ClickCease
+1-915-850-0900 spinedoctors@gmail.com
Select Page
Posture Adjustments Affects On The Muscles: El Paso Back Clinic

Posture Adjustments Affects On The Muscles: El Paso Back Clinic

Making healthy posture adjustments is a process, especially for individuals that have been practicing unhealthy postures for years. Not only does the body have to relearn how to position itself correctly, but the muscles, especially those that haven’t been working, also have to adjust. This takes time and is usually at the beginning of postural training that individuals want to give up. This is because of the discomfort and soreness that goes with reactivating the core muscles. This is why it is recommended to go through the process with chiropractic care. A chiropractic therapy team can relieve sore muscles, strengthen the body, and help individuals gradually develop and maintain a healthy posture.

Posture Adjustments Affects On The Muscles: Injury Medical TeamPosture Adjustments

Unhealthy postures shift the body out of balance, straining and stressing the muscles, especially those that have to work overtime every day. This causes the muscles to stiffen and tighten up to the point that they begin to pull the skeletal system in different directions, causing various symptoms that can lead to chronic conditions. Muscles can stay tight for years, with individuals getting used to the feeling. Individuals stretch out, thinking the muscles are loose but don’t realize that they return to their tight position because of the unhealthy muscle memory that developed.

Muscle Imbalance

  • Muscle imbalances usually progress over time and are typically caused by daily habitual physical routines.
  • This causes premature and advanced wear and tear on the body.

Postural Dysfunction

  • Individuals all have positions they spend a lot of time in.
  • Postural dysfunction begins with unhealthy positioning that shifts the spine and other joints out of balance and alignment.
  • The muscles become compromised, which leads to various neuromusculoskeletal symptoms.

Symptoms

  • The head either leans forward or backward.
  • The knees are bent when standing or walking.
  • The shoulders become rounded.
  • A potbelly can begin to present.
  • Back discomfort symptoms.
  • Body aches, soreness, tightness, stiffness.
  • Muscle fatigue and weakness occur from being overworked.
  • Headaches can present throughout the day.

Chiropractic Realignment

The muscles have become like tough meat, and the underlying imbalances are straining the neuromusculoskeletal system. The muscle tissues need to be broken up/tenderized and loosened up. Then they can be thoroughly stretched and strengthened to optimal health. Chiropractic care will identify and correct the underlying imbalance, and massage therapy will break up and release the compacted muscle tissue. A personalized treatment plan will consist of the following:

  • Mobilizing the joints and stretching/releasing shortened tight muscles and soft tissues.
  • Strengthening the elongated, weaker muscles to correct the body’s alignment and movement control.
  • Health coaching to identify and recommend lifestyle and nutritional adjustments.
  • This will restore the bio-mechanical systems, ensuring that equal muscle length and strength on both sides of the system joint or motion segment are maintained.

Posture Adjustments and Foot Orthotics


References

Aino, Masaki, et al. “Comparison of spinal column alignment and autonomic nervous activity using the intersegmental tenderness test in the segment above.” Journal of physical therapy science vol. 33,8 (2021): 570-575. doi:10.1589/jpts.33.570

Creze, Maud, et al. “Posture-related stiffness mapping of paraspinal muscles.” Journal of anatomy vol. 234,6 (2019): 787-799. doi:10.1111/joa.12978

Joshi, Reema, and Nishita Poojary. “The Effect of Muscle Energy Technique and Posture Correction Exercises on Pain and Function in Patients with Non-specific Chronic Neck Pain Having Forward Head Posture-a Randomized Controlled Trail.” International journal of therapeutic massage & bodywork vol. 15,2 14-21. 1 Jun. 2022, doi:10.3822/ijtmb.v15i2.673

Langford, M L. “Poor posture subjects a worker’s body to muscle imbalance, nerve compression.” Occupational health & safety (Waco, Tex.) vol. 63,9 (1994): 38-40, 42.

