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.
Nearly everyone has a smartphone or mobile device these days, and while there is some merit to this technology by keeping us more connected � at least virtually � it is wreaking havoc on our bodies. When you look at the posture that people assume when texting, reading email, or browsing social media while on their mobile device or smartphone, you will see their head bent forward and rounded shoulders. They typically hold the device either at chest level or waist level meaning that their hands are together, forming an almost crouch position.
This is very bad for the spine but it creates problems for other parts of the body even beyond the spine. Let�s take a look at some of the common issues that come with bad smartphone posture.
Mobile Device Injuries
Text Neck
The more you tilt your head downward (just as you do when looking at a smartphone), the more pounds of pressure you put on your neck and back. Your spine supports the weight of your head. The more it is thrust forward, looking down, the heavier your head gets. Doctors are seeing many young people with this problem, some even as young as 8 years old.
It is characterized by tightness or tension in the neck and shoulders as well as the upper back. Some patients report pain while others feel pressure, and others feel tightness. Sometimes the pain will spread throughout the body or from the neck to the arms and hands.
Forearm & Wrist Pain
Even the way you hold your phone in your hands can cause problems. Since you keep your hand in one position for long periods of time your muscles never have a chance to relax. You have several muscles engaged to do this: the forearms, the wrist, and the neck.
If you are experiencing pain, sometimes shooting, in your elbow or wrist your smartphone use may be the culprit. So put the phones away or leave them at home.
Sore Upper & Lower Back
As your neck struggles to support your head which is rolled forward, it stands to reason that you will experience back pain. In fact, both upper and lower back pain have been attributed to smartphone use.
Think about the muscles that run along your spine. They help stabilize it and help control and support your head. When you hunch over you strain those muscles in your upper back. What you may not realize is that similar strain is being put on the muscles in your lower back as well.
Blackberry Thumb
The muscles in your hand are very small but they can cause you a great deal of pain if you frequently use a mobile device. As you type on the keyboard of your smart phone, it can cause problems with tendons and ligament as well as the muscles.
This repetitive stress of the body is caused daily by people who stay hunched over their small phone screen. The repetitive movement of your thumb as it manipulates the device can cause inflammation in the thumb and hand.
Headaches From Tension In Neck & Back
One of the most common ailments associated with mobile device usage is headaches. These headaches can come from tension in the neck, strained muscled in the back, or overworked muscles through the hand and arm into the shoulder. It can also come from eyestrain caused by staring at the screen for extended amounts of time, looking at tiny text.
There is no doubt that mobile device usage is becoming a serious problem in our society today. While there are the people who text while driving or while walking, posing a significant threat to their own and others� safety, what they are doing to their own bodies is enough to cause alarm.
Chiropractic care can ease the pain and reverse a good portion of the damage that has been done, but if when people continue with the same bad habits the treatment is only temporary. There needs to be a focused effort made to pull people out of their mobile devices, at least a portion of the time, to minimize the structural spinal damage they are doing to themselves.
Parents of children suffering from ear infections are all too familiar with this cry. Tugging at their ears, crying, and trouble sleeping are all signs of an ear infection in your little one.
Children are more susceptible to ear infections than adults because of their smaller Eustachian tubes, and their less effective immune systems. Unfortunately, chronic ear infections can quickly become a painful, ongoing problem.
Parents have a variety of options at their disposal to treat their child’s ear infections. Drops, antibiotics, and ventilation tubes placed by surgical procedure are all commonly used treatments for chronic infections. Chiropractic care is another option available and is rapidly gaining acceptance and popularity for the effective treatment of ear infections.
According to HealthyChild.com, ear infections are the reason for 35% of pediatrician visits, and ear pain is the number one reason a child visits a chiropractor. Children who suffer from recurring ear infections benefit from chiropractic care in several ways that are not available through other, more traditional forms of treatment.
