Back Clinic Auto Accident Injuries Chiropractic and Physical Therapy Team. Many automobile accidents occur throughout the world every year, affecting a wide number of individuals, both physically and mentally. From neck and back pain to bone fractures and whiplash, auto accident injuries and their associated symptoms can challenge the daily lives of those who experienced unexpected circumstances.
Dr. Alex Jimenez’s collection of articles discusses auto injuries caused by trauma, including which specific symptoms affect the body and the particular treatment options available for each injury or condition resulting from an auto accident. Being involved in a motor vehicle accident can not only lead to injuries but they can be full of confusion and frustrations.
It is very important to have a qualified provider specializing in these matters completely assess the circumstances surrounding any injury. For more information, please feel free to contact us at (915) 850-0900 or text to call Dr. Jimenez personally at (915) 540-8444.
Sciatica motor vehicle crash. After an automobile crash/accident, symptoms of pain and discomfort can immediately follow the force of impact, indicating an injury. Many injuries and symptoms appear right away, like:
Pain from high-impact trauma and cuts.
Bone fractures.
Dislocations.
Neck whiplash.
Back pain.
The sciatic nerve is the largest in the body, and any damage can cause pain in one or both sides of the body. Pressure and compression on the nerves, ligaments, and muscles accompanied by weakness or numbness in the lower back, legs, or feet could cause delayed sciatica symptoms hours, days, even weeks later. It is critical to meet with a doctor and auto accident chiropractor after any type of accident, large or small, to develop a thorough personalized treatment plan.
Sciatica Motor Vehicle Crash
Sciatica can be brought on by a pinched nerve, which is often the result of the spine shifting out of place, causing herniation and compression on the sciatic nerve. The trauma from a motor vehicle accident can cause the spinal discs to be knocked out of place, rupture, and leak out, irritating the surrounding tissue and nerve endings. Back injuries are among the most common forms of damage/injury resulting from a motor vehicle accident/crash that can lead to sciatica. Broken and/or fractured vertebral, hip, or pelvis bone fragments can compress the sciatic nerve. Even when the initial result of the impact does not result in sciatica, over time, an untreated back injury could lead to sciatica symptoms.
Symptoms
Motor vehicle crashes often activate or aggravate pre-existing conditions like asymptomatic degenerative disc disease, affecting the sciatic nerve causing discomfort and pain. Common symptoms include:
Mild discomfort or achiness.
Tingling sensations from the lower back and down the back of the leg.
Weakness, numbness, or difficulty moving the leg and foot.
Inability to bend the foot upward at the ankle- known as foot drop.
Constant pain in one side of the buttocks or leg.
Sharp pain that makes it difficult to stand up and walk
Difficulty sitting.
Burning or tingling in one leg can worsen when sitting.
Intense pain.
Sharp burning and/or what feels like shooting electricity pain.
Diagnosis
A spine doctor and chiropractor will use diagnostic imaging tools like X-rays, and CT scans to see the scope of the injured area.
An X-ray will show a detailed image of the spine and affected bones in the area.
A CT scan will include a 3D image that shows the surrounding musculature, tissues, and nerves that could be damaged/injured.
Treatment
The doctor and chiropractor will then develop an appropriate and personalized treatment plan that could utilize various methods and techniques.
Chiropractic is commonly the first treatment to realign the spine and relieve pressure on the nerve.
A pain management specialist or physical therapist will be brought in for rehabilitation/recovery as adjustments progress.
Orthopedists and neurologists may be brought in for less conservative treatment in more severe cases, including surgical options.
Other treatments can include steroid injections or anti-inflammatory medicines to relieve nerve pressure.
Body Composition
Injury Rehabilitation Phase
Current in-clinic methods of measuring the composition of an injured body are indirect, while medically advanced techniques limit the frequency of testing. InBody provides cost-effective, comprehensive, and timely measurements that identify areas of weakness from damage, injury, or recent surgery and develop a customized rehabilitation program to improve functional status.
During the rehabilitation phase, increased sedentary behavior and/or immobilization causes muscle loss in the injured or operated region. By independently evaluating lean mass in each segment of the arms, legs, and torso, a chiropractor or physical therapist gathers baseline information on the body segments with restricted mobility.
