Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF)�is a procedure that treats chronic neck conditions and is the most common spinal surgery performed in the U.S.�30 percent of Americans a year experience neck pain, chronic neck pain and radiculopathy or pain that spreads out and radiates to other parts of the body, in this case down the arms.
It�s a procedure that can work wonders, but as many as two-thirds of patients continue to manage neck pain and dysfunction after ACDF. One of the best ways of managing neck pain and dysfunction is to exercise. Research shows that a prescribed exercise program right after surgery can help lessen the pain and create less dependence on medications. A 2020 study published in SPINE suggests that patients that began therapeutic exercises right away had better results than individuals that started an exercise program after the six-week checkup/examination.
What Anterior Cervical Discectomy Fusion Treats
The procedure is performed on individuals with degenerative disc disease or a bulging or herniated disc. These conditions can cause the spinal disc to place pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots that branch out, creating:
Numbness
Tingling
Pain
Weakness in one or both arms
Most individuals that are recommended to undergo the surgery experience symptoms that don�t respond to non-surgical therapies or medication/s. A significant symptom is hand/arm weakness and arm pain that�s worse than the neck pain.
ACDF Surgery
The ACDF procedure is broken into two parts: a discectomyand a fusion. Anterior means in front and in this case it’s the front of the neck that the surgeon accesses the damaged discs.�In a discectomy, the surgeon removes a portion/s or all of an intervertebral disc/s to release the pressure on the nerves. The fusion part fuses the two vertebrae together. This eliminates the painful movements. A bone graft is inserted between the vertebrae at the spot where the disc was removed. The bone graft serves as a structural scaffold that the body uses to build new tissue and cause the vertebrae to grow together.
The graft can come from three sources:
Your own bone called an autograft, this is usually a piece of bone from the pelvis just above where the front jean pocket would be.
Bone donation called an allograft that comes from a cadaver from a bone donor bank.
Substitute material/s like man-made plastic, ceramic, or bioresorbable compounds.
Home Exercise Program
There are those that are of the opinion to hold off on physical therapy or exercise until about six weeks post-ACDF when recovery is established. However, the study suggests it is more effective to begin a home exercise program (HEP) as soon as possible. At this time telemedicine is the replacement for in-person physical therapy sessions but works just as well. The study examined 28 individuals’ outcomes over 12-months post-operation.
The participants were divided into two groups:� Standard care and Early HEP. Both groups went through the standard postoperative care, along with medication, a cervical collar or neck brace, and restrictions of certain activities. The standard care group received physical therapy referral six weeks after surgery while the early HEP group was given a home exercise program to perform during the postoperative six-weeks.
This included walking and sleeping instructions and a range of motion/strengthening exercises. A cognitive-behavioral strategy was also given to help relax. The participants would phone-conference with a physical therapist on a weekly basis. Exercises increased in difficulty every two weeks, based on the therapists’ judgment. When compared to the standard care group, the early HEP group reported a reduction in short-term neck pain and were less likely to be using pain meds/opioids twelve months after their surgery.
Recovery Tips
Recovery time after ACDF surgery typically lasts about four to six weeks. If the bone graft was from the pelvis, there could be pain, soreness, and stiffness. To minimize discomfort, try not to sit or lie down for long periods. And remember to change position or take a quick short walk down the hall, to the kitchen, etc. every 20-30 minutes. If you are referred to physical therapy combine it with the home exercise program. The therapist will teach you exercises and proper form. Exercising ten minutes every day is far more effective than doing 45 minutes once a week.
Resuming normal activities gradually is crucial. No pain, no gain does not apply when recovering from ACDF surgery. Recovery exercises can feel great. However, pain and fatigue can sneak up the next day or the following week. Gradually easing back into daily activities can help avoid major setbacks. Work, shopping, house chores, childcare, and lawn care all fall into the activity category.
A recurrence of neck pain after recovery is normal. However,�discomfort can be minimized by taking a few precautions.
