Back Clinic Personal Injury Chiropractic Team. Injuries from an accident can not only cause physical harm to you or a loved one, being involved in a personal injury case can often be a complicated and stressful situation to handle. These types of circumstances are unfortunately fairly common and when the individual is faced with pain and discomfort as a result of trauma from an accident or an underlying condition that has been aggravated by the injury, finding the right treatment for their specific issue can be another challenge on its own.
Dr. Alex Jimenez’s compilation of personal injury articles highlights a variety of personal injury cases, including automobile accidents resulting in whiplash, while also summarizing various effective treatments, such as chiropractic care. For more information, please feel free to contact us at (915) 850-0900 or text to call Dr. Jimenez personally at (915) 540-8444.
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.
Certain jobs or�daily�activities require us to do the same action over and over again. It can be enjoyable but these repetitive movements can cause serious injury to the body. Most affected are the:
Hands
Wrists
Elbows
Shoulders
Neck
Back
These injuries are quite common in the United States and are referred to as Repetitive Motion Disorders (RMDs).
Repetitive Motion Disorders
Repetitive motion disorders are musculoskeletal conditions caused by movements/motions done over and over. RMDs can be caused by:
Muscle/ligament friction from unnatural or awkward motions like twisting the arm, wrist, hands or other areas of the body where repeated motions are used.
Incorrect posture/positioning when doing these movements.
Overdoing it, either trying to go faster or with added strength that really strains the muscles.
RMD’s cause symptoms because of muscle fatigue, inflammation, and swelling or compression of the nerve’s tissues. Examples include:
Carpal tunnel syndrome happens when the tunnel of bones and ligaments in the wrist begin to pinch the nerves in the fingers and the muscles around the thumb.
Bursitis is inflammation of the bursa that’s between the tendon and skin, or between a tendon and bone/s.
Tendonitis�is inflammation, irritation, and swelling of a tendon/s.
Epicondylitis (elbow pain) is inflammation, soreness, and pain on the outside of the upper arm around the elbow.
Ganglion cyst occurs when tissues surrounding specific joints get inflamed and swell up with fluid.
Tenosynovitis happens when the lining of the sheath that surrounds a tendon gets inflamed.
Trigger finger can be a painful or painless clicking, snapping, or locking of a finger/s.
All of the above conditions can be caused by other means and not repetitive movement/s.
RMD Work Risk
Jobs vary all over, but if repetitive movements are how the job gets done those individuals have a higher risk to get a repetitive motion disorder. There are professions and activities that increase the risk that include:
Assembly/factory linework
Carpentry
Computer work like typing, digital/graphic design where a digital pad/pen and mouse are the main tools that have to keep moving
Pain, soreness, pinching and stiffness in the fingers, hands, wrists, forearms, elbows, shoulders, neck and back
Tingling or numbness.
Swelling or redness around the area.
Loss of flexibility and strength.
There could be no visible sign of injury or pain, but individuals find that the normal and easy tasks they’re used to become more and more difficult to do.
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.
*BEST* Heel Spurs Treatment | El Paso, Tx (2020)
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Safely Operating Tools that Cause Whole-Body Vibration
There are power tools that vibrate no matter what and�transmit vibration into the operator�s arms and hands, legs, and feet.�Using a tool like this can cause a condition called white finger or�Raynaud�s Phenomenon�to present.
The symptoms include:
Aching in the wrists and muscles of the forearm
Tingling sensations
Numbness
Whiteness in the fingers from restricted circulation
This type of vibration from riveting tools, grinders, pneumatic hammers, drills, and chain saws will affect the whole body�s well being.
Take frequent breaks to avoid overuse of muscles with little rest breaks of whatever muscles/ligaments you are using.
Regular exercise along with stretching and relaxation helps build strength, increase mobility, range of motion and prevent future injury.
Look at your posture to make sure it is correct for the task at hand. This helps the elbows, wrists, hands, and spine maintain alignment during repetitive motions.
Don’t stay in a single position for too long. Change your posture frequently during any type of activity to relax one set of muscles and use another set, then switch and so on and so forth.
