Back Clinic Treatments. There are various treatments for all types of injuries and conditions here at Injury Medical & Chiropractic Clinic. The main goal is to correct any misalignments in the spine through manual manipulation and placing misaligned vertebrae back in their proper place. Patients will be given a series of treatments, which are based on the diagnosis. This can include spinal manipulation, as well as other supportive treatments. And as chiropractic treatment has developed, so have its methods and techniques.
Why do chiropractors use one method/technique over another?
A common method of spinal adjustment is the toggle drop method. With this method, a chiropractor crosses their hands and pressed down firmly on an area of the spine. They will then adjust the area with a quick and precise thrust. This method has been used for years and is often used to help increase a patient’s mobility.
Another popular method takes place on a special drop table. The table has different sections, which can be moved up or down based on the body’s position. Patients lie face down on their back or side while the chiropractor applies quick thrusts throughout the spinal area as the table section drops. Many prefer this table adjustment, as this method is lighter and does not include twisting motions used in other methods.
Chiropractors also use specialized tools to assist in their adjustments, i.e., the activator. A chiropractor uses this spring-loaded tool to perform the adjustment/s instead of their hands. Many consider the activator method to be the most gentle of all.
Whichever adjustment method a chiropractor uses, they all offer great benefits to the spine and overall health and wellness. If there is a certain method that is preferred, talk to a chiropractor about it. If they do not perform a certain technique, they may recommend a colleague that does.
How does decompression alleviate sciatic nerve pain in many working individuals with lumbar disc degeneration?
Introduction
The discs between the spinal vertebrae act as a cushion when pressure is added to the body. These discs get compressed when the body is in motion. Our bodies and spines also age as we age, which causes the spinal intervertebral disc to degenerate over time. The outer part of the spinal disc may crack under pressure, causing the inner part to protrude and irritate the spinal nerve roots. This can cause sciatic nerve pain, which may result in radiating pain in the legs, buttocks, and lower back. This can cause mobility issues and disability, making it difficult for working individuals to perform their jobs. Non-surgical treatments, such as safe and gentle traction, can help alleviate sciatic nerve pain by reducing pressure on the spine and maintaining disc height. By slowing down the progression of lumbar disc degeneration, individuals can reduce the frequency of visits to their primary care doctors and avoid disability. Today’s article provides an overview of lumbar disc degeneration, its association with sciatic nerve pain, and the benefits of decompression in restoring disc height and reducing pain. As we work with certified medical providers who use our patients’ information to treat individuals experiencing sciatic nerve pain associated with lumbar disc degeneration. We inform them that non-surgical treatments like decompression can help reduce the progression of lumbar disc degeneration and reduce sciatic nerve pain. At the same time, we also explain to them how adding decompression to their routine can alleviate the pain-like symptoms. We encourage our patients to ask essential questions while seeking education from our associated medical providers about their situation. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., provides this information as an educational service. Disclaimer
Lumbar Disc Degeneration Overview
Have you begun to notice how your legs, buttocks, and feet are constantly experiencing tingling sensations that it makes it difficult to do everyday actions? Do you feel excruciating pain in your legs while standing, only to find relief from resting? Or do you notice that you are getting aches and muscle strains from normal motion like bending, twisting, and turning after waking up in the morning? Many individuals, especially older working adults, are experiencing these issues due to lumbar disc degeneration. Now lumbar disc degeneration usually occurs naturally as the body ages, which then causes the intervertebral disc to wear and tear constantly under pressure, then cracks and causes the disc to herniate. Since the intervertebral disc provides structural support and shock absorption against mechanical loads to the lumbar region, when normal or traumatic factors cause changes, it can cause dysfunction and instability in the lumbar spine. (Mohd Isa et al., 2022)
When the intervertebral discs begin to crack under pressure, it can cause pain-like symptoms affecting the upper and lower extremities. Additionally, lumbar disc degeneration can cause spinal flexibility to decrease and reduce the spine’s ROM (range of motion), which causes more stress on the surrounding muscles, ligaments, and tissues. Lumbar disc degeneration can cascade events from disc bulging to nerve root irritation. (Liyew, 2020) This means that when there are advanced degenerative changes to the lumbar facet joints and the surrounding soft tissues, it can cause the spinal canal to narrow and compress the adjacent nerve root. To that point, it can lead to reduce disc height and lead to sciatic nerve pain.
Lumbar Disc Degeneration Associated With Sciatica
Now how would lumbar disc degeneration be associated with sciatic nerve pain? When the intervertebral disc is being compressed under unwanted pressure, it can crack over time and herniate out of its original position, which then can press on the nerve root causing radiating pain to travel to the affected muscle area. Since the sciatic nerve is positioned in the lumbosacral region, it runs from the top of the gluteus muscles and down to the back of the hamstrings and calves. When unwanted pressure causes the intervertebral disc to herniate and start to affect the sciatic nerve, it causes a frequent symptom known as lumbar sciatica, where the herniated disc is compressing the sciatic nerve. (Zitouna et al., 2019) To that point, it can cause radiating, shooting pain down to the leg, making it difficult for individuals with demanding jobs to find relief. Since the lumbar intervertebral discs have a corresponding relationship with the central nervous system, the nerve roots that surround the spinal discs help with providing neuron signals to the adjacent muscles, which allows the arms, hands, legs, and feet to move. (Bogduk, Tynan, & Wilson, 1981) However, when the intervertebral discs are herniated, it can disrupt the neuron signaling to the muscles and cause referred pain to the lower or upper extremities. When this happens, many individuals opt to seek treatment.
