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Starvation Diets Drive Obesity

Starvation Diets Drive Obesity

It’s no surprise — overweight children who don’t properly learn self-regulating habits likely become obese adults. What is surprising is that one of the most common ways to help — restricting children’s diets — actually compounds the problem.

That’s the thrust of a new study by University of Illinois researchers who point to a disturbing pattern: Parents shame by withholding food due to weight gain, then children cope with the negative emotions by overeating.

Further exasperating the trend, overweight children are often rewarded with food by parents, and as they grow older, the children reward themselves with food.

Researchers who studied the pattern added a genetic component as well to better understand obesity. They reported that a child’s genetics, relating to cognition and emotion, likely play a key role. They found that when biological conditions were just right, a nudge by the social aspect sets kids on a path to obesity.

Kelly Bost, co-author of the study (published in Pediatric Obesity), and professor of child development at the University of Illinois, said: “When parents offer food to children whenever they are upset, children may learn to cope with their negative emotions by overeating, and they start to develop this relationship with food early in life; eating — especially comfort food — brings a temporary soothing. People intuitively understand that.”

The findings support the team’s hypothesis that a correlation exists between all factors: parenting approaches, combined with a child’s genetic make-up and restrictive feeding, and the child’s weight and the child’s propensity to be obese.

Bost said that children can effectively learn control for themselves: “Some of the things parents do, they may not think are related to how children are developing their eating habits. The ways parents respond or get stressed when children get upset are related in an indirect way. The way we respond to that emotion can help children to develop skills for themselves, to self-regulate, so that everyday challenges don’t become overwhelming things that they have to manage with respect to food.”

Bost and her team used data from the “Strong Kids” program, outreach developed by The Oregon Resiliency Project, an organization that is based on “research, training, and outreach effort aimed at social and emotional learning, mental health promotion, and social-emotional assessment intervention” of children, according to the organization’s website.

The team examined information about parents’ feeding styles, and how they typically reacted to their children’s (ages 2.5 to 3 years) negative emotions. The researchers examined these factors in combination with genetic data.

For the genetic factor, they looked at the COMT gene, a gene known for regulating cognition and emotion. This gene is the gatekeeper for dopamine, which controls the brain’s reward and pleasure centers.

Bost and her team studied minute variances in the gene pool to determine which children might be more susceptible to negative emotions or stress. They based their genetic research on the breakdown of amino acids in proteins that could lead to personality differences. One of them is the change produced by genetics in the form of a single part of our DNA: the nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). There are many types of SNPs; some affect the composition of protein and, depending on the change, affect the amount of dopamine in the brain, as presented by Psychology Today. Dopamine controls the brain’s reward and pleasure centers.

One type of SNP can change an amino acid from valine (Val) to methionine (Met). While largely academic, these two types of proteins influence emotion. Bost explained it best in the study: “We all carry two copies of genetic information — one from Mom, and one from Dad. In a person with Val/Val, the COMT system works three to four times faster than those with other combinations do, and therefore accumulates less dopamine in the front of the brain. Children who have at least one copy of Val tend to be more resilient emotionally. Those who are Met carriers have the propensity to be more reactive to negative emotion or stress.”

This genetic component was combined with the researchers’ studies. “We know that how parents respond to their children’s negative emotions influences the development of children’s response patterns over time,” Bost said in the study. “There is a whole body of literature linking emotion dysregulation to emotional overeating, dysregulation of metabolism, and risk for obesity, even starting at early ages. We wanted to begin to integrate information from these various fields to get a more holistic view of gene-environment interactions at this critical time in life for developing self-regulation.”

They began their research with a group of 126 children who were studied for the social aspect. For the genetic component, saliva samples were taken. Parents filled out questionnaires, rating how they typically respond to their common situations, including emotional outbursts.

Bost and colleagues found that parents most likely to use restrictive feeding were those who reported more frequent use of unresponsive stress-regulating strategies with their children — punishing or dismissive —and had children who were higher weight status and tested positive for the Met amino acid. But the same was not necessarily true for children who were Val carriers.

Bost and her team determined that breaking the cycle did not begin with blaming parents but instead by encouraging them to develop positive reinforcement and other techniques that could help their kids respond better and also help develop positive eating habits that likely would carry into adulthood.

While there exist myriad programs that focus on providing good nutrition or how to plan less stressful mealtimes, Bost explains that parents should also learn emotion regulation strategies in response to children who display emotional breakdowns and are eating to soothe — especially if the parents are restricting foods.

She added, “Sometimes the way parents respond is based on their own stress, belief systems, or the way they were raised. Educating parents from a developmental perspective can help them to respond to their children’s emotions in ways that will help their children learn to self-regulate their emotions and their food intake . . . responsive parenting involves an understanding of what stress-reducing approaches are most effective for a particular child.”

Dangerous 'Mono Diet' Draws Warnings From Experts

Dangerous 'Mono Diet' Draws Warnings From Experts

A new diet plan that dictates that you eat only one food for several weeks to lose weight fast is drawing warnings from many experts who say it is dangerous and only successful in the short term.

The Mono Diet (sometimes called the Banana Island or Monotrophic Diet) was popularized by a YouTube star nicknamed “Freelee the Banana Girl” (real name: Leanne Ratcliffe) who claimed it helped her lose weight, the New York Post reports.

Ratcliffe claimed to have lost 40 pounds eating close to 30 bananas a day.