InBody can help provide further insight into an individual’s body composition to analyze long-term health risks and develop a personalized exercise intervention to improve overall health and reduce health risks. This provides beneficial information for identifying potential imbalances related to muscle loss post-injury/surgery that can be targeted and improved. Identifying these imbalances allows the therapists to increase functional fitness and mobility, helping the individual reduce the risk of re-injury or new injuries.
References
Defouilloux, B et al. “A propos de trois observations chez des polytraumatisées de la route présentag une fracture du bassin associée à des signes neurologiques” [Apropos of 3 cases of multiple traffic injuries presenting pelvic fractures associated with neurologic signs]. Journal de radiologie, d’electrologie, et de medecine nucleaire vol. 48,8 (1967): 505-6.
Noble, J et al. “Analysis of upper and lower extremity peripheral nerve injuries in a population of patients with multiple injuries.” The Journal of trauma vol. 45,1 (1998): 116-22. doi:10.1097/00005373-199807000-00025
Walsh, K et al. “Risk of low back pain in people admitted to hospital for traffic accidents and falls.” Journal of epidemiology and community health vol. 46,3 (1992): 231-3. doi:10.1136/jech.46.3.231
After an auto accident that might not have caused serious damage, individuals often believe that they’re fine only to find out later that there is a serious injury. How do these hidden injuries happen? It is because of the body’s fight or flight response that it activates into high gear. It does whatever is necessary to get out of harm’s way. The result is that individuals might not realize/discover that they have been injured until after the dangerous circumstances have passed. Auto accident doctors and chiropractors are very familiar with these types of hidden injuries.
The injuries sustained from non-damage-causing auto accidents are often not visible. This can be internal injuries and joint and muscle misalignments that can often only be seen through extensive x-rays, MRIs, or detailed physical examination. However, a professional chiropractor can determine the root causes of an injury from a single consultation.
Hidden Injuries
Whiplash
Some injuries, like delayed whiplash, do not present immediately because it can take days for symptoms to develop. This is the most common injury caused by an auto accident. This is when the head snaps back and then forward rapidly/violently during a collision. The jolting back-and-forth motion causes muscle strain, sprain, which can stretch and/or tear the tendons and muscles in the neck. The injury can be worsened as the individual does not realize that they have this injury, and they turn, rotate, and crane their necks like normal. Symptoms include:
A stiff/tight neck
Dull neck pain
Upper back pain
Shoulder stiffness, aches, and pain
It is recommended to see a doctor or chiropractor as soon as possible for diagnosis and treatment.
Muscle, Tendon, and Ligament Injuries
Muscle, tendon, and/or ligament injuries can happen due to whiplash, but they can also happen in other parts of the body like the hands, elbows, knees, and ankles.
Contact Injuries Bruises and Swelling
Drivers and passengers can bruise and swell from contact with hard surfaces like the steering wheel, dashboard, and doors. Seat belts can also cause injury from quick/rapid braking or a crash.
Concussion
This is when the brain forcefully makes contact with the skull resulting in bruising/injury to the brain. It is recommended to see a doctor immediately if any of the following are experienced after an auto accident:
Dizziness
Loss of balance/equilibrium when standing and walking
Difficulty concentrating
Difficulty remembering things
Spinal Trauma
The spine can sustain separate injury/s or trauma as a result of an auto accident. This includes:
Dislocation/s
Fractures
Compressed vertebrae
Crushed vertebrae
More symptoms can present after the shock wears off.
This often reveals severe, debilitating injury/s that affect the nerves and muscle control of different organs and body parts.
Bio-Chiropractic Treatment and Rehabilitation
One of the most effective and recommended ways to relieve pain and properly heal hidden injuries is chiropractic treatment and rehabilitation. A professional chiropractor can prevent further injuries from developing while easing and alleviating current pain.
No Medication Necessary
More people are becoming addicted to prescription medications following accidents and other trauma. Chiropractic care treats the cause of pain without medications. This allows the body to heal naturally and for movement to come back naturally.
Reduces Long Term Pain
Many continue to deal with back, neck, and other chronic pain conditions after an accident. Chiropractic gets to the root of the problem. The therapy sessions manipulate the body and help naturally restore the body’s total range of movement. A chiropractor will recommend exercises and stretches to keep the body strong and flexible to help prevent pain.
Reduces Scar Tissue
After the body goes through a trauma like an auto accident, muscles and ligaments can be stretched and torn. This can cause areas of internal scar tissue can develop. This can limit movement. Chiropractic helps reduce scar tissue by keeping the tissues loose and relaxed. This allows a normal range of movement.
