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.
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
Motor vehicle accidents, sports injuries, work injuries, and falls are a few causes of whiplash. It is a condition that affects over 1.5 million individuals. It can cause serious side effects that can last for months and sometimes years. If not treated, the symptoms can worsen and lead to chronic conditions and pain.
Mild Whiplash
Mild whiplash can last around three months. During this time individuals might notice other symptoms other than neck pain that includes:
In certain cases, these symptoms happen immediately or they can be delayed.
Severe Whiplash
Severe whiplash means symptoms last longer than three months. The side effects can progressively go away or may not disappear at all. Severe whiplash falls in the whiplash classification of three to four. This indicates that there is a:
Loss of motion
Neurological problems
Fracture/s
Taking time off work for a whiplash injury depends on how severe the condition is. For mild symptoms, individuals are recommended to take about a month off to fully recover. If the condition is extreme, it could take a few years. For some individuals, the injury prevents them from working, and they have to leave their job.
Tinnitus
After a whiplash injury, some individuals develop tinnitus. This is a condition that results from the jolted ligaments and can irritate the surrounding nerves. This can cause an irritating ringing noise in the ears. How long tinnitus lasts depends on the severity of the injury. It can present every so often or could remain for several months even years.
Recovery Time
For most individuals, it takes around 4-6 weeks for a full recovery. This could last longer if the injury is not healed properly.
Chronic whiplash can present shooting pain throughout the body and prevents individuals from living a normal life. For chronic conditions chiropractic and physical therapy are highly recommended. Treatment could be difficult at first, but improvements will follow as long as the individual stays consistent with the therapy to completely heal the injury.
Treatment Options
The first recommendation will be to rest the body. This gives the body time to recover and also prevents worsening the injury. Ice packs and heating pads can help reduce swelling and pain.
Chiropractic
Chiropractors are experts in the musculoskeletal system. They inspect the whole body looking and feeling for misalignments, knotted muscles, swollen tendons, and ligaments that were stretched/pulled beyond their normal range. Various types of adjustments can be used. The most common are flexion-distraction and instrument-assisted.
Flexion-Distraction adjusting requires the chiropractor’s hands. They feel around the problem area and press their hands to slide the joint back in place.
Instrument-Assisted – utilizes a special tool, like an activator. The device helps the chiropractor delve deeper into the area than their hands. This helps them locate problems that could be hidden.
Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Adding more anti-inflammatory foods to the diet will reduce and alleviate inflammation and swelling. Some of these foods include:
Avocados
Blueberries
Mushrooms
Olive oil
Salmon
Strawberries
Turmeric
Vitamins
A full recovery can take longer if the body lacks essential nutrients. These nutrients are what helps the body create enzymes that repair the damaged tissues, bones, tendons, etc. If the body does not have enough it will not heal properly. Essential vitamins to take for injuries include:
These can be taken in supplement form or through food sources.
Body Composition
The body loses muscle every minute of life. This is because the muscles, like the other tissues in the body they depend on cell turnover and protein synthesis. This means that the body continually breaks down the protein in the muscles and rebuilds them. This is how the body is supposed to function and part of what keeps it alive. Skeletal muscle can be grown and developed with proper nutrition. This includes eating sufficient protein to provide the necessary amino acids and regular physical activity.
The reverse is also true becoming less physically active and the individual’s diet no longer supports the development of increased muscle tissue the body enters a catabolic/tissue-reducing state known as muscle atrophy.Muscles that are partially used meaning using less than 20% of their maximum force begin to atrophy over time. Muscles that are completely unused, like when bedridden with very little movement, can degrade around 1/8th of strength per week.
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
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*
High-impact labor jobscan cause back pain, as well as jobs that require sitting all day. Nowadays, everyone is at risk of developing some form of back pain at their place of work. Here are a few tips for avoiding back injuries at work. It does not matter what an individual does for a living, or how it is done. Sitting, standing, lifting, bending, twisting, reaching, pulling, and pushing, all can have a negative impact on the spine’s health and the muscles in the back.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration or OSHA,work-related musculoskeletal disorders are a common reason for missing work or restricting work time. Back pain and injury prevention/avoiding is the goal along with seeking the proper treatment as soon as possible.
