Mobility Challenges in Mexican and Mexican Americans Explained

Mobility Challenges in Mexican and Mexican American Communities: Insights from El Paso Back Clinic®

At El Paso Back Clinic® in El Paso, TX, we see many patients from Mexican and Mexican American backgrounds facing mobility issues. These problems often stem from tough jobs, health factors like obesity, and aging. Our wellness chiropractic care focuses on pain relief and improved movement. This article discusses common issues such as arthritis and back pain, supported by studies. We’ll explain how our team, including Dr. Alexander Jimenez, DC, APRN, FNP-BC, uses integrative approaches to help. If you’re in El Paso dealing with these, our clinic is here for you.

Common Musculoskeletal Mobility Issues We Treat

Musculoskeletal problems affect your bones, muscles, and joints, making it difficult to move freely. At our clinic, we see these issues often in our community, where many work in demanding fields like farming or construction.

Arthritis, especially in the knees, is a top concern. It causes joint wear-related swelling and pain. In Mexico, about 20-25% of adults aged 40+ have it, with higher rates among women (Villarreal Rizzo et al., 2025). Mexican Americans in the U.S. also face risks, like osteoporosis weakening bones in 16% of women (Wright et al., n.d.). At El Paso Back Clinic®, we help ease this with gentle adjustments and exercises.

Chronic low back pain hits hard, too. It comes from prolonged lifting or standing. In Mexico, it’s the leading cause of disability, with 840.6 cases per 100,000 in 2021 (Clark et al., 2023). Among farmworkers here in Texas, 46.9% report back issues affecting daily life (Weigel et al., 2013). Our chiropractic care targets this to get you moving again.

Work injuries often involve the shoulders, wrists, and legs. Repetitive tasks in jobs cause rotator cuff problems in 19.1% and elbow pain in 20.2% of Latino workers (Mora et al., 2014). Older adults in our area are at risk of frailty due to ongoing pain, leading to reduced mobility (National Institutes of Health, n.d.). Women face more disability in tasks like walking, with arthritis raising risks by 35% over time (Rodriguez et al., 2021).

Here are key facts we see in our patients:

• Arthritis rates: 19.6% for knee issues in Mexicans over 40, up to 24.2% in women (Ciampi de Andrade et al., 2022).
• Back pain: Affects 16.9% of farmworkers from repetitive strain (Mora et al., 2014).
• Craft-related injuries: Neck and knee pain from activities like weaving (Jeanson et al., 2025).
• Disability trends: Physical function declines by 0.18 points per year with arthritis (Rodriguez et al., 2021).

Jobs in agriculture and construction drive these, plus obesity adds joint stress. In our Mexican American patients, higher BMI initially slows strength loss but worsens it later (Davis & Al Snih, 2025). About 83% of Hispanic men are overweight, linked to less activity (Valdez et al., 2019). At El Paso Back Clinic®, we address this with personalized plans.

Neuromusculoskeletal Issues Addressed at Our Clinic

These issues combine nerve problems with muscle and bone pain, leading to numbness or weakness. Our wellness approach helps restore nerve function and reduce discomfort.

Chronic low back pain is common, often due to nerve compression. It’s the main cause of disability in Mexico (Alva Staufert et al., 2021). Knee and foot arthritis affects movement, with 25.5% showing joint changes (Ciampi de Andrade et al., 2022). We treat foot pain from standing jobs, seen in 4.8% of workers (Mora et al., 2014).

Shoulder injuries, such as rotator cuff tears, are associated with overhead work and affect 19.1% (Mora et al., 2014). Elbow issues, or epicondylitis, affected 20.2% due to tool use (Mora et al., 2014). MSDs in Mexico rose 57.3% over 30 years (Clark et al., 2023). Obesity plays a role, with 40% of Hispanic men affected (Valdez et al., 2019).

In border areas like El Paso, women report 29.8% low back and 38.3% upper back pain from factory jobs (Harlow et al., 1999). Older patients walk more slowly due to leg pain (Quiben & Hazuda, 2015).

Common issues we handle:

• Low back pain: Top disability driver, tied to work and weight (Alva Staufert et al., 2021).
• Knee/foot arthritis: More in women, causing stiffness (Ciampi de Andrade et al., 2022).
• Rotator cuff: From arm overuse in construction (Mora et al., 2014).
• Epicondylitis: Elbow strain, common in 20% (Mora et al., 2014).

How El Paso Back Clinic® Helps with Integrative Care

Our clinic combines nurse practitioners (NPs) and chiropractic methods for culturally sensitive help. We focus on pain management and rehab to fit our community’s needs.