McLean, Linda. “The effect of postural correction on muscle activation amplitudes recorded from the cervicobrachial region.” Journal of electromyography and kinesiology: official journal of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology vol. 15,6 (2005): 527-35. doi:10.1016/j.jelekin.2005.06.003

Szczygieł, Elżbieta et al. “The Impact of Deep Muscle Training on the Quality of Posture and Breathing.” Journal of motor behavior vol. 50,2 (2018): 219-227. doi:10.1080/00222895.2017.1327413

Function Restoration Chiropractor To The Sciatic Nerve

Function Restoration Chiropractor To The Sciatic Nerve

The sciatic nerve is the longest in the body and is the central nerve in the leg. A critical nerve that comes off the spine runs through the pelvis, into the buttocks, down the back of each thigh, and finally into the feet. It is a mixed nerve meaning it is made up of both motor/movement) and sensory/sensation fibers. The nerves merge with the spinal nerve roots before they enter the spinal cord, where the sensory information travels to and from the brain. If the nerve is inflamed, compressed, twisted, damaged, or injured, this can negatively affect the muscles’ function, leading to chronic pain conditions. Injury Medical  Function Restoration Chiropractors will do precisely that for the sciatic nerve and the rest of the body. 

Function Restoration Chiropractor: Sciatic Nerve

Nerve Roots and Branches

Different nerve roots make up the sciatic nerve, with two starting in the lower back and three at the bottom of the spine or sacrum. At the  knees, the nerve splits into two branches:

  • The peroneal nerve runs from the knee’s outer part to the foot’s outer part and splits into two main branches below the knee.
  • The tibial nerve goes down the back of the calf, extending to the heel and sole.

There are smaller branches at the:

  • Hips
  • Inner thighs
  • Calves
  • Feet

Sciatic Nerve Function

The sciatic nerve’s purpose serves motor functions by assisting the muscles in the legs and feet to move, walk, run, and stand. And for the sensory function of feeling sensations in the legs and feet includes pain, numbness, burning, and electrical sensations.

Motor Functions

The nerve provides motor functions that power movement to the muscles that move the thighs, legs, and feet. Essential motor functions:

Hip adduction

  • Bringing the thighs together inward toward the body

Knee flexion

  • Bending the knee.

Inversion of the foot

  • Movement of the foot inward to the body.

Eversion of the foot

  • Movement of the foot away/outward from the body

Dorsiflexion of the foot

  • Pointing the foot up.

Plantarflexion

  • Pointing the foot down.

Flexion of toes

  • Pointing the toes down.

Extension of toes

  • Pointing the toes up.

Motor function signs of sciatic nerve problems include difficulty or inability to walk, bend the leg, and/or stand on tiptoe or the heel.

Sensory Functions

The nerve provides sensation to the different areas; when the nerve is injured, the corresponding area may feel unique/abnormal sensations with differing degrees of numbness, pins-and-needles, and pain. Commonly affected areas include:

  • Front, back, and outside the thigh.
  • Front, back, and outside the lower leg.
  • The top and outer side of the foot.
  • Bottom of the foot.
  • Between the toes.

Like motor function disruption, sensory impairment is determined by where the problems are occurring.

Function Restoration Chiropractor

Affected, reduced, and inhibited motor and sensory functions can lead to muscle weakness, chronic pain, and permanent nerve damage. Function restoration chiropractor and physical therapeutic massage can help manage nerve compression and irritation. Spinal manipulations restore misaligned vertebral discs taking the pressure off the nerve relieving the pain, and regaining nerve signal flow and mobility. Chiropractic will induce deep muscle relaxation to stop muscle spasms, release tension, soothe the nerve, release endorphins, and restore sciatic nerve function.