Use proper form when lifting
Keep objects close to the body
Keep the back flat as you lift
Maintain neutral neck position
Be aware of your posture when sitting, standing, walking, and sleeping
Gradually increase the exercise program
Don’t overdo it
Address underlying fear/anxiety
Fear of generating pain can cause tension and exacerbate or even create new pain symptoms
Stop smoking, as it has shown to impede the fusion and heighten the risk for complications
ACDF surgery can improve quality of life. Your surgeon is responsible for performing the procedure, it�s up to the individual to follow through with an exercise program and proper ergonomics for optimal results.
A doctor could recommend alternative treatments, as part of aplan for neck pain like acupuncture, herbal compounds, and yoga. You may want to try them out yourself. Many have reported that these have really helped. Please consult a doctor before trying any alternative therapies. These are safe but should be set-up by a professional to make sure they are done safely. For example, there could be negative interactions between herbs, supplements, and other medications being used.
Acupuncture
This is an eastern approach to healing. Acupuncture focuses on the body’s energy force known as Qi or Chi. When the energy is blocked from flowing this is when physical illnesses develop. Acupuncture restores the healthy energy flow. It isn’t better or worse it is just different.
Herbal Medicine
There are herbal compounds that have proven to be useful for neck pain.
Capsaicin Cream
Capsaicin is a chili pepper extract and can help relieve neck pain. It temporarily reduces pain. Capsaicin cream can help with osteoarthritis and muscle pain, which both cause neck pain.
Devil’s Claw
Devil’s claw comes from southern Africa, where it has been used for centuries to treat fever, arthritis, and gastrointestinal problems. It is used for conditions that cause inflammation and pain, like cervical osteoarthritis.
White Willow Bark
White willow bark is how aspirin in Europe was developed. Synthetic versions like aspirin can irritate the stomach, which is why the natural white willow bark is used instead. It helps with conditions that cause pain and inflammation like osteoarthritis.
Massage
Neck pain can be caused by stress, overuse, and misuse. Misuse means like sitting hunched over a computer for too long every day will take its toll. Massage helps to release tension, relieve muscle inflammation, and pain. Regular massages could help as a preventative measure.
Yoga/Pilates
Yoga and Pilates can increase core strength, improve balance, posture, and reduce stress. These can all help deal with neck pain/ prevent neck pain when done correctly and safely. Neck pain relief can be found with these treatments. Treatments that focus on relieving tension or stress can prove especially helpful if the pain is related to tight muscles and the physical effects of stress.
These alternative treatments could work at their optimal in combination with other therapies. This is to fully address the underlying spinal condition/root cause, along with any other neck-related symptoms.
Exercise is defined as a physical activity that is structured, planned and done at a�certain intensity level, frequency, and duration�carried out to�maintain or improve health and fitness. Physical activity is defined as any movement of the body produced by skeletal muscles and resulting in the�expenditure of energy. �Physical activity can be doing something fun that involves moving. Exercise is thought of as something people don’t like because it’s good for you. Therefore if you hate exercise, think of physical activity instead.
Exercise, Health, and Fitness
Question: Dr. Jimenez, I’ve heard that we should get 30 minutes of exercise a day, but can it be broken up, and does this have the same effect?
Answer: Absolutely. A recent study found that nine weekly 10-minute exercise sessions offer the same health benefits as three weekly 30-minute sessions. This is great for beginners, who may find it easier to stick to short workouts.
Q: What about for burning fat? 30 minutes of exercise at a quick pace or longer sessions at a slower pace?
A: The higher the intensity the individual can sustain without exhausting themselves burns more fat. The faster you walk, swim, cycle, etc., the more calories you burn per minute.
However, with a sedentary lifestyle, you won’t last long at a higher intensity and might hurt yourself, so you need to start slow and gradually work up to a higher pace.
Q: What about doing only one set of a certain exercise, is it as good as doing two or three?
