Back Clinic Chiropractic Spine Care Team. The spine is designed with three natural curves; the neck curvature or cervical spine, the upper back curvature or thoracic spine, and the lower back curvature or lumbar spine, all of which come together to form a slight shape when viewed from the side. The spine is an essential structure as it helps support the upright posture of humans, it provides the body with the flexibility to move and it plays the crucial role of protecting the spinal cord. Spinal health is important in order to ensure the body is functioning to its fullest capacity. Dr. Alex Jimenez strongly indicates across his collection of articles on spine care, how to properly support a healthy spine. For more information, please feel free to contact us at (915) 850-0900 or text to call Dr. Jimenez personally at (915) 540-8444.
Chiropractic can help with a wide variety of health conditions, particularly those involving the spine. Your chiropractor�s ability to adjust your spine makes it possible to correct many issues with the back and neck. Chiropractic also offers the advantage of being drug-free and non-invasive, so the side effects you need to worry about are minimal.
6 Spine Disorders that Chiropractic Helps
1. Degenerative Disc Disease
Most often, degenerative disc disease is a condition that strikes people as they get older. The discs that sit between your vertebrae are supposed to be relatively soft to provide cushion and flexibility to the spine. Unfortunately, years of use and various injuries can cause the discs to wear down. When they wear down it can lead to pressure on nerves and bone on bone contact.
2. Herniated Disc
Sometimes a disc can rupture, allowing the interior matter to protrude from the outer shell and press against nerves in the spine. The most common areas of the body to have a herniated disc are the lower back and the neck.
3. Sciatica
The sciatic nerve travels from the lower back and down the legs. The nerve can become irritated if there are issues with the lower back, such as degenerative disc disease, herniated disc or misalignment. Pressure on the nerve can cause symptoms like shooting pains, numbness, tingling, dull aching, and other discomforts.
4. Whiplash
Whiplash is most common in rear-end car accidents, where a car hits you from behind and causes your head to whip forward and backward. The force generated by the whipping motion can cause significant damage to your neck. Stiffness and pain are common symptoms. Whiplash should be treated as soon as possible following an accident.
5. Myofascial Pain
The fascia is the sheath-like material that surrounds your muscles. Adhesions can occur in the fascia due to overuse or injury. Sometimes the painful points can feel like hard knots under the skin. Myofascial pain often causes discomfort in other areas of the body that you would not assume are related to the problem area.
6. Back Sprains and Strains
There are many ways that the back can become sprained or strained. A sprain involves the ligaments that are attached to your bones, while a strain involves your muscles and/or tendons. Either condition can cause significant pain and a loss of mobility.
Chiropractic Can Help By
Your chiropractor will offer you different options for healing your spinal condition. These may include:
Adjustments
Many times the problems with your spine can be improved by realigning the vertebrae. Injuries and spinal conditions are often associated with misalignment�where the vertebrae are not sitting on top of one another as they should be. A chiropractic adjustment gently returns your vertebrae to alignment.
Massage Therapy
Massage is a great complementary therapy to chiropractic adjustments. It can help to relax muscles, eliminate adhesions and improve mobility. It can also help your spinal adjustments to stay in place as you go about your day to day life.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound treatments are an effective way to encourage your body�s own healing mechanisms without causing any unwanted side effects. The sound waves penetrate deep into the tissues to create heat energy, which encourages circulation and aids in healing.
Get Help with Your Spinal Disorder
If you are struggling with a spinal disorder like those mentioned above, we would love the opportunity to help. Our chiropractic team understands how to administer safe, effective treatments that are non-invasive and work together to improve healing outcomes.
Please contact us today to discuss your spinal condition and schedule an appointment.
Heel Spurs
Do you have a sharp pain in your heel? When you take a step, does it feel like a knife is stabbing your heel? If the answer is yes, then you might have a heel spur.
A heel spur is a degenerative outgrowth of bone on the calcaneus. While the heel spur itself is sometimes painless, the condition is commonly associated with Plantar Fasciitis.