Spinal Decompression


References

Bouche, P. “Compression and entrapment neuropathies.” Handbook of clinical neurology vol. 115 (2013): 311-66. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-52902-2.00019-9

Cook, Chad E et al. “Risk factors for first-time incidence sciatica: a systematic review.” Physiotherapy research international: the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapy vol. 19,2 (2014): 65-78. doi:10.1002/pri.1572

Giuffre BA, Jeanmonod R. Anatomy, Sciatic Nerve. [Updated 2021 Jul 29]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482431/

Ear Problems: Back Connection Chiropractor

Ear Problems: Back Connection Chiropractor

Ear problems like blockages or congestion can cause irritation and pain, as well as symptoms such as dizziness, ear discomfort, headaches, and sinus pain that can lead to infection. This condition can happen to anyone but is prevalent in children, individuals that live in high altitudes, and individuals who suffer from allergies. Spinal misalignments can cause interference to the nervous system that can create problems elsewhere in the body, like the ears.

Ear Problems: Spine Connection Chiropractor

If there is neck misalignment along with pinched, tangled nerve/s signal transmissions can misfire or cut off messages disrupting the process of draining the Eustachian tube. This creates a buildup of bacteria and fluid, which can cause pain and pressure. Chiropractic decompression treatment uses gentle manipulation of the cervical spine to release the pressure affecting the ear.

Ear Problems

Bacteria or viruses cause ear infections in the middle ear. Infection often results from another illness like cold, sore throat, flu, respiratory disease, or allergies that causes congestion and swelling of the nasal passages, throat, and eustachian tubes.

Eustachian Tubes

The tubes functions include:

  • Regulating air pressure in the middle ear
  • Resupply fresh air in the ear
  • Drain the middle ear

The eustachian tubes are two canals that connect the middle ear to the throat and nasal cavity, known as the nasopharynx. (The eustachian tubes are more narrow in children, which makes them difficult to drain and more likely to get clogged.)When the lining of these canals comes under stress, they can become inflamed/swollen, blocking or filling with fluid causing excessive pressure and pain. This fluid can become infected and cause ear infection symptoms.

If the ear problem is connected to a misalignment of the cervical spine, the following symptoms may be experienced:

  • Loss of hearing
  • Tinnitus
  • Vertigo
  • Aural fullness is the feeling of a plugged or full ear
  • Balance issues
  • Coordination issues
  • Frequent headaches
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Frequent episodes that result in vertigo and ringing in the ears could indicate Meniere’s disease, which affects balance and inner ear function.

Middle Ear Infections

Middle ear infection types include:

Acute otitis media

  • This type of infection happens suddenly.
  • It causes swelling and redness.
  • Fluid and pus become trapped under the eardrum/tympanic membrane.
  • Fever and ear pain can manifest.

Chronic otitis media

  • This type happens frequently or does not go away and can take months to years.
  • This type is usually not painful.
  • The ear canal may have liquid coming out.
  • It can be accompanied by a hole that forms in the eardrum and hearing loss.

Otitis media with effusion

  • Also called serous otitis media.
  • Fluid or effusion and mucus build up in the middle ear after an infection passes.
  • It can feel like the ear is full.
  • This can go on for months.
  • It can affect hearing.

Chronic otitis media with effusion

  • Fluid/effusion stays in the middle ear for an extended time.
  • It can build up over and over, despite no infection.
  • It can also affect hearing.

Misalignment in the upper cervical spine can cause muscles to flex awkwardly/irregularly, disrupting the opening and closing of the eustachian tubes and their positioning. This often causes inflammation along the eustachian canal, upper throat, and nasal cavity. If left untreated, the inflammation can develop into an infection, causing swelling and/or fluid buildup in the inner and middle ear. Common symptoms of middle ear infections in adults include:

  • Pain in one or both ears
  • Hearing is muffled
  • Sore throat
  • Fluid drainage from the ear

Chiropractic Realignment

Treatments are helpful for individuals who want to reduce taking antibiotics, which can minimize immunity by destroying the healthy bacteria in the gut. Chiropractic is a simple and effective way to treat ear problems. Realigning the vertebrae relieves tissue inflammation/swelling around the Eustachian tube to allow drainage, relieve pressure, and restore health.


Spinal Decompression Chiropractor


References

Collins, Rachael, et al. “Paralysis from an ear infection: a severe case of otitis externa leading to acute complete cervical cord syndrome.” BMJ case reports vol. 14,12 e245594. 1 Dec. 2021, doi:10.1136/bcr-2021-245594

Harmes, Kathryn M et al. “Otitis media: diagnosis and treatment.” American family physician vol. 88,7 (2013): 435-40.