Here are a few of the benefits chiropractic care offer for ear infections are:
Ear Infections: It Is Non-Invasive
Unlike the surgical procedure that is often used to combat ear infections by inserting tubes in the child’s ears, chiropractic adjustments provide a non-invasive form of treatment.
This treatment option works well because a little one’s spine may be moved out of alignment from the birthing process, or from any number of spills he or she makes learning to walk, run, or navigate stairs. An experienced chiropractor can map out a treatment plan that includes gentle adjustments of the child’s neck and spine. The goal is to decrease fluid build up within the ear canals that bring on ear infections and pain.
It Is A Painless Option Of Treatment
The last thing parents want in any medical treatment is to cause their child more pain. A negative experience at a doctor’s office can create a fear that lasts for years to come.
Children with ear infections have nothing to fear from visiting a chiropractor. During a chiropractic visit, the child will participate in adjustments that are pain free. The treatments will be able to reduce the pain in a short amount of time in many instances, and reduce the chance of dealing with another ear infection down the road.
It Treats The Underlying Cause
Other options of treatment may decrease the symptoms of an ear infection, but never get to the actual root issue. Chiropractic care strives to return the body in its entirety to its normal function.
This is the main building block concept for chiropractic in general. By re-aligning the spine, the body as a whole can be healthier and more resistant to infection and disease. Chiropractic care helps adjust the child’s body back to a normal state, thus providing a way for it to heal itself and fight off future ear (and other) infections better than simply using drops and antibiotics.
If your child is susceptible to ear infections, there are steps you can take to minimize the chances of an occurrence in the first place. Frequent hand washing to prevent the spread of germs and avoiding cigarette smoke are two simple ways to combat ear infections.
Chiropractic treatment continues to show promise in treating the underlying issues that cause a child to suffer from ear infections. If you are looking for a treatment that is pain free, not intimidating to the child, and an alternative to invasive surgery, enlisting the help of a chiropractor is a fantastic option.
So if your child is experiencing chronic ear infections, give us a call. Our Doctor of Chiropractic is here to help!
Doctors Of Chiropractic Ensure Patients Have Strong Posture
This article is copyrighted by Blogging Chiros LLC for its Doctor of Chiropractic members and may not be copied or duplicated in any manner including printed or electronic media, regardless of whether for a fee or gratis without the prior written permission of Blogging Chiros, LLC.
El Paso, TX. Chiropractor, Dr. Alex Jimenez welcomes all to the new clinic location grand opening!
Grand Opening: Injury Medical Chiropractic Clinic
El Paso, TX, INJURY MEDICAL & CHIROPRACTIC CLINIC announces its newest east side location at 11860 Vista Del Sol, Suite 128 will officially open. The clinic is located in TheMission Business Center near Walgreens.
Injury Medical & Chiropractic Clinic offers an innovative, patient-friendly experience that allows patients access to affordable, quality chiropractic care. Appointments are not necessary, however in order to avoid waiting time appointments are recommended.
Based in El Paso, TX Injury Medical & Chiropractic Clinic is reinventing chiropractic by making quality care convenient and affordable for patients seeking pain relief and ongoing wellness. Extended hours and three convenient locations make care more accessible. Injury Medical & Chiropractic Clinic is an emerging company and key leader in the chiropractic profession. For more information, visit www.dralexjimenez.com, follow us on�Twitter @dralexjimenez�and find us on�Facebook, and�LinkedIn.
I thank you and have a special and respectful message� God loves motion.�God has created a fantastic design in all of us. His love of joints and articulations is obvious. Simply put, as an observer, our creator would have not given us so many joints with so many functions. So again, I repeat, God loves motion. Therefore, it is not just a choice to take care of them,�it is our obligation. I will help everybody I meet and treat to move better while�freeing themselves of any joint limitation preventing the full expression of life.
With a bit of work, we can achieve optimal health together. I look forward in doing my absolute best and helping those in need. It is what my mentors taught me, it is what I teach and it is what I will do passionately until�my last breath.