Though adjustments may help reduce symptoms, they do not restore plantar aponeurosis laxity or the resultant excessive pronation.
Custom orthotics support all 3 arches, which help control pronation and protect against heel shock.
Your healthcare provider and custom orthotic’s center can offer a special cut out�at the site of the insertion of the plantar fascia to reduce pressure.
Conclusion
Heel spur pain can be reduced by seeing your movement patterns of the foot and ankle. While there is no cure for heel spurs, chiropractic foot adjustments, orthotics and home stretching can help.
El Paso, TX Chiropractic Heel Spur Treatment
Blanca, born and raised in El Paso, TX, has been suffering from heel spurs for approximately two years. As a registered nurse, her symptoms appreciably affected her ability to work and her general quality of life. Determined to improve her health, Blanca believed care. Once she began treatment with Dr. Alex Jimenez, however, Blanca experienced enormous relief from her heel spurs, nearly immediately. Blanca highly recommends chiropractic care with Dr. Alex Jimenez as the nonsurgical selection for the treatment of heel spurs. A heel spur is a calcium residue resulting in a bony protrusion on the bottom of the heel bone.
Although heel spurs are often painless, they can lead to heel pain. They are often associated with plantar fasciitis, a painful inflammation of the fibrous band of connective tissue (plantar fascia) which runs across the bottom of the foot and connects the heel bone to the ball of the foot. Heel spurs are usually caused by strains on foot ligaments and tendons, stretching of the plantar fascia, and repeated tearing of the membrane that covers the heel bone. Heel spurs are especially common among athletes.
Orthotics
Foot Dysfunction can very easily cause a domino effect that extends all the way to the back. The feet are the foundation of the body and when there is a problem with the way they function it can cause the entire body to shift out of alignment. Overpronation and oversupination can cause a variety of injuries and conditions that affect not only the feet and ankles, but also the knees,�hips, and back as well.
Functional Hallux Limitus
Functional hallux limitus is unfortunately still considered to be a rare health issue which often goes unaddressed. Outcomes for many different foot disorders will be jeopardized if treatment doesn�t address functional hallux limitus. Foot and postural abnormalities have a basis in poor function of stabilization and the windlass mechanism of the foot structure through the plantar fascia.
NCBI Resources
Although many people try to treat their low back pain on their own first, one of the fastest and best ways to treat it is through custom orthotics, which actually optimize the performance of your entire body, not just your feet and lower back. For instance, overpronation of the foot causes a series of internal changes that extend up through the leg. The femur may rotate causing hip pain and inflammation of the sacroiliac joint which leads to back pain. Other misalignments in the body that are caused by foot problems can also lead to chronic lower back pain as well.
Healthy joints have obvious benefits, including aiding in movement, keeping you flexible and allowing you to stay active. The health of some of your joints is readily apparent�you only have to bend your knees, ankles, elbows or wrists to see how they are functioning at any given moment. But there are some joints in your body that are even more important, although you may not be as aware of them. The joints in your spine, where each vertebra connects to another, are vital to the normal, healthy function of your body. Without healthy spinal joints, you can expect pain and loss of mobility, among other unpleasant symptoms.
Fortunately, keeping your spinal joints healthy is made much easier with regular chiropractic care. Periodic visits to your chiropractor will help you keep your spine operating as well as it possibly can, year in and year out!
Ways that Chiropractic Helps In Spinal Joint Health
ILLUSTRATION OF A HEALTHY INTERVERTEBRAL DISC, THE DAMAGED INTERVERTEBRAL DISC, HERNIATION.
1. Circulation Increased.
Stiffness in the spine can be caused by a variety of issues, including trauma and degenerative disc disease. While chiropractic cannot prevent the wear and tear that life often brings, it can do a lot to heal that damage. One way that adjustments aid in healing is by increasing circulation to your spinal discs and surrounding tissues. Increased circulation brings in healthy nutrients and removes undesirable material, making it possible for your spine to heal more thoroughly than without good circulation.