A new version, the Sweet Potato Diet, promises the spud can help you lose 12 pounds in just two weeks. The hashtag #monomeal on Instagram, which highlights pictures of people’s meals containing a single food, has more than 38,000 posts, and the diet was one of the most searched in 2016, according to Google.

Frances Largeman-Roth, a registered dietitian and author of “Eating in Color,” tells the Post you can lose weight by eating only one food, but it’s likely to result from eating less.

“Yes, this diet can produce weight loss,” she says “But, the weight loss is a result of caloric restriction — not because any particular food is magically producing weight loss. It’s an incredibly restrictive and unbalanced diet and I do not recommend that anyone follow it.”

Experts warn such diets can also cause symptoms like dizziness and lead to some serious health problems, including dangerous metabolic changes and muscle loss.

Can Limb Length Discrepancy Cause Scoliosis?

Can Limb Length Discrepancy Cause Scoliosis?

Leg length discrepancy is a condition in which the legs are not of equal length. This might give an appearance that one leg is shorter compared to the other. The reasons for leg length discrepancy can be many, including defects that are congenital or may be acquired, which might include certain medical conditions, fractures, infections or injuries impacting the bone.

Leg length discrepancy might be a result of accurate discrepancy, which can be caused by real distinctions in the leg lengths. In other instances, the causes of leg length discrepancy might be due to circumstances that result in change in the angle of the hip or pelvic bone. In such cases, as the hip gets tilted to the other side and one side gets raised, the leg on that side seems to be shorter.

However, it is important to understand the foundation and causes of leg length discrepancy to handle the condition properly. It is also crucial to understand the impact of leg length discrepancy on an individual health and overall performance just as the the reasons are important. Mental and physical health can be affected by leg length discrepancy health insurance and will also be connected to spinal issues like scoliosis.

Can Limb Length Discrepancy Trigger Scoliosis?

Leg length discrepancy, due to uneven leg lengths, can impact the normal gait of the person. The main perform that is noticeable is the way a person walks or performs human anatomy actions. These can get afflicted or be difficult because of leg size discrepancy. Changes in normal movements can more lead to certain issues of the muscles like soreness, discomfort, weak imbalances or muscles on either side of the physique. Leg duration discrepancy can impact the hip, knees and ankle, can cause pain and dysfunction.

The muscles on both sides of the physique and those related to the hip can get pulled due to tilting of the hip-bone. This can be one the major effects of leg duration discrepancy, where the muscles get pulled to one side, creating changes in the curvature of the backbone. In to side ways pulling of the spinal curvature, which is termed as scoliosis, such adjustments can eventually result. There is much concern whether leg length discrepancy can cause scoliosis and it is important to understand correct therapy to be planned by this and a void further complications.

Limb Length Discrepancy and Scoliosis

Many studies have already been conducted, which revolve round the chance of leg duration discrepancy being an underlying cause of scoliosis. In the same time, leg length discrepancy can also result in pulling of the muscles that are back to one facet, which can contribute to some extent to or worsen existing scoliosis.

It might result in scoliosis, which might be useful in the beginning as the curvature gets tilted to one aspect. In scoliosis that is functional there might be slight tilting or pulling of the muscles to one side, without adjustments or damage to the structure of the spine. However, if functional scoliosis, which is caused or aggravated by leg-length discrepancy isn’t treated in time, it might worsen, causing changes in the structure of the curvature. This may result in structural scoliosis, which may not be disturbing and only more painful but also difficult to manage.

Some studies have revealed that scoliosis in certain persons is the result of mechanism, to make up for the leg length discrepancy. Simply stated, in leg length discrepancy, the legs are of unequal lengths, so to match the lengths the individual pulls the aspect down along with the hip starts to tilt. This, when continued for a longer period of time, can result in pulling to one aspect, making changes in the curvature. Scoliosis is one such change in spinal curvature, at which spine gets curved to one side, comprising alternative activities.

Symptoms of Scoliosis from Limb Length Discrepancy

A person that has developed scoliosis due to leg size discrepancy, usually presents with tilting of the hip. Along with the signs of leg length discrepancy, the individual may possibly also encounter pain in the muscles that are again, imbalances of muscle power and function of the muscles that are again. Bending, twisting movements might be difficult and it could also be painful to maintain or raise objects.

The appearance of the shoulders may possibly be different on account of scoliosis and one-shoulder can happen elevated in relation to the other. This could cause problems in neck, arm and shoulder movements and also hurt. It could sometimes result into serious degrees of scoliosis, if the status is left unattended.

Treatment of Scoliosis from Limb Length Discrepancy

It is importance to comprehend if leg-length discrepancy can trigger scoliosis. The treatment options might have to be planned appropriately if scoliosis has been resulted in by complications of leg-length discrepancy.

In some cases, leg size discrepancy can contribute to or worsen existing scoliosis, therefore, correcting leg duration discrepancy with heel raise have to be in the offing cautiously. It’s important to thoroughly examine any circumstance with leg-length discrepancy, as they can cause scoliosis in some instances. Prescribing a heel raise to appropriate leg length discrepancy can boost the chances of worsening the scoliosis due to tilting if scoliosis is obvious.

Hence, it really is essential to to examine the bio mechanics of the hi-P, evaluate the modifications in the spinal curvature in scoliosis as well as the tilting due to leg duration discrepancy. Depending on the the reasons, some cases of leg length discrepancy might require procedure for surgical correction of leg lengths. When the symptoms, scoliosis and causes like complications of leg length discrepancy, are correctly evaluated a multi disciplinary treatment approach may be planned.