Practicing correct form and technique will go a long way in preventing a repetitive injury.
Avoid over-reaching, stretching and twisting.
Use protective equipment and gear.
Have a properly designed workstation with office or work equipment at the proper height, distance and allows you to work safely and comfortably.
Staying Healthy
Staying healthy and avoiding RMD’s is first priority if you work at a job or regularly participate in activities where repetitive motion/s and movement/s are used.
Give yourself time to rest, exercise, and implement proper techniques. See a doctor or injury chiropractor if you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed. Ergonomically evaluating the causes is an important part of the diagnostic evaluation for patients with these conditions.
Therefore, mapping out a customized treatment plan for changing the way you work/perform these motions is the ultimate goal.
We focus on what works for you. We also strive to create fitness and better the body through researched methods and total wellness programs. These programs are natural and use the body�s own ability to achieve goals of improvement, rather than introducing harmful chemicals, controversial hormone replacement, surgery, or addictive drugs.
We want you to live a life that is fulfilled with more energy, a positive attitude, better sleep, less pain, proper body weight and educated on how to maintain this way of life. I have made a life of taking care of every one of my patients.
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Barring traumatic injury due to an accident, working in a factory environment can cause problems with mobility, pain, and flexibility. The�nature of the job�places specific demands on the human body that can lead to certain types of injuries and health conditions, which include:
Repetitive motion injury � When a worker performs the same task that involves the same movements over and over, it can lead to certain types of injuries. Carpal tunnel is a common repetitive motion injury.
Overexertion � Lifting, pulling, even standing can take a toll on the body, especially when it is done without adequate breaks. The person can get muscle fatigue, pulled muscles, and pulled tendons.
Body movement injuries � When the worker is continuously reaching, twisting, crawling, and bending, it can cause problems with the muscles and joints.
Keyboards and mice come in all sorts of colors and styles, which is great but for those that work on a computer for a job, using the right type is essential to prevent injury keeping the hands, wrists, and arms healthy and moving.
Overuse can cause painful musculoskeletal disorders like:
There are a variety of ergonomic designs for these devices. Keyboard designs include four separate key areas:
The alphanumeric area with letters, numbers, and control keys
An area with cursor keys
Numeric keypad
Function keys or the ‘F’ keys
Keyboard Key Combinations or The Mouse
Basic typing and many other actions can be performed on the keyboard using the:
Function keys
Cursor keys
Control keys
Keyboard macros
Pretty much all of these actions can be done with the mouse. Many users operate the computer with the mouse instead of using the key combinations.
To obtain correct posture when working align the center of your body with the center of the keyboard area used the most or during a task.
Keyboard Layout
The layout follows the original ASDF design from the first typewriter.
From the beginning of this design, there was a realization that angling and splitting the keys would reduce the bending of the hands. The first split keyboard typewriter was manufactured in 1886.
The idea of splitting and angling the keys was implemented into ergonomic keyboard designs with the alphanumeric keys being separated at an angle into two sloped sections. For a� non-touch typist, this can be difficult to use, as some keyboards only angle the keys without splitting into halves.
The split design reduces the sideways bending of the hand but also important is the reduction of vertical bending.
However, this can be overcome by taking some simple steps like:
Flattening the keyboard feet on the desk can keep the hands flat
Putting the keyboard on a vertical tilted tray can also help improve the hands’ posture
Keyboards are available in left and right-handed styles
Choosing a Mouse
The shape along with the location of the mouse in relation to the keyboard is important for maintaining a healthy hand posture. Here are some considerations when choosing a mouse. The mouse buttons should:
Have easy clickability
Is easy to move around/feels natural
The screen cursor should move accurately with your movements
There are mice with programmable buttons allowing you to control additional functions. Important things to check:
Make sure the size and shape of the mouse feels natural in your hand
Hold the mouse in a neutral position meaning your hand should not be bent up, down or sideways
Position and operate the mouse with your upper arm relaxed and close to your body, and don’t reach too far forward or too far out to the side
There are keyboards with a separate numeric pad that allows the mouse to be located closer to the keyboard. Some keyboards include a cursor positioning device like a trackball, touchpoint or touchpad. These types eliminate having to reach for a mouse. However, it is a good practice to mix it up using the keyboard for certain operations and the mouse for others. This allows different muscles and ligaments to work while the others take a break.