Sciatica Secrets Revealed- Video
Many individuals dealing with sciatic nerve pain associated with lumbar disc degeneration will often find temporary relief to continue their work despite constant pain. This is due to the unwanted pressure that is causing an overload on the spinal disc to cause them to degenerate and invoke pain in the lower regions. At the same time, age and degenerative structural changes have a close relationship that can cause a greater effect on stress distribution to the lower back. (Adams, McNally, & Dolan, 1996) This leads to overlapping risk profiles contributing to sciatic nerve pain associated with lumbar disc degeneration due to normal and traumatic factors. However, many individuals don’t have to suffer from pain-like symptoms related to lumbar disc degeneration as there are numerous treatments to restore disc height and reduce sciatic nerve pain. Non-surgical treatments are great for many individuals looking for cost-efficiency and can be personalized to the person’s pain. (Louis-Sidney et al., 2022) Non-surgical treatments like chiropractic care, massage and physical therapy, and spinal decompression can help many individuals with lumbar disc degeneration associated with sciatic nerve pain. These treatments incorporate mechanical and manual manipulation of the spine to realign the body out of subluxation while incorporating various techniques to stretch out the soft tissues and muscles to strengthen their length and reduce nerve entrapment. The video above explains a bit more about how these treatments can restore mobility to the body, reduce inflammation, and relieve muscle tension caused by lumbar disc degeneration associated with sciatic nerve pain.
Spinal Decompression Restores Disc Height
Now non-surgical treatments like spinal decompression can help reduce the progress of lumbar disc degeneration by restoring disc height. Spinal decompression uses gentle traction on the spine to allow the necessary nutrients, fluids, and blood to be reabsorbed back into the spine. It will enable the herniated disc to return to its original position and rehydrate it. (Yu et al., 2022) Since the spine and body age naturally, spinal decompression can restore disc height by creating negative pressure to regain mobility and stretch out the affected muscles surrounding the spine.
Spinal Decompression Reduces Sciatic Nerve Pain
Additionally, decompression can help reduce sciatic nerve pain as it can help the herniated disc alleviate the pressure on the sciatic nerve and can restore mobility to the body. Spinal decompression can become a positive outcome for many working individuals as it allows individuals to be more mindful of their habits that were the cause of the pain they were experiencing. (Brogger et al., 2018) With non-surgical treatments like spinal decompression, many individuals can become efficient with work while being more conscious about what factors contribute to the pain. This, in turn, allows them to focus on their well-being and strengthen their weak points with a personalized plan that will enable them to make small changes in their day-to-day lives and become pain-free after a few consecutive treatments.
References
Adams, M. A., McNally, D. S., & Dolan, P. (1996). ‘Stress’ distributions inside intervertebral discs. The effects of age and degeneration. J Bone Joint Surg Br, 78(6), 965-972. doi.org/10.1302/0301-620x78b6.1287
Bogduk, N., Tynan, W., & Wilson, A. S. (1981). The nerve supply to the human lumbar intervertebral discs. J Anat, 132(Pt 1), 39-56. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7275791
Brogger, H. A., Maribo, T., Christensen, R., & Schiottz-Christensen, B. (2018). Comparative effectiveness and prognostic factors for outcome of surgical and non-surgical management of lumbar spinal stenosis in an elderly population: protocol for an observational study. BMJ Open, 8(12), e024949. doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-024949
Liyew, W. A. (2020). Clinical Presentations of Lumbar Disc Degeneration and Lumbosacral Nerve Lesions. Int J Rheumatol, 2020, 2919625. doi.org/10.1155/2020/2919625
Louis-Sidney, F., Duby, J. F., Signate, A., Arfi, S., De Bandt, M., Suzon, B., & Cabre, P. (2022). Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Treatment: Is Surgery Better than Non-Surgical Treatments in Afro-Descendant Populations? Biomedicines, 10(12). doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines10123144
Mohd Isa, I. L., Teoh, S. L., Mohd Nor, N. H., & Mokhtar, S. A. (2022). Discogenic Low Back Pain: Anatomy, Pathophysiology and Treatments of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration. Int J Mol Sci, 24(1). doi.org/10.3390/ijms24010208
Yu, P., Mao, F., Chen, J., Ma, X., Dai, Y., Liu, G., Dai, F., & Liu, J. (2022). Characteristics and mechanisms of resorption in lumbar disc herniation. Arthritis Res Ther, 24(1), 205. doi.org/10.1186/s13075-022-02894-8
Zitouna, K., Selmene, M. A., Derbel, B., Rekik, S., Drissi, G., & Barsaoui, M. (2019). An unexpected etiology of lumbosciatica. Tunis Med, 97(12), 1415-1418. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32173813
Golfing wrist injuries are common with treatment requiring 1-3 months of rest and immobilization and if tears are present surgery. Can chiropractic treatment help avoid surgery, expedite recovery, and rehabilitation?
Golfing Wrist Injuries
Golfing Wrist Injuries: According to a study, there are over 30,000 golf-related injuries treated in American emergency rooms every year. (Walsh, B. A. et al, 2017) Nearly a third are related to a strain, sprain, or stress fracture.
This causes pain and inflammation and is usually accompanied by a grinding sensation when moving the thumb and wrist.
Chiropractic Treatment
Given the nature of these injuries, medical attention should be sought out for image scans to look at any damage and properly immobilize the wrist. Once a fracture has been ruled out or healed, golfing wrist injuries can benefit from chiropractic and physical therapy. (Hulbert, J. R. et al, 2005) A typical treatment may involve a multifaceted approach involving various therapies including:
Active release therapy, myofascial release, athletic taping, corrective exercise, and stretching.
A chiropractor will examine the wrist and its functioning to determine the nature of the injury.
A chiropractor may recommend using a splint to immobilize the wrist, particularly in cases of overuse.
They will relieve pain and swelling first, then focus on strengthening the joint.
They may recommend a regimen of icing the hand.
Adjustments and manipulations will relieve pressure on the nerves to reduce swelling and restore mobility.
