity adjusting; others enjoy use of a specialized technique that we use, called Graston Technique. Basically, it takes me about four hours before the game to go through the entire roster.
The NFL has just released a statement advocating for�all NFL teams as now employing a Chiropractor as part of their medical staff.
If you are interested in learning more about how to be an NFL Chiropractor you can connect with the Professional Football Chiropractic Association�on their website or on their Facebook page.
No matter what the outcome of this weekends game may be, rest assured that both teams will have been well adjusted and their nervous systems tuned on and ready to perform on the biggest stage of all.
Behind the bright lights of the stadium, there is another team that keeps these players and their performance at their optimal level. The healers�if you will, that audiences don’t see, but should know about. These are the Chiropractors!
IFM's Find A Practitioner tool is the largest referral network in Functional Medicine, created to help patients locate Functional Medicine practitioners anywhere in the world. IFM Certified Practitioners are listed first in the search results, given their extensive education in Functional Medicine
Head Posture While Walking
he could show the trainers how to use some of his soft-tissue techniques. But as players got used to getting adjusted by him on�game days, a temporary job turned into a permanent one.
In a interview with Dynamic Chiropractic Dr. Miller states that his position with the Patriots involves him being present during mini-camps, training camp, preseason games, regular-season games (both home and away), and postseason games.