2. Pain Is Reduced or Eliminated.
Back pain can make living a normal life difficult if not impossible. Depending on the frequency and severity of the pain, you may find yourself unable to do many of the things you once enjoyed. Even if you do not lose mobility, back pain can distract and upset you every time it shows up.
The pain in your back can most likely be alleviated through chiropractic care. By returning your spine to proper alignment, your chiropractor can ease pressure on the nerves in your back and encourage muscles and other soft tissue to release. Over time spinal adjustments can greatly reduce or even eliminate back pain, which will help you stay active and improve the health of your spinal joints.
3. Mobility Increased.
Pain in your spine and/or neck is usually accompanied by a loss of mobility. Your muscles may seize up in an effort to protect your spine, which can make it impossible to move normally. Even if you are not suffering from muscle spasms, consistent back and neck pain can make you hesitant to move in ways that will trigger pain. Over time, the lack of movement can cause the body to stiffen and weaken. The longer this goes on, the less likely you are to get the physical activity you need to keep your joints mobile and your body strong.
Chiropractic adjustments are capable of breaking up the stiffness that holds you back. By returning your spine to proper alignment, circulation is increased, pain is decreased, muscles release and mobility returns. It can take time to get back to the way you want to be, but it is time well spent.
Healthy Joint Health Requires Consistency
The best way to keep your spinal joints healthy over the long-term is to make regular visits to your chiropractor while also maintaining a healthy diet and exercise regimen. Everyone is different, which is why it is important to get customized treatment from your chiropractor. By establishing a relationship with your chiropractor, you can ensure that you are always on the right track for spinal joint health.
Contact us today to learn more about chiropractic care and to schedule an appointment with our team.
The Difference of Using *CHIROPRACTIC ORTHOTICS* | El Paso, Tx
Custom Orthotics are Worth The Cost
People who experience back, hip, and/or foot pain usually turn to orthotics for relief.
Foot Levelers is the leading custom orthotic provider in the U.S., but custom is not always cheap, as compared with the non-customized, over-the-counter orthotics.
What�s the difference and why spend money on custom orthotics?
Common Orthotics are Not The Same for Everyone
What works for one person may not work for you, which is evident by all the different insoles on the market for the same problems.
Take 10 people, all of who have different levels of activity, weight, age, types of pain and wear different shoes, go to the store for store-bought orthotics, take a quick assessment, and are all told to wear the same insole.
You need customized care, which is exactly what custom orthotics provide for your body.
Custom orthotics are created by scanning and assessing your arches, seeing how you distribute your body weight on your feet, and then a unique treatment plan is created especially for you.
The Body’s Foundation is our Feet
What if you were told that the foundation of your home was cracking and you had two options: put duct tape over the crack and hope for the best or spend a little more money and fix the problem the right way.
A scan of the feet is used to learn about each foot independently.
These scans highlight any differences between your feet like one being smaller, wider, or flatter than the other.
This information is essential to creating orthotics and helps achieve a result that over-the-counter orthotics simply cannot provide.
Although non-custom orthotics are less expensive, they are basically like putting duct tape on your foundation and may not resolve the issue\s and cause more problems and greater costs.
In the Long Run You Will Save Money
Custom orthotics are an investment that pays your body back a hundredfold.
Non-custom orthotics are cheaper and are made with unreliable and usually cheap material. These are not designed to resolve your condition, which forces you to spend more money.
Paying attention to the foundation of your body provides benefits to the rest of your body, and eliminates the cost of treating all types of discomfort.
The process of getting custom orthotics begins with a simple foot scan.
This provides us with important information to keep your body operating optimally.
Spine Pain
Overpronation and over supination can cause a variety of injuries and conditions that affect not only the feet and ankles, but also the knees, hips, and back as well. Foot Dysfunction�can very easily cause a domino effect that extends all the way to the back. The feet are the foundation of the body and when there is a problem with the way they function it can cause the entire body to shift out of alignment.