Limb Length Discrepancy Explained (Video)

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss options on the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900Green-Call-Now-Button-24H-150x150.png

By Dr. Alex Jimenez

Additional Topics: Scoliosis Pain and Chiropractic

According to recent research studies, chiropractic care and exercise can substantially help correct scoliosis. Scoliosis is a well-known type of spinal misalignment, or subluxation, characterized by the abnormal, lateral curvature of the spine. While there are two different types of scoliosis, chiropractic treatment techniques, including spinal adjustments and manual manipulations, are safe and effective alternative treatment measures which have been demonstrated to help correct the curve of the spine, restoring the original function of the spine.

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12 Ways to Ease Low-Back Pain While Traveling

12 Ways to Ease Low-Back Pain While Traveling

Here’s a scenario that’s probably easy for you to imagine: You’ve just endured a grueling flight to a far-off travel destination. After your arrival at the airport, you spot your luggage on the baggage carrousel. But as grab it, you feel that scary twinge in your back that feels like a pulled muscle or worse.

If this sounds like something you’ve experienced, you have plenty of company. Thousands of Americans suffer low back injuries when traveling each year. And, the truth is, the end of a long journey is the most dangerous moment for a traveler’s back, according to orthopedic specialists.

“When you rush to get your luggage and throw it on the cart to be the first to get customs and out, that’s when you can your hurt your back,” says Dr. Garth Russell, founding member of the Columbia Orthopedic Group in Missouri.

Travel can be a prescription for back pain and injury, experts agree. The long periods of forced immobility in airplanes, lifting the luggage packed with heavy documents or vacation gear, the fatigue, and the time pressure — not to mention the less-than-firm hotel beds — can add up to back spasms and sciatic nerve pain.

Since back pain is the most frequent cause of lost work days after the common cold, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, it’s crucial take prudent precaution to protect your back when traveling.

“Summer vacation can spell disaster for your aching back if you don’t pay attention to how you move and how you prepare yourself for the journey,” says Dr. Richard Berger, a noted orthopedics surgeon and assistant professor of orthopedics at Rush University in Chicago. “People will be traveling in planes, trains and cars for hours and back pain can ruin even the best laid vacation plans.”

But Berger tells Newsmax Health a handful of back-saving tips can be the difference between a great vacation and a panful experience away from home. Here are his best suggestions:

Lift luggage in stages. “Move slowly and deliberately,” he says. “It’s the sudden jerking movements going full throttle that injure most patients.”

Never twist while lifting. This common error is the most frequent way people injure their back, says Berger, who explains that it takes much less force to cause injury when twisting than when lifting straight up and down.

Ask for help if you have back trouble. “Don’t hesitate to ask another passenger or flight attendant for help,” he says. “Explain your condition and most folks will be happy to assist.”

Ship bags instead. Mail your essentials to the designated destination and avoid luggage entirely. “With airline fees for checked luggage skyrocketing, this may also turn out to be an economical solution, too,” he says

Pack light. Moving a few light bags instead of one very heavy one, will likely avoid back injuries. “This is especially true if you are on an extended vacation with multiple stops so you have to transfer your bags in and out of your vehicles or into overhead bins and compartments,” he notes.

Plan for medication. If you are running low on your pain medication, get new prescriptions from your doctor and fill them so that you have enough. It may seem obvious but do not check medication with your luggage. “You may need them in flight or you may get delayed so that you may need more meds that you originally expected,” he says. Also: Bring backup over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol, Motrin or Aleve.

Ice, ice, baby. If you do suffer a back injury a pack of ice may be your first line of defense. Your flight attendant can fill a bag for you. Place it on your back for 20 minutes, then off for 20 minutes. Products like Icy Hot or Bengay Pain relief medicated patches may also provide relief.

Heat wraps work. There are disposable, portable hot packs that heat up after you open them and you can apply them as needed. Ask your pharmacist to suggest a few brands and check with your airline to make sure they allowed.

Muscle relaxants. These not only treat but may avoid back issues during a long flight. Ask your doctor if they are right for you.

Get the right seat. An aisle seat makes it easier to get in and out of your seat. Moreover, an aisle seat offers you the freedom to get up and move around more frequently.

Get up and move. This is crucial because sitting for an extend period of time stiffens the back muscles, putting stress on the spine and can cause pain. Get up to stretch often. Stretch the hamstrings muscles especially which will reduce stiffness and tension. If you are taking a road trip, stop for a stretch break every couple of hours.

Use a lumbar pillow. If you don’t own your own lumbar support, use a pillow, blanket or rolled up jacket to support the national curve of your back when traveling. Speaking of pillows, if you are staying in a hotel, your may sleep better if you bring your own pillow.

Diagnosis & Treatment for Early Onset Scoliosis in Children

Diagnosis & Treatment for Early Onset Scoliosis in Children

Early onset scoliosis (EOS) is an abnormal sideways curvature of the spine found in children under the age of 10 years.

More than 100,000 kids are diagnosed with scoliosis each year in the USA and most have adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, or AIS. AIS is one of the most common types of scoliosis and it can affect kids between the ages of 10 to 18. EOS is significantly rarer and often more complex in character.

Types of Early Onset Scoliosis

Doctors have recognized several types of EOS. Most types of EOS have an obvious trigger and are associated with individual health issues. On the other hand, a general number of EOS cases are idiopathic, meaning they have no recognized cause and are identified based on the age at diagnosis.

