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Personal Injury

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.


Restaurant Work Shoulder and Hand Injuries

Restaurant Work Shoulder and Hand Injuries

Restaurant work takes a toll on the body with the repetitive moving, bending, twisting, reaching, prepping, cutting, serving, and washing. This is especially true of the shoulders, arms, and hands. When individuals avoid treating their aches and pains, this can lead to chronic pain conditions that can cause severe and permanent damage to the musculoskeletal system. Chiropractic can alleviate the tingling and pain by removing the compression, re-stretching/lengthening, and strengthening the muscles and nerves to perform at optimal levels.

Restaurant Work Shoulder and Hand Injuries

Restaurant Work

The arms and hands are designed to accomplish various tasks. When functioning normally, tasks can be performed flawlessly. Repetitive/Overuse or trauma can cause nerve compression, stiffness, and pain, decreasing function and affecting daily routines.

Carpal Tunnel

  • Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common disorders that affect the arm and hands.
  • The carpal tunnel is a space where a nerve and several tendons pass. If the nerve becomes compressed, it can cause numbness, tingling in the fingers, pain, and muscle weakness, making it difficult to grip objects.
  • Discomfort and pain start gradually in one or both hands.
  • It can cause tightness and pain in the shoulder, forearm, wrist, and hand.
  • It can also cause numbness in the palm and fingers.
  • It can cause swelling and burning sensations.
  • Individuals often shake out the numbness and tingling sensations throughout the day or night.

Tendonitis

  • Tendonitis can present with carpal tunnel symptoms except for the gradual starting pain.
  • Tendonitis comes from Overuse and repetitive motions.
  • The pain will be tender directly on the affected area.
  • To help prevent and avoid, ask about exercises that stretch the affected tendons.
  • Ask a doctor or chiropractor which exercises and stretches are the safest for the specific condition.
  • Depending on the severity of the condition, individuals may need corticosteroid injections, physical therapy, or surgery.

Injury Prevention Tips Restaurant Work

  • Learn to stop trying to carry everything in one trip.
  • Ask for help/support staff to servers who deliver large orders and for clearing.
  • Recommend changes if body posture increases injury risk.
  • Heavy trays and plates should be balanced on the palm for better weight distribution.
  • Healthy rotation ensures that one worker does not always have the chopping and cutting duties for hours.
  • Take frequent breaks from tasks that require repetitive motions.
  • Find various stretches and exercises to build strength and flexibility in the arms, wrists, and hands.
  • Avoid scheduling multiple consecutive long shifts for jobs that require repetitive hand motions.

Body Composition


Sticking To A Meal Plan

Identify personal motivation to stick to a meal plan other than improving body composition. To keep motivation high, individuals need to identify other reasons behind goals. This could be:

  • Saving money from the food budget.
  • Spending time with loved ones preparing a healthy recipe.
  • Setting an example to family and friends.
  • It can be whatever motivates you.
  • Reassess and tweak the meal plan as needed.
  • Nutritional needs or dietary preferences change.
  • Meal planning should be a dynamic process.
  • Don’t get disappointed if not going as planned.
  • Refocus by making changes as needed.
References

Gentzler, Marc D, and Janan A Smither. “Using practical ergonomic evaluations in the restaurant industry to enhance safety and comfort: a case study.” Work (Reading, Mass.) vol. 41 Suppl 1 (2012): 5529-31. doi:10.3233/WOR-2012-0872-5529

Laperrière, Ève et al. “Work activity in foodservice: The significance of customer relations, tipping practices and gender for preventing musculoskeletal disorders.” Applied ergonomics vol. 58 (2017): 89-101. doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2016.05.013

Masear, V R et al. “An industrial cause of carpal tunnel syndrome.” The Journal of hand surgery vol. 11,2 (1986): 222-7. doi:10.1016/s0363-5023(86)80055-7

www.osha.gov/etools/hospitals/food-services/work-related-musculoskeletal-disorders

Szabo, R M. “Carpal tunnel syndrome as a repetitive motion disorder.” Clinical Orthopedics and related research,351 (1998): 78-89.