Inflammation Alleviation
Auto injury/s can lead to long-term inflammation that can make life miserable. Chiropractors are trained to spot hidden micro-tears that x-rays are not able to scan. However, it is microscopic tears inside the muscles that are often the leading cause of inflammation. With physical manipulation, the body will be able to rerelease IL-6 substances naturally. This is a vital anti-inflammatory.
Healthy Body Composition
Personalized Functional Medicine
Personalized functional medicine is a new model of medicine that considers an individualized approach when making health recommendations. The body works as an integrated system, not as individual parts. This form of medicine combines new technology approaches, including recent gene expression and life and behavioral sciences discoveries. Personalized functional medicine looks at the subject of nutrigenomics. Nutrigenomics is defined as the relationship between nutrients and gene expression. Like identifying individual body composition, nutrigenomics testing can help individuals understand how dietary components influence their genes. This can help prevent the development of chronic diseases.
References
Calil, Ana Maria et al. “Mapping injuries in traffic accident victims: a literature review.” Revista latino-americana de enfermagem vol. 17,1 (2009): 120-5. doi:10.1590/s0104-11692009000100019
Dindi, Kuru et al. “Road traffic injuries: Epidemiology, challenges, and initiatives in India.” The National medical journal of India vol. 32,2 (2019): 113-117. doi:10.4103/0970-258X.275355
Minich, Deanna M, and Jeffrey S Bland. “Personalized lifestyle medicine: relevance for nutrition and lifestyle recommendations.” TheScientificWorldJournal vol. 2013 129841. 26 Jun. 2013, doi:10.1155/2013/129841
Palmnäs, Marie et al. “Perspective: Metabotyping-A Potential Personalized Nutrition Strategy for Precision Prevention of Cardiometabolic Diseases.” Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) vol. 11,3 (2020): 524-532. doi:10.1093/advances/nmz121
Sims, J K et al. “Automobile accident occupant injuries.” JACEP vol. 5,10 (1976): 796-808. doi:10.1016/s0361-1124(76)80313-9
With the number of individuals/vehicles on the road today, automobile accidents are frequent and even minor ones can cause damage. The most obvious is the destruction of the vehicle during and after the collision. But these crashes and accidents also cause serious damage to the body that is not immediately visible or felt. Almost every accident and crash results in injuries to one or more of the individuals involved. Vehicle collisions both great and small involve force being applied as two or more vehicles collide. The direction and amount of force can cause damage to the body from twisting, bending, slamming, and jolting in ways the body was not meant to do. There is a 1 in 5 chance of being involved in an automobile accident that causes bodily injury.
The most frequent injuries include:
Frequent Soft Tissue Injuries
Bruising/Contusions
Even a minor automobile accident can cause bruising. A collision can jerk/jolt the body from the seat belt, while it is doing its job of keeping the individual from flying out the window, it can leave bruises for days afterward. Bruises are rarely serious injuries that require medical attention and usually heal within a week or two.
Whiplash
The physical force from an accident can cause the head to move at speeds that it should not move at. Pain or discomfort in the neck and back after a collision can indicate a sustained whiplash strain to the muscles and ligaments. These strains can be painful and take weeks for a full recovery and if left untreated could result in chronic pain.
Neck and Spinal injuries
The intense force that the body endures from a collision can cause serious damage to the body that is not immediately apparent or present with inflammation/pain letting the individual know that something is not right. Herniations or ruptures of the discs in the spine can occur. This can lead to serious injuries that cause intense pain and limit mobility and flexibility. If pain continues after several days, or there is a history of neck/back injury/s and/or condition/s, consult with an accident chiropractic specialist or spine specialist to see if there is an injury to the spine or surrounding muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Chiropractic treatment and physical therapy are important to return the body to optimal health. Surgery could be an option if there is sustained serious neck or spinal injury.
Frequent Head Injuries
Concussions
During a collision, hitting the head on the steering wheel, window, or roof is frequent and can cause a concussion. Individuals can experience problems with memory, like not remembering what happened before the collision, or feeling like brain function is not as quick. Treatment for any kind of head injury is crucial. Treatment will help alleviate headaches and help restore the brain to a healthy state.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
These injuries can cause life-altering effects. A traumatic brain injury can change:
The way the brain functions
Handles information
Processes emotions
Recovery from a brain injury is possible but can take time, depending on the type and severity of the damage.
