Clinic Wellness Team. A key factor to spine or back pain conditions is staying healthy. Overall wellness involves a balanced diet, appropriate exercise, physical activity, restful sleep, and a healthy lifestyle. The term has been applied in many ways. But overall, the definition is as follows.
It is a conscious, self-directed, and evolving process of achieving full potential. It is multidimensional, bringing together lifestyles both mental/spiritual and the environment in which one lives. It is positive and affirms that what we do is, in fact, correct.
It is an active process where people become aware and make choices towards a more successful lifestyle. This includes how a person contributes to their environment/community. They aim to build healthier living spaces and social networks. It helps in creating a person’s belief systems, values, and a positive world perspective.
Along with this comes the benefits of regular exercise, a healthy diet, personal self-care, and knowing when to seek medical attention. Dr. Jimenez’s message is to work towards being fit, being healthy, and staying aware of our collection of articles, blogs, and videos.
Toxin overload is the condition of having an excessive amount of toxins in the body. Harmful substances can come from water, food, cleaning products, and environmental sources that individuals are exposed to regularly. Toxins are also produced in the body by poor gut health through autointoxication. Considering the number of toxins from food additives, preservatives, and perfumes to cleaning products, cosmetic products, and plastic water bottles, much of everyday life include exposure to chemicals that are not healthy. That’s why it’s recommended to undergo regular detoxes to ensure optimal body function and disease prevention.
Toxin Overload
One of the main ways toxins damage the body is they poison the enzymes, which prevents the body from functioning correctly. The body relies on enzymes for every physiological function. When toxins damage the enzymes, the production of hemoglobin in the blood is prevented, which can accelerate aging and lead to the failure of energy production and lower protection against oxidated stress. The failure of normal body functions increases the risk of diseases that include:
Proper waste elimination is essential to optimal health.
80% of the immune system is in the gut, and with a compromised digestive system, toxins can begin to accumulate.
Fatigue
When the body efficiently delivers nutrients to the cells and eliminates waste, there should be balanced energy throughout the day.
Toxin overload can cause individuals to experience fatigue, even in individuals that eat healthily and exercise, which could be an indicator of accumulation.
Chronic fatigue and viral infections could present from a weakened immune system.
Muscle Joint Aches and Pains
When gut health is compromised, undigested food particles can cause tears in the lining of the intestinal wall leading to a leaky gut.
The food particles enter the bloodstream and can cause an inflammatory response.
They can lodge themselves in weak areas of the joints, causing pain and increased muscle soreness.
Proper digestion and detoxification help eliminate toxins from the joints and muscles and heal the damaged lining.
Insomnia
Sleep is when the body detoxes, repairs, and rejuvenates itself.
Sleep problems could be a sign that the body is struggling to detoxify.
Chronic Headaches
Chronic headaches often result from imbalances in the body resulting from toxin overload and obstructed/blocked detoxification pathways.
Fluid Retention and Congestion
The lymphatic system is part of the circulatory system. The primary function is to transport lymph, a clear fluid that contains white blood cells essential for regulating inflammation.
Diet, hormone imbalances, sedentary lifestyle, medications, and genetics can contribute to fluid retention and congestion, causing stagnation of the lymphatic system.
If the system becomes congested, it can cause pain and swelling.
Unusual Weight Loss or Gain
Increased belly/visceral fat is the fat stored within the abdominal cavity. This is the most dangerous fat because of its proximity to vital organs like the liver, pancreas, and stomach.
Visceral fat or active fat influences how hormones function in the body. Stress, lack of exercise, and an unhealthy diet contribute to excess visceral fat.
Individuals trying to lose weight unsuccessfully could be a sign of having excessive toxins in the body.
Skin Problems
The skin reveals what’s happening inside the body.
Acne, rosacea, eczema, or other chronic skin issues, could indicate toxins are traveling through the skin.
When waste is not eliminated thoroughly through sweat, urine, and feces, the body could try to expel it through the skin.
Improving the body’s digestive and detoxification processes can help heal the root problem.