Peripheral Neuropathy Successful Recovery
References
Walsh, B. A., Chounthirath, T., Friedenberg, L., & Smith, G. A. (2017). Golf-related injuries treated in United States emergency departments. The American journal of emergency medicine, 35(11), 1666–1671. doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2017.05.035
Moon, H. W., & Kim, J. S. (2023). Golf-related sports injuries of the musculoskeletal system. Journal of exercise rehabilitation, 19(2), 134–138. doi.org/10.12965/jer.2346128.064
Ray, G., Sandean, D. P., & Tall, M. A. (2023). Tenosynovitis. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing.
Zouzias, I. C., Hendra, J., Stodelle, J., & Limpisvasti, O. (2018). Golf Injuries: Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, and Treatment. The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 26(4), 116–123. doi.org/10.5435/JAAOS-D-15-00433
Tan, H. K., Chew, N., Chew, K. T., & Peh, W. C. (2014). Clinics in diagnostic imaging (156). Golf-induced hamate hook fracture. Singapore medical journal, 55(10), 517–521. doi.org/10.11622/smedj.2014133
Hulbert, J. R., Printon, R., Osterbauer, P., Davis, P. T., & Lamaack, R. (2005). Chiropractic treatment of hand and wrist pain in older people: systematic protocol development. Part 1: informant interviews. Journal of chiropractic medicine, 4(3), 144–151. doi.org/10.1016/S0899-3467(07)60123-2
In individuals with lumbosacral pain, how do cost-effective treatments compare to traditional care treatments affect muscle strain?
Introduction
The human spine is divided into three sections, which form an S-curve shape that supports the upper and lower body parts, maintaining good posture during movement. The spinal discs or intervertebral discs act as shock absorbers within each section of the spinal column. They help reduce axial overload and protect the spinal cord. The cervical, thoracic, and lumbar sections have specific roles in the upper and lower body parts, ensuring comfort and pain-free movement. However, many people engage in normal activities such as lifting improperly, sitting excessively, or carrying an unreasonable weight, leading to pain and disability over time without proper care. The lumbosacral region of the spine is the most commonly injured and is linked to low back pain. Lumbosacral pain can result from normal or traumatic factors, making individuals miss work or daily activities, leading to financial burdens when visiting a doctor. Symptoms associated with lumbosacral pain can cause referred pain to other parts of the body, leading individuals to think that the primary pain location is elsewhere. Fortunately, various cost-effective treatments can reduce the effects of lumbosacral pain and alleviate muscle strain in the lower back region. This article focuses on the many factors associated with lumbosacral pain, cost-effective treatments to reduce it, and the difference between traction and spinal decompression, which can alleviate muscle strain in the lumbosacral spinal region. As we work with certified medical providers who use our patients’ information to treat individuals experiencing lumbosacral pain and explain how combining non-surgical decompression as part of their routine can alleviate the pain-like symptoms affecting the lumbosacral region. We inform them about non-surgical treatments to ease lumbosacral pain while reducing muscle strain. We encourage our patients to ask essential questions while seeking education from our associated medical providers about their situation. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., provides this information as an educational service. Disclaimer
Lumbosacral Pain Associated Factors
How many times a day have you been experiencing low back pain associated with lifting heavy objects? Do you feel muscle aches or strains in your lower back from excessing sitting from your job? Or do you feel pain in your lower back after a long day of work that feels better after sitting down? Many individuals don’t often realize that the pain they are feeling in their lumbosacral region could be due to the normal factors that are causing repetitive motions that are causing the spinal discs in the lumbosacral area to be compressed, damaged, or herniated. To that point, lumbosacral pain may correlate with low back pain. Since low back pain is mostly a non-specific issue, many working individuals with a sedentary desk job or an active job requiring physical exertion can be a clue to the causes of low back pain associated with lumbosacral pain. (See Tan & Kumar, 2021) Additionally, lumbosacral pain can cause the individual to have unwanted stress while undergoing treatment. The cost of treating lumbosacral pain associated with the low back can increase drastically.
The working individual would have to worry about the cost of traditional medical care and how to compensate for the lost wages to pay for the treatment. (Snook, 1988) This leads many individuals to continue working even when in excruciating pain by incorporating home treatments to reduce the pain temporarily. When the lumbosacral spine is dealing with pain, the nerve roots that surround the lumbosacral region will begin to go haywire, causing somato-visceral pain where the sensory signals cause symptoms of tingling and numbness to travel down to the legs, glutes, low back, and thighs. (Vaitkus & Sipylaite, 2021) Luckily, many individuals can be at ease in numerous ways. There are cost-effective treatments to reduce the pain-like issues associated with the lumbosacral region and alleviate the muscle strain caused by lumbosacral pain.
Can Core Exercises Erase Back Pain?-Video
Many individuals will look for home remedies to reduce the pain in the affected muscle area when treating lumbosacral pain associated with low back pain. Many people will opt for exercises, ice/hot packs, or massages to ease low back pain related to lumbosacral pain. (“Simple treatments best for acute low-back problems, say federal guidelines,” 1995) All these treatments are cost-effective and can be combined with non-surgical treatments to stretch the tight muscles, realign the spine, and help rehydrate the spinal discs back to the spine. The video above asks if core exercises can help ease back pain. The video details how weak core muscles correlate with lower back lumbosacral pain. Engaging the core during exercise can help stabilize the lumbosacral region while improving overall wellness.
When relieving lumbosacral pain, cost-effective non-surgical treatments can help many individuals find the relief they need. The effects of non-surgical treatments for the lumbosacral vertebrae apply various techniques to the spine by widening the spinal disc height, reducing muscle strain and spasms, and separating the vertebrae. (Colachis & Strohm, 1969) Many individuals have opted for these treatments because they are safe, cost-effective, and gentle on the spine. Since the spinal discs can be compressed due to unwanted axial load, spinal manipulation done by a chiropractor can realign the spine out of subluxation. (Cyriax, 1950) This allows the individual to feel instant relief and reduce the aggravated nerve roots from the lumbosacral spine. Other cost-effective treatments like traction therapy and spinal decompression can also alleviate lumbosacral pain that is causing the issue to many individuals.