Frequent Mental and Emotional Injuries
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
When the body goes through extreme stress like an automobile accident there is the potential to develop emotional and mental conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. Symptoms can include:
Avoiding or responding fearfully to certain sounds or images that are associated with auto accidents
Sleeping problems brought on by anxiety and/or nightmares
Treatment is vital and psychologists and therapists can help individuals express their feelings, and educate individuals on techniques to deal with stresses, anxieties, and fears to get them to a healthy life.
Internal Injuries
Broken Bones
The impact of a collision can cause the body to hit various areas of the vehicle, stressing the musculoskeletal system that it can’t take. This can occur in a variety of ways, with the torso, arms, or legs getting pinned by a part of the vehicle causing fracture/s. Also, depending on the speed of the collision, the seatbelt could stop the body suddenly causing a fracture of the ribs. Broken bones are frequent in auto accidents/crashes, however, some fractures could require surgery and hardware to reset the bones to allow proper healing. Depending on the type of break, individuals could require a month or more of rest. Chiropractic care and physical therapy could help expedite recovery.
Internal Bleeding
The body’s organs are delicate and fragile. The impact forces from an auto accident can cause all kinds of damage, causing them to bleed. These are serious injuries and are quite common in high-speed collisions.
Auto Accident Doctors & Chiropractic Treatment
Body Positivity
Body positivity is about every individual having a psychological representation of their body or body image. This includes:
How an individual thinks about their body shape
Size
Emotions attached to their perception
Fitness and fashion industries used to promote what the perfect body should look like and those with a body image that did not fit these criteria could develop a sense of inferiority. In response to this, body positivity has become a rapidly growing movement on social media. The movement’s objective is to challenge society to focus on an individual’s overall health, and not their body. It encourages acceptance of all body types, no matter the size or shape. The movement has a companion known as the Healthy at Every Size or HAES movement that focuses on health indicators other than weight. It encourages the focus on developing healthy habits that lead to improved health. HAES involves three components:
Intuitive eating
Encourages body acceptance
Promotes physical activity through movement and health instead of a structured exercise regimen
These movements offer realistic and encouraging ways to recognize and achieve optimal health. They accept body and health at every stage of an individual’s fitness and health journey.
Disclaimer
The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional, licensed physician, and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified health care professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the musculoskeletal system’s injuries or disorders. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and support, directly or indirectly, our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.
Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, CTG*
email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com
phone: 915-850-0900
Licensed in Texas & New Mexico
References
Duncan, G J, and R Meals. “One hundred years of automobile-induced orthopedic injuries.” Orthopedics vol. 18,2 (1995): 165-70.
Hamilton JB. Seat-belt injuries. Br Med J. 1968 Nov 23;4(5629):485-6. doi: 10.1136/bmj.4.5629.485. PMID: 5697665; PMCID: PMC1912721.
Sims, J K et al. “Automobile accident occupant injuries.” JACEP vol. 5,10 (1976): 796-808. doi:10.1016/s0361-1124(76)80313-9
Many individuals enjoy riding all-terrain vehicles, or ATVs. It is a fun pastime and it gets individuals outdoors. However, when driving/riding any type of motor vehicle there is potential for crashes and accidents that can result in severe injuries. Unfortunately, many individuals get on an ATV without properly understanding how the vehicle operates, safety measures, and what to do in an emergency. Several facts about ATV accidents, provided by the Consumer Product Safety Commission:
130,000+ individuals are injured every year from ATV accidents
Over 700 individuals are killed in these accidents every year
Around one-third of the individuals killed are under the age of 16.
Many of the accidents could have been prevented if proper safety protocols were followed
Many of these accidents are based on negligence or recklessness of the driver or other individual/s doing the same in close proximity. The causes range from:
Speeding recklessly
Steep hill-climbing
Rollovers
Drunk driving
Exceeding capacity
Many of these vehicles are designed to hold one passenger only. When a second or third passenger is on the vehicle, the accidents are usually of the secondary passengers falling or getting thrown off. In other cases, the passenger is not able to shift their weight with the driver, resulting in throwing the entire vehicle off-balance.