Delayed Injury Symptoms

Delayed Injury Symptoms

Automobile accidents and crashes can cause all kinds of damage to the body even when the accident/crash is not severe. Physical symptoms might not present at all for several days, even weeks. This is known as having delayed injury symptoms. These can include:

  • Swelling.
  • Stiffness.
  • Aching.
  • Pain that radiates all over the body.
  • Sleep problems.
  • Headaches.
  • Brain fog.
  • Disorientation.
  • Memory problems.

Chiropractic and physical therapy rehabilitation can restore the body’s alignment, stop inflammation, loosen, stretch and strengthen the musculoskeletal system restoring optimal health.

Delayed Injury Symptoms

Adrenaline

When the body is involved in a dangerous physical situation, it protects itself by releasing a surge of adrenaline. This hormone protects the body, causing the fight or flight response when in danger. Adrenaline causes several preservation responses that include:

  • Intense increase in energy.
  • Little or no pain.
  • Enlarged blood vessels and airways increase oxygen flow.
  • Increased strength from increased blood flow to the muscles.
  • Changes in vision and hearing that focus on sights and sounds all around.
  • Endorphins are released that make the body feel calm and in control.
  • Endorphins affect the way the body responds to pain and stress.

Individuals don’t start feeling aches and pains until the adrenaline and endorphins wear off. However, because everybody is different and the emergency response has turned off, the body still might not feel the injury symptoms. These are delayed injury symptoms.

Rate of Speed

When riding in a vehicle, the body moves at the same speed as the vehicle. During an impact, the vehicle stops, but the body continues moving until it stops, typically with a lot of force from the seatbelt, airbag, or other barriers. The intense momentum change can cause soft tissue damage and ligament or muscle strains from the stretching, pulling, contracting, and tearing. Also, the intervertebral discs can tear, bulge, or herniate over time, creating pressure on nerves and the surrounding tissues.

Delayed Injury Symptoms

Headaches

  • Headaches that develop days after an accident/crash are common.
  • They can signal a possible injury to the neck or head, a blood clot on the brain, or a concussion.

Numbness

  • Loss of feeling in arms and hands could indicate a whiplash-associated disorder.
  • The loss of feeling/sensation results from damage to the neck or spinal column.
  • Around 20 percent of individuals impacted by a rear-end crash develop some whiplash symptoms.

Neck or Shoulder Pain and/or Stiffness

  • Whiplash is a classic delayed symptom injury associated with accidents.
  • Most delayed whiplash injuries are caused by rear-end vehicle collisions at speeds of less than 14 miles an hour.
  • Whiplash injuries usually require x-rays, CT scans, or MRIs for proper diagnosis.

Abdominal Pain or Swelling

  • This could indicate internal bleeding.
  • Internal bleeding can remain undiscovered for hours or days.
  • This can be a life-threatening condition that needs to be diagnosed and treated by emergency medical personnel.
  • Other symptoms include:
  • Large areas of deep bruising.
  • Dizziness.
  • Fainting.

Back Aches and Pains

  • Back pain can be caused by injury to the muscles, ligaments, nerves, or damage to the vertebrae.
  • Low back pain occurs in more than half of rear-impact collisions and almost three-quarters of side-impact crashes.

Chiropractic Rehabilitation

After an accident, soft tissues can sustain minimal damage; however, the minimal damage left untreated can start to worsen and turn into a painful condition. Emergency room visits are to rule out major injuries like brain/nerve injuries, bleeding, punctures, lacerated organs, fractures that require emergency stabilization. Chiropractors look for other symptoms and mechanisms that indicate damage to the body’s soft tissues and nerves to see if they have been stretched or torn and dysfunction in the nervous system.