Traction vs. Spinal Decompression
The difference between traction therapy and spinal decompression therapy varies within the individual and what their personalized treatment plan requires. Traction therapy incorporates half of the person’s body weight with additional weight to reduce nerve root compression and can be combined with other treatments like hot/cold therapies and electro-stimulation; combined with an exercise program can strengthen the weak muscles and reduce muscle strain. (Alrwaily, Almutiri, & Schneider, 2018)
With spinal decompression, many individuals will be strapped into a mechanical machine and feel a gentle pull on their spine. This creates negative pressure between the spine and allows the disc to lay off the aggravating nerve root and promote healing properties back to the disc. (Choi et al., 2022) Spinal decompression causes a direct distraction within the spinal segments with minimal discomfort to the individual. Both cost-effective treatments are suitable for individuals with lumbosacral pain along their spine as they can help relieve pain and reduce muscle strain along the lumbar region after a few sessions. Non-surgical treatments are beneficial for many individuals who are looking to take back their health and wellness without being in pain.
References
Alrwaily, M., Almutiri, M., & Schneider, M. (2018). Assessment of variability in traction interventions for patients with low back pain: a systematic review. Chiropr Man Therap, 26, 35. doi.org/10.1186/s12998-018-0205-z
Choi, E., Gil, H. Y., Ju, J., Han, W. K., Nahm, F. S., & Lee, P.-B. (2022). Effect of Nonsurgical Spinal Decompression on Intensity of Pain and Herniated Disc Volume in Subacute Lumbar Herniated Disc. International Journal of Clinical Practice, 2022, 6343837. doi.org/10.1155/2022/6343837
Colachis, S. C., Jr., & Strohm, B. R. (1969). Effects of intermittent traction on separation of lumbar vertebrae. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 50(5), 251-258. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/5769845
See, Q. Y., Tan, J. B., & Kumar, D. S. (2021). Acute low back pain: diagnosis and management. Singapore Med J, 62(6), 271-275. doi.org/10.11622/smedj.2021086
Simple treatments best for acute low-back problems, say federal guidelines. (1995). Am J Health Syst Pharm, 52(5), 457. doi.org/10.1093/ajhp/52.5.457a
Vaitkus, A., & Sipylaite, J. (2021). Sensory Perception in Lumbosacral Radiculopathy with Radicular Pain: Feasibility Study of Multimodal Bedside-Suitable Somatosensory Testing. Acta Med Litu, 28(1), 97-111. doi.org/10.15388/Amed.2021.28.1.18
How can physicians create a positive experience for LGTBQ+ individuals seeking inclusive health care for muscle pain?
Introduction
Finding proper treatment for many body pain conditions should not be challenging when numerous factors and conditions can impact a person’s lifestyle. When it comes to these factors can range from their home environment to their medical conditions, which then harms their well-being and not being heard when informed about their situation. This can cause barriers to be built up and causes the individual not to be seen or heard when seeking treatment for their pain. However, many individuals within the LGBTQ+ community can seek numerous personalized solutions to improve their general well-being and have a positive experience that suits their needs. This article explores how inclusive health care can positively impact the LGBTQ+ community and how non-surgical treatments like chiropractic care can be incorporated into a person’s personalized inclusive health care plan. Additionally, we communicate with certified medical providers who integrate our patient’s information to reduce general pain through inclusive healthcare treatment. We also inform them that non-surgical treatments can be a positive experience for them to minimize general body pain. We encourage our patients to ask amazing questions while seeking education from our associated medical providers about their pain conditions in a safe and positive environment. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., incorporates this information as an educational service. Disclaimer
What Is Inclusive Health Care?
Have you been dealing with constant stress that is causing pain in your body? Do you feel like there are barriers that are preventing you from getting the relief you need from your pain? Or are many environmental factors preventing you from getting back your health and wellness? Many individuals seeking treatment for general pain or conditions affecting their health and wellness will often research which care treatment suits their wants and needs in a positive and safe manner while being inclusive. Healthcare treatments like inclusive health care can provide a positive and safe outcome for members of the LGBTQ+ community. Inclusive health care can help many healthcare professionals establish an inclusive code of conduct within the LGBTQ+ community to improve health-specific outcomes. (Moran, 2021) Now inclusive health care is defined as removing barriers to health care services that should be equally accessible and affordable to many individuals regardless of age, sexual orientation, and gender identity. For many people within the LGBTQ+ community, many individuals identify as gender minorities. A gender minority is an individual who identifies as gender non-conforming and whose gender identity or expression differs from the conventional gender binary. Inclusive health care is an important aspect for the LGBTQ+ community as it can benefit people in getting the treatment they deserve.
How Does Inclusive Health Care Benefits The LGTBQ+ Community?
Regarding inclusive health care, many healthcare providers must respect their patients and their needs when coming in for a general check-up. Since many individuals in the LGBTQ+ community are already dealing with enough stress, especially young people, it is important to have a calm, safe, and non-judgmental environment promoting safety and inclusion. (Diana & Esposito, 2022) There are many ways that inclusive health care can provide beneficial results to the individual and health care provider. Some may include:
What pronouns the individual preferred
What the individual wants to be identified
Being respectful of the patient’s needs
Building a trusted relationship with the individual
When individuals in the LGBTQ+ community have inclusive health care in a positive environment, it can create a positive experience for them as it can improve mental health and general well-being and make a huge impact that can be life-saving. (Carroll & Bishop, 2022) The Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Team is committed to building a positive and safe space for individuals in the LGBTQ+ community that need inclusive health care to reduce pain-like symptoms through personalized treatment plans.