A: Several studies have shown improvements in strength and muscle size for groups of untrained people performing one set per exercise as compared to doing three sets. For people just starting out, or who want to maintain the strength they’ve achieved, one set of each exercise is enough. For athletes and anyone trying to achieve greater strength, 2-3 sets are better.
Q: Do crunches help lose the fat around the stomach?
A: You can’t reduce fat just in certain spots, except through liposuction. Crunches tone the abdominal muscles, but the same layer of fat on top of these muscles will remain unless a healthy diet reducing calories is incorporated and by burning more calories than are consumed. Don’t look for quick fixes. If it sounds too good to be true, it is.
Weight Gain
Q: I started exercising like walking, stationary bike, etc., to improve my health and lose weight, but I have gained weight instead. What’s going on?
A: It depends on the weight we are talking about. Scales are poor indicators of changes in body composition because muscle is more dense than fat. This means that a pound of muscle takes up less space than a pound of fat. Instead of the changes on the scale, look for changes in how clothing fits. Gaining weight is not bad as long as it’s muscle/s that are being built up. Plus it gets the metabolism going. For every pound of muscle added to the body, at least 35 more calories get burned up per day. Three pounds of muscle will burn plenty of calories in a month to lose a pound a fat.
If there was some weight gain, look for anything that changed that could contribute to the extra pounds like quitting smoking, going on hormone replacement therapy, or stress. Remember aerobic exercise is only one of several factors in weight management. Strength training, a healthy diet along with healthy lifestyle habits also contribute to a healthy weight.
I would suggest investing in a few sessions with a health coach and fitness coach who are knowledgeable in diet and exercise.
Industrialization/modernization has impacted our food, the way we eat and our weight. Processed fast food can be purchased pretty much anywhere. We no longer expend physical energy to hunt and forage for food. Because of this back pain is probably the most common and most troublesome condition that individuals experience. Eight out of 10 will struggle with back pain at some point in their life. Low chronic back pain can become aggravated by a variety of triggers.
Mechanical stress
Excessive strain
Muscle weakness
Poor sleep position
No exercise
Excessive weight
These can all contribute to making back pain even worse. Obesity is defined as a disease. It is a serious disorder that affects adults and children. Being overweight can contribute to the development of coronary heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and colon cancer. And it can also contribute to symptoms associated with:
Osteoporosis
Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Degenerative disc disease
Spinal stenosis
Spondylolisthesis
Osteoporosis coupled with a sedentary lifestyle and an unhealthy diet can affect the density and the strength of the bones. When the structural integrity of the spine is compromised there is a higher risk for fracture. Vertebral fractures can be painful and disabling. Those diagnosed with osteoporosis probably have lost between 25% to 30% of bone density.
Being Overweight Affects the Spine
The spine carries the body’s weight and distributes the weight in an equal manner when resting and during activity. When there is excess weight the spine is forced to compromise which can lead to injuries and structural damage. The area of the spine that is the most vulnerable is the low back or lumbar spine.
Exercise is Important
When we don’t exercise it leads to:
Poor flexibility
Weak back muscles
Weak pelvis
Weak thighs
This can increase the lower back’s curve, which causes the pelvis to tilt forward in an unhealthy manner. This is detrimental to proper posture and when our posture weakens, the rest of the body follows.
Age Relation
These disorders of the spine might be thought of as the normal aging process. This is true that as we age, the body tissues begin to change and the spine’s disc wear down. But, if you are overweight, chances are you have, or will have pain in the back.
Weight Loss Reduces Back Pain
Weight loss can contribute to a partial or complete reduction in the back pain symptoms. The research between weight loss and back pain is still ongoing but numerous practitioners report cases of patients experiencing a serious reduction in pain after losing the excess weight. Because the extra weight is taken off the spine further stress is avoided. Especially when a chiropractor realigns the vertebral column. According to the American Spine Society, individuals that stay around 10 pounds of their proper weight are those least likely to experience back problems.