The Ideal Setup
All keyboards and mice are designed differently. The key is to find well-made products that are built with ergonomic injury prevention as the focus. You can use trackballs, touchpads, and pen mice instead of a regular mouse.
Find what works for you, is ergonomic, comfortable and easy to use and will keep your hands in a neutral posture. If you do a lot of typing and mouse movement, your hands are going to get tired even with top designed keyboards and mice. Take frequent short rest and stretch breaks to let your muscles recover. The stretching exercises should include the:
Wrist
Forearm muscles
Shoulders
Neck
Upper back muscles
Working like this will protect you against over-use injuries.
Carpal Tunnel Chiropractic Treatment
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Chiropractic care is one of the most common forms of treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome. Foremost, a doctor of chiropractic will evaluate the extent of the condition as well as diagnose the individual to determine any underlying cause behind the condition. Through a series of chiropractic adjustments and manual manipulations, the hand, wrist, and arm are adjusted to reduce the pressure around the median nerve, and ultimately reducing the symptoms.
Creating a healthy, safe ergonomic work environment is important to protect your back, neck and whole body. Just by taking simple breaks and enhancing your workspace with a sit-stand desk will protect your spine and general health.
Break Taking
Working in the same position and using the same muscles, joints, and ligaments for hours is not good for any part of your body. Ergonomists are lifestylescientists that design spaces/equipment/tools to reduce discomfort, fatigue, and injury, agree that taking frequent and brief rest breaks is essential for total and optimal body health. And, it�s not just your legs that need a break every now and then.
At work, start practicing:
Eye breaks:Looking at the computer screen for a long time changes how the eyes work. What happens is you blink less and expose the eyes to the air. Therefore, every 15 minutes look away from the screen for a minute or two to a distant area that is at least 20 feet away or further. This allows the muscles in the eye to relax. Also, blink your eyes real quick for a few seconds. This refreshes the tear ducts and clears dust from the surface of the eyes.
Micro-breaks: These are breaks that are less than two minutes and perfect to utilize between office jobs. Most people work in bursts rather than continuously. So in between these bursts�take a rest in a:
Relaxed
Flat
Straight posture
These breaks are short but perfect for stretching, standing up, and moving around, or switching to a different task like making a phone call or making some copies, etc. These types of breaks are a break from using the same set of muscles over and over.
Rest breaks: These you want to do every 30 to 60 minutes. This is the break to, get up, move around, and do something else non-office related. Go get a beverage, quick conversation with a coworker, or take a walk around the office or building. As long it’s within reason. This allows your body and mind to empty and workout different muscles. Practice this and the feeling of tiredness will be a thing of the past.
Exercise breaks: This is purely a stretching and gentle exercise break to do to relieve muscle fatigue. These should be done every one to two hours.
Ergonomic software: It is easy to lose track of how long you’ve been working. There is software that monitors how long you’ve been on the computer and will alert you to take a break at different intervals and offer easy ergonomic exercises to keep your muscles loose and in top office shape.
Ergonomic Products
There are plenty of products out there to improve your workplace environment and promote top spine health. Consider an ergonomic chair, computer accessories, or sit-stand desk to help maintain proper posture.
These products can be adjusted and customized to your needs. They encourage healthy long-term habits that can reduce and prevent various types of injuries. Sit-to-stand desks allow transition from sitting to a standing position. Varying your posture throughout the day is highly beneficial to general health and even helps to burn extra calories.
These ergonomic products are for creating a healthy/safe work environment. Therefore take some time to research the product you are interested in before buying.� Here are a few questions to think about:
Do the manufacturer’s claims make sense or are too good to be true?
Is there evidence that can support their claims?
