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Posture

Back Clinic Posture Team. Posture is the position in which an individual holds their body upright against gravity while standing, sitting, or lying down. A proper posture visually reflects an individual’s health, ensuring the joints and muscles, as well as other structures of the body, are working properly. Throughout a collection of articles, Dr. Alex Jimenez identifies the most common effects of improper posture as he specifies the recommended actions an individual should take to improve their stance as well as enhance their overall health and wellness. Sitting or standing incorrectly can happen unconsciously, but recognizing the issue and correcting it can ultimately help many individuals develop healthier lifestyles. For more information, please feel free to contact us at (915) 850-0900 or text to call Dr. Jimenez personally at (915) 850-0900.


Low Back Support Pillow

Low Back Support Pillow

The low back is made up of five vertebrae, L1 to L5. Pain in the low back is common, specifically because of all the sitting at work, school, and home. Individuals dealing with low back pain know how difficult it can be to sit without discomfort and have found that a low back support pillow can help.

Low Back Support Pillow

Low Back Support Pillow

A lumbar pillow is a pillow that supports the low back region of the spine. Different types include:

  • Lumbar rolls.
  • Lumbar pillows for sleep or laying down.
  • Vented lumbar pillows that allow airflow.
  • Specially shaped pillows made from materials like memory foam.
  • Lumbar pillows can be used on any chair at the office or home.
  • They are also helpful for travel with small-sized versions that can be packed and easy to carry.

How Lumbar Pillows Help

According to the CDC, the average adult spends around 6.5 and 8 hours a day sitting. Constant sitting hurts the body, specifically the spine and the back muscles, and is a significant cause of muscle stress. Properly supporting the low back helps remove the stress and strain. A low back support pillow can help correct sitting posture.

Pillow Options

There are plenty of options for low-back support pillow shapes, sizes, fillings, and materials. These include:

  • Memory foam.
  • Gel options.
  • Down and down-alternative.
  • No-fill lumbar support pillows offer airflow.
  • Some look like a half-cylinder in shape, rectangular, and curved.

Personal preference and comfort are different for everybody, and it could take some trial and error to find the right lumbar pillow. Some pillows are customizable, allowing the ability to add or remove filling as needed. Talking with a spine specialist, orthopedist or chiropractor can help in figuring out what type is best. Pillows come in various price ranges, with some at $10-15, while others can cost $100 or more. However, any pillow that provides enough support for the low spine’s natural curvature can work. It is important to be comfortable and supported to prevent pain and injury no matter where you sit.


Body Composition


Fermentable and Nonfermentable Fiber

The entire body can host trillions of beneficial bacteria. The majority live in the intestines and are referred to as the gut microbiome. Also known as the forgotten organ, these bacteria have a say in the body’s composition and overall health. The beneficial bacteria thrive on fermentable fiber, and fermentation in the gut produces short-chain fatty acids like:

  • Acetate.
  • Propionate.
  • Butyrate.
  • These help suppress gut inflammation and can reduce the risk of various digestive disorders like:
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Crohn’s disease.
  • Ulcerative colitis.

Foods that are rich in fermentable fibers include:

  • Oats
  • Barley
  • Fruit
  • Vegetables
  • Cereal fibers that are rich in cellulose, like wheat bran, are nonfermentable.
References

“What is Memory Foam?” Sleep Foundation, Seattle, WA. August 2020. www.sleepfoundation.org/mattress-information/what-is-memory-foam

“Association Between Sitting Time and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors After Adjustment for Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Cooper Center Longitudinal Study, 2010–2013.” Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA. December 2016. www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2016/16_0263.htm

“Ergonomics for Prolonged Sitting.” The University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA. www.uclahealth.org/spinecenter/ergonomics-prolonged-sitting

“Workplace sitting is associated with self-reported general health and back/neck pain: a cross-sectional analysis in 44,978 employees.” BMC Public Health, London, UK. May 2021. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33957889/

Walking With Correct Posture

Walking With Correct Posture

Most individuals don’t think about how they walk or whether they are walking with the correct posture. Knowing how to walk with the proper technique and posture can help:

  • Ensure the bones and joints maintain proper alignment.
  • Decrease abnormal wear and tear on the joints, muscles, and ligaments from awkward positions.
  • Prevent neck, back, hip, and leg pain.
  • Reduce muscle aches and fatigue.
  • Reduce injury risk.
  • Improve balance, stability, and mobility.

Walking with the correct technique and posture is not complicated but requires individuals to stay aware of standing and moving.

