Back Clinic Injury Care Chiropractic and Physical Therapy Team. There are two approaches to injury care. They are active and passive treatment. While both can help get patients on the road toward recovery, only active treatment has a long-term impact and keeps patients moving.
We focus on treating injuries sustained in auto accidents, personal injuries, work injuries, and sports injuries and provide complete interventional pain management services and therapeutic programs. Everything from bumps and bruises to torn ligaments and back pain.
Passive Injury Care
A doctor or a physical therapist usually gives passive injury care. It includes:
Acupuncture
Applying heat/ice to sore muscles
Pain medication
It’s a good starting point to help reduce pain, but passive injury care isn’t the most effective treatment. While it helps an injured person feel better in the moment, the relief doesn’t last. A patient won’t fully recover from injury unless they actively work to return to their normal life.
Active Injury Care
Active treatment also provided by a physician or physical therapist relies on the injured person’s commitment to work. When patients take ownership of their health, the active injury care process becomes more meaningful and productive. A modified activity plan will help an injured person transition to full function and improve their overall physical and emotional wellness.
Spine, neck, and back
Headaches
Knees, shoulders, and wrists
Torn ligaments
Soft tissue injuries (muscle strains and sprains)
What does active injury care involve?
An active treatment plan keeps the body as strong and flexible as possible through a personalized work/transitional plan, which limits long-term impact and helps injured patients work toward a faster recovery. For example, in injury Medical & Chiropractic clinic’s injury care, a clinician will work with the patient to understand the cause of injury, then create a rehabilitation plan that keeps the patient active and brings them back to proper health in no time.
For answers to any questions, you may have, please call Dr. Jimenez at 915-850-0900
Kinesio taping method is a therapeutic technique that offers an approach of supporting the individual and rehabilitating the condition or affected area. Kinesio tape can stimulate or relax muscles, depending on the technique and type of tension that is put on the body. It raises the skin in microscopic increments that aid in lymphatic drainage.
It decreases inflammation and swelling reducing pressure in the area, allowing the blood and lymphatic fluid to flow naturally and more effectively in and out of the affected area.
This helps the body return to homeostasis. It can be applied in a variety of different configurations, but usually, applications are single:
I
Y
X
Kinesio Taping
There are unique taping shapes specialized to address certain areas of the body and conditions.�Providing stability and support for the body�s joints and muscles, it does not restrict the body’s range of motion. The techniques are designed to address soft tissue injury/s by manipulating the area and promoting natural healing, alleviating pain, reducing swelling, and providing all-around relief.
Kinesio Taping can Treat
A variety of conditions benefit from Kinesio taping. Chiropractors and physical therapists use it for:
Athletes use it for additional support and injury prevention.
Taping and Chiropractic
The tape uses the body�s own natural healing process with many individuals finding it, as the preferred treatment for many conditions. When combined with chiropractic care, Kinesio Taping is highly effective. A chiropractor may use a variety of techniques, depending on the condition or injury.
They can use spinal manipulation, physical therapy, massage, electrical stimulation, ultrasound, heat, and ice, combining them with recommendations for lifestyle and diet modifications. As aforementioned it encourages the body to heal itself, thus eliminating the need for medication/s� their undesired and invasive surgery. Kinesio Taping is safe, natural, and a perfect complement to chiropractic treatment.
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It’s the weekend in the backyard doing some chores, grilling, etc, while several kids play and jump on a� nearby trampoline. The joviality from all this fun is filled with laughter, screams of joy, and other sounds or game instructions from one child to another. Then there is silence. The kids are huddled around their friend. One of the children fell off flat on their back.
The paramedics arrive and immobilize the head, neck, and spine strapping the child to a backboard and off to the hospital where there is no severe damage, just some mild bruising but everything turned out ok. This was a made-up scenario but unfortunately, emergency room doctors are seeing and treating this type of injury more and more.
Statistics
The statistics of the number of trampoline-related injuries treated in emergency rooms.
A simple analysis of the above stats is shocking. This means that since 1995, the number of injuries has increased between 30 and 45 percent. The CDC states that around 10 percent of trampoline injuries affect the head and neck. Many injuries are minor like bruising, scrapes and whatnot but some can be serious like broken bones, blunt-force trauma, and even paralysis.
For Home
Most of us see trampolines as a toy but are not aware of the dangers that come with it. Most injuries take place on trampolines purchased for home use. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents never let their children use a friend’s trampoline. While the American Medical Association recommends children should not be allowed to play/jump on a trampoline, even with adult supervision.