The manipulation of the cervical spine or neck is a common technique utilized by doctors of chiropractic for individuals complaining of upper back, neck, and shoulder/arm pain, in addition to headaches.
What is the benefit of cervical spinal manipulation?
Similar to the treatment for many injuries and/or conditions which affect the thoracic and lumbar spine, or back, chiropractic treatment is thought of as a first line of therapy for a range of cervical spine conditions.
Chiropractic treatment aiming for cervical spine pain management include (but aren’t limited to) a mix of:
Reducing pain
Improving movement
Restoring function into the head and neck region
Patients must be advised that the treatment will start after a complete patient history, physical examination, review of past, family histories, and review of systems are completed. Tests might include X-ray, CT, MRI, EMG/NCV, urine analysis and lab blood, referral to a professional, more, depending on each individual case demonstration.
Different Types of Chiropractic Manipulation
There are two general manipulation approaches for spine ailments:
Cervical spinal manipulation – frequently thought of as the conventional chiropractic adjustment, or even a high-velocity, low-amplitude (HVLA) technique
Cervical spinal mobilization – which can be a more gentle/less forceful modification, or even a low-velocity, low-amplitude (LVLA) technique moving the joint through a tolerable range of movement.
The combination of the many approaches varies from patient to patient depending on the healthcare professional’s preferred tactics and tastes, the patient’s comfort and tastes, and the patient’s response to the treatment, in addition to both previous experience and observations made during the course of therapy.
Chiropractors may also use therapy to treat other cervical spine complaints. Adjunctive therapies may include therapeutic heat program, massage exercises, and more. Chiropractic manipulation can handle numerous causes of neck pain. It’s not a cure for every single type of neck problem. Two causes of pain which originate in the neck and may be treated by manipulation comprise of mechanical neck pain and disc problems.
Mechanical Neck Pain
Mechanical neck pain comprises of pain associated with the tendons, joint capsules, ligaments and/or the fascia. This type of issue is a frequent cause of neck pain and stiffness.� Facet joint issues are a well-known case of mechanical neck pain. The facets are located in the back of the neck. If a facet joint is hurt or sprained, pain may be localized or may radiate along other upper extremities. The pain pattern depends upon the specific level and is unique.
Cervical Disc Issues
Tears may develop in the cervical disc and/or the inside of the disc (the nucleus) may herniate through the outer area (the annulus) and trap or pinch the nerve root as it leaves the spine.
Cervical nerve root irritation can frequently refer pain down the arm and into the hand, typically affecting particular areas like the 4th and 5th digits, the palms side thumb to 3rd fingers and/or the back of the hands on the thumb, index finger side of the hand, depending on which nerve root is irritated.
On rare occasions, if the nucleus of the disc herniates straight backward, it can compress the spinal cord and create symptoms in the legs and also impact the function of the bowels and/or bladder. On such occasions, the patient needs to be referred to a spine surgeon to get prompt care.
These are two examples of types of cervical spine conditions which may be treated with spinal manipulation. The patient needs to receive a whole exam prior to receiving any kind of manipulation.
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss options on the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .
By Dr. Alex Jimenez
Additional Topics: Wellness
Overall health and wellness are essential towards maintaining the proper mental and physical balance in the body. From eating a balanced nutrition as well as exercising and participating in physical activities, to sleeping a healthy amount of time on a regular basis, following the best health and wellness tips can ultimately help maintain overall well-being. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables can go a long way towards helping people become healthy.
Back pain myths are like any other, however, your mom was not totally wrong; hunching can certainly be bad for your back. But the opposite is true as well. Strain can be also caused by sitting up for too long without a break. If you work make sure that your chair is at a height where your knees are at a 90-degree angle, your feet can rest flat on the ground, and you have back support. Make sure that you stand up, stretch, and take a walk several times each day to keep from becoming stiff or causing injury.
Myth 2: You Need The Firmest Mattress Possible.