Walking With Correct Posture

Correct Posture

Walking is a physical activity that involves the whole body. It helps to focus on each part of the body to understand how to walk correctly fully.

Head-Up

  • Focus on standing straight with the chin parallel to the ground and ears aligned above the shoulders.
  • Imagine the head being pulled gently upwards by an invisible string attached to the sky/ceiling.
  • This can help prevent dropping the head into the chest while walking.
  • Maintain eyes forward and gaze.
  • Focus on an area about 10 to 20 feet ahead when walking.

Straighten and Extend the Spine

  • Focus on extending the spine while walking.
  • Avoid slouching, hunching, or leaning forward. This stresses the back muscles.

Relaxed Shoulders Down and Back

The shoulders have a role with posture and technique. Shoulders that are tense or hunched forward can strain the muscles and joints in the shoulders, upper back, and neck. When walking, perform the following:

  • Raise the shoulders as high as they will go in a shrugging motion, then let them fall and relax.
  • Shoulder shrugs will help relieve tightness or tension.
  • This places the shoulders in a natural position that allows for easy arm movement.
  • Keep the shoulders loose and relaxed.
  • Shoulder shrugs while walking can help ensure that the shoulders are relaxed and in the correct position.

Swing the Arms

Walking correctly can be helped by gently swinging the arms back and forth at the sides.

  • Make sure to swing the arms from the shoulders, not from the elbows.
  • Do not swing the arms across the body.
  • Do not swing the arms up too high.
  • Keep them around the midsection, not around the chest.

Engage the Body’s Core

The core muscles have an essential role and help the body move with ease.

Step Heel to Toe

Step in a steady heel-to-toe gait.

  • The foot should hit the ground with the heel first.
  • Then roll through the heel to the toes.
  • Push out of step with the toes.
  • Avoid flat-footed steps and/or landing with the toes first.

Injury Prevention

To prevent injury or overuse wear and tear on the muscles and joints, it is recommended to avoid the following:

Looking down too frequently

  • Looking down at the ground or phone too much places unnecessary strain on the neck.

Do not take long strides

  • The power comes from pushing off of the rear leg.
  • Overstriding places stress on the lower leg joints.

Rolling or swinging the hips

  • The hips should stay as level as possible.

Slouching

  • This will help avoid back and shoulder strain.

Wearing the wrong shoes

  • Wear the right shoes when walking for more than a few minutes.
  • Shoes should fit comfortably.
  • Provide arch and heel support.
  • Well-cushioned to absorb the shock of the feet hitting the ground.

Benefits of Correct Posture

The physical and mental benefits of proper posture and optimal walking technique include:

Alleviation of muscle and joint pain

  • Walking properly will avoid placing unnecessary stress and strain on the muscles, ligaments, and joints.

Increased energy

  • Walking with incorrect/awkward posture can wear out the muscles faster, whereas walking with proper form helps conserve energy.

Improved breathing

  • Walking with the shoulders back allows the lungs to fill and expand fully. This makes breathing more manageable and efficient.

Improved circulation

  • When the body is properly aligned and moving correctly, it’s easier for the blood to circulate throughout the body.

Digestion improvement

  • When the internal organs are not compressed from awkward postures, the body digests food more efficiently and increases blood flow to the digestive tract.

Enhanced core strength

  • The abdominal muscles gain strength and power from walking correctly.

Reduced headaches

  • Keeping the head straight, not bending forward, can help reduce neck strain, leading to reduced headaches.

Improved balance

  • Correct posture improves balance and less prone to falling.

Correct gait and posture are not complicated but do take some practice to develop healthy habits. For any issues with gait or back problems, talk to a doctor, physical therapist, or chiropractor about technique improvement.


Body Composition


Ten-Thousand Steps Speed and Distance

Before deciding to put in the walking distance and time, speed also needs to be considered. Calories burned from walking depend on the intensity, or speed, of the walk. The average walking speed is about 3 miles per hour and the number of calories burned depends on walking speed.