Laulajainen Hongisto, Anu et al. “Severe Acute Otitis Media and Acute Mastoiditis in Adults.” The journal of international advanced otology vol. 12,3 (2016): 224-230. doi:10.5152/iao.2016.2620

Murphy, D R. “Chiropractic rehabilitation of the cervical spine.” Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics vol. 23,6 (2000): 404-8. doi:10.1067/mmt.2000.108143

Polkinghorn, B S. “Treatment of cervical disc protrusions via instrumental chiropractic adjustment.” Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics vol. 21,2 (1998): 114-21.

Poor Breathing Quality Chiropractic Care

Poor Breathing Quality Chiropractic Care

The body is a set of complex systems, including bones, organs, nerves, muscles, and tissue. Breathing disorders are increasing, including chronic bronchitis, asthma, emphysema, and other conditions. Viscerosomatic reflexes include poor breathing quality brought on by allergies, breathing disorders like COPD that can cause intense coughing, sneezing, hunching, arching of the back, and heaving that causes back pain and referred pain.

The brain sends electronic impulses to the different areas of the body through the spine/nervous system. If the nerves get shifted, stretched, compressed, or knocked out of position, the brain could start sending messages of pain and discomfort, which can also cause other body systems to malfunction. If the body is constantly transmitting pain signals, it can disrupt sleep, dietary habits, and overall well-being. Misalignment can disrupt the information delivered by the nervous system, leading to inflammation, irritation, and imbalances in the body.

Regular chiropractic maintains the nervous system to operate the way it was designed. Proper alignment of the spine and body will improve the nervous system’s health and function, encouraging the brain to release endorphins achieving pain relief, and leading to optimal health. When the nervous system performs optimally, the other systems will follow, including better breathing quality.

Poor Breathing Quality and Chiropractic Improvement

Poor Breathing

Breathing difficulties are widespread with various causes that include:

  • Allergies
  • Environmental pollutants
  • Viral and bacterial infections that cause inflammation
  • Physical health
  • Anxiety
  • Digestive problems
  • Untreated illness or condition
  • An overactive immune response can all contribute to poor breathing quality.

Individuals might not notice that their breathing quality is poor but instead notice they are:

  • Frequent exhaustion
  • Having to stop constantly in the middle of activities.
  • Experience brain fog.
  • Memory issues/forgetfulness.
  • Physical performance – endurance, flexibility, and muscle is deteriorating.

The breathing quality impacts how well the body’s systems can carry out their essential functions and be prepared for unexpected events. The body adjusts oxygen intake capacity in line with the energy required to perform physical activity. All bodily systems, including the cardiovascular, immune, and muscular systems, depend on the respiratory system to generate energy.

Better Breathing Benefits

Achieving improved lung function can help with:

  • Digestion
  • Sleep
  • Cognitive activities
  • Heart health
  • Waste elimination
  • Immune protection against viruses, bacteria, fungi, and other diseases.

Chiropractic

A crucial part of the respiratory system’s function is transporting nutrients and oxygen throughout the body. Chiropractic treatment releases tension by moving muscle fascia and the spine that may have become stuck, compressed, or shifted out of position, causing poor posture and injury. Chiropractic eliminates toxins and cellular waste from tight, knotted areas by breaking up stagnant tissues.

Circulation Improvement

Chiropractic increases circulation, allowing fresh blood, lymphatic fluid, nutrients, and oxygen to enter the deprived tissues. These regions include:

  • Muscles in the shoulder, neck, back
  • Bones and joints across the spine
  • Body tissues
  • Ligaments
  • Tendons

Chiropractic treatment can be manual/mechanical traction/decompression, combined with therapeutic tissue massage, exercise, and diet recommendations.