NCBI Resources
All our organs receive messages from our brain via our spinal cord. The lungs know to breathe in and out because of the messages they receive from the brain. The heart beats because of these messages as well. Every organ in our body is connected to the brain and blocking this connection�even a little�can cause serious health issues. Some health problems are easily felt like numbness in the fingers or a headache. Some troubles are not so apparent like digestive issues or kidney problems. If the spine is out of order, the organs will feel it.
Degenerative disc disease is a condition where the degradation or wearing away of your spinal discs leads to pain and discomfort. Everyone�s discs wear down, but not every person experiences pain. That is the difference!
What are the Four Stages of DDD
Two of the main components of the spine are the vertebrae and the discs. The discs sit between vertebrae to provide cushion, support, and flexibility. Each disc is made up of a soft inner layer and a tough outer layer. Over time, or due to injury, the discs can lose their integrity, begin to thin and even tear in certain cases. Compromised discs increase the likelihood of pressure on nerves and friction between the vertebrae.
Like many diseases, degenerative disc disease has several possible stages. As the stages progress, the negative symptoms become more pronounced.
1st Stage
The first stage of degenerative disc disease may go unnoticed by the individual but can be identified by a chiropractor or other medical professional. The loss of the natural curvature of the spine can indicate the beginning of degenerative disc disease. Pain may not be apparent, but extra pressure is being placed on the spine which can lead to more rapid aging of the spine, nerves, joints, etc.
2nd Stage
The degradation of discs becomes more apparent in the second stage. They may look thinner, and it is common to see deformations in the bone, such as bone spurs. The curvature of the spine will become more unnatural and the spinal canal may become more narrow. Stage 2 is often where you will begin to notice some pain and discomfort.
3rd Stage
Stage 3 is marked by a more extreme change in the posture and curvature of the spine, along with more pain and loss of mobility. Nerve damage is common and scar tissue typically begins to form. Discs are even thinner than before, which can sometimes cause even more deformation of the bones.
4th Stage
The final stage of degenerative disc disease is the most severe and is typically considered irreversible. Discs are at their thinnest or gone altogether. The flexibility of the spine is extremely limited and pain is often considerable. Nerve damage can be severe and the bones of the spine may even begin to fuse together.
Doctor explaining various spine diseases by the example of plastic models
How Can Chiropractic Help DDD?
Chiropractic care is a preferred treatment option for degenerative disc disease for a variety of reasons. Because it is gentle and non-invasive, chiropractic is much less likely to create undesirable side effects�which are common with prescription medications and surgery. Obviously, the earlier the stage of degenerative disc disease, the more successful treatment can be. But chiropractic can be helpful even in the most extreme cases of degenerative disc disease.
Chiropractic treatments may include:
Chiro Adjustments
One of the most effective ways to treat degenerative disc disease is to ensure the spine is in proper alignment. Loss of alignment, which can happen due to injury or just day to day life, puts extra stress on the spine which can accelerate the degradation of discs. Adjustments bring back alignment.
Spine Decompression
Spinal decompression uses gentle but firm pressure to bring space back between the vertebrae. Space allows blood flow to return and healing to happen. Decompression is an important treatment to complement adjustments.
Now is the Time to Treat DDD
The best time to seek treatment for your back and neck pain is right now. Our chiropractic team can help you feel better and live a healthier life. Please contact us now to learn more!
Backpacks allow us to carry everything we need wherever we go. But as great as backpacks are, the fact is they can cause real damage if they are not carried correctly. It is possible to carry more weight than you should and in ways that are not healthy. From children to the elderly, everyone should know how to properly carry a backpack.
How Not Carrying Properly Can Hurt Your Back
A recent article on NBC News discussed the health concerns that backpacks present, discussing the various studies that have shown the damage they can cause. As the article noted, most everyone uses a backpack at one time or another. They are simply too useful to do otherwise. But research has demonstrated that they can hurt the back significantly, especially in children.