How Can Chiropractic Care Transform Pain To Relief-Video
With many individuals looking for the right kind of treatment for general pain and discomfort, many people will look into non-surgical therapies. Non-surgical treatments can be beneficial for many individuals in the LGBTQ+ community as it is safe and can provide individuals with an understanding of what is impacting their bodies. Non-surgical treatments like chiropractic care, spinal decompression, and MET therapy can alleviate pain-like symptoms associated with musculoskeletal disorders through a personalized treatment plan catered to the person. Many health professionals who are respectful and provide a supportive environment for LGBTQ+ individuals seeking inclusive health has been reported an increase in their confidence, and a decrease in their anxiety, which can potentially decrease uncertainty for future visits. (McCave et al., 2019) Creating a safe, positive environment for individuals seeking inclusive health care can help them reduce the pain they have been experiencing while easing their minds. The video explains how non-surgical treatments like chiropractic care can help reduce musculoskeletal pain associated with stress and help realign the body out of subluxation. Additionally, these small changes in creating a safe and inclusive environment when receiving health care can make a lasting and positive impact on many individuals. (Bhatt, Cannella, & Gentile, 2022)
Utilizing Beneficial Treatments For Inclusive Health Care
When it comes to non-surgical treatments being part of inclusive treatment, it is critical to reduce the health disparities and to ensure that many LGBTQ+ individuals receive the needed medical they deserve. (Cooper et al., 2023) Since many individuals face unique health challenges, from body and gender dysmorphia to common muscle strains associated with musculoskeletal disorders, many individuals can seek non-surgical treatments like chiropractic care. Chiropractic care can help meet the individual’s needs by supporting their musculoskeletal health and general well-being. (Maiers, Foshee, & Henson Dunlap, 2017) Chiropractic care can reduce musculoskeletal conditions that many LGBTQ+ individuals have and can be aware of what factors are affecting their bodies in a safe and positive environment. Non-surgical treatments can be combined with other therapies in inclusive health care for LGBTQ+ individuals. They can provide a safe environment in the clinic and improve their care quality by being cost-effective. (Johnson & Green, 2012) Inclusive health care can help make LGBTQ+ individuals a safe and positive space to make them get the treatment they deserve without negativity.
References
Bhatt, N., Cannella, J., & Gentile, J. P. (2022). Gender-affirming Care for Transgender Patients. Innov Clin Neurosci, 19(4-6), 23-32. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35958971
Carroll, R., & Bisshop, F. (2022). What you need to know about gender-affirming healthcare. Emerg Med Australas, 34(3), 438-441. doi.org/10.1111/1742-6723.13990
Cooper, R. L., Ramesh, A., Radix, A. E., Reuben, J. S., Juarez, P. D., Holder, C. L., Belton, A. S., Brown, K. Y., Mena, L. A., & Matthews-Juarez, P. (2023). Affirming and Inclusive Care Training for Medical Students and Residents to Reduce Health Disparities Experienced by Sexual and Gender Minorities: A Systematic Review. Transgend Health, 8(4), 307-327. doi.org/10.1089/trgh.2021.0148
Diana, P., & Esposito, S. (2022). LGBTQ+ Youth Health: An Unmet Need in Pediatrics. Children (Basel), 9(7). doi.org/10.3390/children9071027
Johnson, C. D., & Green, B. N. (2012). Diversity in the chiropractic profession: preparing for 2050. J Chiropr Educ, 26(1), 1-13. doi.org/10.7899/1042-5055-26.1.1
Maiers, M. J., Foshee, W. K., & Henson Dunlap, H. (2017). Culturally Sensitive Chiropractic Care of the Transgender Community: A Narrative Review of the Literature. J Chiropr Humanit, 24(1), 24-30. doi.org/10.1016/j.echu.2017.05.001
McCave, E. L., Aptaker, D., Hartmann, K. D., & Zucconi, R. (2019). Promoting Affirmative Transgender Health Care Practice Within Hospitals: An IPE Standardized Patient Simulation for Graduate Health Care Learners. MedEdPORTAL, 15, 10861. doi.org/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.10861
Moran, C. I. (2021). LGBTQ population health policy advocacy. Educ Health (Abingdon), 34(1), 19-21. doi.org/10.4103/efh.EfH_243_18
In many working individuals with back pain, how does non-surgical decompression achieve pain reduction to the intervertebral disc in pain management?
Introduction
Low back pain is a common complaint in the workforce. It can cause individuals to miss work, become disabled, and frequently visit their primary doctors. Many factors contribute to the development of low back pain. You may have experienced constant back muscle aches from sitting down and hunched over a computer. Or maybe you have felt your back muscles strain from carrying heavy objects from one location to another. Carrying equipment around your hips, like a utility belt in construction or a law enforcement job, can also contribute to back pain. These scenarios can all be related to the development of low back pain. When the lower extremity muscles are over or under-active, it can cause muscle and tissue fibers to shorten or become overstretched. This can lead to tiny nodules known as trigger points forming. Additionally, repetitive motions caused by overload axial pressure can compress the lumbar spinal structure and cause the spinal disc to care constantly. However, there are ways to manage low back pain. By focusing on common issues associated with each back pain syndrome, non-surgical treatments like spinal decompression can achieve pain management for the intervertebral disc. As we work with certified medical providers who use our patients’ information to treat working individuals suffering from low back pain combining non-surgical decompression as part of their routine can alleviate the pain-like symptoms. We inform them about non-surgical treatments to ease low back pain issues while achieving pain management. We encourage our patients to ask essential questions while seeking education from our associated medical providers about their situation. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., provides this information as an educational service. Disclaimer
Each Low Back Pain Syndrome Is Common
When it comes to low back pain, many individuals will come to their primary doctor and inform them that they are in constant pain in their lower back. As stated earlier, repetitive motions from normal factors can cause the back muscles to be over or under-stretched, causing muscle aches. At the same time, the spinal discs are constantly being compressed with unnecessary pressure. When the spinal discs are under constant pressure, they can begin to bulge or herniate, depending on the severity of the issue. To that point, the compressed spinal discs can aggravate the spinal nerve roots to cause referred localized pain down to the legs or arms, causing symptoms of numbness or tingling sensations in the hands and feet. Low back pain has four categories that can affect many individuals and has different treatment pathways. (Bogduk & Twomey, 1991) These four categories can vary with intense symptoms that pertain to the pain and how they were developed. These include:
Acute muscularity (can involve sciatic radiation)
With or without neurological dysfunction
Chronic muscularity (can have recurring symptoms)
Neoplastic low back pain (can have frequent symptoms and become progressive)
These four categories of low back pain all have common features, as well as regional pain, muscle impairment, mechanical dysfunction exacerbated by daily activities, and mood/behavioral changes. Additional low back pain can be specific or non-specific, associated with many working individuals. Many individuals dealing with low back pain will often work through the pain rather than find the proper relief because of that fear of missing out on work. (Becker & Childress, 2019) Luckily, many ways exist to reduce low back pain and alleviate compressed spinal discs.