Back Health and Physical Activity
Chiropractic is one of the most popular treatments for back pain. With chiropractic adjustments, pain is alleviated but also the root cause of the problems is corrected. Spinal adjustments can help even more when combined with a proper diet and weight loss treatment program.
Besides weight loss, exercising and strengthening the core muscles can guarantee the proper distribution of the body�s weight. Stronger muscles, less weight, and better posture will provide amazing long-term benefits. If you want to know how to incorporate weight loss and exercise in your daily routine, speak to your chiropractor. They are ready to guide you along the way. If you aren�t currently seeing a chiropractor, give us a call. We�re here to help!
Chiropractic Weight Loss
NCBI Resources
While chiropractic adjustments and associated therapies can ease back pain symptoms and aid in healing, lifestyle changes like a healthy diet are just as important. The more a patient can get to their ideal weight, the easier it becomes to treat and eliminate the back pain.
You don’t have to be highly athletic to do back extensions. They’re common in yoga, Pilates, and other stretching and strengthening exercises. Health and fitness begin with the desire to improve oneself. When desire and belief are strong enough, it leads to action. When done properly and consistently, success follows. Considering all that the back goes through in a typical day, it isn’t much of a stretch to think that pain could present at times. This is especially true if the back is not properly aligned.
Strong back muscles can reduce injuries and improve posture. There are some muscles along the length of the spine that support the spine. One of the most important�deep muscle groups in your back is the erector spinae. If this muscle group becomes weak, back pain can start to present.
Back Extension
Back extensions can be done:
Using a machine
With an exercise ball
No equipment or objects at all described below
When beginning it’s a good idea to consult a certified personal trainer that has experience rehabilitating people with back pain. They will also teach proper form, body mechanics and alignment. Before doing any exercises consult your chiropractor or primary doctor.
Three You Can Do
The Cow Pose
Begin on hands and knees.
Hands are shoulder-distance apart and knees are hip-distance apart.
Inhale and arch your spine by rocking your pelvis toward the floor.
Look up toward the ceiling.
As you exhale, move back to your starting neutral back position.
Inhale, and repeat. Link your inhales and exhales with your movement.
Do the cow stretch 5 to 10 times once a day.
Upper Back Extension
Begin on your stomach with a small pillow or�rolled�towel under your hips.
Arms should be along your sides.
Slowly lift your upper body off the floor and contract your low back muscles.
Hold 3 seconds before lowering back to the floor.
Repeat 10 times.
Opposite Arm/Leg Extension
Start on your stomach with legs together and arms stretched in front.
Breathe in and tighten your tailbone as you lift your arms and legs off the floor (about hip height and if you can higher).
Pump the right arm down and left leg down so they just graze the ground, and then bring them back to hip height and pump the left arm and right leg down.
Alternating right arm/left leg and left arm/right leg in small movements. Keep your eyes toward the mat.
Repeat 3 times every day.
These are just a few back extensions that can help you build strong back muscles. Do these exercises regularly to decrease and prevent back pain.
Belief Action Success
All of us want to be living healthy lives.
When realistic, specific and measurable goals are expertly set-up in a health program what really keeps us from getting there is a break in the link that falls between belief and the action. And that is the excuses that seem to pop up at those moments.
Every time I try to exercise or eat healthy, something comes up
Someone or something else is responsible for the situation.
We know what we need to do but just don’t want to do it. We believe that something out of our control prevents us.
Be Proactive
It means more than just taking initiative. It means a responsibility or you can think of it as a response and the ability for our own lives. People that become proactive do not blame circumstances, conditions, etc for their behavior or lack of behavior. It is a product of their own conscious choice. Once you realize the power you have, obstacles become welcome challenges to be overcome. With just a little success, confidence grows and commitment to health and fitness goals becomes a priority.