Giannini, Edoardo G et al. “Liver enzyme alteration: a guide for clinicians.” CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l’Association medicale canadienne vol. 172,3 (2005): 367-79. doi:10.1503/cmaj.1040752
Grant, D M. “Detoxification pathways in the liver.” Journal of inherited metabolic disease vol. 14,4 (1991): 421-30. doi:10.1007/BF01797915
Lala V, Goyal A, Minter DA. Liver Function Tests. [Updated 2022 Mar 19]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482489/
Mattick, R P, and W Hall. “Are detoxification programmes effective?.” Lancet (London, England) vol. 347,8994 (1996): 97-100. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(96)90215-9
Seaman, David R. “Toxins, Toxicity, and Endotoxemia: A Historical and Clinical Perspective for Chiropractors.” Journal of chiropractic humanities vol. 23,1 68-76. 3 Sep. 2016, doi:10.1016/j.echu.2016.07.003
The body is a functional machine that consists of muscles, organs, and skeletal joints that play different parts in making the body healthy as possible. Each section has a casual relationship as they work together and do their jobs separately. The muscles provide protection and movement from daily activities. The organs supply hormones, oxygen, and nutrients, so the body’s internal functions work correctly. And finally, the skeletal joints help with mobility and stabilization for the body to stay upright. When environmental factors or traumatic injuries affect the body, many issues over time may cause damage, and the body may develop pain-related symptoms. Today’s article examines how the musculoskeletal system works in the body, how trigger points affect the musculoskeletal system, and how chiropractic care can help alleviate trigger point pain. We refer patients to certified providers specializing in musculoskeletal treatments to aid individuals suffering from muscle pain associated with trigger points. We also guide our patients by referring them to our associated medical providers based on their examination when it’s appropriate. We find that education is the solution to asking our providers insightful questions. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
How Does The Musculoskeletal System Works?
Have you been experiencing muscle stiffness in specific areas located in your body? Do you feel tenderness in your neck, shoulders, or back? Or do you feel knots along your muscles that are causing you pain? Some of these symptoms are associated with muscle pain in the musculoskeletal system. The musculoskeletal system in the body has muscles, ligaments, and connective tissues surrounding the skeletal joints. Studies reveal that the structure of the musculoskeletal system shows how the surrounding muscles protect the joints and help provide the body functionality. The various muscles in the body offer a range of motion, sensory-motor functions, reflexes, and strength when functioning normally. However, when environmental factors begin to affect the body over time, it can lead to musculoskeletal disorders associated with pain. Studies reveal that when the body succumbs to pain related to musculoskeletal disorders. Musculoskeletal disorders are a common issue that has affected many individuals worldwide and causes various disabilities and symptoms that affect the body. Some of the musculoskeletal disorder symptoms that affect the body include:
Burning sensations
Muscle twitches
Fatigue
Stiffness and aching
Myofascial trigger pain
How Do Trigger Points Affect The Body?
One of the musculoskeletal symptoms associated with muscle pain is trigger points or myofascial pain. Myofascial pain is a common condition involving the muscles and surrounding connective tissues that may be acute or chronic depending on where the pain is located. While trigger points refer to hard palpable nodules in the taut bands of the skeletal muscle that can be active (causes spontaneous pain or abnormal sensory symptoms) or latent (causes no spontaneous pain but shows operational myofascial trigger points characteristics). Studies reveal that myofascial pain can be associated with muscle dysfunction, weakness, and limited range of motion that affects the body. A knot in the muscle in certain body areas can make the muscle hyperirritable, causing painful compression while invoking characteristic referred pain and autonomic phenomena in the body. To that point, it can be difficult for doctors to diagnose since trigger points are caused by traumatic events in the body and can occur in different spots in different people. Trigger points can form all over the body, including:
Neck
Mid-back
Low back
One common characteristic when trigger points affect the body is that they can travel or even spread to the surrounding muscles.
Myofascial Pain Syndrome & Trigger Points- Video
Have you been feeling pain located in your neck, back, or particular areas in your body? What about feeling pain in a different location of your body? Or have you experienced muscle stiffness or tenderness in certain areas of your body? If you have been experiencing these symptoms associated with muscle pain, you could be dealing with trigger point pain or myofascial pain in your musculoskeletal system. The video above explains myofascial pain and trigger points and how they affect the body. Studies reveal that myofascial pain is caused by myofascial trigger points that produce exquisitely tender spots in the taut bands of hardened muscles. To that point, it stimulates local and referred pain amongst other sensory, motor, and autonomic symptoms. Myofascial trigger points can cause stiffness and weakness in the involved muscle, making it difficult to diagnose since it can cause pain in different body areas. Fortunately, there are ways to alleviate trigger point pain associated with myofascial pain syndrome from the body.