Is it a cheap knock-off? Knock off products should be avoided as they can worsen and create more injuries. However, when it comes to the brand name products, don’t go for the fully loaded models that could cost quite a bit, instead find something in the middle but that still meets ergonomic standards.
Are you comfortable using the product?
What do experts/reviews say about the product? If it’s not recommended then don’t use it.
Some products can feel strange or uncomfortable because they make you change the way you work. Don’t panic, as this is the point of the product that you have to get used to. But it will be beneficial to your overall health. However, if a product continues to feel uncomfortable or causes pain after short use, then discontinue using and try something else.
Improving spinal health and hygiene at work is as simple as taking breaks for light stretching, walking around, and utilizing ergonomic office products to stay fit and injury-free. Whatever you choose, understand how your back and neck are moving/functioning during the workday/night by using ergonomic practices that will keep your body/mind healthy and prevent office injuries.
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Ergonomics is a scientific discipline that�s been in existence for many years. Keeping their work environments safe and efficient and traditionally concerned with factory workers, ergonomic professionals have expanded their work to include all types of workers from laborers to seniors to office workers & students.
It looks for means to improve our environment to lower the risks of illness and harm, enhance productivity, and improve the caliber of our work life.
A burst fracture describes an injury to the spine where the vertebrae get compressed severely. These types of injuries occur from severe trauma, like an automobile accident or a serious fall, sports injury, work injury. These injuries entail a great deal of force into the spine, so much so that a vertebra can get crushed.
When crushed in the front of the spine, a wedge-shaped fracture occurs and is known as a compression fracture.
But if the vertebral body gets crushed in all directions this is known as a burst fracture.
The term burst means that the vertebral body spreads out in all directions.
Severe Injury
This is a much more severe injury than a compression fracture. With the bones crushed and possible rough jagged edges, if they spread out the spinal cord has a high probability of being injured. The fragments can bruise the spinal cord causing paralysis or partial neurologic injury. The spine becomes far less stable than from a compression fracture.
Nerve Injury
Neurologic injuries from a burst fracture can range from no injury to paralysis. This depends on the amount of force present at the time of the injury and how much the spinal canal is compromised.
A greater amount of force equals more bony fragments that can be forced into the spinal canal and cause higher loss of spinal cord function.
This can cause loss of:
Strength
Sensation
Reflexes below the injury
With an incomplete spinal cord injury, partial paralysis or partial reflex loss occurs.
With a mild burst fracture, only short-term symptoms could be present and no neurologic injury.
Intense Pain
Burst fractures can cause intense pain and the pain is right where the trauma took place.
But pain can also present in the legs and feet depending on how the spinal nerves were affected, shifted or pinched. Patients complain of an electric tingling or shooting type sensation in their legs with spinal cord compression. With a burst fracture, individuals are unable to walk right after the trauma. But the pain percentage present is severe enough that they know not to try and walk.
Diagnosis
If at the sight of the accident the patient says that they have severe back pain should not be in a seated flexed position. They need to be kept lying flat and transported in a flat position.
If they stand or sit with a burst fracture, it can increase the possibility of a neurologic injury.
Burst fractures require immediate medical attention from an orthopedic or neurosurgeon. The patient is taken to an emergency room and x-rays, CT scans are gathered.
The diagnosis of a burst fracture is typically made with x-rays and a CT scan.
Sometimes, an MRI will be ordered to assess the amount of:
Soft tissue trauma
Bleeding
Ligament injury
The CT scan and x-rays allow the doctor to determine the level of the fracture, and if it is a:
Compression fracture
Burst fracture
Fracture-dislocation
This will determine how much the spinal canal has been compromised and if its angulation or angle has taken an abnormal bend or curve. These factors all contribute to the development of an optimal treatment plan.
The physical exam will document:
Spinal deformity and Angulation of the spine
Tenderness of the spine where the fracture is located
Neurologic exam
Neurologic exam should include testing:
Muscle strength
Sensation
Reflexes of the lower extremities
Testing of bowel and bladder control
Treatment & Recovery
A stable burst fracture can be treated without surgery.