Back Pain Specialist
NCBI Resources
Dealing with joint or muscle pain can be a daunting experience. It�s important to work on maintaining�mobility and flexibility. The more flexible, the less likely to be injured. One of the best ways to improve flexibility is through stretching. A�chiropractor�can recommend stretches, or you can use some of these basic techniques
[00:00:10] You know what keeps them moving and growing and living? Tell me. It’s other catfish or that predator. So, if we never had predators in our lives. We’d stay stuck and we progress nothing. So every time we ask, “God, take away the stress, God, take away this issue,” we’re asking God to make us weaker, not stronger.
[00:00:33] Because instead of asking like, “Hey, God, make me more creative, make me more passionate, make me more patient”. We ask, “Hey, take away this”.
[00:00:45] But then we still want everything else that comes along with it. How does that work?
[00:00:49] It’s easy. I don’t know. I mean, if you think about it, you know, from the first time we’re born, Danny. It’s not easy. Right. You’ve got to be one in a trillion sperm, really, and only to God, it’s very, very clear that, if you don’t get to that egg first? Done. Right. You’re done. So from the moment we’re given a chance, we’re on the point of destruction from the beginning. Exactly. So, in essence, why did that sperm get to that egg? Right. So you asked. It fought through. Fought through, right.
[00:01:27] So, when you think of everything else as far as people complain, how people say, “oh, you know, I want more money, I want this”. But they don’t look at everybody’s backstory, the back end. And then behind the curtains, they think, “oh, man, Dr. Jimenez, you’re a doctor”. Sure, you don’t know how many times you’ve lost and rebuilt your practice or you’re a gym owner and you have it made. You don’t know how many times you have to go in at 4:00 in the morning to get a work out because you have to train people all day long to ensure that this business stays afloat. You know? Right. People don’t see that back end. Right. You know, they’re quick to say, “oh, it must be easy”. No, it’s not easy until you step into the person’s shoes because you’re the one that has to sign the checks. You’re the one that has to stay up at night and figure out payroll. You’re the one who has to be creative and figure out how you’re going to make ends meet. You’re the one that constantly has to be on it. You know, as much as you want to kick back and say whatever and do this. Well, I would love to work out four to five hours a day. That my passion. Is it your passion? It’s my passion. And do we? No, no. Right. What do we have to do? We have to be meticulous. We have to be disciplined. And we have to keep, I’m sure, we have to keep a proper order to ensure that we stay on top of schedule. Yes or no? Absolutely. Exactly. You know, so I’m saying at the end of the day is, if you don’t have something chasing you, you become fat and dormant and you become lazy.
[00:02:54] I think nature is designed to eliminate you. Alex would say, you know, it’s survival of the fittest limiting the species or whatever he’d call it when he’s in biochemistry. You know, I got to tell you, it’s not easy to be a business owner. It’s not. It’s not easy when you have no sleep.
[00:03:15] Ever since I’ve known you, you’ve put time in from early hours and you’re here from 430 in the morning and here. What time is it now? You’re here. You’re here. And we’re here sharing some stories. You know, it’s one of those things where it’s going to be nonstop all our lives.
[00:03:29] But here’s the thing. If you don’t do it, it doesn’t stimulate you to become good at what you do. Right. You become lethargic and everything goes bad. Literally, you slowly begin the process of ceasing to exist. Right.
[00:03:45] So, we all need rest. Right? Right. To rejuvenate. Get creative. It’s scientifically proven. You need that to reset. You have to. Otherwise, you burn out. Right? Right. But after how many days of rest? One. Two. Where you just get, disconnected, spastic. You know, you’re kind of like, “All right, cool. I rested enough. I’m good”. You don’t stay stuck there.