Decompression De La Espalda


References

McCarty, Justin C, and Berrylin J Ferguson. “Identifying asthma triggers.” Otolaryngologic clinics of North America vol. 47,1 (2014): 109-18. doi:10.1016/j.otc.2013.08.012

Purnomo, Ariana Tulus, et al. “Non-Contact Monitoring and Classification of Breathing Pattern for the Supervision of People Infected by COVID-19.” Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 21,9 3172. 3 May. 2021, doi:10.3390/s21093172

Schend, Jason, et al. “An Osteopathic Modular Approach to Asthma: A Narrative Review.” The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association vol. 120,11 (2020): 774-782. doi:10.7556/jaoa.2020.121

Hip Sprain

Hip Sprain

The hips are highly active joints. Hip sprains are rare but do occur. A hip sprain is caused by tearing or stretching the ligaments that surround the hip and join the bones to each other. This is different from a hip strain, which is an injury to the muscles and is generally caused by over-use of the hip flexor muscles and tendons, causing them to tear. Hip sprains usually happen after a fall or a sudden twisting motion, which can occur during sports or an accident.

Individuals involved in sports that require quick stops, body shifting, and sudden direction changes, like soccer, football, basketball, tennis, volleyball, etc., have an increased risk. Most hip sprains can be effectively treated with conservative treatments like self-massage, rest, ice, and nonsteroid anti-inflammatory medications. For more severe cases, physical therapy and chiropractic can treat the condition.

Hip Sprain

Hip Sprain Symptoms

  • Tenderness in the hip increases when lifting the thigh.
  • Cramping sensation/s in the muscles of the upper leg.
  • Swelling in the hip or thigh
  • Bruising in the hip or thigh.
  • Sudden pain in the hip or pelvis.
  • Sharp pain in the hip or pelvis.
  • Pain that worsens when walking, running, or stretching the hip muscles.
  • Loss of strength in the front of the groin.
  • Tugging or pulling sensation.
  • Limping.

Diagnosis

The doctor or chiropractor will:

  • Look into medical history.
  • Inquire about symptoms.
  • Inquire about activities that could cause symptoms.
  • Perform a physical examination.
  • Ask the individual to perform a variety of movements to determine what type of injury has been sustained.
  • Other conditions could cause radiating pain.
  • Pain in one or both hips might not have anything to do with the hips but a pinched nerve root in the lower back.
  • Sciatica can develop when certain nerve roots in the lower back are irritated or compressed, causing symptoms to travel down the sciatic nerve and radiate around the pelvis and leg.
  • X-rays can help rule out hip stress fractures, which can have similar symptoms.
  • MRI or CT scans are used to see if any soft tissue damage has occurred.

Hip Sprain Treatment

  • Treatment usually begins with over-the-counter pain medications and anti-inflammatories to reduce swelling and relieve pain.
  • Resting the hip will help prevent further damage.
  • Applying ice will help prevent tissue damage and reduce swelling.
  • It is recommended to use an ice pack several times a day for the first 48 hours after an injury.
  • Once the swelling goes down, a chiropractor and physical therapy team will create a personalized treatment plan that includes:
  • Adjustments.
  • Exercise therapy.
  • Posture training.
  • Stretching.
  • Massage.

Treatment/Rehabilitation Objectives

  • Reduce inflammation.
  • Relax muscle spasms.
  • Strengthen weakened muscles.
  • Improve joint mobility.

Individuals will be shown how to prevent the risk of sprains in the future. This includes:

  • Avoiding exercising when the body is tired
  • Wearing proper footwear and protective equipment
  • Warming up properly before exercise/physical activities.

Depending on the severity of the sprain, surgery could be the last resort to repair the ruptured or torn ligaments.


Body Composition


Realistic Goals

Not seeing results after putting in the work through exercise and diet can be frustrating. Setting realistic goals can help when results are not showing.