  • A leisure 30-minute walk at two mph yields a burn of 102 calories
  • Moderate intensity of 3.5 mph in the same 30-minute walk increases to burn 157 calories.
  • The faster the pace, the greater the heart rate.
  • The more calories are burned covering the same distance.
  • However, reaching 10,000 steps can almost entirely be irrelevant if not careful with a stable caloric intake.
References

Buldt, Andrew K et al. “The relationship between foot posture and lower limb kinematics during walking: A systematic review.” Gait & posture vol. 38,3 (2013): 363-72. doi:10.1016/j.gaitpost.2013.01.010

Common posture mistakes and fixes. (2019). nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/common-posture-mistakes-and-fixes/

The cost of being on your toes. (2010). Archive.unews.utah.edu/news_releases/the-cost-of-being-on-your-toes/

Hackford, Jessie et al. “The effects of walking posture on affective and physiological states during stress.” Journal of behavior therapy and experimental psychiatry vol. 62 (2019): 80-87. doi:10.1016/j.jbtep.2018.09.004

Perfecting your walking technique. (n.d.). health.harvard.edu/exercise-and-fitness/perfecting-your-walking-technique

Proper walking technique. (n.d.). mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/multimedia/proper-walking-technique/img-20007670

Posture Exercises To Do At Work

Posture Exercises To Do At Work

Posture exercises: It is easy to get into the bad habit of poor/improper posture, especially at work where an individual gets into a groove and continues without thinking about their posture. Not until discomfort and pain begin to present do individuals start thinking about what is causing the issues. This usually includes:

  • Back pain
  • Shoulder pain
  • Neck pain
  • Tight/Compressed spine

They don’t realize that all these issues are brought on by prolonged sitting and practicing improper posture.  Individuals that practice proper posture:

  • Sleep better
  • Move better
  • Have reduced to no aches and pains
  • Digestion improves
  • Organ function improves
  • Have better overall health

Being aware of proper posture is the first step in being able to maintain it. When you feel the spine starting to curve, shoulders hunching, or the back sway, stop and take a moment to reposition the body back into proper alignment.

Posture Exercises To Do At Work

Seated Posture

Proper posture means sitting, standing, or walking in a position with little to no strain on the body’s muscles and ligaments. Good seated position means:

  • Sitting with the back straight and shoulders back.
  • Having all of the natural curves of the spine in alignment.
  • Keeping the knees bent at a right angle with the feet flat on the floor.
  • The weight is distributed evenly to both hips.
  • Keep the arms at 90 degrees to the torso, using the armrests or on a desk.
  • When looking at a computer monitor, keep it at a position where you are looking straightforward.
  • Use a chair with lower back support.
  • Even when sitting with good posture, it’s important to avoid sitting in the same position for more than 30 minutes.
  • Regularly stand up, walk around, and stretch out.

Posture Exercises

Posture exercises will help to strengthen the back, neck, and shoulders. They also help as a reminder for maintaining good posture throughout the day.

Shoulder Lift and Release

When sitting down for long periods, individuals tend to develop hunched shoulders. It is caused by an imbalance of muscles in the neck and upper back. Specific muscles in the neck, specifically the pectoralis major and minor, become shortened and tight. The other muscles in the upper back, the trapezius,latissimus dorsi, and rhomboids, weaken and stretch out. These muscles can be stimulated by stretching throughout the day.

  • Sit in your chair with your feet flat on the floor and spine straight.
  • Pull the shoulders up towards the ceiling.
  • Hold them there for three to five seconds.
  • Let the shoulders drop.
  • It is recommended to repeat 5 to 6 times every hour.

Shoulder rolls

Another exercise for avoiding rounded/hunched shoulders.

  • Sit in your chair with your feet flat on the floor and spine straight.
  • Take a breath in.
  • Lift the shoulders towards the ears.
  • Move the shoulders back.
  • Squeeze the shoulder blades together.
  • On the exhale, finish the rotation by dropping the shoulders back to a neutral position.
  • Repeat 5 to 6 times every hour.
  • The exercise can be done in the opposite direction.

Neck rolls

Forward head posture, aka text neck, can develop. Neck rolls are recommended throughout the day.

  • Lean your head towards the right shoulder.
  • Relax the neck and let your head roll towards your chest.
  • Continue rolling your head towards the left and up and around back to the starting position.
  • Perform at least 3-4 neck rolls every few hours.
  • Repeat the exercise and change direction.

Trapezius stretch

The trapezius is a major muscle group in the upper-middle section of the back and the neck. The trapezius is responsible for moving the shoulder blades and extending the neck. Stretching these muscles regularly will help maintain good posture.

  • Sit in your chair with the spine straight and feet flat on the ground.
  • Place the right hand over the top of your head.
  • Gently pull your head towards the right shoulder.
  • Perform one to three times for each side.
  • Hold the pose for 30 to 60 seconds.

Arm rotations

This exercise can help maintain back and shoulder alignment. This can be performed sitting or standing.