Back pain sufferers can actually experience increased pain if their mattress is too firm since it puts more strain on heavy points like the hips and shoulders. On the other hand too soft a mattress could lack the support required to allow proper movement. In both instances, the person wakes up stiff and in pain. Studies show that a medium-firm mattress provides the right amount of support to help prevent injury.
Myth 3: Back Pain Is Caused By Exercise.
A poll by the North American Spine Society revealed this as the number one back pain myth. Sure, if you don’t work out then try to win a competition, you could experience injury. You can help prevent back pain by preparing your body and workouts with proper warm-up and great stretching exercises. (Take a cue from professional athletes that factor stretching and warm ups in their everyday routine.) Strengthen your back by strengthen your core, through exercises focused on�strengthening your stomach and back muscles as well as cardio.
Myth 4: Back Pain Is An Unavoidable Side-Effect Of Getting Older.
Getting older does not mean life has to be painful. While there are aches and pains that come with an aging body, staying physically healthy (see Myth #3) through exercises that keep our bodies strong, flexible and limber are a huge benefit. There are several exercise options to try, T�ai Chi, Pilates, yoga and treatment options which range from acupuncture to physical therapy to advanced treatment options both surgical and nonsurgical. Bottom line is you do not have to live with back pain.
Myth 5: Back Pain Came Out Of Nowhere.
Another back pain myth is sufferers often claim one wrong twist or simply bending over was the cause of their injury. But that was likely the result of several other factors. Overdoing a workout, using poor technique when lifting heavy objects, bad posture, and especially weight gain can all put strain on the spine and lead to “out of nowhere” spasms. As with more serious conditions such as joint and disk disorders a spine doctor is recommended to find the source of the pain.
Myth 6: A Hot Bath Can Bring Relief
There are few things as relaxing as a nice spa, but doing so after injuring your back may actually make your situation worse by increasing inflammation. Doctors recommend applying ice to the area for 20 minutes at a time during the first two or three times in order to reduce pain and inflammation. An exception, people who suffer from chronic pain can find relief taking a warm bath. Play it safe and check with your doctor for the best treatment.
Myth 7: If I See A Doctor, I’ll Probably Have Surgery.
Most people will experience some level of back pain in their lifetime, but the overwhelming majority will find relief through modifications such as over the counter anti-inflammatory medicines, exercise, physical therapy, or even just by waiting it out. In actuality, spine surgery is recommended for a small percentage of patients and until all other treatment methods have been tried. These patients often suffer from degenerative spine or joint problems that cause pain that is chronic. Whether you understand the origin of your pain or not, a fear of surgery shouldn’t prevent you from seeking medical help.
Federal employees face the same injury risks as those in the private industry and different areas of the public sector. Those risks can be serious. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that approximately 124 federal employees suffered fatal accidents in 2013.
Based on the BLS, the top causes of fatal injuries among workers are:
A federal worker who suffers a job-related private injury or illness (or even families of these employees who have been lost) can seek benefits through the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA). These benefits include coverage of wages that are lost because of permanent or temporary disability. They also have death benefits for eligible survivors.
The following is a closer look at the most common leading causes of accidents among federal employees:
Transportation Incidents
Many federal jobs require travel between offices or even as a main function of the job. Postal work is the apparent example. Truck and car accidents, which are usually as a result of driver error, can be fatal or result in serious injury. In cases where another driver is at a motor vehicle’s error caused an accident or fault, a worker may consider filing an injury claim in addition to seeking workers’ compensation benefits.
Violence
Unfortunately, federal employees may also be hurt by violence. Incidents of violence include attacks by other creatures and dogs as a cause of harm. In acts of violence, the perpetrator or an animal’s owner may also be held responsible for the employee’s injury, which adds to compensation for the employee’s losses.
Struck by Object or Equipment
There are many ways from being struck by an object or equipment, a worker can suffer a head injury, eye injury, fracture, internal organ injury, cut, bruise or alternative injury. By way of instance, materials and tools can drop from above in a storeroom or roll off a truck. Material stacked can collapse. Debris could be ejected by means of a power tool. By, or a man who excursions can fall and hit at them, make them fall and be hurt.