[00:04:12] No, no, no, no. And I pray for vacation. Right. And when I get it, after about three days, I’m like, OK. Right. All right. I’m done. Let’s go. Yeah, OK. What am I going to break? What am I going to do? That’s how we are. Exactly. But that’s what makes you so successful, right? Yeah, well, it drives us. And it drives us in creating who we are. And it also gives us a vision as to what we’re going to do. You know, Danny, when we start these podcasts, we want to get a little bit or tell the people a little bit about the story of what you do. And tell them about, you know, where you’ve been and what’s been happening with you. OK. So for me, it’s very important to share with the people what is actually happening.
[00:04:59] I’ve always been one to say, you know, I see how hard you work. And I see how much effort you put into things. But I’d like to know a little bit about you as to what actually made you and what kind of makes you click a little bit. When I actually discuss these things, I want to ask you what made you begin PUSH, what made you start this massive, massive organization.
[00:05:25] I want to reach the masses of people and help people.
[00:05:33] So, in all reality.
[00:05:39] My sister, my brother-in-law, my brother. We’ve all come from platforms, as far as, speaking, preaching, singing. Whatever it is. I was always, kind of the black sheep, so to speak, and I mean that like in a good way because I wasn’t treated differently. I just was very much a rebel. If that makes any sense.
[00:06:00] I wanted to create my own. So if my family went right, I’d go left. The people go right. I’d go left. I was always trying to find a different way. And I was just stubborn like that. But I think that’s what allowed me to become the most successful. But that’s what allowed me to create this place so I can reach the masses of people and have my own platform of changing people’s lives.
[00:06:23] Let me ask you. When you first started PUSH. What was the reason you started it out? You know? Did you? You were always in the fitness. Ever since I’ve known you, you’ve always been into a deep understanding. You know, I love sharing that story with people about when I first met you. You were driven. I mean, you were this kid, it’s just like you were hunting for knowledge. You were trying to figure out what it was that made people tick. And you wanted to teach people. A little cocky. I’d say. But being 18 years old, I mean, who isn’t? Right. At that age? You haven’t even thumped in the head a couple of times, but you did and you shared it with people and you did that. But what made you, what drove you? Because I got to tell you, I’m a big believer, Danny. About like, when you evaluate families, I see how hard your dad works. I see how your mom is incredible in terms of what she does. She just, she wins these crossfit competitions just on mere, literally, you have to turn off the lights to get her off the wall because she just keeps on going. Right? I mean, what is it that you feel drove you and what started the whole philosophy of trying to help people out?
[00:07:32] I mean, like you put it, in my my parents work ethic. They just never stop. They still don’t stop. They still try to move forward despite what life throws at them and they’re successful in their own way. They never stop working towards their marriage, towards their love, towards serving each other. The biggest thing they showed me is that, well, we always have to serve people and they serve each other. They serve at the church, they serve wherever they go. My dad, it doesn’t matter where it is. He’s always trying to, if it’s not your house. It doesn’t matter. Try to take out your trash, clean your table, whatever it is. You’ve got to tell him, “Hey day, just chill. But that’s where I learned it from. You don’t just go anywhere and just be. Wherever you go, you always serve. And that’s my sense of faith mentality. You know, it’s biblical. You know? Wherever you are, we are supposed to serve people. As husbands and wives, we’re supposed to serve each other. That’s what makes us so successful. You know, you look at Jesus in the Bible and he’s, “What do you do? You serve people.
[00:08:44] He helped people.
[00:08:47] Not the norm. The most unorthodox non-religious people, you know, other people that needed the most help, not the most religious. And I think that’s what I love to do. I love helping the people that need the most help. The unconventional. Not the people that are already athletic. I mean, don’t get me wrong. I do love helping them, but I guess I like helping the unorthodox, so to speak.
[00:09:17] Yeah. You know what? When you mentioned that about your dad, one of things I noticed is that I came here to work out around 6:00 in the morning and it was freezing outside, literally freezing.