ATV
Today ATVs are used for various jobs including border patrol, construction, emergency medical response, snow plowing, and maintaining farmland. They can be fun, but they can also be extremely dangerous if not properly ridden. Every year faster, and more powerful ATVs arrive on the market for purchase. The first ATVs had around 7-horsepower, an 89 cc engine, and weighed about 200 pounds. Today, some have engines that are 600 ccs, with 50 horsepower, weigh over 400 pounds, and can go up to 100 miles per hour. These are powerful machines that can cause severe injuries.
Injuries typically happen to men around 18 to 30 years of age
80 percent of injuries impact the driver and not the passenger
The most common injury cause is associated with flips and/or rolls
When this happens, both the driver and passenger can get thrown and in some cases, pinned underneath.
Symptoms and Injuries
Common ATV injuries include:
All around body pain
Muscle stiffness
Fractures
Broken bones
Dislocation/s
Whiplash
Headaches
Migraines
Concussion
Neurologic injuries
Spinal cord damage
Chronic pain
Blurred Vision
Chiropractic and Physical Therapy
Just like automobile accident injuries, there can be delayed symptoms that begin to present over days or weeks. Seeking the proper treatment as soon as possible is important to decrease inflammation and swelling before the injury/s worsens, or leads to other debilitating conditions. Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic can help restore mobility and flexibility after an ATV accident. A combination of physical therapy, chiropractic adjustments, and massage will help with:
Keep a phone or other communication device in case of an emergency
Body Composition
Phase Angle values can determine what’s going on in the body
It can help identify health risks, address underlying health issues, and track the progress of lifestyle changes like diet and exercise. For many individuals phase angle analysis has helped them make data-driven health and wellness decisions. Many medical practices are using it to personalize a patient’s treatment plan. Lifestyle factors that are likely to impact phase angle include:
The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional, licensed physician, and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified health care professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the musculoskeletal system’s injuries or disorders. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and support, directly or indirectly, our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.
Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP, CIFM, CTG* email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com phone: 915-850-0900 Licensed in Texas & New Mexico
While bruising, soreness, and scrapes are common, whiplash and chronic whiplash injuries may not show for several days or weeks. While today’s vehicles are safer than ever, they can still only do so much when it comes to the body and musculoskeletal health. Being involved in an automobile accident, even a light tap can give a sudden jolt to the spine that although the individual might not have felt anything like discomfort or pain, it was enough to shift the disc/s out of place or set them up to shift out of place. No one wants to be involved in a car or motorcycle accident, but regardless of good driving habits, or how advanced the safety features on the vehicle might be, the average driver will be involved in three to four automobile accidents in their life.
Whiplash
Whiplash and chronic whiplash injuries are common in motor vehicle accidents. More than 3 million Americans will see a doctor and a chiropractor for automobile accidents and whiplash effects. It only takes a 2.5 mph hit to cause an injury. And whiplash doesn’t only happen when hit from behind, there are several ways an individual can be subjected to whiplash, including being T-boned, amusement park rides, and falling off a bicycle or a horse.
Symptoms
Most whiplash symptoms develop in the first twenty-four hours, but this is not always the case. Common symptoms include:
Most individuals realize they have whiplash a day or two after, but for others, it can take a few weeks or even months to present. Whiplash is classified by degree or grade:
Grade 0
The individual has no complaints and there are no symptoms/signs of physical injury.
Grade 1
There is neck pain but there are no physical signs of injury.
Grade 2
There are signs/symptoms of musculoskeletal damage and neck pain is presenting.
Grade 3
There are signs/symptoms of neurological damage and neck pain is presenting.
The average amount of time most individuals stay home from work is around 40 days. However, when whiplash pain lasts longer than a few weeks, it is deemed to be chronic whiplash.
Chronic Whiplash
Some individuals with whiplash experience painful symptoms for years. This is true of those that avoid or refuse medical attention and learn to live with it.
Treatment Options
There are very effective methods for treating whiplash and chronic whiplash injuries. Depending on the extent of the injury/s, developing the right treatment/rehabilitation plan requires individual consultation with a chiropractor to discuss options that can include:
Pain Relief
The pain can be excruciating. Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen for temporary relief. However, the individual will need extended treatment to ensure it does not become chronic pain.
Neck Brace
Neck braces help limit the pain, but should not be worn for more than three or four days. If worn for too long the neck muscles are prevented from gaining the strength needed to support the head.
Don’t Sit For Too Long
Avoid keeping the head in any one position for too long. This includes sitting in bed, watching TV, or working at a desk. This places a large amount of pressure and stress on the neck, making the pain even more severe and longer-lasting.