NPs at our clinic offer full check-ups that consider culture and history. They suggest diets rich in veggies and yoga for detox and pain relief (Jimenez, 2026a). We team up for whole-body care (Jimenez, 2026b).

Chiropractic adjustments realign the spine to ease nerve compression. For sitting-related back pain, we restore curves and strengthen the core (El Paso Back Pain Clinic, n.d.). Access to this care is key, though Hispanics use it less (Roseen, 2023).

Dr. Alexander Jimenez shares from his experience: Chronic back pain worsens with poor posture, but adjustments and exercises help (Jimenez, n.d.). For sciatica, decompression relieves pressure on nerves, which is common in laborers. Neuropathy gets therapy for tingling (Jimenez, n.d.). He uses functional medicine to tackle stress, diet, and job factors in our Mexican American patients.

We include mindfulness and natural remedies. Cultural factors, such as family support, help recovery, but delays worsen pain (Arthritis Foundation, n.d.). Our NPs create home plans (Pérez-Stable et al., 2003).

Rehab strengthens areas such as the legs and shoulders (Mora et al., 2014). It cuts frailty risks (National Institutes of Health, n.d.). For farmworkers, it reduces disability (Weigel et al., 2013).

Our care benefits:

• Cultural match: Understanding barriers like work migration (Harlow et al., 1999).
• Pain control: Non-surgical adjustments (Jimenez, 2026c).
• Strength building: Targeted exercises (Mora et al., 2014).
• Prevention: Nutrition against obesity (Valdez et al., 2019).

Why Choose El Paso Back Clinic® for Your Mobility Needs

In El Paso, with our diverse community, these issues are common but treatable. Our clinic specializes in wellness chiropractic to help you stay active. Contact us for a consultation with Dr. Jimenez and our team.

---

References

Alva Staufert, M. F., et al. (2021). A look into the challenges and complexities of managing low back pain in Mexico. PubMed.

Arthritis Foundation. (n.d.). Arthritis in the Hispanic community. Arthritis.org.

Ciampi de Andrade, D., et al. (2022). Assessing the burden of osteoarthritis in Latin America: A rapid evidence assessment. PMC.

Clark, P., et al. (2023). Analysis of musculoskeletal disorders-associated disability in Mexico from 1990 to 2021. PubMed.

Davis, A. R., & Al Snih, S. (2025). Body mass index and trajectories of muscle strength and physical function over time in Mexican American older adults: Sex differences. ScienceDirect.

El Paso Back Pain Clinic. (n.d.). El Paso back pain clinic. ElPasoChiropractorBlog.com.

Harlow, S. D., et al. (1999). The prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints among women in Tijuana, Mexico: Sociodemographic and occupational risk factors. PubMed.

Jeanson, A. L., et al. (2025). Assessing musculoskeletal injury risk and skeletal changes from backstrap loom weaving and traditional embroidery in Chiapas, Mexico. PLOS Global Public Health.

Jimenez, A. (n.d.). Injury specialists. DrAlexJimenez.com.

Jimenez, A. (2026a). Nurse practitioners and integrative chiropractic detox. ChiroMed.com.

Jimenez, A. (2026b). Relieving back pain from prolonged sitting. ChiroMed.com.

Jimenez, A. (2026c). Advancements in sciatica treatment in 2026. ChiroMed.com.

Mora, D. C., et al. (2014). Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among immigrant Latino farmworkers and non-farmworkers in North Carolina. PMC.

National Institutes of Health. (n.d.). Older Mexican American adults experiencing pain are at risk of developing frailty. NIH.gov.

Pérez-Stable, E. J., et al. (2003). Pain in Hispanic/Latino patients. PubMed.

Quiben, M. U., & Hazuda, H. P. (2015). Factors contributing to 50-ft walking speed and observed ethnic differences in older community-dwelling Mexican Americans and European Americans. PMC.

Rodriguez, M. A., et al. (2021). Arthritis, physical function, and disability among older Mexican Americans over 23 years of follow-up. PMC.

Roseen, E. J. (2023). New study finds racial and ethnic disparities persist in access to chiropractic care and physical rehabilitation for adults with low back pain. BMC.org.

Valdez, L. A., et al. (2019). Mexican origin Hispanic men’s perspectives of physical activity–related health behaviors. PMC.

Villarreal Rizzo, A., et al. (2025). Hospitalization and mortality among Mexican adults with arthritis: Findings from the Mexican Health and Aging Study. UTMB.edu.

Weigel, M. M., et al. (2013). Musculoskeletal injury, functional disability, and health-related quality of life in aging Mexican immigrant farmworkers. HIA.Berkeley.edu.

Wright, N. C., et al. (n.d.). Prevalence. BMUS-ORS.org.