Trampoline Safety
Equipment Tips
A full-size trampoline consists of flexible fabric attached to a metal frame with springs, hooks, and a safety mesh/net. Most are around three feet off the ground. Consider the following safety tips:
Read the information and instructions provided by the trampoline manufacturer. Give this information to anyone who will be using the trampoline.
The proper placement of the trampoline is very important. Look at the location and surrounding area. Don’t place the trampoline close to a house/building, playground equipment, a swimming pool, the street, electrical lines, outdoor appliances, and plants/trees.
Remember a child can bounce 10 feet or higher in the air from a trampoline.
Make sure the springs, hooks, and frame are secured and covered with sturdy shock-absorbing pads.
There should be shock-absorbing material all-around and under the trampoline.�Use the owner�s manual for recommended materials.
Stores where trampolines are sold often sell special padding.
Check the trampoline for wear and tear often. Which include the frame’s structure like the screws, bolts springs, hooks, and fabric.
Using the Trampoline
Step-ladders, boxes, and chairs to climb on the trampoline should be kept out of reach to prevent children from using the equipment without permission. And they should be moved out of the way once the individuals are on.
Do not use the trampoline when darkness begins to take over like sunset. Individuals cannot see and when up in the air judging distance and where the trampoline is can be difficult/impossible.
Before use, warm-up with a few exercises. To make sure muscles are loose and ready to react.
Children need adult supervision at all times. Judging distances, foreseeing danger and quick reaction in situations that can become dangerous require an adult.
At least two adults are needed to spot the individuals and help prevent anyone from falling off.
Most want to jump together but too many people on a trampoline can be dangerous. Limit the number of people to where they can bounce safely without bumping into someone else, or falling off from lack of space.
CDC reports that half of all injuries happen when more than two people use a trampoline. Usually, this happens with children that are lightweight, still not fully coordinated, and can’t control how they move, especially in the air.
Learn how to land properly.
Unless a professional or expertly trained do not try somersaults, backflips, stunts, or crazy acrobatics.
Don’t jump or bounce off the trampoline.
Professional Help
There are professional gymnastic centers that have trampolines with padding all around and also give lessons/classes on proper usage. This could help a great deal, as it could be a safe alternative instead of home use. But if not then take the classes which could save a trip to an emergency room!
As El Paso�s Chiropractic Rehabilitation & Integrated Medicine Center, we are focused on treating patients after debilitating injuries and chronic pain conditions. We focus on improving your ability through flexibility, mobility and agility programs tailored for all age groups and disabilities.
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Spinal cord injuries occur more in the neck or cervical spine. Around 60% of cases involve the neck, followed by the mid-back or thoracic spine that averages to around 32% of injuries. Although most people experience low-back pain,�only 9% of spinal injuries occur in the low back and tailbone or lumbosacral spine.
Damage to the spinal cord not only affects the area where the point of impact occurred. The primary injury can also�damage cells, dislocate the vertebrae and cause spinal compression.�It can also trigger secondary injuries, that cause a series of biological changes. This can happen within weeks or months after the injury.
Ultrasound is a passive therapy, which means this is a treatment that a physical therapist administers. It creates gentle pulsating, penetrating heat that soothes, and relaxes spinal and any other muscles that may be tight, knotted and sore.
It is an added supplemental therapy of the primary treatment like chiropractic, therapeutic stretching, and exercise. Ultrasound releases and warms the muscles and soft tissues thus increasing circulation that speeds recovery/healing.
How does ultrasound work?
The equipment creates high-frequency sound waves that flow through to the tight, knotted area with a round-headed probe. The sound waves flow deep into the muscle tissue and ligaments all the while creating a soothing heat that loosens up the tissues.
Treatment application
The therapist will apply a hypoallergenic gel to the skin, that makes for a smooth moveable surface. Then the therapist goes in gentle, circular motions with the probe, and performs the treatment, that can last several minutes.
Ultrasound can also be utilized when performing phonophoresis. This is a treatment that involves the application of topical anti-inflammatory medications that are mixed with ultrasound gel�then applied to the area with the probe. The sound waves force the medicine into the tissues to help reduce inflammation.
Does it hurt?
Absolutely not, the patient will only feel a tingling sensation around the area being treated. There will also be a warming sensation from the sound waves.