Realistic Fat Loss

  • Do not expect actual fat loss without being in a caloric deficit.
  • The body needs to use more energy than the amount of food/energy taken in; otherwise, excess energy/food gets stored, primarily as adipose tissue.
  • Total Daily Energy Expenditure or TDEE is necessary to set a realistic caloric deficit to achieve measurable fat loss.
  • There are caloric deficit variations, but most doctors, dieticians, trainers, and fitness experts agree that a caloric deficit of around 500 calories a day that equals to about 3,500 calories a week will result in a pound of fat loss per week.
  • One pound of fat a week lost might seem slow, but the one pound of fat is a real pound removed.
  • The long-term goal is not to fall back into unhealthy habits and develop and maintain new healthy ones.
References

Brantingham JW, Globe GA, Cassa TK, et al. A single-group pretest posttest design using full kinetic chain manipulative therapy with rehabilitation in the treatment of 18 patients with hip osteoarthritis. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapy 2012; 33(6): 445-57.

Kamali, Fahimeh and Esmaeil Shokri. The effect of two manipulative therapy techniques and their outcome in patients with the sacroiliac joint syndrome. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. 2012; 16: 29-35.

McMorland G, Suter E, Casha S, du Plessis SJ, Hurlbert RJ. Manipulation or microdiscectomy for sciatica? A prospective randomized clinical study. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 2010; 33(8): 576-584.

Tibor, Lisa M, and Jon K Sekiya. “Differential diagnosis of pain around the hip joint.” Arthroscopy: the journal of arthroscopic & related surgery: official publication of the Arthroscopy Association of North America and the International Arthroscopy Association vol. 24,12 (2008): 1407-21. doi:10.1016/j.arthro.2008.06.019

Wedro, Benjamin. “Hip Pain: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment Information and Diagnosis-eMedicineHealth.” www.emedicinehealth.com/hip_pain/article_em.htm.

Headaches and Treatment

Headaches and Treatment

Headaches and Treatment: Headaches can range from mild, dull aches to severe throbbing pain. They can be episodic and chronic. Tension headaches are the most common that present with pain around the head, scalp, or neck. Migraines are often chronic, with the pain lasting for a few hours to a few days. The location of the headache and the type of pain being experienced can indicate the type of headache. Sources of headaches include, but are not limited to:

  • Certain kinds of foods
  • Sounds
  • Excessive noise
  • Bright lights
  • Changes in blood sugar
  • Too much exercise

Headaches and Treatment

Headache relief can come from over-the-counter medications, prescription medications, rest, and ice/heat packs on the forehead or neck. Research shows that individuals suffering from chronic headaches and migraines benefit more from long-term chiropractic than drug therapy alone. Doctors of chiropractic offer safe, effective, long-term relief. This is because most headaches have a spinal, muscular, or repeated pattern/s, which chiropractors have been trained to identify and treat.

Tension Headaches and Treatment

Tension Headaches are usually worse in the afternoon and evening and are often work, school, and stress-related. The pain is usually felt on both sides of the forehead and/or the top of the neck. These headaches can last for long periods and can be triggered by something as simple as an airplane trip. Tension headaches are caused by tension and trigger points within the muscles that constantly contract and don’t relax. Chiropractic adjustments and muscle release techniques have proven to be highly effective.

Migraine Headaches and Treatment

Migraines are broken down into two categories:

A migraine aura usually comes before the onset of a Migraine and consists of:

  • Visualizing a strange light
  • Strange smells
  • Confusing thoughts or experiences

Migraines are more common in women, but they do occur in men. Things that can trigger migraines include but are not limited to:

  • Medications
  • Certain foods
  • Environmental exposure
  • Sleeping habits

It is recommended to keep a headache journal to:

  • Account all foods eaten
  • Sleep patterns
  • Drinking patterns
  • Medications
  • Exercise habits
  • Stress scenarios
  • Headache frequency, duration, areas of pain, and discomfort.

Research has shown successful results from chiropractic manipulation applied to individuals suffering from migraine headaches. In addition to chiropractic adjustments, nutrition and supplementation have also shown positive and long-term effects.