Body Composition


Calorie Counting

Counting calories can be a stepping stone to change behavior towards food. Tracking what foods are being taken into the body promotes mindfulness of dietary habits. Studies on the subject reveal a significant association between self-monitoring and weight loss. Takeaways include:

References

Burke, Lora E et al. “Self-monitoring in weight loss: a systematic review of the literature.” Journal of the American Dietetic Association vol. 111,1 (2011): 92-102. doi:10.1016/j.jada.2010.10.008

D’Elia, Michael A et al. “Motor vehicle collision with seatbelt sign and traumatic abdominal wall hernia should raise suspicion for hollow viscus injury.” Trauma case reports vol. 22 100206. 25 May. 2019, doi:10.1016/j.tcr.2019.100206

Kacprzynski, Gregory, and Joshua Bucher. “Delayed vertebral artery dissection after mild trauma in a motor vehicle collision.” The American Journal of emergency medicine vol. 45 (2021): 678.e1-678.e2. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2020.11.028

Olinger, Catherine, and Richard Bransford. “Upper Cervical Trauma.” The Orthopedic clinics of North America vol. 52,4 (2021): 451-479. doi:10.1016/j.ocl.2021.05.013

Sterling, Michele. “Whiplash-associated disorder: musculoskeletal pain and related clinical findings.” The Journal of manual & manipulative therapy vol. 19,4 (2011): 194-200. doi:10.1179/106698111X13129729551949

Sciatica Motor Vehicle Crash

Sciatica Motor Vehicle Crash

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 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

Colder Weather Musculoskeletal Injuries

Colder Weather Musculoskeletal Injuries

As the weather gets colder, individuals may feel like their muscles and joints are frequently stiff and experience more aches and pains. This is even more evident for individuals that work outside in the winter or with specific ailments/conditions. Colder weather can increase the risk of suffering musculoskeletal injuries and intensify the condition.

Colder Weather Musculoskeletal Injuries

How Colder Weather Impacts The Muscles

Individuals with arthritic conditions might find that symptoms become exacerbated. This can keep individuals away from regular activities. Conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis tend not to react well to weather sudden atmospheric changes, worsening symptoms. However, individuals are well aware of how their body feels and moves when colder weather is present with or without existing conditions. Movement slows down, and when trying to move, the muscles can contract involuntarily, causing tension and stiffness. This usually results in soreness and pain. Feeling warm, safe, and comfortable is essential for the body’s overall health. Overuse and overexertion can increase the risk of injury in colder temperatures.

Barometric Pressure

  • When the weather gets colder, barometric pressure drops. The Body’s tissues like the muscles, tendons, and ligaments expand. This places pressure on nerves near the joints, causing discomfort and pain.
  • In cold weather, the fluid density in the joints lessens, causing the bones to rub against each other harder because the fluid is not thick enough to allow for proper lubrication.
  • The cold makes the muscles shiver, contract, and tighten. This can compress the nerves in the joints and increase pain symptoms.

Prevent Stiffness and Musculoskeletal-Related Injuries

Maintain an active lifestyle

Dress warm

  • Wear proper clothing to keep the body warm and protected.
  • Wear proper boots that are waterproof and have good treads to prevent falls.
  • Wear a warm hat to maintain head warmth, reducing the body heat that escapes from the head.

Warm-up during breaks

  • Try not to stay out in the cold for too long. If working outside, move indoors during breaks if possible.

Eat a healthy diet

  • Good nutrition helps maintain the whole body.
  • Omega 3 fatty acids help reduce inflammation. Salmon and nuts are recommended.
  • Leafy greens like spinach and kale are rich in vitamin K, which helps soothe pain symptoms.
  • Vitamin C from citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruit, red bell peppers, and tomatoes also help stop cartilage loss reducing friction in the joints.