How Chiropractic Care Alleviates Trigger Point Pain
Since myofascial trigger point pain can be challenging to diagnose, it can range from neck to low back pain in different locations and mimic other pain conditions that affect the body. It can affect the body to become hypersensitive and hyperirritable while decreasing a person’s overall sense of well-being. Luckily, treatments like chiropractic care can help alleviate trigger point pain and help manage myofascial pain syndrome. Chiropractic care is not just for the skeletal system but can help relieve muscle pain associated with myofascial pain. Since the muscles are layered and interwoven around the joints, they play an integral part in supporting the body. Studies reveal that chiropractors are great at finding trigger points and utilize specific exercises and physical modalities to treat myofascial pain syndrome symptoms. Some of the benefits chiropractic care use include:
Breaking up scar tissue
Applying pressure on the trigger point
Aligning the spine to reduce the spinal subluxation
Ease muscle pain
Conclusion
The body consists of muscles, organs, and joints in a casual relationship that helps function and stabilizes the host. The musculoskeletal system has muscles, tissues, and ligaments that are interwoven and layered, surrounding the skeletal joints to prevent injuries or traumatic events from affecting the body. When the body does suffer from damages caused by traumatic events, it can lead to a musculoskeletal disorder known as myofascial pain or trigger pain. Trigger pain is when the muscles have knots along taut bands of the muscle that can cause muscle stiffness and pain. Trigger point pain can be challenging to diagnose since the pain can travel from one location to another section of the body. This is referred pain, and myofascial trigger pain can mimic other chronic musculoskeletal symptoms. Treatments like chiropractic care can help alleviate myofascial trigger pain through spinal manipulation and trigger point therapy, thus relieving the stiff muscle causing pain. Incorporating treatments like chiropractic care can help loosen stiff muscles, increase joint range of motion and bring a person’s wellness back.
References
Bron, Carel, and Jan D Dommerholt. “Etiology of Myofascial Trigger Points.” Current Pain and Headache Reports, Current Science Inc., Oct. 2012, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3440564/.
Murphy, Andrew C, et al. “Structure, Function, and Control of the Human Musculoskeletal Network.” PLoS Biology, Public Library of Science, 18 Jan. 2018, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5773011/.
Shah, Jay P, et al. “Myofascial Trigger Points Then and Now: A Historical and Scientific Perspective.” PM & R : the Journal of Injury, Function, and Rehabilitation, U.S. National Library of Medicine, July 2015, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4508225/.
Functional fitness conditioning exercises train the muscles for everyday activities safely and efficiently. It refers to exercises that simulate daily movements like standing, bending, reaching, jumping, twisting, pushing, pulling, squatting, lunging, turning, walking, and running. These exercises improve functional body strength to train the muscles to work together and prepare for daily tasks and chores that individuals do at home, at work, or in sports activities. Strengthening the muscles the same way they are needed for everyday tasks reduces the risk of injury, allowing individuals to go through the day without worrying about straining or pulling something.
Functional Fitness Conditioning
Functional fitness conditioning exercises can be done at home, park, or gym and is an excellent way to combat restlessness and keep the body moving. Training the muscles to work the way they do daily prepares the body to move optimally and efficiently in various situations. Functional fitness exercises simultaneously utilize upper and lower body muscles to increase core stability and train the whole body. Examples include:
Combining strength training with exercises that mirror the movements of daily life increase overall strength and improves:
Balance
Endurance
Flexibility
Mobility
Various gyms or fitness centers may offer functional fitness conditioning classes or incorporate functional fitness into their exercise courses. Exercise equipment can include:
Primarily using body weight makes this strength training simple and safe for almost anybody. Functional fitness conditioning is laidback, requiring less equipment and intensity. The objective is to develop and strengthen the entire body to handle daily life while minimizing the risk of injury, making it suitable for individuals of all ages and fitness levels.
Benefits
These include benefits for overall health and physical performance.
Everyday life
Quality of life improves because of the stress relief factor.
This type of training has been reported to be more enjoyable because the training is for everyday life.
Increased muscle memory
Builds muscle and core strength and exercises the brain to increase memory.