The back injuries that a backpack can cause include:
Disc Injuries
The spine is made up of vertebrae separated by spinal discs. The discs provide cushioning and flexibility in the spine. But the discs in your spine are only capable of carrying so much weight. When a backpack is too heavy, it can lead to disc compression and possibly tearing of the disc.
Carrying a backpack over one shoulder day after day will eventually cause your body to alter its alignment and your muscles to become imbalanced. Muscle imbalances can cause a cascade of problems, including altering the way you walk and increasing wear on your spine.
How to Carry Properly
Backpacks can be used safely, you just need to take the proper steps. These include:
1. Do Not Carry too much weight.
The recommended percentage of your body weight when using a backpack ranges from 10% – 15%. Someone that weighs 100 lbs should carry a backpack weighing no more than 15 lbs. Ideally, you should keep it around 10%. The more you go over the recommended weight, the more risk of injury to your back.
2. Utilize both straps.
Backpacks are designed to be carried using a strap over each shoulder. Using both straps distributes the weight evenly across your shoulders, minimizing the risk of excessive wear or injury.
3. Adjust the straps.
The straps of your backpack should be pulled snug, but not too tight. If your backpack includes a belt or additional straps, use them � especially if you are carrying a lot of weight.
4. Carry only what is needed.
It is easy to accumulate items in your backpack without realizing how much you have. Try to examine what is in your pack on a regular basis to ensure you are only taking what you need.
5. Use roll bags for heavy loads.
If you really need to carry more weight, invest in a bag with wheels. Rolling backpacks or other rolling bags can allow you to carry significantly more weight in comfort and safety.
6. Apply all of the above to your child�s backpack.
If you have one or more children, it is important to train them on how to use backpacks safely � and to check them from time to time.
Enjoy Back Pain Relief
Our chiropractic team is ready to help you get relief from your back pain. If you are suffering from back pain, please contact us to schedule an appointment with an experienced chiropractor.
Sometimes there are abnormalities of the spine and it causes a misalignment of the natural curvatures or some curvatures may be exaggerated. These unnatural curvatures of the spine are characterized by three health conditions called lordosis, kyphosis, and scoliosis.
It is not intended to be naturally bent, twisted, or curved. The natural state of a healthy spine is somewhat straight with slight curves running front to back so that a side view would reveal them.
Viewing the spine from the back, you should see something completely different � a spine that runs straight down, top to bottom with no side to side curves. This doesn�t always happen though.
The spine is comprised of vertebrae, small bones that are stacked on top of each other with impact cushioning discs between each one. These bones act as joints, allowing the spine to bend and twist in a variety of ways.
They gently curve, sloping slightly inward at the small of the back, and again slightly at the neck. The pull of gravity, combined with body movement, can put a great deal of stress on the spine and these slight curves help absorb some of the impact.
Different conditions for different types of spinal curvatures
Each of these three spinal curvature disorders affects a certain area of the spine in a very specific way.
Hyper or Hypo Lordosis � This spinal curvature disorder affects the lower back, causing the spine to curve inwards or outwards significantly.
Hyper or Hypo Kyphosis � This spinal curvature disorder affects the upper back, causing the spine to bow, resulting in that area rounding or flattening abnormally.
Scoliosis � This spinal curvature disorder can affect the entire spine, causing it to curve sideways, forming a C or S shape.
What are the symptoms?
Each type of curvature exhibits its own set of symptoms. While some symptoms may overlap, many are unique to the specific curvature disorder.
Lordosis
A �swayback� appearance where the buttocks stick out or are more pronounced.
Discomfort in the back, typically in the lumbar region
When lying on a hard surface on the back, the lower back area does not touch the surface, even when attempting to tuck the pelvis and straighten the lower back.
Difficulty with certain movements
Back pain
Kyphosis
A curve or hump to the upper back
Upper back pain and fatigue after sitting or standing for long periods (Scheuermann�s kyphosis)
Leg or back fatigue
The head bends far forward instead of being more upright
Scoliosis
Hips or waist are uneven
One shoulder blade is higher than the other
The person leans to one side
What are the causes?