Proper sleep

Chiropractic


Body Composition


Exercising

Aerobic Exercise

Aerobic exercise can include:

  • Running
  • Cycling
  • Hiking
  • Dancing
  • Walking

Resistance Training

  • Research has shown that resistance training with bands or weights can supplement aerobic exercise to reduce blood pressure.
  • It is recommended to complete 2 to 4 sets of 8 to 12 repetitions for each major muscle group during workout sessions.
  • Resistance training sessions should be spaced out throughout the week to limit muscle soreness and injury.

Resistance training can include: 

  • Resistance bands with freehand movements, squats, push-ups, bicep curls
  • Free weights dumbbells, barbells
  • Gym weight machines like the chest press and shoulder press
References

www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/coldstress/

Heil, Kieran et al. “Freezing and non-freezing cold-weather injuries: a systematic review.” British medical bulletin vol. 117,1 (2016): 79-93. doi:10.1093/bmb/ldw001

Kowtoniuk, Robert A et al. “Cutaneous Cold Weather Injuries in the US Military.” Cutis vol. 108,4 (2021): 181-184. doi:10.12788/cutis.0363

Long, William B 3rd et al. “Cold injuries.” Journal of long-term effects of medical implants vol. 15,1 (2005): 67-78. doi:10.1615/jlongtermeffmedimplants.v15.i1.80

Jackknife Tractor-Trailer Accidents and Crashes

Jackknife Tractor-Trailer Accidents and Crashes

Tractor-trailer semi-trucks are a vital part of our transportation/supply system. However, weather, drivers that are not careful and/or well-trained can cause dangerous and sometimes fatal accidents. One type of accident resulting from truck driver negligence is the jackknife accident. Jackknife accidents are extremely catastrophic because they can involve numerous vehicles. Almost all of them involve life-altering or fatal injuries. Here’s what to know about these violent truck crashes. ​

Jackknife Tractor-Trailer Accidents and Crashes

Jackknife Collision

A jackknife occurs when the trailer of semi-truck swings to one side at a 90-degree angle and uncontrollably overtakes other lanes of traffic. The term comes from the look of the tractor-trailer after the crash resembling a jackknife or the letter L. When a jackknife wreck happens, the trailer and cab can hit and crush other vehicles in its path. It can also block numerous lanes leading to additional collisions. Jackknife crashes can also be considered rollover crashes when the truck slides and rolls over onto its side, although not all rollovers end in a jackknife.

Causes

Jackknife collisions are often either the cause of driver negligence or inclement weather, other distracted drivers, truck maintenance, or a combination. These include the following:

Excessive Speed

  • If a truck driver is speeding, the trailer can slide sideways and jackknife when forced to stop too quickly.
  • The average tractor-trailer weighs about 80,000 pounds.
  • The average length of a trailer is between 70 – 80 feet.
  • Tractor-trailer trucks need 40% more time to brake.

Weather Conditions

  • If drivers do not take it slow enough, bad weather or road conditions can also cause a jackknife.
  • Ice, snow, rain, loose gravel, or loose asphalt can cause trailers to bounce and slide.
  • Hazardous road conditions, as accumulated oil can cause slipperiness.

Improper Following Distance

  • Truck drivers that do not provide an adequate following distance to allow for a safe stopping distance can cause the trailer to slide sideways and jackknife when having to slam on the brakes.
  • Drivers who do not exercise caution as they enter and properly maneuver down hills or curves can end up shifting out of position and possibly topple over.

Driver Operator Fatigue

  • Many tractor-trailer accidents/crashes happen when drivers have logged too many hours without proper rest.
  • When the body is tired, response time suffers.
  • If a driver is groggy, they lack the cognizance to maneuver out of a dangerous situation.

Inexperienced or Untrained Operators

  • Driving a truck is a demanding job that requires several skill sets and experience.
  • Truck companies try to lower costs by using inexperienced drivers that don’t have the training or experience for long hauls or driving on busy/dangerous highways and interstates.