Below are kinds of EOS:

  • Congenital scoliosis occurs when the bones of the spine do not form properly in the mother�s womb.
  • Neuromuscular scoliosis is caused by brain, spinal cord, or muscular system disorders (such as muscular dystrophy). These disorders prevent the back muscles from holding the spine straight.
  • Syndromicscoliosis develops as part of an underlying syndrome or disorder that affects numerous parts of the body (such as Prader-Willi
  • Syndrome; a rare disease affecting development).
  • Infantile idiopathic scoliosis is diagnosed in children ages birth to 3 years. It has no known cause.
  • Juvenile idiopathic scoliosis is diagnosed in children ages 4 to 10. It has no known cause.

Early Onset Scoliosis Symptoms

EOS can be difficult to identify, as some children don’t have a serious spinal curve and might not have pain that stops them from their typical exercise. The primary factor to keep in mind, however, is symmetry, as it could reveal an issue when all other indications point to a regular spine.

Below are the most frequent indicators of EOS:

  • The body appears to lean to one side
  • Shoulders look uneven, with one shoulder blade sticking out more
  • Waistline is uneven
  • Hip height appears off balance
  • Ribs protrude on one side more

Early Onset Scoliosis Diagnosis

Your child’s pediatrician, pediatric orthopedist, or spinal specialist can identify EOS utilizing a number of methods.

Physical exams including the Adam’s forward bend test, will expose a prominence, hump or deviation of the backbone, or spine, indicating an irregular curvature. But, it’ imaging scans, namely x-rays, that doctors count on most to validate EOS.

The doctor will simply take standing x-rays of your child’s spine to properly see the entire nature of the scoliosis. Typically, one x-ray is taken from back to front (called a posterior-anterior x-ray) and the second is from the side (called lateral x-ray).�Other x-rays may possibly contain bending from aspect-to-facet.

Your doctor may possibly also request a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test in order to rule out underlying involvement of the spinal-cord along with other buildings or CT scan to show 3 D views of the bone constructions.

Because x-rays are used throughout the monitoring process throughout therapy, and to identify scoliosis, individuals have raised concerns over radiation. With this consideration in mind, doctors limit the number of x-rays that a child may use direct shields to safeguard breast and thyroid tissue and wants, lower dose x-rays, as well as light-based scans of the physique form.

Early Onset Scoliosis Treatment

There are four general approaches for managing EOS:

  • Observation
  • Spinal bracing
  • Body casting
  • Spine surgery

Observation

Your physician may suggest an observation period prior to any active treatment is warranted, as some times the scoliosis even correct itself as your child grows especially with very little curves in really young kids and will stabilize. This generally indicates attending normal follow up appointments together with your doctor throughout the year to determine any adjustments in your child’s curve.

Spinal Bracing

Spinal bracing is a typical nonsurgical treatment for EOS. Your physician works with an orthotist to craft a custom spinal brace for your child. The objective of the brace is not necessarily to correct the scoliosis but to avoid the curve from progressing.

Body Casting

Body casting may be advised for kids between SIX MONTHS months and 6 years of age who have curves likely to to succeed. Body casts are custom made and placed while your child is asleep under general anesthesia. Casts can be in spot for up to 12 months, so that your child will require a sequence of casts throughout therapy. A cast may possibly be employed for more severe curves or in cases in which a brace fails to prevent the curve from getting worse. Often the forged is used to delay the need for spine surgery that is ideally performed after much of your child’s growth is complete. A brace is often used for the same purpose.

Spine Surgery

If your child has a severe curve of 50-levels or higher, spine surgery is considered but usually delayed before the curvature is significantly greater and the child is bigger and h-AS finished more development.

There are various surgical methods for EOS, including expanding rod surgery, VEPTR® (vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib), vertebral physique tethering, growth guided gadgets, and spinal fusion.

Recovery Potential for Early Onset Scoliosis

It could be scary for each of you when your youngster is identified with early onset scoliosis. The remedies obtainable today are highly-successful at managing or even correcting the curve. Your encouragement and support along with the determination of your pediatric spine specialist will help your child respond well to treatment, and lead a pleased and full life.

Identifying Scoliosis in Children (Video)

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss options on the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .�Green-Call-Now-Button-24H-150x150.png

By Dr. Alex Jimenez

Additional Topics: Scoliosis Pain and Chiropractic

According to recent research studies, chiropractic care and exercise can substantially help correct scoliosis. Scoliosis is a well-known type of spinal misalignment, or subluxation, characterized by the abnormal, lateral curvature of the spine. While there are two different types of scoliosis, chiropractic treatment techniques, including spinal adjustments and manual manipulations, are safe and effective alternative treatment measures which have been demonstrated to help correct the curve of the spine, restoring the original function of the spine.

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TRENDING TOPIC: EXTRA EXTRA: New PUSH 24/7�? Fitness Center

 

 

MRI To Evaluate Lumbar Posterior Ligament Complex Post Trauma

MRI To Evaluate Lumbar Posterior Ligament Complex Post Trauma

The importance of Magnetic Resonance Imaging to evaluate the integrity of the lumbar posterior ligament complex post trauma.