Falls, Trips or Slips
Slipping or tripping onto a floor or falling off a ladder, scaffolding is a common source of injury in all walks of life. Falls can lead to broken bones, brain injuries, back and spine injuries and much more. In the workplace, using scaling ladders, step stools or other gear puts a worker in danger of falling. Meanwhile, as workers leave equipment or leave slippery and moist floors, this can result in falling accidents.
Harmful Substance Exposure
From being exposed to certain harmful substances such as chemicals, A worker can suffer catastrophic injuries such as burns. A worker may also create health issues from repeated exposure to asbestos, smoke, diesel exhaust or other dangerous substances.
Fire and Explosions
Compressed gases, flammable liquids, open-flames and chemicals are fire and explosion risks. At car depots with petrol or gasoline pumps for automobiles, trucks or equipment, fuel can be ignited. Some metals and synthetic substances that are organic in addition to many natural can form. Third-and-fourth-degree burns, if survived, typically require treatment that includes several surgeries and rehab and leave the sufferer disabled.
Caught-in / Caught-between Accidents
Employees involved in “captured” accidents can endure fractures and tearing accidents if their body parts or clothes become caught in machinery, or even when the worker is crushed between objects or torn from moving components. Caught-in accidents consist of trench, excavation or construction collapses, which may cause devastating injuries in addition to injuries.
Overexertion
Pressure and the stress from overexertion can harm nerves muscles and tendons in the neck, upper extremities and back. Work activities which can result in such musculoskeletal injuries include lifting, pushing, pulling, carrying and holding materials, tools and other objects. They can also be caused by bending, reaching working in awkward body positions and doing similar jobs repetitively or the exact same. Employees can suffer harms that cause numbness, swelling and debilitating pain and sprains, strains, tears, pinched nerves, herniated discs, hernia, carpal or tarsal tunnel syndrome.
Electrocution / Shock
Workers who come into contact may suffer electrocution, which can be death, or jolt, which encircles burns and other accidents caused . Electrical currents can also cause explosions, fires, arc flash and arc blast — each of which might cause burn injuries. Shock and electrocution may be caused by contact with bare wires , damaged fixtures, overhead power lines or faulty equipment or gear.
Seek Federal Benefits
It can be difficult for people people who have never before applied to document a federal workers’ compensation or disability benefits claim. The principles regulating benefits available to employees are lengthy and complicated. Workers who are eligible for numerous advantages may realize that they offset each other, so your total benefit might be less than what you deserve if your claim is organised improperly.
Various experts will allow you to sort through the confusion and work to pursue the advantages or reimbursement you deserve. They can work throughout the country with federal employees.
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss options on the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .�
Back pain is one of the most common symptoms reported among the general population. While back pain can occur due to a variety of injuries and/or underlying conditions, a work accident has often been associated as a frequent origin of back pain issues. Back pain can affect an individual at least once throughout their lifetime. Fortunately, federal employees who experience back pain, such as symptoms of sciatica, can benefit from programs like FECA.
Federal employees that are injured at work do not get benefits through workers’ comp insurance or their nation’s workers’ comp program.
Instead, federal employees receive workers’ compensation benefits through the Federal Employees Compensation Act, abbreviated as FECA, except for railroad workers, longshoremen, black lung coal miners, and refuge workers (that are insured under their own national laws for workers’ compensation). Members of the USA armed forces are also not considered federal employees for purposes of FECA.
FECA provides benefits and injury compensation for workers injured on the job, or even if their injury happened during the course and scope of their employment offsite. FECA covers both injuries and occupational diseases that arise over time work conditions. The United States Department of Labor, through the Office of Worker Compensation Programs, administers the workers’ comp benefits provided by the Federal Employees Compensation Act.