Headaches and Treatment Chiropractic

Stress can manifest in many ways that lead to headaches. Chiropractic adjustments can improve acute and chronic neck pain, reducing the number of headaches, whether migraines, tension headaches, or some other kind. Chiropractors adjust the spine’s alignment to improve function and alleviate stress on the nervous system using a targeted methodology. This allows the body to function correctly and reduces stress and tension. A chiropractor will also recommend posture, stretches, exercises, and relaxation techniques.

Lifestyle Adjustments

Understanding how lifestyle affects the severity and frequency can be a large part of successful headache prevention. Specific adjustments can include:

  • Maintain regular sleep patterns.
  • Go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day.
  • Exercise regularly.
  • Aerobic exercise for at least 30 minutes three times a week.
  • Eat regular healthy meals.
  • Do not skip meals.
  • Limit stress by avoiding conflicts and resolving disputes calmly.
  • Take daily stress breaks.
  • Do not overuse pain medications, as overuse can make headaches worse.

Body Composition


Respiratory System

The respiratory system refers to the organs in the body involved in breathing, inhaling oxygen, and exhaling carbon dioxide. These include:

  • Nose nasal cavity
  • Throat – pharynx
  • Voicebox – larynx
  • Windpipe – trachea
  • Lungs

The respiratory system is critical because it delivers oxygen to all the body’s organs, supporting life-sustaining functions. If oxygen supply is insufficient, the energy production necessary for organ function becomes compromised, leading to poor overall health. The respiratory system is divided into the upper and lower respiratory tracts:

  • The upper respiratory tract includes the nose, nasal cavity, mouth, throat, and voice box.
  • The lower respiratory tract consists of the windpipe, lungs, and all sections of the bronchial tree.
  • When breathing, the hairs/cilia in the nose and trachea prevent bacteria and foreign substances from entering the body.
  • Occasionally, pathogens will make it past the cilia and enter the body, causing illness.
  • This is when the immune system goes to work neutralizing any invading pathogens.
References

Bryans, Roland et al. “Evidence-based guidelines for the chiropractic treatment of adults with headache.” Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics vol. 34,5 (2011): 274-89. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2011.04.008

Chaibi, A et al. “Chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy for migraine: a three-armed, single-blinded, placebo, randomized controlled trial.” European journal of neurology vol. 24,1 (2017): 143-153. doi:10.1111/ene.13166

Côté, Pierre et al. “Non-pharmacological management of persistent headaches associated with neck pain: A clinical practice guideline from the Ontario Protocol for traffic injury management (OPTIMa) collaboration.” European journal of pain (London, England) vol. 23,6 (2019): 1051-1070. doi:10.1002/ejp.1374

Daghlas, Iyas et al. “Habitual sleep disturbances and migraine: a Mendelian randomization study.” Annals of clinical and translational neurology vol. 7,12 (2020): 2370-2380. doi:10.1002/acn3.51228

Iwasaki, Akiko et al. “Early local immune defenses in the respiratory tract.” Nature reviews. Immunology vol. 17,1 (2017): 7-20. doi:10.1038/nri.2016.117

How Chiropractic Affects Inflammation

How Chiropractic Affects Inflammation

Inflammation is the body’s response to infection, injury, or irritation. It causes swelling, redness, pain and sometimes causes the affected area to be unable to function. Acute inflammation happens after spraining the ankle or getting a mosquito bite and is the body’s method of preserving itself. This type of inflammation helps remove harmful irritants and pathogens, so healing ensues, along with healthy beneficial swelling that disappears with time. Chronic inflammation is when the body generates a stronger-than-necessary inflammatory response from an imbalanced immune system or a condition that causes the immune system to attack healthy tissue. Certain foods, lack of sleep, and constant stress increase the risk of developing chronic inflammation. Chiropractors are known for their expertise in stretching the muscles, ligaments, tendons, and adjusting/realigning joints and bones. Chiropractic treatment can also affect inflammation positively.