Abstract: Posterior ligamentous complex(PLC), consisting of the supraspinous ligament, interspinous ligament, ligamentum flavum, and the facet joint capsules is thought to contribute significantly to the stability of the lumbar spine. There has been much debate on whether Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI) is specific and sensitive in diagnosing pathology to the PLC. The objective is to determine the necessity of MRI imaging for evaluating the integrity of the lumbar posterior ligament complex post trauma.

Key Words: Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI), interspinous ligament, posterior ligament complex, low back pain, ligament laxity, electromyography, impairment rating

A 41-year-old male, presented to my office for an examination with complaints of low back pain with numbness, tingling and weakness into the left lower extremity after he was the restraint driver in a motor vehicle collision approximately three and a half months� post trauma.�He�rated the pain as a�3/10 on a visual analog scale with 10/10 being the worst and the pain and noted the pain as being�present most of the time.� He stated that he was on pain killers daily and this helped manage his daily activities. Without pain killers his pain levels are rated 8/10 being present most of the time. The pain killers stated by the patient are Oxycodone and Naproxen.
He�reported that the pain would be aggravated by activities which required excessive standing, repetitive bending, and lifting. He further noted that in the morning the pain was increased and his left leg would be numb and weak for about the first hour.

The patient stated that his care to date had been managed by a pain management clinic and that he had minimal improvement with treatment which has included physical therapy and massage therapy. He reported the pain clinic next recommended steroid injections which he refused. He states there has been was no imaging ordered and that an Electromyography(EMG) had been performed. He was told the test was negative for pathology.

Prior History: No significant medical history was reported.
Clinical Findings:�The patient is 6�0� and weighs 210 lbs.

Physical Exam Findings:

Cervical Spine:
Cervical spine range of motion is full and unrestricted. Maximum cervical compression is negative. Motor and other regional sensory exam are unremarkable at this time.

Thoracic Spine:
Palpation of the thoracic spine region reveals taught and tender fibers in the area of the bilateral upper and mid thoracic musculature. Thoracic spine range of motion is restricted in flexion, extension, bilateral lateral flexion, and bilateral rotation. Regional motor and sensory exam are unremarkable at this time.

Lumbar Spine:
Palpation of the lumbosacral spine region reveals taught and tender fibers in the area of the lumbar paraspinal musculature. Lumbar spine range of motion is limited in flexion, extension, bilateral lateral flexion and bilateral rotation. Extension restriction is due to pain and spasm. Straight leg raise causes pain at approximately 50 degrees when testing either side in the left low back. There is no radicular symptomatology down the leg. Kemp�s maneuver recreates pain in the L4 region on the left. No radicular symptoms are noted. The patient is able to heel and toe walk. Regional motor and sensory exam is unremarkable at this time other than L4, L5 and S1 dermatomes having decreased sensation with light touch.

Muscle testing of the upper and lower extremities was tested at a 5/5 with the exception of the left quadricep tested at a 4/5.� The patient�s deep tendon reflexes of the upper and lower extremities were tested including triceps, biceps, brachioradialis, patella, and Achilles and all were tested at 2+ bilaterally except the left patellar reflex was 1+.

RANGES OF MOTION EVALUATION

All range of motions are based on the�American Medical Association�s Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, 5th�Edition1�and performed by a dual inclinometer for the lumbar spine.

�� Range of Motion������Normal�������� Examination�������� % Deficit

Flexion 60 48 20
Extension 25 12 52
Left Lateral Flexion 25 16 36
Right Lateral Flexion 25 18 28

An MRI was ordered to rule out gross pathology.

Imaging:

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A lumbar MRI reveals;
1)��� Mild disc bulges at T11-T12, T12-L1, L1-L2 and L5-S1
2)��� Low disc signals indicative of disc desiccation at T11-T12, T12-L1, L1-L2, L2-L3, L3-L4 and L4-L5
3)��� Retrolisthesis of 2mm at L3-L4
4)��� Mild ligamentous hypertrophy at L1-L2, L2-L3, L3-L4, L4-L5 and L5-S1
5)��� L4-L5 has a Grade 1-2 tear of the interspinous ligament with mild inflammation
6)��� L5-S1 has a Grade 1 interspinous ligament tear with mild inflammation

After reviewing the MRI I ordered lumbar x-rays to rule out ligament laxity.

X-RAY STUDIES

Lumbar x-rays reveal the following:
1)��� Left lateral tilt
2)��� Retrolisthesis at L1 of 3mm
3)��� Retrolisthesis at L2 of 3mm
4)��� Combined excessive translation of 4mm of L1 during flexion-extension
5)��� Combined excessive translation of 4mm of L2 during flexion-extension
6)��� Excessive translation of L3 in extension posteriorly of 2.5mm
7)��� Decreased disc space at L5-S1

Chiropractic care was initiated. The patient was placed on an initial care plan of 2-3x/week for 3 months and then a recommended break in care for one month so the patient could be evaluated for permanency while he was not care dependent.

At maximum medical improvement, he had continued low back pain rated 4/10, continued numbness and tingling into his left leg and left quadricep weakness rated 4/5. He does not need pain killers for pain management anymore. He continues chiropractic care every two weeks to manage his symptoms.

Conclusion:
In this specific case, pathology to the posterior ligament complex diagnosed on MRI lead to the x-ray finding of excessive translation at L1-L2 and L2-L3. The patient was given a permanent impairment rating of 22% based on my interpretation of the American Medical Association�s Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, 5th�Edition1. The interspinous ligament tears at the L4-L5 and L5-S1 level would not have been diagnosed without the MRI.