Increased mobility
Improves balance
Coordination
Flexibility
Muscle strength
Agility
Improves balance and posture
Training and strengthening the muscles to manage/balance weight correctly reduces stress on the body.
Faster injury recovery
A strengthened body operates at optimal levels that improve repairing and healing capabilities.
It is recommended to check with your doctor before starting any new exercise program, and pregnant women should check with their doctors. A personal trainer, functional medicine, or sports chiropractor can discuss available conditioning options specific to the individual.
Functional Fitness
References
Fahlman, Mariane M et al. “Effects of resistance training on functional ability in elderly individuals.” American Journal of health promotion: AJHP vol. 25,4 (2011): 237-43. doi:10.4278/ajhp.081125-QUAN-292
Gerards, Marissa H G, et al. “Perturbation-based balance training to improve balance control and reduce falls in older adults – study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.” BMC geriatrics vol. 21,1 9. 6 Jan. 2021, doi:10.1186/s12877-020-01944-7
Pacheco, Matheus Maia, et al. “Functional vs. Strength training in adults: specific needs define the best intervention.” International Journal of sports physical therapy vol. 8,1 (2013): 34-43.
Pullyblank, Kristin, et al. “Effects of the Strong Hearts, Healthy Communities Intervention on Functional Fitness of Rural Women.” The Journal of rural health: official Journal of the American Rural Health Association and the National Rural Health Care Association vol. 36,1 (2020): 104-110. doi:10.1111/jrh.12361
In many situations, stress or cortisol in the body allows the host to go into a “fight or flight” response that works together with the sympathetic nervous system. In its acute form, stress enables the individual to experience various symptoms quickly and doesn’t last very long. However, when there is residual stress still in the body over an extended period can cause havoc to the body and affect a person’s well-being is known as chronic stress. To that point, when the body is dealing with chronic stress, over time can become at risk of developing chronic disorders associated with chronic issues affecting the endocrine system. One of the endocrine disorders that correlate with chronic stress is Cushing syndrome. Today’s article examines Cushing syndrome, its symptoms, and ways to manage Cushing syndrome in the body. We refer patients to certified providers specializing in endocrinology treatments to aid individuals suffering from Cushing syndrome. We also guide our patients by referring them to our associated medical providers based on their examination when it’s appropriate. We find that education is the solution to asking our providers insightful questions. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
What Is Cushing Syndrome?
Have you been experiencing abnormal weight gain around your midsection? What about feeling tired throughout the entire day? Or has your mood been changing all day? Many of these symptoms that you are experiencing could potentially make you at risk of developing Cushing syndrome. Cushing syndrome is an endocrine disorder that causes the brain’s anterior pituitary to produce excessive ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone), leading to excess cortisol release from the adrenal glands. In the endocrine system, cortisol is a hormone produced in the adrenal glands above the kidneys. These hormones help the body by:
Maintaining blood pressure
Regulates glucose levels
Reduces inflammation in the body
Converts food into energy
Manages respiration
When the adrenal glands overproduce cortisol, it causes the body to be on high alert and can become a risk of developing chronic symptoms associated with Cushing syndrome. Studies reveal that Cushing’s disease (a condition where the pituitary glands overproduce ACTH and turn into cortisol) becomes associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders that overlaps chronic symptoms, thus affecting the body.
The Symptoms
When the body is dealing with Cushing syndrome, studies reveal that chronic exposure to excess cortisol could potentially be involved with its associated comorbidities that contribute to decreasing a person’s quality of life. When a person has the signs of Cushing syndrome, the symptoms are unmistakable as the symptoms vary in different people. One of the prominent symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome is rapid weight gain along the face, abdomen, back of the neck, and chest. Some other symptoms associated with Cushing’s syndrome include:
High blood pressure
Purple/red stretch marks along the abdomen
Fatigue
Weak, thin muscles along the arms and legs
Excessive hair growth in some regions of the body
Cognitive difficulties
An Overview Of Cushing Syndrome-Video
Have you been experiencing rapid weight gain along your face, neck, and abdomen? What about feeling stressed constantly? Or have you noticed that your memory is declining? Many of these symptoms are associated with an endocrine disorder called Cushing syndrome. The video above explains what Cushing’s syndrome is, its causes and symptoms, and how to treat Cushing’s syndrome. Cushing syndrome is developed when the adrenal glands produce an excessive amount of cortisol in the body. When the body is suffering from too much cortisol caused by Cushing syndrome, one of the symptoms is bone fractures associated with Cushing syndrome. Studies reveal that the skeletal system is one of the common targets that cause glucocorticoids to attach themselves to the skeletal joints. To that point, Cushing syndrome causes structural and functional impairment to the skeletal system associated with morbidity and disability to many individuals. Fortunately, there are many ways to manage Cushing syndrome and lower cortisol levels in the body.