Ultrasound results
The ultrasound probe is glided over the surface, all the while sound waves are penetrating through the skin’s surface, which causes the soft tissues to vibrate, creates muscle tightness soothing/releasing heat. The heat induces vasodilation that draws blood into the tissues that are hurting. The increased blood flow delivers much needed:
Oxygen
Nutrients
Removes the cell’s waste
The heat relieves pain and inflammation, reduces muscle spasms, and accelerates healing. Depending on thearea being treated, the range of motion will be increased.
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Physical therapists also�instruct patients on the best way to exercise to enhance overall physical fitness, move about safely (biomechanics and ergonomics), and injury prevention. Physical therapists also help patients with�long-term physical incapacity�(eg, spinal cord injury).
In today’s workforce, many jobs place workers at a higher risk for a back injury. The list is pretty extensive and may surprise you! Individuals that have suffered a� neck or back injury at work know the cost goes beyond lost wages. The impact of these injuries on employees, employers, and the economy is staggering.
In a report published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 2.8 million cases of non-fatal occupational injuries and in 2018.� Of these cases, more than 50% lost time from work, transferred to a different job, or restricted work activity. Not all of these cases were spine-related injuries. However, 880,000 cases were back pain-related injuries.
The World Health Organization’s International Labour Office says that the problem is global.
Musculoskeletal diseases are a very common part of 270 million non-fatal work/job accidents where employees missed at least 3 workdays.
Risky Jobs
Occupational safety experts gather all kinds of information that they factor. This includes job requirements, work environment, and work station set up. In compiling the list of risky occupations, here are some of the criteria:
Heavy physical work
Forceful lifting movements
Bending
Twisting
Awkward work postures
Whole-body vibration
Static work postures like standing/sitting but never changing position compounds the risks to workers.
Two occupations that lead the list of jobs placing workers at the highest risk are construction and nurses/nursing home workers. Workers in both of these jobs tend to share the under-reporting of work-related injuries. This happens as the employees fear they will lose their job and cannot afford to take any time off.
Construction Workers
Employees at a construction site are repeatedly lifting, bending, carrying, pulling, and tugging. These repetitive movements lead to overuse injuries and back strain/sprains are a common part of this. More than 30% of workers have to miss job time. Those that must climb ladders or work on scaffolds have a greater risk of falling. This is where some serious spinal injuries can occur, causing disability and sometimes being fatal.
Nurses/Nursing Workers
Nursing homes and employment opportunities are growing from elderly population growth. These workers are at high risk for back pain and spine injury. This comes from transferring patients’ from their beds, bathtub, and bathroom facilities. All these actions require lifting, carrying, holding, pulling, pushing, and turning. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports nearly all back and shoulder injuries are the result of moving patients.
Warehouse Workers
This is another job that requires lifting, along with using forceful movements, bending, twisting, carrying, and placing the body in awkward positions. Sometimes these workers have to drive a truck or an industrial vehicle that creates whole-body vibration. Continual exposure to vibration can cause backache and soreness that can lead to lost work time.
Dentists and Surgeons
Both of these professions involve prolonged standing, stooping, bending, and awkward body positioning. Not to mention the mental strain that diverts the doctor’s attention to proper posture and body mechanics that results in injury and pain.
Landscapers
The American Chiropractic Association puts landscapers in the top 10 list of jobs that cause back pain. This job puts these workers at a greater risk for cumulative trauma disorders. All the tasks that a landscaper has to do that include hedge trimming, tree pruning, and planting. These actions/movements involve lifting, reaching, bending, and stooping. This is a perfect set up for an overuse back injury.
Hand tools that get used over and over can cause painful conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome and thoracic outlet syndrome. Thoracic outlet syndrome is when the nerves and blood vessels become compressed between the neck and shoulder.
Store Cashier
Grocery and retail store cashiers require workers to stand in one place for a long time. This along with the repetitive motions of scanning, typing, opening, closing combined with bagging and lifting bags over and over can cause neck, shoulder, back, leg and foot pain. Over half of checkout workers complain of back pain.
We may not be able to instantly change our occupation, but there are steps to help prevent neck and back injuries. The key is workplace ergonomics and safety. Be proactive to help reduce workplace risk for neck and back injury and share what you learn with co-workers.
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Injuries that are caused by repetitive movements often develop gradually.�This is the time when the symptoms are mild and come and go, so the individual just works through it and doesn�t think about it. It�s�not until the symptoms get very painful and debilitating that the individual realizes that something is wrong, and then they seek medical attention. Don�t wait, as soon as you feel a tingle, slight pinch, or a little soreness�and you feel that it stems from your work�s repetitive movements, get in touch with a doctor or chiropractor before it becomes excruciating.