There has been much debate on whether MRI imaging has a role in evaluating lumbar PLC. MRI is a powerful diagnostic tool that can provide important clinical information regarding the condition of the PLC. Useful sequences for spinal MRI in trauma include sagittal and axial T1-weighted images, T2-weighted FSE, fat-saturated T2-weighted FSE, and STIR sequences to highlight bone edema.2�Ligamentous injuries are best identified on T2-weighted images with fat saturation because the ligaments are thin and bonded on either side by fat, which can appear as hyperintense on both T1 and T2 images.3�T1-weighted images are inadequate in isolation for identifying ligamentous injuries.4�

The diagnostic accuracy for MRI was reported for both supraspinous ligament and interspinous ligament injury with a sensitivity of 89.4% and 98.5%, respectively, and a specificity of 92.3% and 87.2% in 35 patients.5
For patients with persistent symptoms after trauma an MRI may be indicated to evaluate posterior ligamentous complex integrity.

Competing Interests:� There are no competing interests in the writing of this case report.

De-Identification: All of the patient�s data has been removed from this case.

References:
1. Cocchiarella L., Anderson G. Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, 5th Edition, Chicago IL, 2001 AMA Press.
2. Cohen, W.A., Giauque, A.P., Hallam, D.K., Linnau, K.F. and Mann, F.A., 2003. Evidence-based approach to use of MR imaging in acute spinal trauma.�European journal of radiology,�48(1), pp.49-60.
3. Terk, M.R., Hume-Neal, M., Fraipont, M., Ahmadi, J. and Colletti, P.M., 1997. Injury of the posterior ligament complex in patients with acute spinal trauma: evaluation by MR imaging.�AJR. American journal of roentgenology,�168(6), pp.1481-1486.
4. Saifuddin, A., Green, R. and White, J., 2003. Magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical ligaments in the absence of trauma.�Spine,�28(15), pp.1686-1691.
5. Haba H, Taneichi H, Kotani Y, et al. Diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging for detecting posterior ligamentous complex injury associated with thoracic and lumbar fractures.�J Neurosurg. 2003; 99(1 Suppl):20-26.

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Swearing Aloud Relieves Emotional Pain

Swearing Aloud Relieves Emotional Pain

Whether your friend has hurt your feelings or you’re upset over a lovers tiff, swearing could help to ease your pain, according to new research published in the European Journal of Social Psychology.

Carried out by Dr Michael Philipp, a lecturer at Massey University’s School of Psychology, New Zealand, along with Laura Lombardo from the University of Queensland, Australia, the work looks at the effect of swearing on “short-term social distress,” which could be anything from an argument with your partner to being excluded from a social situation.

Although previous studies have looked at common methods for relieving both physical and social pain, fir example with paracetamol, none have so far looked at whether swearing aloud could also help relieve social distress in the same way that it has previously been shown to ease physical distress.

To test this idea, the study looked at Pain Overlap Theory, which suggests that physical and social/emotional pain share the same underlying processing system, and anything affecting physical pain will also have similar effects on social pain. 

For the research 70 participants were split into two groups, and tested for feelings of social pain and sensitivity to physical pain.

During the study participants had to write either about an inclusive social situation, or a distressing one, to induce the corresponding emotions. They were then were randomly assigned to either swear aloud or say a non-swear word aloud.

The results showed that those participants who were socially distressed experienced less social pain and less sensitivity to physical pain than those who didn’t swear.

“Previous research suggests that social stressors, like rejection and ostracism, not only feel painful but also increase people’s sensitivity to physical pain,” explained Dr Phillip. He also added that swearing can help ease both social and physical pain by reducing its intensity, by distracting the person in pain.

However, Dr Phillip also pointed out that swearing may not have the same effect if used on an everyday basis or in a situation which is only mildly irritating or stressful, when the use of profanity may lose its impact.

He also added that swearing is not a quick answer for those experiencing serious emotional pain and stress such as grief or abuse, when clinical care may be needed.

Previous research on swearing has also found that cursing aloud can make you stronger. In a small-scale study published early last month, a team of researchers found that participants who completed a test of anaerobic power — a short, intense period on an exercise bike — and isometric handgrip test — produced more power and had a stronger grip if they swore while completing the exercises.

UTEP�s Korir, Amusan Garner C-USA Athlete of the Year

UTEP�s Korir, Amusan Garner C-USA Athlete of the Year

UTEP claimed two superlative Conference USA track and field honors as Emmanuel Korir and Tobi Amusan were named C-USA Male and Female Track Athletes of the Year, announced by the league office on Friday afternoon.

�Both athletes are very special and talented. He [Korir] was the best candidate for our league and would most likely do very well other top conferences as well,� head coach Mika Laaksonen stated. �A lot of work goes into these things and Tobi worked incredibly hard over these past two years and she absolutely deserves this award, they both do.�

Korir ran a world best 1:14.97 in the 600m earlier this year at the New Mexico Cherry & Silver meet, which was his first race on an indoor 200m banked track. The freshman followed that up by capturing the NCAA title in the 800m (1:47.48) at the same track in Albuquerque, N.M., with a time of 1:47.48. The freshman is one of three athletes in the world to run an outdoor sub-45 400m and a sub-1:44 in the 800m.

The Kenyan native won the NCAA outdoor title in the 800m (1:45.03) and is the first Miner to win both titles in the same year.