Revolutionizing Healthcare-Video
Have you or your loved ones felt aches and pains in your lower back after regular activities? Do your legs and lower back feel stiffer than usual when walking with heavy equipment? Or do you hunch or slouch constantly while relaxing on a chair or sofa? Many of these factors are the root cause of low back pain, and it can affect a person’s routine without treatment right away. When many individuals deal with low back pain in the workforce, they often try home remedies to alleviate the pain temporarily to get back to work, only to cause more issues in the future. To that point, this causes the working individual to be under constant pain and miss out on work, which then causes more unnecessary stress and pressure on the lower back. Luckily there are available treatments that can reduce the effects of low back pain and ease the minds of many individuals looking for cost-effective and safe options. Non-surgical treatments for low back pain are safe for the spine and can be cost-effective to help manage the pain associated with compressed spinal discs and allow people to be more mindful of their back and spine. Non-surgical treatments can range from chiropractic care to spinal decompression, depending on the severity of the pain that the person is experiencing. The video above goes more in-depth with how non-surgical treatments can revolutionize healthcare.
The Biomechanic Principal Of Decompression
When it comes to individuals trying to find relief for their low back pain, many will opt for traditional surgical treatments if the home treatments are not working. While conventional surgical treatments can provide more rapid relief, they can be pricey and cause a financial burden to the working individual. Hence why many will often seek out non-surgical therapies. (Schoenfeld & Weiner, 2010) Non-surgical treatments are affordable to the active individual and can be customizable depending on the issue. One of the non-surgical treatments is decompression. Decompression incorporates mechanical traction to gently stretch the spine as a distracting force to realign the spine back to normal, increase the body’s fluids and nutrients to promote healing factors, and relieve abnormal pressure on the nociceptive receptors system. (Judovich, 1954) The effects of spinal decompression allow the spine to regain mobility, stability, and reduction of low back pain, allowing the compressed spinal disc to return to its original position.
The Decompression Benefits For Common Occurring Back Pain Syndrome
During the mechanical traction process of spinal decompression, the spinal disc space is slightly increased, which reduces the lumbar disc protrusion and causes the disc herniation to disappear over time after a few sessions. (Andersson, Schultz, & Nachemson, 1983) These are a few benefits of spinal decompression, as traction therapy can also alleviate additional musculoskeletal disorders associated with low back pain. (Bettmann, 1957) Musculoskeletal disorders associated with low back pain can be treated with spinal manipulation combined with decompression, as it is used to improve spinal and hip mobility in the lower extremities, thus reducing pain and incapacity in people with low back pain. (Fagundes Loss et al., 2020) Additionally, mechanical traction from decompression can help inhibit positive results for many individuals looking for relief from mechanical stress from their backs. (Wegner et al., 2013) Spinal decompression can help reduce low back pain and its associated symptoms for many working individuals who want the relief they deserve.
References
Andersson, G. B., Schultz, A. B., & Nachemson, A. L. (1983). Intervertebral disc pressures during traction. Scand J Rehabil Med Suppl, 9, 88-91. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6585945
Becker, B. A., & Childress, M. A. (2019). Nonspecific Low Back Pain and Return To Work. American Family Physician, 100(11), 697-703. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31790184
Bettmann, E. H. (1957). Therapeutic advantages of intermittent traction in musculoskeletal disorders. GP, 16(5), 84-88. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/13474126
Fagundes Loss, J., de Souza da Silva, L., Ferreira Miranda, I., Groisman, S., Santiago Wagner Neto, E., Souza, C., & Tarrago Candotti, C. (2020). Immediate effects of a lumbar spine manipulation on pain sensitivity and postural control in individuals with nonspecific low back pain: a randomized controlled trial. Chiropr Man Therap, 28(1), 25. doi.org/10.1186/s12998-020-00316-7
Schoenfeld, A. J., & Weiner, B. K. (2010). Treatment of lumbar disc herniation: Evidence-based practice. International Journal of General Medicine, 3, 209-214. doi.org/10.2147/ijgm.s12270
Wegner, I., Widyahening, I. S., van Tulder, M. W., Blomberg, S. E., de Vet, H. C., Bronfort, G., Bouter, L. M., & van der Heijden, G. J. (2013). Traction for low-back pain with or without sciatica. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2013(8), CD003010. doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD003010.pub5
Individuals at work, school, etc, perform all kinds of repetitive physical tasks that put their bodies through a great deal of musculoskeletal stress, what are the effects and benefits of joint manipulation therapy for pain relief?
Joint Manipulation Health Benefits
Joint manipulation is a form of manual therapy that involves applying force to the spinal or peripheral joints to:
Relieve pain symptoms.
Realign the joints to their proper position.
Restore flexibility.