The Risk for Back Pain
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders that affect the spine are a worldwide problem. The World Health Organization has stated in the United States that there is an estimated 149 million workdays lost every year because of back pain, with total costs estimated to be around 100-200 billion a year. And the World Health Organization identified low back pain as the leading cause of disability in the world. The National Institute for Occupations Safety and Health, which is a division of the CDC, listed five primary risk conditions for work-related musculoskeletal disorders:
Regularly lifting of objects
Regular exposure to whole-body vibration like using a jackhammer or driving a forklift
Regular reaching overhead work
Working with the spine in a chronic flexion position
Repetitive work/tasks
Office Back Pain
Individuals that stare at screens most of the day means their spines are at risk for cervical spinal flexion. This can lead to neck, shoulder, and upper back pain.And sitting for long bouts of time with poor posture adds tremendous pressure and weight on the low back. When the body is seated for a long time, the body is not utilizing its core abdominal muscles and back muscles that keep the body and foundation strong and flexible. The more these muscles are under-utilized the more the body begins to fall into the vicious cycle of slouching, slumping, poor posture, and increased stress on the back muscles.
Avoiding Back Injury
With advancements in medicine, there are solutions for relieving pain and getting an individual back to regular work activity. Basic ways for avoiding injuries and keeping the spine healthy.
Lifting with the legs and not the back
Maintaining healthy weight
Healthy diet
Stretching before physical activity and also during work will keep the muscles active and optimal circulation
Overall physical fitness like taking a walk
Knowing when to rest giving the body a break
Focus on recovery during off-hours
Working with Spine Specialists
If the pain is constant or there is a high possibility of an injury, see a medical professional. The correct diagnosis leads to the right treatment, which can include:
Rest
Physical therapy
Chiropractic
Pain management
Medication
Injections
Surgery
There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Every individual will have a personalized treatment plan. A multi-approach is recommended, and the most therapeutic for long-term benefits. One treatment option to be very cautious about is opioids. A review in BMJ suggests opioids do not help individuals get back to work faster, and pain control is only short-term. Back pain inflammation is better addressed through anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy, and exercise. If pain or a back problem currently exists, see a doctor, chiropractor, or spine specialist and find out about treatment options and avoiding back problems.
Body Composition
How Aging Affects the Body
The body’s muscles are constantly being broken down and repaired. When the muscles are used, microscopic tears happen from the regular wear and tear. This means rebuilding those tears with protein. However, as the body gets older, it stops rebuilding the muscles as efficiently. With time, there is a reduction in overall muscle mass and strength. That loss can come from a combination of factors including:
Hormone changes – for example, testosterone gradually decreases
Physical inactivity
Comorbid conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer
But this reduction in muscle mass doesn�t just happen to the elderly. Research has shown that strength and development in an individual’s 20s peaks and begins to plateau in their 30s. For many, decreased strength translates to being less active, and routine activities become more difficult to execute. Inactivity means fewer calories burned, muscle development decrease, and negative changes to body composition including muscle loss, and percent body fat increase.
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*
When individuals stop working on their back pain therapy, the pain can come back. Don’t give up on the process and trust the therapists/providers. Many people experience their first episode of low back pain between the ages of 20 and 40. Often they are not sure what caused their back problems. There are a variety of factors that could be contributors like:
Old running shoes
A heavy box that was inappropriately lifted and carried
Exercise strain
Too much sitting
Poor posture
Work injury
Personal injury
Sports injury
After some time with the pain, a visit to the doctor is in order, hoping for clear answers and strong medicine. A diagnosis of non-specific back pain and a prescription for physical therapy is given. This is because doctors are now required to prescribe non-medication, non-invasive therapeutic approaches for any type of pain first. After three to four weeks of physical therapy, and there is still no improvement or signs of improvement will a doctor recommend medication/s and/or surgery.