Amusan was the leading scorer for the Miners with 25 points at the C-USA Indoor Championships and notched a meet record in the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.01. The sophomore helped her team win its third consecutive conference title. Amusan qualified to the NCAA Indoor Championships in the 60m hurdles where she notched a sixth-place showing.

The outdoor season started with a bang, as she set a school record (12.63) in the 100m hurdles at the UTEP Springtime meet. She followed that with a first-place finish at the 2017 Clyde Little Field Texas Relays in the 100m hurdles, setting a meet record time of 12.72. The Nigerian native scored 24.5 points at the C-USA Outdoor Championships leading the women�s team to its first ever outdoor conference title.

Both athletes were named semifinalists for college track and field�s high individual honor, The Bowerman Award. The women�s three finalists will be announced on Wednesday, June 21 and the men�s finalists will be announced Thursday, June 22.

For more information on UTEP track and field, follow the Miners on Twitter (@UTEPTrack) and on Instagram (uteptrack).

How To Nail Every Big Lift In Your Workout

How To Nail Every Big Lift In Your Workout

Be honest, you don’t know how your car works, do you? And despite spending most of the working day lashed to a QWERTY, if someone asked you how update their modem, you wouldn’t where to start (or what the modem even is).

And that’s fine. Other people do that stuff so you don’t have to. But the same can’t be said for your workout. You need to be okay with the specifics – do you honestly know what that dead lift is doing to your muscles? Or more importantly, the damage you could be doing to yourself if you’re getting it wrong.

Thankfully, experts are on hand. We’ve enlisted the help of Tim Walker, founder London’s Evolve Fitness to settle the form debate on five key exercises, once and for all.

First up, a pre-lift check list.

  • Breathing. Oxygen creates energy in the muscles, so don’t hold your breath.
  • Technical understanding. Understand which muscles you are about to engage, know the movement you’re about to make, and be deliberate with that movement.
  • Mental participation. Make sure you’re in the moment, and don’t think about what’s next. Connect your mind to your muscles, and aim for a full range of motion.
  • Load selection. Challenge yourself, but be realistic, your body will thank you in the long run. Go too heavy and you’ll fail to get a range of motion, too light and you won’t stimulate the muscle enough force growth.

1. Bicep Curls

The most common mistake: “Leaning back during the curl and bringing your elbows forward (rather than keeping them at your side).”

The damage it might be doing: You can incur bicep tendon injuries (tears, impingements and dislocations etc.) but the main reason you need to get your form right is so that the exercise actually has an effect. “Leaning too far backwards means that you’re not putting enough pressure on the bicep – you’re using your weight as momentum during the curl, rather than lifting only with the bicep muscles. And by lifting your elbows forwards, you’re shifting the focus of the exercise away from the bicep (you’ll be lifting with your shoulders and using the momentum from your body again), thus you won’t get the development you want.

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How to fix it: “Focus on holding your posture more tightly; pull your shoulder blades back and down, and lift your chest up, lean forward slightly and keep your weight in your heels. Contract your abs at all times, too. To keep your elbow position, focus on keeping your elbows in line with your ears, and be forceful with that contraction in your abs when pulling the weight up.”

2. Bench Press

The most common mistake: “Elbow position. Most people have their elbows in line with their shoulders. It’s hampering your progress because it doesn’t target the chest. You’re looking for synergistic movement in the chest, shoulders and triceps.”

The damage it might be doing: The most common injuries are a Glenoid Labrum tear (front of upper arm), rotator cuff tears and shoulder impingement syndrome. Bench pressing is the kind of exercise that you want to keep increasing in weight, because the feeling of nailing that new three-rep max is unbeatable. But it only takes one lift with poor form for something to go wrong, so always think ‘form first, weight second’.

How you should be doing it: “I often ask my clients to lower their arms 20/25 degrees, so they are just above the nipple, and I always find it useful to keep my knuckles pointing to the ceiling, and my wrists straight.”

3. Deadlift

The most common mistake: “Rounding of the back, rather than keeping a natural arch.”

The damage it might be doing: “A slipped disc in the lower back is the main danger here.” You can also incur sprains and strains (different things), but if there’s any sharp pain at any point, you should stop.

How to fix it: “Try locking the upper body posture by keeping the chest high and arms long (aka fully extended, not bent). Keep your weight into your heels (make sure they don’t leave the ground, and you’re not feeling your full weight in your toes) concentrate on pressing through the legs and keep your core area strong by engaging your stomach muscles.”

4. Squat

The most common mistake: “For squats, there are several: bending forward too much, not squatting deep enough and allowing the knees to turn inwards.”

The damage it might be doing: “That mistake is damaging your body/hampering your progress because� Bending forward too much will put too much pressure on your back, and lead to the same kind of damage as an incorrect deadlift. If you’re not going deep enough you won’t be engaging the hamstrings and glutes as much as you could; if you’re aiming to build the muscles and boost metabolism you’ll be missing the mark. If you allow the knees to turn inwards you’re risking damage to the ligaments such as ACL.”

How to fix it: “For bending forward; this is commonly due to a general tightness in the chest and lats (latissimus dorsi muscles) and/or hip flexors, which is very common among office workers who spend a lot of time sitting. Fix it by stretching these muscles more regularly. For those not going deep enough, you need to man-up and understand the principles if fight-or-flight. Most people fear that when they go down deeper they won’t get back up, but you need to attack the movement with confidence and good technique. The worst that can happen is that the safety catches will stop the bar and you crawl out. For the knees, the best thing is to engage your brain. Think about what you are doing and what your knees are doing, you want your them to be in line with your second and third toes at all times.”