  • Stretch out the arms to the sides with palms facing downward.
  • While keeping the spine straight, move the arms in small circles.
  • Perform ten repetitions rotating the arms forward, then backward.
  • Perform 3-4 sets.

Doing these posture exercises at your workstation regularly will help improve and maintain proper posture and minimize the risk of back, neck, and shoulder pain.


Body Composition


Fitness for Long-Term Health

Muscle building isn’t only for bodybuilders and athletes. Everyone can benefit from building their Lean Body Mass for long-term health. It is crucial to monitor Lean Body Mass changes by having body composition measured. Body composition analysis divides the body’s weight into various components.

  • Fat Mass
  • Lean Body Mass
  • Basal Metabolic Rate
  • This will give a clearer picture of overall fitness and health.

Building Lean Body Mass is an investment in the body’s future. The more LBM that is built, the more is in reserve when the body needs it. But before adding protein shakes and resistance workouts to the daily regimen, there needs to be a plan. The first step to building healthy lean body mass is to measure how much there is with a body composition analysis.

References

Biswas A, Oh PI, Faulkner GE, et al. Sedentary Time and Its Association With Risk for Disease Incidence, Mortality, and Hospitalization in Adults. Ann Intern Med. 2015;162:123-132. doi:10.7326/M14-1651. Accessed January 7, 2017.

Ergonomics for Prolonged Sitting. UCLA Spine Center Web site. spinecenter.ucla.edu/ergonomics-prolonged-sitting. Accessed January 7, 2017.

Florido R, Michos E. Sitting Disease: Moving Your Way to a Healthier Heart. U.S. News & World Report. health.usnews.com/health-news/patient-advice/articles/2015/09/14/sitting-disease-moving-your-way-to-a-healthier-heart. Published September 14, 2015. Accessed January 7, 2017.

Fortner, Miles O et al. “Treating ‘slouchy’ (hyperkyphosis) posture with chiropractic biophysics®: a case report utilizing a multimodal mirror image® rehabilitation program.” Journal of physical therapy science vol. 29,8 (2017): 1475-1480. doi:10.1589/jpts.29.1475

Levine JA. What are the risks of sitting too much? Mayo Clinic Web site. www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/sitting/faq-20058005. Published September 4, 2015. Accessed January 7, 2017.

O’Connor B. Sitting Disease: The New Health Epidemic. The Chopra Center Web site. www.chopra.com/articles/sitting-disease-the-new-health-epidemic. Accessed January 7, 2017.

Wolfe, Robert R. “The underappreciated role of muscle in health and disease.” The American journal of clinical nutrition vol. 84,3 (2006): 475-82. doi:10.1093/ajcn/84.3.475

Anterior Pelvic Tilt Downward Posture Hip and Back Pain

Anterior Pelvic Tilt Downward Posture Hip and Back Pain

APT is short for anterior pelvic tilt.  APT is when the pelvis tilts more down than forward, which can cause strain on the surrounding muscles and the spine to hold the torso up. The body’s own anatomical structure causing the condition and/or part of a bad habit that an individual has grown accustomed to. This can be from injury/s, back, and/or hip pain causing an individual to take on awkward postures to compensate for the discomfort and try and avoid it. However, these unhealthy postures cause their own set of musculoskeletal problems. Addressing this form of poor posture can help reduce and alleviate low back and hip pain and prevent further injuries.  Chiropractic can pinpoint an anterior pelvic tilt and fix it.

Anterior Pelvic Tilt

What happens is the pelvis becomes tilted or rotated forward. Place the hands, specifically the fingertips, on the hips. There are bone ridges. These are the iliac crests. If they’re facing more toward the ground than directly forward, this could be an anterior pelvic tilt. It usually happens when the hip flexors become tight and pull the pelvis down. Another contributor is the glute and hamstring muscles have weakened and are not strong enough to counteract the forward pulling. This can be caused by sitting for long periods, poor posture, and for women who wear high heels regularly. These contribute to tightening the hip flexors and the glutes, hamstrings, and core muscles.

Anterior Pelvic Tilt Downward Posture Hip and Back Pain

 

An anterior pelvic tilt causes an increase in the curve of the lower back. It can feel like the hip flexors are tightening up. It typically affects the lower back at the lowest two levels, which are L4-5 and L5-S1. There can be long-term issues if an anterior pelvic tilt is left untreated. The spine becomes more vulnerable to disc issues that can include:

  • Compressed degenerative disc
  • Disc tears, aka annular tears
  • Disc bulges
  • Herniation

Exercises

An anterior pelvic tilt is a repairable condition. Several exercises can help loosen/relax the hip flexors and strengthen the core and posterior muscle chain. This in addition to walking and reducing wearing high heels regularly. A few exercises for anterior pelvic tilt.