Load Balance

  • Safe truck driving ensures the trailer’s cargo is loaded correctly and the weight is equally distributed.
  • When the load is unbalanced, it can shift, causing the trailer to tilt or tip.
  • Unbalanced loads are a common factor in rollover crashes.

Lack of Maintenance

  • Drivers or companies that ignore:
  • Routine maintenance
  • Alignment checks
  • Brake pad replacement
  • All can lead to accidents and crashes.

Research shows that jackknife crashes can cause widespread damage, as they usually spread across multiple lanes of traffic. Because of this, there is the danger of secondary crashes or vehicles not initially involved in the crash, running into the tractor, trailer, or scattered wreckage and debris.


18 Wheeler Accident Chiropractic Treatment


Analysis An Effective Tool In Physical Therapy Rehabilitation

Body composition is essential for understanding an individual’s physiological makeup and guiding a personalized treatment plan to target specific areas. InBody is non-invasive and convenient, making it ideal for rehabilitation practices. The InBody test provides comprehensive results that can educate and engage individuals in tracking their progress throughout their physical therapy. In less than 60 seconds, the InBody Test provides easy-to-understand, accurate, and objective measurements. Chiropractors and physical therapists use the InBody for:

  • Assessing muscle distribution.
  • Targeting areas weakened by injury or surgery.
  • Identifying fluid imbalances related to inflammation or postoperative edema.
  • Monitoring changes to determine the efficacy of exercise programs.
  • Guiding recommendations to ensure long-term success.
References

Girotto, Edmarlon et al. “Working conditions, and sleepiness while driving among truck drivers.” Traffic injury prevention vol. 20,5 (2019): 504-509. doi:10.1080/15389588.2019.1609670

Gray, Garry. “A bird’s eye view of driving safety culture: Truck drivers’ perceptions of unsafe driving behaviors near their trucks.” Work (Reading, Mass.) vol. 64,2 (2019): 187-194. doi:10.3233/WOR-192985

Smith, Joyce A et al. “Spine and spinal cord injury in motor vehicle crashes a function of change in velocity and energy dissipation on impact with respect to the direction of the crash.” The Journal of trauma vol. 59,1 (2005): 117-31. doi:10.1097/01.ta.0000171534.75347.52

Stavrinos, Despina et al. “Commercial Truck Driver Health and Safety: Exploring Distracted Driving Performance and Self-Reported Driving Skill.” Workplace health & safety vol. 64,8 (2016): 369-76. doi:10.1177/2165079915620202

Stein, H S, and I S Jones. “Crash involvement of large trucks by configuration: a case-control study.” American Journal of public health vol. 78,5 (1988): 491-8. doi:10.2105/ajph.78.5.491

Dealing With a Job-Related Injury: What You Need to Know

Dealing With a Job-Related Injury: What You Need to Know

Any job-related back injury can significantly complicate an individual’s life. Dealing with the pain, trying to figure out how to get things done while in recovery, and workers’ compensation to protect individuals who are injured on the job, getting them healthy without the stress of worrying about losing money from missing work.

Dealing With a Job-Related Injury: What You Need to Know

Job-Related Injury

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration or O.S.H.A., a job-related injury is one that either contributed to or is caused by something in the work environment that injures an individual or exacerbates/worsens a previous injury. This is a general overview of the definition, and there are some exceptions. For example, being at the place of work as a general public citizen and not working when an injury happens will not be covered. If not sure whether a back injury is job-related, it’s better to be cautious and report the incident as soon as it happens.

Common Back Injuries

Back injuries are the most common job-related injuries. Back injuries are the number one reason individuals cannot work, whether they hurt their back at home or on the job. The Bureau of Labor Statistics found that nearly 40% of all musculoskeletal injuries that resulted in lost workdays were because of back injuries. The most common back injuries include:

  • Sprains
  • Strains
  • Herniated Discs
  • Whiplash
  • Spinal Cord Injuries
  • Vertebral Fractures

Compensation

Every state’s workers’ compensation program is different; however, the basic components are the same throughout. This means that if a workers’ compensation claim is approved and an individual cannot work because of their injury, they can expect to receive a regular base salary during treatment, rehabilitation, and recovery. Individuals also continue to receive medical coverage through the company, while the workers’ compensation fund should pay for treatment and diagnostics related to the injury.