Improve mobility.
Increase range of motion.
Chiropractors, massage, and physical therapists use various manipulation techniques to help move and feel better after an injury or illness that causes loss of functional mobility. Here we explain joint manipulation, its applications, and if the technique is safe for you and your condition.
Joint Popping
The joints in the body are places where two or more bones come together to allow movement.
The cartilage allows the joint surfaces to glide/slide smoothly.
If the cartilage is injured or damaged, pain and limited motion can present.
When a joint doesn’t move properly, the muscles surrounding that joint don’t contract properly.
If a joint is dysfunctional for some time, significant muscle wasting and atrophy can occur around the joint, leading to difficulty with mobility like standing, walking, or reaching. (Hurley MV.1997)
The body is made up of cells that breathe by converting energy and releasing waste materials. One type of waste material from cell respiration is carbon dioxide. The gas is transported through the blood and delivered out of the body while breathing. Small pockets of gas can get trapped in the joints that expand and contract as pressure around the joint changes during movement, known as cavitation. When the gas is released through joint manipulation, there can be a popping or snapping sound as the joint is moved. Once the gas is released, joint pressure is decreased and mobility is increased. (Kawchuk, et al., 2015)
Causes
Non-medical
There are non-medical and medical causes of joint dysfunction and derangement that include:
Overuse and repetitive strain.
Unhealthy sitting and/or standing posture.
Lack of physical activity.
Over-stretching or stretching incorrectly.
In these situations, the joints can be temporarily placed in a dysfunctional/compromised position. When moving to the correct position, a popping sound can present as built-up pressure is released.
Medical
Joint problems can occur from medical conditions that can include:
Herniated cervical or lumbar discs.
Spinal arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoarthritis.
Joint contracture after being immobilized for some time.
In these cases, a medical problem can be causing a limitation in the joint’s position and movement. (Gessl, et al., 20220)
Benefits
If a chiropractic practitioner determines there is joint dysfunction then manipulation may be a treatment option. The benefits include:
Pain Relief
When a chiropractor or therapist gets an injured joint moving properly, the receptors in and around the area get reset allowing for pain relief.
Improved Muscle Activation
As a chiropractor manipulates a joint into its correct anatomical position, the surrounding muscles can flex and contract properly.
Improved Range of Motion
The joint is repositioned for proper movement.
This improves the range of motion and relieves tightness and stiffness.
Improved Functional Mobility
Once a joint is manipulated, the improved range of motion and muscle activation around the joint can lead to improved overall functional mobility. (Puentedura, et al., 2012)
Candidates
Joint manipulation is a safe manual therapy technique for certain individuals. (Puentedura, et al., 2016) This includes:
Individuals with acute neck, back, or peripheral joint pain.
Adults aged 25 to 65 with no serious medical conditions.
Athletes who have been injured from their sport.
Individuals who have been immobilized after injury or surgery.
Joint manipulation is not recommended for everyone and can be dangerous or lead to injury in individuals with certain conditions. (Puentedura, et al., 2016) These include individuals with:
Osteoporosis
Weakened bones may fracture if a high-velocity force is applied to a joint via manipulation
Joint fractures
Individuals with a joint fracture, should not have that specific joint manipulated.
Post Spinal Fusion Surgery
Individuals that have had spinal fusion in the neck or lower back should avoid spinal joint manipulations or adjustments for at least one year after the procedure.
The bones need time to heal thoroughly.
Manipulation can cause a failure of the fusion.
Individuals with Arterial Insufficiency In Their Neck
A rare but dangerous side effect of a neck adjustment is the risk of tearing an artery in the neck known as the vertebrobasilar artery. (Moser, et al., 2019)
If there is pain, loss of movement, or decreased mobility after an injury or surgery, a chiropractic adjustment with joint manipulation can be beneficial to help regain movement. Manual techniques can help improve joint mobility, alleviate pain, and increase strength and stability around the joints. Joint manipulation isn’t for everyone and is recommended to consult with a healthcare professional to see if it is safe for your specific condition.
Gessl, I., Popescu, M., Schimpl, V., Supp, G., Deimel, T., Durechova, M., Hucke, M., Loiskandl, M., Studenic, P., Zauner, M., Smolen, J. S., Aletaha, D., & Mandl, P. (2021). Role of joint damage, malalignment, and inflammation in articular tenderness in rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and osteoarthritis. Annals of the rheumatic diseases, 80(7), 884–890. doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2020-218744
Hurley M. V. (1997). The effects of joint damage on muscle function, proprioception, and rehabilitation. Manual therapy, 2(1), 11–17. doi.org/10.1054/math.1997.0281
Kawchuk, G. N., Fryer, J., Jaremko, J. L., Zeng, H., Rowe, L., & Thompson, R. (2015). Real-time visualization of joint cavitation. PloS one, 10(4), e0119470. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0119470
Moser, N., Mior, S., Noseworthy, M., Côté, P., Wells, G., Behr, M., & Triano, J. (2019). Effect of cervical manipulation on the vertebral artery and cerebral hemodynamics in patients with chronic neck pain: a crossover randomized controlled trial. BMJ open, 9(5), e025219. doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-025219
Puentedura, E. J., Cleland, J. A., Landers, M. R., Mintken, P. E., Louw, A., & Fernández-de-Las-Peñas, C. (2012). Development of a clinical prediction rule to identify patients with neck pain likely to benefit from thrust joint manipulation to the cervical spine. The Journal of orthopedic and sports physical therapy, 42(7), 577–592. doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2012.4243
Puentedura, E. J., Slaughter, R., Reilly, S., Ventura, E., & Young, D. (2017). Thrust joint manipulation utilization by U.S. physical therapists. The Journal of manual & manipulative therapy, 25(2), 74–82. doi.org/10.1080/10669817.2016.1187902
In many inviduals with low back pain, how does spinal decompression and inversion therapy reduce nerve entrapment?