How To Manage Cushing Syndrome
Since stress/cortisol is beneficial and harmful to the body, it has a causal relationship with the organs and tissues in the body. The body needs cortisol to regulate the metabolism and functionality of the endocrine organs. Too much cortisol causes the development of Cushing syndrome, and fortunately, there are ways many individuals can manage this endocrine disorder while keeping an eye on their cortisol levels. Many individuals suffering from weight gain from Cushing syndrome should try to find an exercise regime that their primary physician recommends to lose weight and improve their muscle strength little by a little. Other ways that individuals can manage Cushing syndrome are by:
Eating nutritious foods that are anti-inflammatory and taking supplements that have calcium and vitamin D.
Meditation or yoga can help calm the mind, and taking deep breaths can help relax the body while lowering cortisol levels.
Incorporating massages and chiropractic care to alleviate muscle and joint pain caused by Cushing syndrome. Chiropractic care and massages can help loosen stiff muscles and support the joints to regain their range of motion in the body.
Slowly incorporating these lifestyle changes can lower cortisol levels and help prevent Cushing’s syndrome from progressing further in the body while helping the individual get back on their health journey.
Conclusion
The body needs cortisol or stress to get through stressful situations that a person is going through. Cortisol is a hormone formed from the adrenal glands that help regulate the body’s metabolism and provide the functionality to the organs and tissues. In its acute and chronic form, cortisol can range from mild to severe depending on the body’s situation. The body risks developing Cushing’s syndrome when the adrenal glands overproduce cortisol. Cushing syndrome is an endocrine disorder that causes an increased risk of metabolic disorders associated with chronic symptoms like weight gain around the face, neck, and abdomen. Luckily, there are ways to manage Cushing’s syndrome and lower cortisol levels by incorporating an exercise regime, eating anti-inflammatory foods filled with calcium and vitamin D, meditation to calm the mind, and incorporating deep breaths to lower cortisol levels. Utilizing these small changes can significantly impact the body while helping the individual better manage their cortisol levels.
References
Buliman, A, et al. “Cushing’s Disease: A Multidisciplinary Overview of the Clinical Features, Diagnosis, and Treatment.” Journal of Medicine and Life, Carol Davila University Press, 2016, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5152600/.
Faggiano, A, et al. “Spine Abnormalities and Damage in Patients Cured from Cushing’s Disease.” Pituitary, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Aug. 2001, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12138988/.
Kairys, Norah, and Ari Schwell. “Cushing Disease.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 2 Feb. 2022, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK448184/.
Nieman, Lynnette K. “Cushing’s Syndrome: Update on Signs, Symptoms and Biochemical Screening.” European Journal of Endocrinology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Oct. 2015, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4553096/.
When the body encounters a foreign element that can include a chemical, plant pollen, an invading microbe, or some other form of infection, it activates the immune system that triggers inflammation to protect the body and fight the illness. Heat and swelling are the body’s repair mechanisms to heal an injury, or if there is an infection, cells are activated to the location to combat the invading pathogens. However, Following an anti-inflammatory diet is important and part of the diet includes anti-inflammatory drinks.
Immune System
The immune system markers in the blood and tissue are above normal levels in response to continual low-level inflammation. The white blood cells that help heal an injury are working against a threat of injury/infection that does not exist. Tissues, organs, and cells can become affected by an influx of white blood cells that should not be there. Studies have proven that inflammation leads to chronic disease, but there are ways to avoid the damaging progression that include:
Traditional homemade chai tea is a blend of herbs with anti-inflammatory benefits.
Herbs include cinnamon, star anise, clove, ginger, and cardamom.
They help improve digestion, alleviate nausea, and increase immune system health.
These are just a few examples, but there are a variety of anti-inflammatory drinks that can benefit body and mental health.