Qualifications
Coverage under FECA, or the Federal Employees Compensation Act, is supplied to all national government employees regardless of the number of years of service, nature of the position, or kind of job they perform. In order to be covered by FECA, you must be employed by the federal government, not a private government contractor. If you are currently working for a private business, the workers’ compensation laws in the state will cover you.
For the injury or illness to qualify under FECA, then you must have become injured while performing duties of your job or you developed a disease because of the conditions and hazards inherent in your job. This may consist of accidents occurring while working or traveling offsite as well.
FECA does not cover injuries and diseases that arise because of activities beyond the “course and scope of your employment.” Activities beyond the course and scope of employment include commuting to and from work, recreational excursions, and activities for private reasons. Injuries sustained while intoxicated or under the influence of non-prescription drugs will not be covered by the Federal Employees Compensation Act. FECA also provides benefits to surviving family members for employees that die on the job while performing work-related pursuits.
Back Pain in Federal Employees
As with anyone experiencing symptoms of back pain after being involved in a work accident, due to aggravated conditions or illness, or simply from wear-and-tear injuries, it’s essential for federal employees to seek the proper care and benefits for their symptoms to receive immediate medical attention. Spine issues resulting in sciatica can be debilitating and may affect an employee’s capability to work. Programs for federal employees like FECA may help substantially improve an individual’s overall health and wellness, allowing them to return to work as soon as possible.
FECA Workers’ Compensation Benefits
If your FECA workers’ compensation claim is permitted, you will start to receive workers’ compensation benefits to compensate you for your injury or illness and help you with the recovery. First, FECA will cover all necessary and appropriate claim-related medical therapy. This includes prescriptions, surgery and rehabilitation.
The Federal Employees Compensation Act provides compensation if a worker is disabled and unable to work as a result of industrial injury or occupational disease. You will be compensated by your service directly for your lost wages and more. Should your inability to work exceed 45 days, FECA will cover your wages that are lost.
If your workers’ compensation claim is based on an occupational disease, you’re entitled to compensation for lost salary from FECA after an initial three-day waiting period.
If your injury or illness results in permanent partial disability or permanent total disability, FECA will provide advantages and additional benefits. The total amount of the compensation is based on the severity of your permanent disability and the effect it has on your earning capacity. And if you have dependents, you will probably receive increased permanent disability compensation to account for your own requirement to supply for those dependents.
In the event that you need job retraining to return to the workforce after your injury or illness FECA provides compensation. Dependents are eligible to receive survivor’s benefits. For further details regarding the benefits of the Federal Employees Compansation Act, visit the�Division of Federal Employees’ Compensation (DFEC).
Speak to an Attorney
If your FECA employees’ compensation claim is refused, your claim may be more complicated, or your injury may have been considered more severe. You should carefully consider speaking to a lawyer in your area experienced in FECA employees’ compensation law. Although an attorney isn’t necessary to obtain workers’ compensation benefits, an attorney can help in ensuring you get all of the benefits you’re entitled to get, guiding you through the procedure.
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss options on the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .�
Back pain is one of the most common symptoms reported among the general population. While back pain can occur due to a variety of injuries and/or underlying conditions, a work accident has often been associated as a frequent origin of back pain issues. Back pain can affect an individual at least once throughout their lifetime. Fortunately, federal employees who experience back pain, such as symptoms of sciatica, can benefit from programs like FECA.
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
It Treats The Underlying Cause
El Paso, TX, INJURY MEDICAL & CHIROPRACTIC CLINIC announces its newest east side location at 11860 Vista Del Sol, Suite 128 will officially open. The clinic is located in The Mission Business Center near Walgreens.
Based in El Paso, TX Injury Medical & Chiropractic Clinic is reinventing chiropractic by making quality care convenient and affordable for patients seeking pain relief and ongoing wellness. Extended hours and three convenient locations make care more accessible. Injury Medical & Chiropractic Clinic is an emerging company and key leader in the chiropractic profession. For more information, visit 