Spinal Cord Injuries Are Not Only Caused by Trauma
When people think of spinal cord injury/s or SCI’s, traumatic events like a major auto accident, hard fall, severe sports injury or intense work injury come to mind. It is true that auto accidents are the leading cause, however, non-traumatic accidents and diseases like a spinal tumor can also cause spinal cord injuries.
These types of injuries involve damage to the spinal cord that can temporarily or permanently affect its functionality. Spinal cord injuries are divided into 2 categories: traumatic and non-traumatic. Even with non-traumatic injuries the impact or severity is not lessened and the aftermath can have a devastating effect on a person�s life.
Spinal Cord Injury Trauma
Vehicle crashes: Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of traumatic spinal cord injuries, and they account for 40% of all SCI’s.
Falls: Falls are the second cause of traumatic spinal cord injuries, and they account for 32% of injuries.
Violence: Violent acts, like gunshot wounds or a stabbing cause around 14% of spinal cord injuries.
Spinal cord injuries occur more in men than women with 80% of cases affecting men.
Although people of all ages can experience SCI, there are activities/events that increase the risk that affects different age groups more than others. An example is high-impact actions like motor vehicle accidents and sports injuries occur more in young adults. Conversely, spinal cord injuries caused by a fall happens more in adults over age 60.
Regardless, SCI occurs more in the neck or cervical spine. Around 60% of cases involve the neck, followed by the mid-back or thoracic spine that averages to around 32% of injuries. Although most people experience low-back pain, only 9% of spinal injuries occur in the low back and tailbone or lumbosacral spine.
Understanding SCI Trauma
Damage to the spinal cord not only affects the area where the point of impact occurred. The primary injury can also damage cells, dislocate the vertebrae and cause spinal compression. It can also trigger secondary injuries, that cause a series of biological changes. This can happen within weeks or months after the injury.
The secondary injury cascade processes:
Glial cells along with the nerve cells in the spinal cord begin to die. These cells provide nutrients and other support to the nerve cells in the central nervous system. This consists of the brain and spinal cord.
The blood vessels in the spinal cord lose their ability to function, and this reduces the blood supply to the cord. When the blood supply becomes inadequate it is called ischemia. Blood vessel injuries expose the cord to inflammatory cells that in turn cause swelling. When the spinal cord becomes inflamed the spinal cord gets more and more compressed. If this happens�the initial injury progressively worsens.
This changes the cord�s structure and its normal operation. The secondary injury cascade can interfere with the cord�s ability to heal itself. This means an individual could experience permanent nerve pain and dysfunction.
Non-traumatic SCI
Spinal cord damage does not only happen with traumatic events. An SCI can also be caused by non-traumatic diseases in the spine. Tumors are the leading cause, but infections and degenerative disc disease can also cause serious damage.
Non-traumatic SCI’s happen more than traumatic based ones. �The incidence of traumatic SCI in North America comes to around 54 cases per one million people. With the incidence of non-traumatic SCI is around 1,227 cases per million people.
Healthy Spinal Cord Injury Outcomes
Spine researchers are making great strides in developing optimal protective and regenerative treatments to improve spinal cord health after these injuries occur.
Currently, innovative medical, surgical, cell-based and alternative treatments are furthering the medical community�s understanding of SCI’s. This is dramatically improving the quality of life and creating positive futures for individuals who experience these injuries.
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The muscles in the back keep the spine moving and functioning properly.�When the spine or�abdominal muscles are�weak this creates a higher probability of a back strain or injury. Having strong, healthy spine muscles are important because they function in maintaining correct posture, which in some cases, causes chronic back pain because of poor posture.
If�only one part of the body is�strengthened like the back is not enough. Therefore strengthening the rest of the body is a must. These include the body�s core and leg muscles. Total body strength will reduce back pain and can help perform regular activities, like�lifting heavy objects much easier, with more confidence and with a lesser probability of injury.
Head and neck injuries related to phone use are on the rise. Since the first iPhone was released, according to a study in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
Doctors are warning cell phone users to be especially careful when:
Walking around and texting
It is a distraction and one of the leading causes of head and neck injuries.
2,501 reported cases of phone-related head and neck injuries that lead to emergency room visits between January 1998 and December 2017 found in a nationwide database. Injuries in teens and young adults aged 13 to 29 years old were about 40%, in women (55%) and men (45%).