[00:09:29] You had a flat tire. Your dad was lifting the car by himself to get that tire up. Yeah. It was crazy. I go, you know, by the time I got there, I was like, there’s this guy working on that. There was no jack. He’s actually picking up the car himself. He’s pushing that thing up and lifting the car to fit the tire on. I was like, you gotta be kidding me. You didn’t even know. I told you and you go, man, my dad never asked or, you know, he just does it. That’s one of the things you said. And that’s who we are. We are our parents. We eventually become our parents to some extent. And that’s very much how you are. Your philosophies that have guided the PUSH fitness, you know, entourage and the people that come here have been like extreme athletes. Tell me a little bit about that. In terms of what actually drove you to pick athleticism as your way of serving.
[00:10:20] I think seeing the potential of.
[00:10:24] Well, what people can be pushed to if you believe in them. A lot of times people, you know, do believe in themselves but it’s amazing what you see people become or individuals or athletes when you say, hey, I believe you. Someone that, not your mom not your dad, because it’s kind of like, it’s expected, sister, relatives, you know. And you know, not that they have to tell you that but, you know, it’s kind of sometimes expected. Yes, exactly. But then you have this stranger saying, I believe in you genuinely, wholeheartedly. And it brings out that much more of you. I know. That’s how I was. I still remember various times where you tapped me on the shoulder and said, you know.
[00:11:15] What are you doing? You can, and I’m very different.
[00:11:20] I don’t need someone to preach to me. To tell me how to run the place it’s kind of like a little, just a little hug. A kick, a get going. And that gets you going to move on to the next level of the mountain. And that’s what allowed, that’s what I love seeing as a potential that you could bring out in all individuals. When you see that pretty much you’ve been able to see everyone crack.
[00:11:45] What is it you look for when you see them kind of hit that wall? When you start working with an individual with a specific set, whatever sport they’re in or whatever their dreams are, a weight loss or whatever it is. What is it you look for?
[00:11:59] To see the reason why they’re quitting. They’re genuinely tired or have they’ve been?
[00:12:07] Babied so much by society that they don’t know how to push themselves anymore, and it’s really a sensitive society nowadays you can’t, you know, push kids because they get their feelings hurt or they feel this way or that way, and sometimes it’s like.
[00:12:25] Dude, you got to wake your ass up.
[00:12:28] If not, you’re not making it in this life. Nothing comes easy. And then we’re all expecting for things to become easy because we’re, you know, a microwave generation, everything we do we want to do so quick. So I look for the reason as to why they’re quitting. This genuinely like, the why, they’re tired and they’re gonna throw up. Oh, alright. But you remember firsthand when I worked out with you, I went to go to the restroom, threw up. I came right back. Why? Because it’s what you build with that person, that respect. You know, why would you want someone to quit on you when it gets hard, you know? Yeah. That’s exanctly right. How are you gonna count on them. I know you depend on them. No, when it gets tough. You know, they’re just gonna jump the wagon. That’s it. You’re left alone.
[00:13:18] You know, you’re given a responsibility, a huge one, with a lot of the El Paso kids in whatever sports they do, in whatever the sport, whether it be agility sport based or just some sort of sport based system where where they’re just kind of, you know, let’s say hockey or even things like tennis or golf.
[00:13:37] But they all have a moment of trying to reach within. I love the way you do that in terms of, you can go ahead and see the depths of what is wrong with them and you can actually connect with them like no other. I’ve seen that every single time, my own kids too when you train them. You asked why? So really like that boats to the point? No one cares what you know. They care that you care. And that caring really allows them to open up, huh?
[00:14:04] Right. Yeah, definitely it does. You know, it makes them see like I do have it in me. I, you know, need to quit babying myself. Right. And I need to get up and get after this because no one’s gonna give it to me. I gotta get up after it and work for it, period.
[00:14:20] When I would tell my daughter, when they would come in, I’d say, you know what? You know, I’m not coming and, you know, I’m not going today. Right. I’d say, all right let me call, Danny. No, no. They’d feel like they have a, well.