Many different health issues can cause the spine to become misaligned or to form a spinal curvature. Each of the spinal conditions mentioned is affected by different conditions and situations.
Lordosis
Osteoporosis
Achondroplasia
Discitis
Obesity
Spondylolisthesis
Kyphosis
Kyphosis
Arthritis
Tumors on or in the spine
Congenital kyphosis (abnormal development of the vertebrae while the person is in utero)
Spina bifida
Scheuermann’s disease
Spine infections
Osteoporosis
Habitual slouching or poor posture
Scoliosis is still a bit of a mystery to doctors. They are not certain what exactly causes the most common form of scoliosis that is typically seen in children and adolescents. Some of the causes that they have pinpointed include:
There are screenings available for both children and adults to identify any spinal curvatures in their early stages through your chiropractor. Early detection of these disorders is crucial in identifying them before they become too serious.
Personalized Spine & *SCIATICA TREATMENT* | El Paso, TX (2019)
The spinal cord and brain make up the central nervous system while the spinal nerves that branch to the spinal cord and cranial nerves that branch to the brain makes up the peripheral nervous system.
There are thirty-one sets of nerves that extend out of the spinal cord and are connected to it by the nerve root. Each nerve branches out about a half inch from the spinal cord before dividing into smaller branches. The dorsal rami are on the posterior side of the branch while the larger ventral rami are on the anterior side.
The dorsal rami provide nerve function for the skin of the trunk and posterior muscles. The ventral rami from T1 to T12 provide nerve function to the skin of the trunk as well as the lateral and anterior muscles. The anterior divisions that remain for plexuses, networks that provide nerve function to the body. Each plexus has specific areas on the body for skin sensitivity as well as certain muscles. Their point where they exit the spine determines how they are numbered. The four primary plexuses are:
Cervical plexus, C1 � C4, innervates the diaphragm, shoulder, and neck
Brachial plexus, C5 � T1, innervates the upper limbs
Lumbar plexus, T12/L1 � L4, innervates the thigh
Sacral plexus, L4 � S4, innervates the leg and foot.
These spinal nerves have two sets of fibers: motor and sensory. Motor fibers facilitate movement and provide nerve function to the muscles. Sensory fibers facilitate sensitivities to touch, temperature and other stimuli. They provide nerve function to the skin.
What are Myotomes and Dermatomes?
A group of muscles that are innervated by the motor fibers that stem from a specific nerve root is called a myotome. An area of the skin that is innervated by the sensory fibers that stem from a specific nerve root is called a dermatome. These patterns of myotome and dermatome are almost always identical from person to person. There are occasionally variances, but that is rare.
This consistency allows doctors to treat nerve pain in patients. If a specific area is hurting, they know that it is attributed to a certain myotome or dermatome, whichever the case may be, and its corresponding nerve root. Problems with nerve damage are often the result of stretching the nerve or compressing it.
When the nerves are injured in specific areas like the lumbosacral or brachial plexus, it presents as sensory and motor deficits in the limbs that correspond to them. Myotomes and dermatomes are used to assess the extent of the damage.
How are Myotomes and Dermatomes used to Assess Nerve Damage?
When a doctor tests for nerve root damage in a patient, he or she will often test the myotomes or dermatomes for the nerves assigned to that location. A dermatome is examined for abnormal sensation, such as hypersensitivity or lack of sensitivity.