How Chiropractic Affects Inflammation

Inflammation Affects Health

When inflammation presents, there is significant potential that disease is also present in the body. Inflammation is a natural response to restore the body to homeostasis or balance. White blood cells and other immune cells are sent to the area to ward off invading bacteria, viruses, debris, etc., and reduce or defeat the infection. For some individuals, inflammation occurs within their body regularly and reappears repeatedly. This can be caused by injuries that never completely healed, frequent strains, and injuries from a weakened musculoskeletal system. Inflammation can also come from infection, irritation, the production of diseased cells, or allergies. Organs and tissues can be inflamed for a long time and can cause damage to the cells that comprise those regions of the body. This can lead to:

  • Thinning and weakening of organ walls and tissues.
  • Decreased organ function.
  • The overall deterioration of the body’s systems and wellness.

Causes

Some common diseases and conditions that create chronic inflammation are:

  • Asthma
  • Chronic peptic ulcers
  • Tuberculosis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Periodontitis
  • Ulcerative colitis
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Sinusitis
  • Active hepatitis

Risk Factors

Certain risk factors that can increase the likelihood of inflammation are:

  • Advanced age
  • Obesity
  • Regular consumption of processed fats and sugar
  • Smoking
  • Stress
  • Poor sleep
  • Chronic inflammation can increase the risk of:
  • Various diseases and cancer
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Periodontitis
  • Hay fever

Stress

Stress is one of the leading causes of illness and disease in the body and contributes significantly to inflammation. Organs and tissues can also become inflamed under pressure. When stress kicks in, chemical reactions occur, causing the release of the hormone cortisol. Cortisol is initially an anti-inflammatory hormone, but a prolonged release can eventually create a dysfunctional cycle of widespread inflammation. Chronic stress can cause inflammation throughout the body. Usually, the body’s weakest or most strained region will suffer the most effects of overall inflammation. Even after the stress reduces or is resolved, the inflammation effects can continue to linger. Inflammation can:

  • Decrease organ function
  • Strain tissues
  • Strain ligaments
  • Force bones and joints out of alignment and subluxation.
  • Cause decreased efficiency and performance of the body’s systems and organs.

Chiropractic Affects On Inflammation

When the body is out of alignment, it can compress tissues, muscles, and ligaments. Chiropractic works primarily on the skeletal structure and the nervous system. The nervous system plays an essential role in regulating immune response, which creates or decreases inflammation in the body. When the bones and joints are out of alignment, they cause strain on the nervous system and the immune system, often triggering an immune response. Chiropractic adjustments of the bones and joints reset and rejuvenate nervous system function. Realignment of the spine, including neck, shoulders, arms, pelvis, hips, knees, and feet, enhances nerve circulation and alleviates abnormal immune system function. To begin relieving inflammation from injury, misalignment, stress, and strain on the body, consult and see how chiropractic affects inflammation.


Body Composition


Dietary Fats

There are four main types of dietary fats listed on food labels:

These are not to be confused with adipose tissue/stored fat in the body. These four fats have different physiological effects once they are digested. Some are beneficial, and some can negatively impact health and are recommended to be taken in moderation.

Saturated vs. Unsaturated fats

Fats are made up of chains of carbon atoms with a carboxyl group COOH at one end and methyl groups CH3 at the other end. Carbons are attached to each other and to hydrogen atoms. The way the carbons are chained differentiates saturated and unsaturated fats and impacts how the body processes them. Unsaturated fats have one or more double bonds between the carbon atoms, and foods rich in unsaturated fats are usually liquid at room temperature, like olive oil. Saturated fats contain no double bonds and are generally solid at room temperatures, like butter and cheese.

References

Arulselvan, Palanisamy et al. “Role of Antioxidants and Natural Products in Inflammation.” Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity vol. 2016 (2016): 5276130. doi:10.1155/2016/5276130

Hannibal, Kara E, and Mark D Bishop. “Chronic stress, cortisol dysfunction, and pain: a psychoneuroendocrine rationale for stress management in pain rehabilitation.” Physical therapy vol. 94,12 (2014): 1816-25. doi:10.2522/ptj.20130597

Pahwa R, Goyal A, Bansal P, et al. Chronic Inflammation. [Updated 2021 Sep 28]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan-. Available from: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493173/