Healthy and Refreshing
References
Alghadir, Ahmad H et al. “Green tea and exercise interventions as nondrug remedies in geriatric patients with rheumatoid arthritis.” Journal of physical therapy science vol. 28,10 (2016): 2820-2829. doi:10.1589/jpts.28.2820
Crozier, Stephen J et al. “Cacao seeds are a “Super Fruit”: A comparative analysis of various fruit powders and products.” Chemistry Central journal vol. 5 5. 7 Feb. 2011, doi:10.1186/1752-153X-5-5
Hunter, Philip. “The inflammation theory of disease. The growing realization that chronic inflammation is crucial in many diseases opens new avenues for treatment.” EMBO reports vol. 13,11 (2012): 968-70. doi:10.1038/embor.2012.142
Panche, A N et al. “Flavonoids: an overview.” Journal of nutritional science vol. 5 e47. 29 Dec. 2016, doi:10.1017/jns.2016.41
Teodorczyk-Injeyan, Julita A. PhD*; Triano, John J. DC, PhD*; Injeyan, H. Stephen DC, PhD†. Nonspecific Low Back Pain: Inflammatory Profiles of Patients With Acute and Chronic Pain. The Clinical Journal of Pain: October 2019 – Volume 35 – Issue 10 – p 818-825
doi: 10.1097/AJP.0000000000000745
When it comes to the body, many factors can cause low back pain without a person knowing they encounter it. Simple actions like sitting, standing, and walking can be difficult or helpful, depending on the person’s actions. Since low back pain tends to vary from person to person and the possible factors that can cause low back pain make diagnosing a bit difficult. Fortunately, there are available treatments that can help manage low back pain symptoms and can help alleviate its associated symptoms in the body. Today’s article examines the causes and symptoms of low back pain, aqua therapy for low back pain, and how chiropractic care goes hand in hand with aqua therapy. We refer patients to certified providers specializing in musculoskeletal treatments and hydrotherapy to help many individuals with low back pain. We also guide our patients by referring to our associated medical providers based on their examination when it’s appropriate. We find that education is the solution to asking our providers insightful questions. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
The Causes Of Low Back Pain
Have you been feeling aches along the sides of your back? Do you feel stiff when hunched over for an extended period? Or does sitting down make the pain go away or worsen? Many of these factors are associated with signs that you could be suffering from low back pain. Low back pain is considered the leading disability causes worldwide, as studies reveal, which can be influenced by many factors that a person is going through. Anyone can risk developing low back pain as it can derive from different sources that overlap many potential issues. Some of the causes associated with low back pain vary depending on how severely the factors affect the individual, which includes:
Muscle and ligament sprain (Overused muscles and ligaments from injuries, poor posture, or lifting heavy objects)
When it comes to the symptoms of low back pain, many individuals will experience pain ranging from a dull ache to a sudden shooting burning pain that travels down the legs. Many individuals often feel pain from one location of the lower half of the body; instead, it is located on the other side, known as referred pain. Low back pain can potentially mean that another issue is affecting the body. Some of the symptoms associated with low back pain include:
Muscle stiffness
Sciatica
Muscle spasms
Limited mobility on the hips and pelvis
Inflammation
Muscle tenderness
All is not lost, as treatments are available to manage low back pain symptoms and alleviate the body’s pain.
Aqua Therapy For Spine Health-Video
Have you been experiencing muscle stiffness in your lower back? Do hip pain and sciatic symptoms cause mobility issues in your legs? Or does it hurt when you are bending down to pick something up? You could be dealing with low back pain associated with chronic symptoms affecting the body, so why not try aqua therapy? The video above demonstrates what aqua therapy does to the body and the exercises used to relieve low back pain. Studies reveal that the therapeutic purposes of water have dated back to ancient Egypt, Greek, and Roman civilization; that helps cleanse the body from ailments. Many physical therapists utilize aqua therapy to enable individuals with low back pain. Aqua therapy engages the waters, buoyancy, resistance, and hydrostatic pressure that helps rehabilitate injuries and maintain health.