The Tail Tuck

This is literally trying to tilt the tailbone forward, like tucking in an imaginary tail. This can be done for 10-12 reps and up to 3 times.

Plank

Core-strengthening exercises can help with all types of back and hip problems. If possible, do the exercises in front of a mirror to ensure no arching of the back or the butt sticking out. If it is too difficult on the hands, go to the elbows. If there are wrist or shoulder issues, planks can be done on a raised surface, like a table or couch. Hold as long as possible, maintaining proper form. Start with 10-30 seconds and build up to minutes.

Strengthening the Glutes

It is recommended to strengthen the glute muscles. This can be done with exercises like clams or side-stepping with resistance bands. For clams, lie on the side and raise each leg up and down 10-12 times, up to 3 sets. For side-stepping, place resistance bands around the ankle/shin area and step to the side for 8-10 steps. Then go the other direction for the same number of steps. Repeat up to 3 sets.

Hip Flexor Stretch

Lunge forward while standing or lunge and kneel with the other leg on the ground. Then move the torso back a little and engage the core to stretch the hip flexors in the front of the thigh/pelvis area. Hold for 30 seconds, then release. Repeat 3-5 times per leg.

Lifestyle

These exercises can help, but if there is no progress around a month, contact a qualified chiropractor or physical therapist for further instruction and supervision. Also, if any neurological symptoms present like:

  • Sciatica
  • Shooting pain
  • Numbness
  • Tingling
  • Weakness
  • See a doctor as soon as possible.

Fixing posture-related problems require individuals to learn to be posture aware along with making some lifestyle adjustments. One way to do these exercises is to tack them onto a workout. Also, set reminders on a calendar to get up, stretch, and move around if sitting most of the day.


Body Composition Health


Difference between Processed sugar and Natural sugar

There are different types of sugar. There are natural sugars that are found in:

  • Fruits
  • Vegetables
  • Nuts
  • Whole grains
  • Beans

All sugar is broken down into glucose. However, foods that contain natural sugar are also rich in nutrients, including:

  • Vitamins
  • Minerals
  • Fiber
  • Protein
  • All which the body requires for optimal health.

Natural sugar does not lead to excess sugar intake; it happens with processed sugar. Processed sugar is extracted from sugarcane or sugar beet and is normally found as sucrose. This is present in cakes, cookies, cereal, and beverages. Processed sugar is also hidden in foods that are not sweet, like:

  • Microwave meals
  • Spaghetti sauce
  • Low-fat yogurt
  • Ketchup
  • Sports drinks

Foods that contain processed sugar are an energy source, but they contain little or no nutrients and can cause blood sugar levels to spike. In addition, consuming too much sugar is linked to an increased risk of:

  • Diabetes
  • Accelerated aging
  • Weight gain

Research has found that added sugar contributes to around 17% of the total calorie intake for adults. The recommended daily amount of calories from added sugar is 10%.

References

Azaïs-Braesco, Véronique et al. “A review of total & added sugar intakes and dietary sources in Europe.” Nutrition journal vol. 16,1 6. 21 Jan. 2017, doi:10.1186/s12937-016-0225-2

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (May 2020) “Acute Low Back Pain” www.cdc.gov/acute-pain/low-back-pain/index.html

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (March 2020) “Low Back Pain Fact Sheet” www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Low-Back-Pain-Fact-Sheet

Orlando Health. (2019) “Bad Posture Often to Blame for Chronic Pain and Health Issues, But Survey Finds Too Few Americans Are Concerned” www.orlandohealth.com/content-hub/bad-posture-often-to-blame-for-chronic-pain-and-health-issues

Improper Posture Can Cause All Types Of Body Pain

Improper Posture Can Cause All Types Of Body Pain

Improper posture affects the whole body and can lead to various pain issues throughout the body. Correcting posture is recommended before trying to correct it when pain begins to present. If pain is presenting, chiropractic treatment will bring relief, stabilize the spine, realign/balance the body, and educate the individual on maintaining proper posture through stretches, exercises, physical therapy, and lifestyle adjustments.  