A stable burst fracture falls into these parameters:
There is no neurologic injury
The angulation is less than 20 degrees
The amount of spinal canal compromise is less than 50%
With this type of treatment, a brace along with physical therapy/chiropractic can have excellent results.
A turtle or clamshell brace TLSO�(Thoracic Lumbar Sacral Orthosis) is a body cast used in the treatment of a burst fracture.
The brace is worn for eight to twelve weeks for adequate and optimal healing.
There are times when a fracture thought stable and treated can start to angulate. This may require surgery. However, all burst fractures require some form of treatment.
Recovery
Nonsurgical treatment patients stay in the hospital for one or two days while their brace is fit.
X-rays are done in the standing position to make sure the spine stays stable.
Pain medications are prescribed for three to four weeks
Non-narcotic medications can begin after the final week
When the brace is removed, physical therapy and chiropractic are instituted to help return strength to the core and lower extremities.
Surgical patients will remain in the hospital for three to five days.
They will be fitted with a brace after the incisions present less pain and are recovered from the surgery.
They can walk within one or two days with the help of a physical therapist.
X-rays are taken to follow the position of the spine and see how the healing is progressing.
Chiropractic/Physical therapy is implemented to help with core strength and lower extremity strength.
Recovery time depends on the severity of the neurologic injury.
Patients that don’t have a neurologic injury can make a full recovery with return to most activities.
Patients with partial neurological injuries can also expect to fully recover.
Unfortunately, with permanent neurologic injury, recovery can be limited.
But treatment for burst fractures today is superior to what they were years ago, especially with spine specialists and specific spinal procedures.
Chiropractic Rehab
Chiropractic is not a treatment for fractures but is a treatment for subluxations and rehabilitation with these types of fractures. Once a fracture has stabilized and healed properly, a chiropractic evaluation can rule out any lingering subluxation, herniation, and joint restriction. The adjustments are safe and effective in establishing optimal function to a subluxated joint.
Chiropractic Treatment For Car Accident Injuries El Paso, Texas
We focus on what works for you. We also strive to create fitness and better the body through researched methods and total wellness programs. These programs are natural and use the body�s own ability to achieve goals of improvement.
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Chiropractors can help alleviate some of the long-term and immediate concerns associated with bone fractures. A chiropractor can help with compression techniques which are beneficial in maintaining the bone in place for healing. A chiropractor may also advocate wellness techniques, such as a healthy diet that will optimize the body�s ability to restore its original health and wellness. Chiropractors may also educate a patient on a variety of exercises and stretches to reduce the likelihood of complications and which, if done properly and at fixed intervals, will promote quicker recovery.
Neck pain caused by a whiplash injury definitely warrants a visit to a chiropractic whiplash specialist that can provide non-surgical treatment and pain relief.
Whiplash is an injury to the neck muscles from a rapid forward and backward motion of the neck caused by trauma from a car accident, sports injury, slip and fall accident or even just turning one’s head but doing it with a fast whipping motion that causes the neck/spine muscles to become swollen and irritated. It can cause acute short-term neck pain and restricted movement.
How a Whiplash Injury Is Diagnosed
A chiropractor evaluates the spine in its entirety. If you go to a chiropractic clinic with neck pain following trauma. The chiropractor will examine the whole spine because the other areas of the spine could be affected and not just the neck region.
The chiropractor locates the areas where motion is restricted if there are any disc injuries, muscle spasms, and ligament injuries. They will first apply motion and staticpalpation diagnostic techniques where they feel and touch the various areas where the pain is present, as well as where there is no pain. A chiropractor will also feel for:
Tenderness
Tightness
How well the spinal joints move
They will also analyze the patient’s walk noting their posture and if there is possible spinal misalignment. This will help the chiropractor understand the patient’s body’s mechanics and what their spine is doing to compensate for the injury. This can mean:
Leaning to one side
Getting up in a very careful way so as to avoid pain
Hunching over
Only turning in one direction
In addition to the evaluation, they will also order an x-ray or an MRI to evaluate any deteriorating changes that could have existed before the whiplash injury. The images and physical and neurological evaluation resultsare compared to figure out and develop the best treatment plan.