Physical Therapy
Nonspecific back pain describes back pain that is not associated with a clear cause like:
Osteoporosis
Inflammatory arthritis
Tumor
Fracture
Infection
Structural deformity
Non-specific back pain is very common and often acute, meaning the symptoms usually go away on their own within a month. Physical therapy also known as PT can help expedite the healing process. Physical therapy can improve a variety of back-related problems, including those caused by disease and structural abnormalities. A study found that physical therapy works as well as surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis or the narrowing of the spinal canal in the low back.
Don’t Give Up On The Program
Unfortunately, many individuals do not follow through with the full course of physical therapy. Reasons include:
Time
Cost
Inconvenience
Low level of physical activity before treatment
Depression
Anxiety
Poor social support
Increased pain during exercise
The problem with stopping physical therapy is that individuals can end up right where they began. Not following a treatment plan can have negative effects on outcomes and healthcare costs. Progress depends on how much follow-through an individual does on their own. Don’t give up on the program and maintain rehabilitative progress.
Scientifically Backed Benefits
Scientific proof means measuring results objectively to determine if a treatment works. Physical therapy has consistently proven to be highly effective. Researchers found that physical therapy led to positive health benefits when treating back pain. Specifically, individuals that followed a physical therapy program to the end had:
For example, spine stabilization exercises during an episode of low back pain can decrease pain, disability, and the risk of another episode.
The Right Physical Therapy Clinic
Do research to find the best therapeutic clinic or professional. It is perfectly understandable to be picky about physical therapy. Several studies have shown that a healthy relationship between patients and physical therapists improves outcomes. When choosing a clinic, individuals should be aware that there are different models. The differences can influence the experience.
Some therapists treat more than one person at a time. This means the exercises will be shown how to do them properly, then the individual will be expected to continue on their own with the therapist returning to see the progress and start the next exercise.
Some therapists see the patient once, then an assistant takes over. Assistants will help with the exercise programs.
There are some clinics that could be out of network or do not accept insurance. Individuals can pay more, but the benefit is more one-on-one time/care with a physical therapist.
If an individual does not like the experience with one model, try another.
Remember that individuals need to advocate for their own health, treatment, and progress.
If an individual is not improving, then they need to have a discussion with the physical therapist.
The therapist can then problem solve and try a new treatment or refer the patient for additional care like imaging, medications, or a different intervention altogether. Don’t give up, relief from back pain is possible.
Don’t Give Up On Body Health
Body composition analysis an effective tool during physical therapy
Body composition is essential for understanding physiological makeup and to help guide a treatment plan to target specific areas in physical therapy programs. InBody analysis is non-invasive and convenient, making it ideal when used in conjunction with physical therapy rehabilitation programs. The InBody test provides results that can be used to educate and engage individuals to help track improvements throughout the physical therapy course. In less than 60 seconds, the test results are easy-to-understand, accurate, and objective. This helps to evaluate and monitor progress during rehabilitation. With the test a physical therapist can:
Assess muscle distribution
Focus on areas weakened by injury or surgery
Identify fluid imbalances related to inflammation
Monitor changes to determine the efficacy of the therapy program
Guide recommendations for long-term success
Don’t give up!
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*
References
PLOS One.�(Jun 2016) �The Influence of Physical Therapy Guideline Adherence on Healthcare Utilization and Costs among Patients with Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review of the Literature.��pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27285608/Pain and Therapy.�(Jan 2020) �Rehabilitation for Low Back Pain: A Narrative Review for Managing Pain and Improving Function in Acute and Chronic Conditions.��link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40122-020-00149-5Spine.�(Apr 2012) �Management Patterns in Acute Low Back Pain: the Role of Physical Therapy.��www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3062937/
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