Introduction
Low back pain is a common problem worldwide that can cause individuals to miss out on important aspects of their lives, including work. The severity of the pain can be specific or non-specific, and it can be localized in one area or spread throughout the body, causing referred pain. Many normal and traumatic factors can contribute to low back pain, such as improper lifting, excessive weight gain, stress, excessive sitting, or repetitive motions. These factors can compress the spinal discs and cause the surrounding muscles to become over-stretched and tight, leading to nerve entrapment. However, various treatments are available to reduce low back pain and restore functionality to the body. This article focuses on two therapies, inversion therapy, and spinal decompression, and how they can be used together to reduce the likelihood of low back pain returning. By working with certified medical providers who use our patients’ information to treat individuals suffering from low back pain while combining inversion therapy and spinal decompression as part of their routine. We inform them about non-surgical treatments to regain spinal mobility and restore muscle strength to the back muscles while preventing the effects of low back pain from reoccurring. We encourage our patients to ask essential questions while seeking education from our associated medical providers about their situation. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., provides this information as an educational service. Disclaimer
How Does Inversion Therapy Reduce Back Pain
Do you suffer from muscle aches and strains in your lower back due to sitting for extended periods? Do you experience pain after carrying heavy objects or from being physically inactive? If these symptoms are associated with low back pain, seeking treatment is common. Many take over-the-counter medicines, hot/cold packs, or home remedies for temporary relief. Inversion therapy is another treatment option. In “The Ultimate Spinal Decompression” by Dr. Eric Kaplan, D.C., FIAMA, and Dr. Perry Bard, D.C., inversion therapy is mentioned as a method where the individual is suspended upside down in an inversion table for a few minutes to relieve pain-like symptoms. Inversion therapy can reverse the effects of gravity on the back, which can compress the spine and spinal disc over time, leading to back pain. Inversion therapy can relieve acute back pain by decompressing the back.
Using inversion therapy can help alleviate the symptoms of low back pain and reduce the need for surgery among many individuals. This practice, which has been used for thousands of years, involves utilizing gravity to provide traction for those experiencing lumbar disc herniation related to low back pain. By opting for non-surgical treatments, such as inversion therapy, individuals suffering from low back pain caused by various factors, including nerve entrapment, can experience relief. (Mendelow et al., 2021)
Back Pain & Nerve Entrapment Reduced
It is possible to experience low back pain with or without additional symptoms caused by factors affecting the back. This type of pain can result in mobility issues in the spinal region, pain that radiates into the lower extremities, and general discomfort associated with musculoskeletal conditions. (Delitto et al., 2012) Nerve entrapment can be a factor related to low back pain, and it can impact the peripheral pathway because signals from the peripheral system can cause irregular transmissions to the brain. This can lead to inflammatory cytokines releasing in the affected muscle and radiating shooting pain to the legs. As a result, the body can mimic leg pain correlated with low back pain, leading to a misdiagnosis of the issue. (Saal et al., 1988) Fortunately, various non-surgical treatments, such as inversion therapy and spinal decompression, can help reduce low back pain and its associated symptoms.
Enhance Your Lifestyle-Video
If you’re suffering from low back pain, non-surgical treatments can be a cost-effective, gentle, and safe solution. Innovative techniques are used to target the root cause of the pain and alleviate it from the musculoskeletal system. Inversion therapy, spinal decompression, and chiropractic care are some non-surgical treatments that can help relieve low back pain and prevent it from recurring. These therapies involve physical and mechanical manipulation of the spine to correct any subluxations. Misalignment of the body can cause low back pain and negatively impact one’s quality of life. Incorporating non-surgical treatments into your routine can help your body heal naturally and promote a healthy lifestyle. For more information on the benefits of these treatments, check out the video above.
How Spinal Decompression & Inversion Therapy Reduce Back Pain
As one of the forms of non-surgical treatment, spinal decompression is safer and more cost effective than traditional surgical treatments. Non-surgical treatments can be combined with other therapies to help improve and control the movement in the lumbar spine. (Zaina et al., 2016) So when spinal decompression is combined with inversion therapy, it can help decompress the spine, allowing the spinal discs to slip back into their original position and reduce the pressure off the aggravated and irritated nerve root from causing low back pain to occur again. Since inversion therapy is used for acute low back pain, spinal decompression therapy is used for individuals with chronic issues. After a few sessions of these treatments, the body will function normally and allow the back to be mobile again. When people start to think about their health and wellness for back pain issues, they can incorporate non-surgical treatments as part of their routine.
References
Delitto, A., George, S. Z., Van Dillen, L., Whitman, J. M., Sowa, G., Shekelle, P., Denninger, T. R., Godges, J. J., & Orthopaedic Section of the American Physical Therapy, A. (2012). Low back pain. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther, 42(4), A1-57. doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2012.42.4.A1
Kaplan, E., & Bard, P. (2023). The Ultimate Spinal Decompression. JETLAUNCH.
Mendelow, A. D., Gregson, B. A., Mitchell, P., Schofield, I., Prasad, M., Wynne-Jones, G., Kamat, A., Patterson, M., Rowell, L., & Hargreaves, G. (2021). Lumbar disc disease: the effect of inversion on clinical symptoms and a comparison of the rate of surgery after inversion therapy with the rate of surgery in neurosurgery controls. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 33(11), 801-808. doi.org/10.1589/jpts.33.801
Saal, J. A., Dillingham, M. F., Gamburd, R. S., & Fanton, G. S. (1988). The pseudoradicular syndrome. Lower extremity peripheral nerve entrapment masquerading as lumbar radiculopathy. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 13(8), 926-930. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2847334
Zaina, F., Tomkins-Lane, C., Carragee, E., & Negrini, S. (2016). Surgical versus non-surgical treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2016(1), CD010264. doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD010264.pub2
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