Aqua Therapy For Low Back Pain
Many individuals that suffer from low back pain will try to find ways to alleviate the pain. Aqua therapy is one available treatment that doesn’t strain the lower back and has therapeutic properties. Studies reveal that the beneficial properties of aqua therapy allow the body to improve muscle strength and range of motion while reducing muscle fatigue by using water buoyancy to take the pressure off the spine. Since low back pain is a common health issue associated with environmental factors for many individuals, studies reveal that water buoyancy can eliminate the gravitational forces impacting the body weight by counteracting it. To that point, this reduces joint stress on the body to perform the water aerobic exercises with ease. Individuals who incorporate aqua therapy in their health and wellness journey may be more motivated to exercise in the water without worrying about constant pain.
Aqua Therapy Goes Hand In Hand With Chiropractic Care
Like any treatment, chiropractic care and aqua therapy have an excellent relationship as they work together to assess and analyze the individual’s problem and devise a plan for them. Chiropractors utilize spinal manipulation to determine where the pain is located. So when a person is dealing with low back pain due to spinal subluxation or misalignment, a chiropractor can help the individual by loosening the stiff muscles and increasing the range of motion back to the spine. At the same time, aqua therapy incorporates the same benefits associated with land-based physical therapy, including a treatment plan tailored to the individual. Chiropractors and physical therapists work together to determine the best possible action to speed up the recovery process when it comes to a person’s pain, giving them the best chance to get back their quality of life.
Conclusion
Low back pain is one of many individuals’ most common complaints worldwide. The many factors associated with low back pain vary and range from a dull ache to a sharp pain radiating down the legs as part of the symptoms of low back pain. Treatments like aqua therapy can help take the load off the spine through water buoyancy and can help reduce the stress on the joints in the lumbar spine while reducing muscle fatigue. Combined with chiropractic care, many individuals can recover faster from their low back pain and bring back their quality of life without being in so much pain.
References
Abadi, Fariba Hossein, et al. “The Effect of Aquatic Exercise Program on Low-Back Pain Disability in Obese Women.” Journal of Exercise Rehabilitation, Korean Society of Exercise Rehabilitation, 31 Dec. 2019, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6944883/.
Allegri, Massimo, et al. “Mechanisms of Low Back Pain: A Guide for Diagnosis and Therapy.” F1000Research, F1000Research, 28 June 2016, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4926733/.
Carayannopoulos, Alexios G, et al. “The Benefits of Combining Water and Land-Based Therapy.” Journal of Exercise Rehabilitation, Korean Society of Exercise Rehabilitation, 26 Feb. 2020, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7056478/.
Cole, Andrew, and Bruce Becker. “Water Therapy Exercise Program.” Spine, Spine-Health, 26 Feb. 2010, https://www.spine-health.com/wellness/exercise/water-therapy-exercise-program.
The body has a defensive response known as the immune system that comes to the rescue when traumatic events or injuries impact certain areas of the body. The immune system releases inflammatory cytokines to the affected area and begins the healing process to repair the damage while also getting rid of the foreign intruders in the body. Inflammation can be potentially beneficial and harmful to the body, depending on how severe the injury has potentially impacted the area. When inflammation begins to cause an impact on the surrounding muscles, ligaments, and joints, it can lead to chronic issues associated with pain. To that point, it causes the body to be dysfunctional while mimicking other symptoms. Today’s article examines how chronic inflammatory responses affect the joints, their associated symptoms, and how to manage chronic joint inflammation. We refer patients to certified providers specializing in anti-inflammatory treatments to help many individuals dealing with chronic inflammation of the joints. We also guide our patients by referring to our associated medical providers based on their examination when it’s appropriate. We find that education is the solution to asking our providers insightful questions. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
How Does Chronic Inflammatory Response Affect The Joints?
Have you been experiencing pain in some regions of your body? What about experiencing tenderness in your muscles? Do your joints ache when you are doing everyday activities? If you have been dealing with these issues, it might be due to chronic inflammatory responses affecting your musculoskeletal joints. As stated earlier, inflammation can be both beneficial and harmful to the body, depending on the severity of the impact the body has taken. In its beneficial form, the body activates the immune system and eliminates pathogens from bacteria, viruses, and other environmental triggers to promote healing and tissue repair. This potentially makes the affected area red and inflamed, thus repairing the damaged cells.