Improper posture symptoms

Neck Pain

Discomfort, stiffness, tightness, and pain are common when sitting at a workstation. This comes from a forward head/head jutting position. The head pushes forward and is not aligned with the shoulders. This means that the neck takes on a compromised position. The head forward position places significant strain on the neck muscles. Because of this neck discomfort and pain often occur later in the afternoon and evening. If not sure whether head jutting is taking place, try placing the chin to the chest. If not able or if there is discomfort/pain in the upper back, there is some forward head jutting.

Shoulder Discomfort and Pain

When we sit for extended periods, the body relaxes muscles that would normally be used if standing. One set of muscles is in the upper back. This causes slouching with a rounded upper back/shoulders. The more time the body stays in any one position, the more it begins to conform to the unhealthy position. This also causes pain in the upper, front part of the shoulders. The pain is noticeable when trying to bring the arm/s overhead or when trying to perform exercises like pushups or pullups.

Regular Headaches

Regular headaches are another symptom of improper posture. Forward head posture is usually a contributor combined with the long hours sitting or standing. However, headaches can be caused by a variety of causes that include:

  • Stress
  • Tension
  • Dehydration

Low Back, Tailbone Discomfort, and Pain

Lower back pain is a very common symptom of improper posture. For individuals under 40, pain and discomfort present because of improper posture while sitting or standing and a lack of stretching and exercise. Sitting for a long time causes the muscles that bring the thighs towards the chest, known as the hip flexors to be consistently flexed, with no relief. This causes the hip flexors to shorten and tighten. This pulls the pelvis out towards the front of the body, creating an exaggerated spinal curve.

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 128 Improper Posture Can Cause All Types Of Body Pain

Buttocks or Stomach Pushes Outward

Take a look at the body’s profile, does the butt and/or stomach stick out? If so this could be hyperlordosis also known as Donald duck posture. This can come from wearing high heels too much, the body having to carry extra weight in the stomach area, and sometimes this comes from pregnancy. Sometimes, this happens when individuals stand with their knees locked. This causes the rear end and/or belly to push out.

Correcting Improper Posture

The main problem with correcting posture is the ability to maintain proper posture. Many individuals go back to the unhealthy positioning without recognizing that they are doing it. There are devices to help correct poor posture habits. This could be a brace or harness that detects when the body is slouching and vibrates to let the individual return to a proper position.

Chiropractic Care and Physical Therapy

The most effective and thorough way to correct years of improper posture is to see a professional chiropractor. A complete diagnosis, inspection, and analysis of an individual’s posture when sitting, standing, walking, and running will be done. They will educate the individual on correct posture, how to achieve and maintain it. If pain is presenting, the chiropractor will take steps to correct any subluxations, misalignments, and develop a personalized treatment plan, to heal the body first. Treatment modalities can include:

  • Chiropractic adjustments
  • Physical therapy
  • Massage
  • Heat therapy
  • Infrared
  • Ultrasound
  • TENS device
  • Health coaching
  • Nutritional advice

Once the body has healed and is moving freely, the doctor will recommend exercises and stretching programs to do at home. This will improve and help maintain proper posture. An experienced musculoskeletal professional will keep the body balanced and prevent further injuries.


Body Composition


Hydrating the body with water or a sports drink

Many individuals prefer drinking sports drinks during and after physical activities, sports, and exercise. Many are opposed to water because of the lack of taste, while sports drinks have taste and added electrolytes. But many sports drinks have added ingredients and sugars. This makes them not the best choice for individuals trying to lose calories. Take a look at some of the additional ingredients:

Electrolytes

Minerals, like potassium, sodium, and magnesium, have an electric charge that helps maintain the body’s ionic balance. The body loses electrolytes when sweating. A sports drink can help replace the lost electrolytes.

Carbohydrates

Most of the carbohydrates come from sugars. Carbohydrates are one of the body’s energy sources and sports drinks are designed to refuel the body after hard physical activity.

Amino acids

These are protein building blocks. Drinking a sports drink after an intense workout can help the body recover quicker. Therefore, some of the additional ingredients in sports drinks offer hydration extras that water on its own cannot. However, water should always be the first drink of choice. But there are certain times when a sports drink is what the body needs.

  • When participating in high-intensity physical activities, workouts, sports that last longer than 45 minutes to an hour. Here a sports drinks can help replenish the body’s electrolytes better than water.
  • Individuals that sweat high levels of sodium (look for sweat stains/rings on skin or clothing) can benefit from re-hydrating with a sports drink.
  • Endurance athletes, triathletes, marathon runners, long-distance athletes, etc can also benefit from a sports drink, from the increased fluid loss.
  • In these activities, athletes should make sure the sports drink they are consuming contains carbohydrates and electrolytes.