5. Single Arm Rows

The most common mistake: Rounding of the back, rotating too much as you pull the weight, and failing to achieve a full range of motion, i.e. not pulling the weight all the way into the body.

The damage it might be doing: “Rounding the back isn’t particularly dangerous, but it’ll prevent the most optimal development of your back. Over rotation when pulling the weight will mean you’re not working the back muscles as well as you could be, hampering your strength development. The same goes for not having a full range of motion; if you’re not pulling the weight all the way into your body, you’re not getting a full contraction of the muscles, which means you won’t be adequately stimulating them.”

How to fix it: “Stick your butt out and check your position in a mirror – your upper back should be flat, with a gentle/natural arch in your lower back. For over rotation, by more rigid in both your thinking and your positioning. When you hold the position more forcefully you will engage your abs and obliques better. This is one of my favourite back exercises – when done properly – it works and engages your core as well as the back.”

Tim Walker is the founder of Evolve Fitness,13-15 Bouverie Street, London, EC4Y 8DP

Traditional Chiropractic Treatment for Scoliosis

Traditional Chiropractic Treatment for Scoliosis

Scoliosis is an intricate illness. Experts nevertheless don’t know what causes 80 percent of scoliosis cases, and there’s no absolute cure. But nevertheless, there’s hope!

You can find proven techniques to handle scoliosis and lessen its symptoms. X-rays allow doctors to measure the unique, three-dimensional curve of each person’s backbone as a way to find out the best method of therapy. Chiropractic treatment for scoliosis involves normal adjustments, using the hands or a gadget. The aim will be to realign joints, bones and the muscles. There are two types to choose from: traditional and scoliosis specific.

Chiropractic Care for Scoliosis

Traditional treatment applies a common method, comparable to what the chiropractor would do for any other patient experiencing back complications. However, not all chiropractic doctors are qualified or experienced to treat scoliosis nor are they familiar with its intricacies, then, traditional chiropractic treatment is unlikely to have much of an influence on the Cobb angle. This approach is only recommended for patients within the age of 13 with very small Cobb angles of 20 degrees or less. Traditional care could be helpful for relieving discomfort but not for bodily straightening the Cobb angle in patients.

Aiming to mobilize the spine and straighten the curve, traditional chiropractors might press down on the spine and ribcage while the patient lies on their abdomen. However, the irregular curve of the spine occasionally develops pressure from the nerves. This stress may not be relieved by pushing down on the spine; instead, the nerves are further aggravated by it. The spine isn’t stuck, as it’s with most other issues, but rather it curves in the incorrect direction. You can’t mobilize a scoliotic backbone without also stabilizing and correcting it.

Chiropractic Methods and Techniques for Scoliosis

Chiropractic treatment for scoliosis goes outside of the traditional guidelines to stabilize the curve. Aiming to gradually correct the spine into a a classic curve, changes are precise and gentle. This technique can aid people who’ve currently had surgery and don’t want to have it again, people attempting to avoid surgery, teenagers who don’t want to wear a brace, and a variety of other situations.

Most people think of scoliosis as a sideways curve of the spine, but it’s a bit more difficult than that. A spine should have the lordosis that points ahead in the neck three curves, the kyphosis that points backward in the middle of the back and the lumbar lordosis that points forward in the low-back. Scoliosis forces the backbone in a different direction for one or more of these three natural curves.

People with scoliosis are, for all intents and purposes, double jointed in the neck. This puts them at a higher risk of dislocation and damage if not treated gently and hypermobility makes the joints unstable. There is absolutely no twisting or turning of the neck in scoliosis-particular adjustments. Specific treatments use a precision mechanical adjusting instrument to adjust the neck as well as joints of the body.

The first step to restore the curves in the spine is to recenter the the pinnacle. While the patient is sitting up, an adjusting instrument is utilized to deliver forces into the bones of the neck. These forces attempt to coax the neck to the best, most correct position. Adjustments may possibly also be done on the hips and the straight back, depending on the three dimensional measurements of the spine established from x-rays.

Many chiropractors claim to specialize in scoliosis, when in reality their information is constrained. It’s important to start a dialogue by means of your physician to ensure you’re receiving treatment from a chiropractor specializing in scoliosis. If your chiropractor is not providing you the results you want or modifying the treatment to yield them, it may be time to find a new doctor.

Outside of the adjustments in the doctor’s off ice, one to two hours of exercise a day is essential to achieve the most useful outcomes. Scoliosis exercises include the scoliosis traction chair, balance training, strength coaching and, for extreme cases of scoliosis to elongate the spine and uncoil the nerves. As your Cobb Angle decreases, the exercises can be changed as well. Make sure to maintain healthy habits to promote overall health and wellness.

Chiropractic Treatment

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss options on the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .�Green-Call-Now-Button-24H-150x150.png

By Dr. Alex Jimenez

Additional Topics: Scoliosis Pain and Chiropractic

According to recent research studies, chiropractic care and exercise can substantially help correct scoliosis. Scoliosis is a well-known type of spinal misalignment, or subluxation, characterized by the abnormal, lateral curvature of the spine. While there are two different types of scoliosis, chiropractic treatment techniques, including spinal adjustments and manual manipulations, are safe and effective alternative treatment measures which have been demonstrated to help correct the curve of the spine, restoring the original function of the spine.

 

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