When A Back Injury Occurs at Work

When a back happens at work, inform the employer as soon as possible. Do not be embarrassed or feel as if it is not a big deal to seek workers’ compensation.  It is an insurance program for both the individual and the employer. An employer pays into the state’s workers’ compensation program for limited liability when employees get injured. Individuals don’t pay for the program, but it protects the individual in case something happens.

Letting an injury go untreated might not be anything at first, but months and years later, it can come back and be worse than when it first happened, causing greater damage, added medical costs, and procedures that the individual has to pay for out of pocket. 

Once an individual knows they have a back injury, it is recommended to seek treatment as soon as possible to prevent worsening the injury or create new ones and develop a treatment, rehabilitation, and strengthening program. If an individual needs emergency care, tell the doctors about the work injury and precisely what happened. Emergency medical care should be sought out when:

  • There is a loss of function in any of the limbs.
  • There is a persistent numbness with the back pain.
  • There is nausea, dizziness, or vomiting after the injury.
  • There is a fever with back pain.
  • Loss of consciousness.
  • Loss of bowel or bladder control.

If the injury is not immediate and progresses gradually, but suspect that it is from work, it should be reported and examined by a medical professional.

Treatment

Proper treatment for a back injury depends on the severity of the injury. Those who prefer non-invasive, medication-free treatment are able to recover with chiropractic or physical therapy. Chiropractic doctors are experts in the spine and the musculoskeletal system. Chiropractic treatment is safe, and proven, and can help relieve pain, restore function, to get back to work safely.


Body Composition


Resistance Exercise

Resistance workouts are made to stress the muscles resulting in muscle gain. Resistance exercise makes the body adapt by growing the muscles to make them more capable of handling intense forces without strain. The stress of resistance exercise causes the muscle fibers to tear at the cellular level. Then, special muscle cells, known as satellite cells, jump into action to repair, rebuild, and grow the muscle. These types of exercises include high-intensity workouts or compound exercises that increase muscle growth. However, there needs to be a healthy balance between workouts and rest to support healthy hormone levels and maximize muscle gain.

Hormones

There are three primary hormones that stimulate muscle hypertrophy. They are:

  • Insulin-like growth factor 1 IGF-1
  • Growth hormone GH
  • Testosterone

Muscle protein synthesis is a critical process in muscle hypertrophy and happens after weight training. The hormones signal to the muscle to repair and rebuild after workout sessions. GH is released in high quantities during sleep, which is why proper sleep is needed to help reach body composition goals. When nutrition, workouts, and hormonal effects are combined, muscle-building happens. Figuring out the right balance is essential for reaching health goals.

References

Burton, A K, and E Erg. “Back injury and work loss. Biomechanical and psychosocial influences.” Spine vol. 22,21 (1997): 2575-80. doi:10.1097/00007632-199711010-00021

www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1904/1904.5

www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2018/back-injuries-prominent-in-work-related-musculoskeletal-disorder-cases-in-2016.htm

Marjorie L Baldwin, Pierre Côté, John W Frank, William G Johnson, Cost-effectiveness studies of medical and chiropractic care for occupational low back pain: a critical review of the literature, The Spine Journal, Volume 1, Issue 2, 2001, Pages 138-147, ISSN 1529-9430, doi.org/10.1016/S1529-9430(01)00016-X.(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S152994300100016X)

Randall, Sara. “1. Avoiding back injury.” The practicing midwife vol. 17,11 (2014): 10, 12-4.