This is done by using stimulus inducing tools such as a pen, paper clip, pinwheel, fingernails, cotton ball, or pads of the fingers. The patient is instructed to provide feedback regarding their response. Some of the abnormal sensation responses include:
A myotome is tested for nerve damage in the muscles which presents as muscle weakness. This grading scale, which assigns a rating to the degree of muscle weakness, is often used:
5 � Normal � Complete range of motion against gravity with full resistance
4 � Good � Complete range of motion against gravity with some resistance
3 � Fair � Complete range of motion against gravity with no resistance, active ROM
2 � Poor � Complete range of motion with some assistance and gravity eliminated
1 � Trace � Evidence of slight muscular contraction, no joint motion evident
0 � Zero � No evidence of muscle contraction
During a typical chiropractic exam, your chiropractor will assess both dermatomes and myotomes for potential neurological problems. This gives them additional insight on how to treat your condition, whether it’s related to a subluxation of vertebral bodies or other, other disease processes.
If you�ve been experiencing lower back pain and can�t seem to pinpoint the cause, try looking down � at your feet. What kind of shoes are you wearing? Your shoes can have a tremendous effect on your spine, causing back pain. While this is traditionally considered to be a �female issue,� some men�s shoe styles are unsafe as well. Take a look at the most common culprits and find out how you can be safely shod.
The Truth About High Heels
Wearing high heels puts your body in a position that is very similar to walking on a ramp. It causes your calf muscles to stay in a constantly flexed position and increases fatigue throughout the lower body. What�s worse, though, is that high heels cause your entire posture to change, they:
Thrust your chest forward
Push your lower back forward
Tilt your pelvis up so the spine and hips are out of alignment
Put excessive pressure on the knees
Tendons get thicker and calf muscles get shorter
Shift your weight to the balls of your feet with increased downward force pressure
Extended regular wear can actually cause your anatomy to change
Wearing high heels for even a few hours can cause lower back pain. Wearing them regularly can have a detrimental effect on your body. This does not take into account the increased risk of falls and twisted ankles.
Why Flip Flops are a Flop
Flip flops are a popular summer shoe. They are easy to slip on and take off, they�re cool and fairly comfortable. Most even stand up to getting wet without damage. However, you may be sacrificing your safety and spine health for choosing these easy to wear shoes.
The biggest problem is, they do not offer any ankle or foot support � none at all. The cushioning is minimal at best and they aren�t really secure on your foot. All of this leaves you vulnerable to trips and falls � a leading cause of injury and death in the United States. It also leaves you vulnerable to back pain and spinal injury.
There are several problems with wearing flip-flops, especially on a regular basis:
You have to unnaturally shorten your stride
You have to curl or pinch your toes to keep your shoes on while you walk
Your foot contacts the ground in an unnatural way that causes your leg to rotate slightly
All of these things put pressure on your spine, causing unusual strain on your hips, knees, feet, and lower back. It can cause muscular pain and strain, but it can also cause misalignment of your spine.
So, are Flat Shoes Better?
When compared to high heels, flat shoes are much better, especially when it comes to posture. Flats keep your spine pretty straight and your calf muscles are relaxed. They also help to distribute your body weight more evenly through your whole foot as opposed to pushing it to the balls of the feet. However, not all flat shoes are created equal. For instance, flip flops are flat, but we know that they are bad for your body, so be careful when choosing your flat footwear.
Throughout the course of the day, your foot naturally expands. Go shoe shopping in the afternoon to get a more accurate fit.
Get your feet measured every time you buy shoes.
Always try on new shoes, walk around in them and stand.
When determining length and width, do it while standing.
Look for shoes that provide foot support and have arch support.
Don�t get shoes that are too wide or too narrow � or too long or short.
Look at both size and width. Going up a half a size may not necessarily mean a shoe is wide enough if the shoes you are trying on pinch.
Speaking of size, let it be a guide, not a rule. Gauge your shoe size by your comfort, not a number.
Feel the insides of the shoes, along the heel and down to the toe to make sure that there are no seams, tags, or anything else that will affect your comfort or rub your foot.
Check the shoe for sturdiness and soundness. Is the sole thick? Does the sole adhere well to the shoe (no gaps or loose spots)? Is the shoe made from durable, quality material?
Shoes are not accessories, they are tools that help protect much more than just your feet. Wear them well.
Sports Injury Rehabilitation Chiropractor | El Paso, Tx (Best)
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