Sleeping Properly and Comfortably
For many, it can be difficult to get into a comfortable position when sleeping. Sleeping on the back with the head turned to one side can worsen the pain. Try a high-quality ergonomic pillow that allows the individual to sleep on their side and takes the pressure off of the neck.
Spinal Alignment
Whiplash can cause the spine to shift out of alignment. This can lead to additional problems in the back or shoulders. It�s always a good idea to see a chiropractor that specializes in motor vehicle accident injuries to realign the spine and neck, as well as for rehabilitation to strengthen the muscles and prevent further injuries. See a chiropractor for an evaluation of the injuries and develop a customized treatment plan that works for the individual’s condition.
Everyone is different
Some individuals can be stiff and sore for a few days and then are okay with not much pain. Some individuals experience severe pain immediately after the wreck, while others have no pain for days or even weeks. Both scenarios are pretty common. Soft tissue injuries can be very deceiving. Some don�t experience any pain for months after the accident. Many don�t think they need to see a doctor or chiropractor because there is no pain or symptoms. However, underneath serious problems could be getting ready to present including:
Constant headaches
Numbness or pins and needles in the hands or arms
Pain between the shoulder blades
Poor posture
Chronic muscle tension
Painful spasms
Degeneration of the discs
Painful inflamed arthritis
The quick development of arthritis
Sore, tight, or inflexible muscles
Sleep disturbances
Fatigue
Dizziness
Body Composition
A decrease in physical activity
Physical inactivity is a primary factor in the progression of sarcopenia. Resistance exercise can help maintain muscle mass and help build muscular strength. Individuals that are more sedentary can exacerbate the effects of sarcopenia.
A decrease in motor neurons
Aging is accompanied by motor neuron loss resulting from cell death. This leads to a decrease in muscle fiber. This decrease in muscle fibers leads to:
Impaired performance
A reduction in functional capacity
A decreased ability to perform everyday tasks
Dr. Alex Jimenez�s Blog Post Disclaimer
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.*
Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*
Driving with back pain can make trips a nightmare. Here are some driving tips to save your back when on the move. There is nothing like the freedom of hitting the open road. Family, friends, or solo, the destination along with new sights breezing by, refreshes the mind. With the COVID pandemic, many have turned to trucks, cars, SUVs, and RVs for a comfortable, safe mode of transportation.
Back pain from driving can become a serious issue. Studies have shown how low back pain, and spending a significant amount of time driving are interconnected. And other studies have also shown living a sedentary lifestyle like sitting for a long time will lead to some form of back pain that can become exacerbated by elongated driving. Road trips and regular commuting can both impact an individual’s spine. It depends on the length of time drivers are behind the wheel as well as any present spinal conditions.
Long commutes and road trips can take a toll on the body that can continue to increase in its severity. Individuals live most of their lives in a flexed/flexing posture. Meaning that there is the ability to shift positions and move around. This could be like Sleeping curled up, then on the back, sitting at a desk/workstation, then standing, stretching out, twisting, and bending.
Driving creates a whole different type of spinal stress because of the physical mechanics involved. Automobiles generate different types of forces on the back. Factors such as accelerating, decelerating, swaying side to side, and vibrations all can contribute to back pain. To elaborate the feet and legs control the vehicle, and so are not able to help stabilize the spine, and vibration from uneven/loose gravel roads can cause issues with the spinal discs.
Discomfort and pain can occur for the driver and passenger/s. Individuals with diagnosed back condition/s can experience a worsening of symptoms and an increase in pain. This could be a postural imbalance, sciatica, or arthritis. Here are some driving tips to show how to prevent back pain before, during, and after the trip.
Before Driving
Prevention is the best way to decrease back pain when driving. The following precautions are recommended:
Think about getting helpful sitting aids/lumbar support cushions, like memory foam and air-filled seat cushions.
If specifically dealing with tailbone pain, a support with a tailbone cutout is recommended.
Optimize the seat by placing the back a little beyond fully upright. From 100 to 105-110 degrees, so the individual maintains proper posture. Inclining more can lead to a forward-head posture that can cause neck pain.
The seat should be close enough to the steering wheel to provide a relaxed upper body posture. However, make sure that the legs are not too close to the steering wheel and there is room to maneuver. The seat should be level around 5 degrees upward to provide support to the legs.