Types of Vehicle Accidents and Crashes

Types of Vehicle Accidents and Crashes

Common Types of vehicle/automobile crashes and accidents. Most accidents and crashes are caused by driving errors, recklessness, distraction, or disregard of traffic laws. Some accidents are caused by safety system failure or defective parts on the vehicle. Individuals can suffer severe and/or permanent injuries, even death.

Types of Vehicle Accidents and Crashes

Types of Accident/Crashes

Single Vehicle Accident

This type of road, highway traffic accident where only one vehicle is involved. Most of these types of crashes are:

  • Run-off-road collisions
  • Collisions with fallen debris
  • Rollovers
  • Collisions with animals

Side Impact/T-bone Collision

These accidents, also known as broadside or T-bone collisions, impact the side of one or more vehicles. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, these crashes and accidents often happen at:

  • Busy intersections
  • Parking lots
  • When a vehicle runs a red light, and a driver that has the green light gets slammed.
  • These types of collisions account for a quarter of passenger vehicle occupant deaths.
  • Injuries from a side-impact collision can be severe but vary depending on where the vehicle was struck.

Rear-End Collisions

Rear-end collisions account for around a fourth of all collisions. These accidents and crashes happen because of:

  • Driver inattention
  • Distraction – Driver distraction has become a common factor in many rear-end crashes.
  • Tailgating – When a driver tailgates, they reduce the reaction time to come to a safe stop.
  • Panic stops
  • Reduced wheel traction because of damaged roads/highways or dangerous road conditions caused by weather.

Head-on Collision

Head-on collisions are often fatal road and highway accidents and crashes. This can be caused by drivers not seeing or paying attention to:

  • Wrong-way signs
  • New construction
  • Construction detour directions
  • Street conditions
  • Staying in the proper lane
  • Impaired driving and going the wrong way have become common factors in head-on collisions.

Vehicle Rollover

These types of accidents and crashes can be complex and violent. Rollovers happen from:

  • Drivers speeding, making sharp turns, cutting across lanes to exit
  • Road conditions
  • Construction
  • Vehicle dysfunctions like an accelerator that gets stuck, loss of brakes,
  • Weather and environmental factors
  • Impaired driving
  • According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or NHTSA, research shows that around 85% of rollover-related fatalities result from a single-vehicle accident or crash.

When involved in a car crash or accident, the force of the collision can shift the spine and body’s joints out of alignment causing all types of injuries. Adjustments and realignment can help alleviate the pain and help heal the injury/s. Chiropractic treatment following a crash or accident is an important step that can benefit the body’s health.


Body Composition


Benefits of Dairy Intake

Packed Nutrient Profile

Dairy foods have an impressive nutrition label, and dairy is considered a healthy source of many essential nutrients.

  • A cup of cow’s milk provides close to 8 grams of protein. This exceeds the protein content of most non-dairy milk alternatives.
  • There are also essential micronutrients.
  • Increasing dairy consumption can significantly improve under-consumed nutrients like:
  • Calcium
  • Magnesium
  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin D

Bone Health

A glass of milk has seven of the eight nutrients considered essential for bone maintenance. This includes:

  • Protein
  • Calcium
  • Phosphorus
  • Magnesium
  • Zinc
  • Vitamin K
  • Studies have found that milk and dairy intake increases bone formation and bone mineral content during childhood and adolescence.
  • This means that the bones are stronger and are at less risk of fractures.
References

Christ, Daniel. “Simulating the relative influence of tire, vehicle and driver factors on forward collision accident rates.” Journal of safety research vol. 73 (2020): 253-262. doi:10.1016/j.jsr.2020.03.009

Texas DOT: 2017 Crash Statistics

Texas DOT: Total and DUI Fatal and Injury Crashes Comparison

Thorning, Tanja Kongerslev et al. “Milk and dairy products: good or bad for human health? An assessment of the totality of scientific evidence.” Food & nutrition research vol. 60 32527. 22 Nov. 2016, doi:10.3402/fnr.v60.32527