Disclaimer

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional, licensed physician, and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified health care professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the musculoskeletal system’s injuries or disorders. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and support, directly or indirectly, our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, CTG*
email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com
phone: 915-850-0900
Licensed in Texas & New Mexico

References

Hao, Ning et al. “Enhancing creativity: Proper body posture meets proper emotion.” Acta Psychologica vol. 173 (2017): 32-40. doi:10.1016/j.actpsy.2016.12.005

Jaromi, Melinda et al. “Treatment and ergonomics training of work-related lower back pain and body posture problems for nurses.” Journal of clinical nursing vol. 21,11-12 (2012): 1776-84. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2702.2012.04089.x

O’Connor B. Sitting Disease: The New Health Epidemic. The Chopra Center Web site. www.chopra.com/articles/sitting-disease-the-new-health-epidemic. Accessed January 7, 2017.

 

The Body’s Proper Spinal Alignment Achieved Through Chiropractic Repair

The Body’s Proper Spinal Alignment Achieved Through Chiropractic Repair

When a machine isn’t working correctly because the mechanism’s parts have slipped, shifted, become loose, and are on the verge of breaking down, an expert/professional is called in to repair the damaged parts. The same can be said of the spine. From all the movement at home, work, shopping, activities the spine also compresses and falls out of place becoming misaligned. That’s when individuals need to call a chiropractor to repair/realign the spine. The spine is an integral component of the body’s functionality and health. This includes:  
  • Structure
  • Support
  • Flexibility
  • Shock absorption
  • Protection of the neural tissues
 
11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 128 The Body's Proper Spinal Alignment Achieved Through Chiropractic Repair
 

Healthy Spinal Alignment

  For the spine to operate at its best proper alignment is necessary. The spine is impacted by everyday activities that shift, jolt, bounce, and stress the spine. Exacerbating the regular wear and tear includes:     Spinal misalignment disrupts the essential functions that can lead to illness/disease. Some simple ways to assess individual spinal alignment.  
  • The ears, shoulders, hips, and knees should be aligned with each other. From side to side when facing straight forward
  • Spinal rotation can be assessed by bending forward and touching the toes. Have a mirror or someone to look for a rib hump that is also used in scoliosis screening
  • The head, shoulders, and spinal curves align from the side in general creating an S shape
  Every individual’s spine varies significantly. This is why a professional chiropractic examination, diagnosis, and customized treatment plan will maximize spinal alignment and overall health.  
11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 128 The Body's Proper Spinal Alignment Achieved Through Chiropractic Repair
 

Chiropractors are the Expert Repair Specialists

  Chiropractors are specially trained at spotting spinal misalignment/s and repair. This is done non-invasively through manual adjustments and mobilization techniques. When the spine is in optimal alignment it will prevent and activate the body’s natural healing abilities. Once spinal alignment is achieved the chiropractor can help maintain proper alignment with exercise, health coaching, lifestyle adjustments, and nutrition to maximize individual health.

Body Composition

 

 

A partner, spouse, friend, co-worker, professional for maintaining health

  Finding someone to share the highs and lows during an individual’s health journey will significantly help relieve stress and continue to be motivated. It can be a spouse, best friend, coworker, or licensed professional. When an individual vocalizes their thoughts and feelings, they gain confidence in their ability to handle whatever comes their way. This is an individual that will help navigate the negative emotions by listening and providing advice and encouragement. Take some time every week to share successes, failures, goals, etc. Whatever comes to mind to just get it out there so it can be evaluated and broken down into manageable parts. The great thing about sharing is that it can inspire positive changes.  

Disclaimer

  The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional, licensed physician, and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified health care professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the musculoskeletal system’s injuries or disorders. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and support, directly or indirectly, our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.   Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP, CIFM, CTG* email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com phone: 915-850-0900 Licensed in Texas & New Mexico  
References
  Diebo, Bassel G et al. “Sagittal alignment of the spine: What do you need to know?.” Clinical neurology and neurosurgery vol. 139 (2015): 295-301. doi:10.1016/j.clineuro.2015.10.024   Caprara, Sebastiano et al. “Spinal sagittal alignment goals based on statistical modeling and musculoskeletal simulations.” Journal of biomechanics vol. 102 (2020): 109621. doi:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2020.109621   Senzon, Simon A. “The Chiropractic Vertebral Subluxation Part 10: Integrative and Critical Literature From 1996 and 1997.” Journal of chiropractic humanities vol. 25 146-168. 6 Apr. 2019, doi:10.1016/j.echu.2018.10.008
Body Awareness, Position, Movement, and Chiropractic Adjusting