If unable to provide lumbar support rolling up a towel/thick sweater etc can be placed in the small of the back providing a quick fix.
The Drive
Eyes on the road and hands at 10 and 2 but don�t take the focus off the spine.
If driving for more than 20 minutes, it is recommended to make adjustments/changes in the seated position. Just a slight tweak can reduce the driving forces on the spine.
Driving for longer than an hour then short breaks are necessary. Pit stops are spine savers. Just like work breaks that involve standing, walking around, and stretching out, bending forward and leaning backward will keep the spine flexible, uncompressed with optimal blood flow.
Heated seats can help soothetight back muscles. It acts as a heating pad.
Remove items from pockets, especially wallets or similar objects in the back pocket. This can lead to an asymmetrical position that leads to shifting weight/stress loads to one side creating an added strain on the spine and awkward postures.
Stopping
After driving for an extended period, resting is vital to spine health. Utilize time out of the vehicle to continue prevention.
Sitting right after driving is not recommended.
Right after driving the body needs to move after being in the static driving/passenger position for some time.
Standing, walking, and doing some gentle stretches are recommended. Back extensions and side bending are examples.
Core exercises can help and should also be incorporated into a regular physical exercise regimen.
However, exercises after long or strenuous drives when the body is fatigued are not recommended, as intense exercise can lead to injury or worsening of back pain.
Pain Continues After
If there was a small/low amount of pain or if it was a pain-free experience then perhaps the driving tips helped. If the pain continues and there was no help with these driving tips, it might be time to see a doctor or chiropractor. Minor aches and pains can be expected, but if there is pain lasting longer than a few days or limits function, then seeking out medical advice is recommended.
Car Accident Chiropractic Treatment
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The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.*
Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*
Truide has been working for the past 20 years in claims resolutions. She works hand in hand with patients and is available to resolve dispute resolutions. She also works as the patient liaison for clinical and legal matters.
Truide Torres Jimenez (Brief Bio & Her Personal Message) Driven by the passion of doing what is in the patient’s best interest, I wake up every morning with the drive to help those in need. The claims process for health care is full of pits, valleys, and difficult obstacles designed to strike fear in those in need. My duty is to do what is within the confines of the law, “whatever it takes,” to get those involved to pay attention to those who need help. That is what I am honored to do for our patients.
My Purpose: In finding my purpose, I find the bigger “Why” behind my business. This is essential in the challenges I have seen in these times. Each day, I search for God’s message in my purpose, which I pray takes me to another level. At the end of the day, I, too, do not want to work for the sake of working. As humans and God-fearing individuals, we like to know we’re aligned with what we feel we are called to do. So getting with my purpose and my “why” has always so important to me. I love people, and I want to help them, especially when they are in need.
My Commitment As defined, commitment is “the state or quality of being dedicated to cause activity, etc.” Without commitment, it is difficult, if not impossible, to push through challenges to reach our goals. My commitment is to serve my fellow person in their clinical needs and find the right solution for them.
My Dedication: “The quality of being dedicated or committed to a task or purpose is what I strive daily for every day.” I have always told my children that you commit to it once you have a purpose, and you see it through. I, too, try to live my life by those words. Yes, it’s work, and there is no substitute other than to dig in and get it done. There is no substitute for practice and preparation. Our success with our patients has always been dependent on the level of effort we as a team have been able to focus on with our independent and prioritized tasks mutually. I commit to being dedicated to our God-directed purpose.
Perseverance I believe that to persevere, you must show continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failures, or oppositions. With our patients and those we assist, we face many challenges and need and pray for the ability to push through and pick ourselves up when down. I can only imagine how my clients feel. For that reason, I push harder to help them. Simply put, each challenge we as a team overcomes, the closer we can help our patients and those in need. So we stay the course and overcome the fear and struggles our patients have and help them clinically persevere.
Personally, I have seen great injustices transpire on those that do NOT have a voice in today’s world. Whether a language barrier or just not knowing the rules. My job is to find out how I can help. If I personally can not help, I will find the right sources to open the possibilities. Then, I get the job done.
As a wife and mother of 2 children, 2 dogs and 3 cats, my passion is for God, Family, and the mission of serving my fellow man.
Call me if you need help with clinical matters:
Office 915-850-0900 / Cell: 915-252-6149
Truide Torres – Jimenez Patient Advocate: Injury Medical Clinic PA
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