However, in its harmful form, studies reveal that chronic inflammatory responses can break down immune tolerance, causing significant alterations to all the tissues, organs, and joints. To that point, the residual effects of high inflammation can cause harm to the joints and cartilage, making them potentially involved with pain and possibly deformity over time. The joints help keep the body moving, surrounded by connective muscle tissue that helps stabilize the body; when chronic inflammatory responses start to affect the joints, they can become a mediator for pain and discomfort while triggering musculoskeletal disorders. Studies reveal that inflammation in the joints can cause damage to the cartilage and result in degenerative changes to the body. This includes functionality loss, joint instability, and other symptoms associated with chronic joint inflammation.
The Symptoms Associated With Chronic Joint Inflammation
When it comes to chronic joint inflammation, it can mimic other chronic conditions that present joint instability while overlapping different chronic disorders. This makes diagnosing difficult, especially if the person is dealing with inflammation on one side of their body, but it affects another part. This is known as referred pain, and studies reveal that most inflammatory forms that affect the joints are sometimes arthritic and have systemic symptoms that may occur in different body areas. Some of the symptoms associated with chronic joint inflammation can include:
Swelling
Stiffness
Grinding sounds
Difficult mobility
Numbness
Joint deformity
The Difference Between Healthy Joints & Inflamed Joints-Video
Have you been dealing with joint pain throughout your life? Do you feel muscle stiffness in certain areas when you move around? Or do you feel muscle tenderness in certain areas? Many of these symptoms are associated with joint inflammation, potentially overlapping with musculoskeletal pain. The video above explains the difference between healthy joints and inflamed joints. Healthy joints are utilized when the surrounding muscles are strong and functional while no pain is inflicted on the body. Inflamed joints may be caused by numerous factors like lifestyle habits, physical inactivity, or previous conditions associated with inflamed joint pain. Studies reveal that inflammatory cytokines may potentially amplify musculoskeletal discomfort that affects the musculoskeletal tissues that surround the joints. To that point, inflammation of the musculoskeletal system may overlap with joint pain, thus directly impacting a person’s quality of life. Fortunately, there are ways to manage chronic joint inflammation and restore a person’s health and wellness.
Managing Chronic Joint Inflammation
Since inflammation is beneficial and harmful to the body, there are different ways to manage chronic inflammatory markers triggering joint pain. Many individuals who want to lower inflammation in their joints will begin to incorporate natural ways to lessen the pain. Eating foods high in fiber may potentially help lower inflammatory markers, including physical activities to improve musculoskeletal and joint stability and utilizing chiropractic care. Studies reveal that chronic joint inflammation associated with pain does affect a person’s ability to sleep and emotional health. To that point, incorporating treatments to manage inflammatory effects may potentially improve a person’s self-efficacy. Now how does chiropractic care help manage chronic joint inflammation? Chiropractic care includes inflammation reduction techniques that help loosen the stiff muscles that surround the inflamed joints. Joint inflammation may also be due to subluxation (spinal misalignment) associated with environmental factors. Utilizing chiropractic care not only alleviates the symptoms caused by joint inflammation but may potentially alleviate the cause of inflammation. Once a person has completed their chiropractic care treatment, they can return to normal activities without the risk of re-injury and re-inflammation.
Conclusion
Inflammation in the body can be beneficial and harmful depending on the impacted area. The body unleashes inflammatory cytokines when a traumatic event or injury has occurred in certain body areas. This is due to the immune system naturally responding to the damaged cells, thus causing the area to be red, hot, and swollen to promote healing. To that point, inflammation can impact the surrounding muscles, ligaments, and joints, which can lead to chronic issues associated with pain. Chronic joint inflammation is residual high inflammatory effects that cause harm to the cartilage and joint structures, thus making them potentially involved with pain and possible deformity. Fortunately, treatments like high fiber and anti-inflammatory foods, getting enough exercise, and chiropractic care may help manage chronic joint inflammation and its associated pain symptoms. This way, many individuals can resume their normal activities.
References
Furman, David, et al. “Chronic Inflammation in the Etiology of Disease across the Life Span.” Nature Medicine, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Dec. 2019, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7147972/.
Kim, Yeesuk, et al. “Diagnosis and Treatment of Inflammatory Joint Disease.” Hip & Pelvis, Korean Hip Society, Dec. 2017, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5729162/.
Lee, Yvonne C. “Effect and Treatment of Chronic Pain in Inflammatory Arthritis.” Current Rheumatology Reports, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Jan. 2013, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3552517/.
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