Common Phone Injuries
Common injuries include:
Cuts
Bruises
Abrasions
Internal injuries usually happen around the eyes and nose
Possible trauma to the brain
Over 41% of these injuries happened at home and were minor with little or no treatment needed. Around 50% of injuries were a result of distracted driving and 30% from distracted walking.
Any type of phone distraction in and out of the home puts you and others at risk for:
Falls
Slips
Trips
All of which can lead to injuries and other possible consequences (e.g. a busted phone).
More individuals are getting injured because of phone use while moving around and not paying attention to what’s around them.
Children
Children under the age of 13 were at higher risk to suffer a mechanical injury like parents accidentally dropping the phone on their child or children hitting themselves in the face. For example, ninety cases of injuries occurred while playing Pokemon Go.
Spending as little as two to four hours a day hunched over a smartphone is enough to make a serious impact on the body over time. And though two to four hours may not seem like a long time, it isn�t hard to arrive at two hours by adding several 15-minute or half-hour segments together.
For teenagers, specifically, two to four hours on a smartphone has changed as of now teenagers spend around seven to eight hours on their phones. Spending twice as much time on afternoons or the space between classes or lunch. Think about the impact of 1500 plus hours of bad posture throughout the year. There is no surprise that teenagers are at risk.
The lasting impact of text neck and distracted phone use on today�s young people will be costly. Therefore, the public needs to be educated about the risks of distracted phone use and reducing this distracted behavior.
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If you begin noticing pain, spasms, or irritation around the neck, shoulders, or back make an appointment with a professional chiropractor. Explain when the pain occurred, the severity, and the activity that started it. A simple adjustment may be all that is needed to get re-aligned and gain relief from pain caused by overuse. A chiropractor can also help decrease the chances of the injury worsening over time.
This is the season of the year that brings special time with loved ones, but it�s also a time when many un-merry mishaps and accidents can happen. From neck and back pain to sprains and strains to serious fractures that can put you in the emergency room. With a little care, preparation and precaution, you can be safe and enjoy the holidays to the fullest, while reducing the risk of experiencing a slip and fall injury.
The Garage
This is where holiday prep, go for tools and the like usually begin. However, the garage can be the first place where danger lurks during this season.
Most of us store the big boxes at the top on overhead storage racks etc. A wobbly step ladder, not enough upper body strength, someone opening the door where the ladder stands and tipping it, etc, is a perfect setup for a fall.
The first thing to ask is whether or not this is a job for you? If not then wait and ask for help from friends and family that can offer added strength and balance.
Plan ahead and prepare ahead so that repacking the decorations, lights, and so on will be a clean safe process.
Proper footwear that can grip a stable step ladder is a must.
Around the Tree
Anything can happen around the tree, ornaments fall and break, wire from the lights shorts out, trip and fall around it.
Just be aware of your surroundings and maybe keep a safe perimeter around the tree so nobody trips, slips and falls around it.
Focus on stability on a ladder if you have to add, adjust, the tree/ornaments, lights and what have you.
If the tree starts to lean, make sure reinforcements are there just in case when you’re ready to straighten it out.
Maybe Get Off the Floor
Wrapping gifts on the floor doesn’t pose the greatest risk for a spine injury, but it can increase chances for a�muscle�strain and sore back and neck. Hours just hunched over on the floor is a sure-fire set up for back pain.
Again plan ahead and knock out the trimmings and trappings little by little so there is plenty left in the tank when it’s time for the main event.
Maybe set up the wrapping station at a table and sit for a bit, stand for a bit,� take plenty of breaks, and move around and stretch out.
Sitting in a chair will help posture and prevent slouching.
On the House
As a spine injury specialist, I can tell you falls from the roof while hanging lights are real, and can be life-changing. From severe spine injuries to paralyzing fractures.
Safe Equipment is of the utmost importance!
Make sure the ladder you�re using is sturdy and on solid ground.
Only hang the lights from the eaves, so you can stand on a ladder.
Maybe think about using one of those projection kits that project various displays onto your house without the risk of injury.
No matter how you choose to decorate and entertain this holiday season, safety is priority one. From our team here at�Injury Medical and Chiropractic Clinic Happy Holidays!
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The connective tissues in and around the spine can get:
Pulled
Strained
Sprained
Small tears in the disc can also contribute to back pain.
Basically, any number of activity and non-activity can cause damage to the spinal discs depending on the movement.
Manual tasks performed in an awkward posture
This includes:
Lifting boxes with the back and not bending the knees
Lifting something too heavy
Moderate physical activity
Vigorous physical activity
High intense strength training, long walks at the stores, handling people or animals, and picking up children can cause injury.
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