Whiplash Treatment Stages
After a whiplash injury happens a chiropractor works to reduce neck inflammation with various therapies like:
Massage
Ultrasound
Light stretching
Soft manual therapy techniques
They may also recommend applying an ice pack on the neck and light neck support for a short time. As the inflammation and pain decrease the chiropractor will begin applying gentle spinal manipulation along with other techniques to restore the normal motion to the neck’s facet joints.
Chiropractic Whiplash Injury Treatment
A treatment plan depends on the severity of the whiplash injury. Some manipulation techniques used are:
Flexion-distraction technique
This is a gentle non-thrusting type of spinal manipulation that helps treat herniated discs. A whiplash injury can cause an aggravated bulging or herniated disc. If this happens a chiropractor uses a slow palm pump action on the disc rather than direct thrusting force.
Instrument-assisted manipulation
This technique also non-thrusting utilizes a hand-held instrument. A chiropractor generates force without thrusting directly into the spine. This therapy is great for older patients who may have degenerative joint syndrome.
Specific spinal manipulation
Spinal joints that are restricted or have abnormal motion are identified. Then the chiropractor restores motion to the joint with a gentle thrust. This stretches the soft tissue and stimulates the nervous system to bring back normal motion.
Along with these spinal therapies/techniques, a chiropractor also uses manual therapy to treat the soft tissues like the ligaments and muscles. Some examples of manual techniques are:
Instrument-assisted soft tissue therapy is where a chiropractor uses an instrument/s like the Graston technique, that gently treats any injured soft tissues. They will gently apply the instrument along the injured area with repeated strokes.
Manual joint stretching and resistance therapy is a form of manual therapy that uses the muscle’s own energy to create isometric contractions that help relax the muscles, and help lengthen the muscles.
Therapeutic massage is where a chiropractor or physical therapist performs massage to ease and relax muscle tension in the neck.
Trigger point therapy identifies specific tight painful points/areas of muscle by applying direct pressure with the hands or fingers on these points to alleviate the muscle tension.
Interferential electrical stimulation This technique uses low-frequency electrical current to stimulate the muscles and reduce inflammation.
Ultrasound increases blood circulation and helps reduce muscle spasms, stiffness, and pain. This happens by sending sound waves deep into the muscle’s tissue which generates low heat and increases circulation.
Therapeutic exercises to restore normal spinal motion and reduce whiplash symptoms.
Chiropractic medicine looks at the whole person and not just the symptoms. Neck pain is different for everyone, so chiropractors don�t just focus on the pain because the whiplash injury could have affected other areas that the patient doesn’t feel pain or anything.
But as the spine is a complex structure that works as a unit, a problem in one area can slowly or quickly start to create problems in other areas of the spine much like falling dominoes.
With these techniques, a chiropractor will help increase a patient’s daily activities back to normal as quickly as they can, depending on the severity of the injury. They will work as hard as they can to address any added spinal or nerve-related causes/injuries stemming from the original whiplash injury and treat them as well until normal movement is restored and there is no longer pain.
Remember that prevention is the key to optimal long-term health!
Our team has taken great pride in bringing our families and injured patients only clinically proved treatment protocols. �By teaching complete holistic wellness as a lifestyle, we also change not only our patient�s lives but their families as well.� We do this so that we may reach as many El Pasoans who need us, no matter the affordability issues.
El Paso, TX Chiropractic Neck Pain Treatment
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Often,�people with whiplash don�t experience any effects until a day, or even two, after. The key is to stay ahead of the pain and take measures sooner rather than later to relieve it and keep it at bay. It also provides documentation should other issues arise, and you need the information for legal purposes.
If you are in an accident, especially if you get rear-ended, and experience whiplash, see a doctor that day ��even if you don�t feel much pain. The sooner you visit a chiropractic clinic, the sooner you can begin treatment should a problem develop.
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