Body Awareness, Position, Movement, and Chiropractic Adjusting

Individuals do not have a poor posture on purpose. It becomes a habit that just goes on until discomfort or pain present. Body awareness is known as proprioception. Proprioception is known as muscle sense or joint position sense. This is the subconscious nature of the body’s understanding of its position in space and the ability to position ourselves comfortably. Achieving proper and healthy posture means there needs to be a constant mindset of staying aware of how the body is positioned. Then regular adjustments of body position are required to maintain healthy body awareness and from getting into bad habits. To illustrate this consider walking forward in complete darkness. The body knows its relative position even without seeing and understands its existence in space. This is a function of the brain.  
11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 128 Body Awareness, Position, Movement, and Chiropractic Adjusting
 
It is part of the subconscious and so have little to no control over it. Because of this individuals begin to lapse into poor poster habits. An example tilting the head when looking forward or all the way down when checking the phone. Over time, these bad habits contribute to spinal misalignment. This is where chiropractic can help individuals realize their proprioception tendencies and actively relearn and strengthen positive body awareness and break away from negative postural habits.  

Body Awareness Habits

Laying the groundwork for correction of body awareness involves understanding the body’s unconscious habits and the damage that is occurring. Chiropractic is highly effective for outlining what is happening with the help of radiological imaging and spinal curvature benchmarks. Once an individual begins to understand how their posture and spine health are being affected, they can make adjustments to combat this. This requires constant vigilance by the individual to actively realize and correct proprioception.  
 

Optimal Body Exercises

For individuals that have engaged in dysfunctional habits for years, a chiropractor may recommend optimal loading exercises. This process involves teaching how to better balance the body for optimal posture development. For example, a chiropractor will have a patient strengthen a weak leg that is shifting the body’s weight to the other dominant leg that results in unbalanced weight distribution causing hip and back pain. Another example of optimal loading may include executing a series of motions/movements with the non-dominant side. The goal of optimal loading is to train the brain to balance the body in a healthier fashion, instead of reverting to a bad habit.  
11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 128 Body Awareness, Position, Movement, and Chiropractic Adjusting
 

Ergonomics

Ergonomics can also help correct dysfunctional proprioception. They can help to address specific defaults of the subconscious. For example, the positioning of a computer screen at the correct height and angle can improve the habit of turning or tilting the head. Another example is utilizing custom foot orthotics to balance the feet and prevent pronation. A chiropractor can determine exactly where the ergonomic intervention will have a significant effect in correcting dysfunctional proprioception.  
 

Chiropractic Relief

Chiropractic postural adjustments, optimal loading exercises, and ergonomics are all recommended tools in rehabilitating and preventing bad posture habits. Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic will explore every possible approach to help patients understand and overcome the body�s bad habits, and help them achieve optimal spine health.

Body Composition


 

Muscles get weaker with too much sitting

When sitting the gluteal muscles, abdominal muscles, and legs become dormant. Sitting for extended periods day after day causes these muscles to begin to degenerate. Metabolism is linked with body composition. Having more muscle increases metabolism and helps the body burn more calories. Any muscle loss, especially from the lower body which is the largest muscle group, can lead to progressive fat gain if the diet is not adjusted. With time gradual muscle loss from the lower body can hurt functional strength, and older age increases the risk of falls and affects the quality of life.  

Dr. Alex Jimenez�s Blog Post Disclaimer

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*  
References
Corliss J. Too much sitting linked to heart disease, diabetes, premature death. Harvard Health Blog. www.health.harvard.edu/blog/much-sitting-linked-heart-disease-diabetes-premature-death-201501227618. Published January 22, 2015. Accessed January 7, 2017. Ergonomics for Prolonged Sitting. UCLA Spine Center Web site. spinecenter.ucla.edu/ergonomics-prolonged-sitting. Accessed January 7, 2017. Florido R, Michos E. Sitting Disease: Moving Your Way to a Healthier Heart.�U.S. News & World Report. health.usnews.com/health-news/patient-advice/articles/2015/09/14/sitting-disease-moving-your-way-to-a-healthier-heart. Published September 14, 2015. Accessed January 7, 2017.