[00:14:34] They sense the obligation that and the trust that you have put into their hearts like no other. Because that’s what they want. They want someone to believe in them. Exactly. You know, push them. That’s why the push. Push. You know, there’s the added edge of the push. You know, these are very important points. What got you into, do you have to deal with, like the mind-stuff and like work? How do you work on developing a child or working them through their own mental impediments or their own mental kind of dynamics to make them better of who they are? If that makes sense.
[00:15:13] You have to build a foundation with them first. You have to build trust with them. You can’t just go in and yell at them. Hey, let’s go, let’s go. Like, move your ass. Don’t be a little, bitch. You know, you can’t just do that. You have to build a relationship first, have them trust you and have them understand why you’re pushing them. And then when they’re at the brink of giving up, you yell at their ass and they know why you’re yelling at them. A good parent, after they discipline their kid or ground them, they’ll tell them the reason why they did that. But they don’t stop loving them. They appreciate because they know they’re wrong.
[00:15:48] Same concept here. Obviously I don’t hit them. But I do yell at them after they know like hey. Yeah, I was sucking and I need to stop feeling sorry for myself and get after it. Right?
[00:16:01] You know, in my own experience with what you did. You know, you have a lot of moms watching you train their kids. Moms are really sharp. There’s nothing smarter than a mother in this world. Right.
[00:16:14] And they intuitively understand and they feel the depths of the change in the child. Right. So when they see the depths of the change in the child, they trust you. And this is in mass because I have like a whole wall of families of moms, dads. They bring their kids no matter what. Tired, cold, sleet, rain, snow. They bring their kids here to train with you and the entire crew with the philosophies of pushing to those limits. You know, how does that feel when you see those kids, you know, kind of, excel?
[00:16:54] Proud.
[00:16:57] Completely, pretty much over the moon because you see the hard work that you took to instill that time into them and make sure their full potential came out. So it’s well, it’s rewarding. It’s inexplicable.
[00:17:11] Let me ask you this. You’ve been now, you know, you’re not young, like 16 years more. You’re in your 30s, which is a very young age. However, you’ve lived long enough to see some of these kids go on and do their their thing.
[00:17:27] Tell me how that feels in terms of you watching them develop, in terms of who they are and what they are, what they develop because of the foundation or at least influenced by the foundation of just don’t give up and keep on pushing through it. How does it feel? What do you think?
[00:17:45] It feels very, in a lot of sense, a lot of pride, because you can see what they could have been and what they couldn’t have been. A lot of times some kids do come from poor or poor extremities. And so to see them excel, believe in themselves, to go to college, to get a successful job, to be something of a higher profession, that other wise they thought they couldn’t build or settling for less and not letting them settle for less is really amazing. It’s of most, that’s why I keep doing what I’m doing.
[00:18:26] These kids keep on calling you? They talk to you personally?
[00:18:30] Yeah, they do. They still kind of keep up with me as far as like what they’re doing, how they’re doing, the’ll come in work out. Still, you know, to chat with me, everything. It’s fun. You build that long lasting relationship.
[00:18:43] If you could come up with a couple of words vindicating what makes PUSH unique and you can look deep inside your heart and figure out what it would be. Say you were to had an obituary being read about you. What would they say about PUSH and you? What would you want them to say?
[00:19:04] Honestly.
[00:19:06] That they have somebody other than their parents believe in them.
[00:19:11] That’s amazing. That’s really a huge component to everything that’s going on. When do you think someone should actually be coming out to this place and enjoying the kind of lifestyle that this place, you know, helps enhance their lives with? When is that time?
[00:19:29] Whenever. Whenever you want to be a better version of yourself.
[00:19:33] Ok. Ok.
[00:19:34] What do you think people sometimes think about, you know, why shouldn’t they come in? What should not be an impediment? Of them coming in here?
[00:19:43] Their image, that they can’t do it. That they’re not athletic enough. That they’re obese. That they have any problems, low back problems. That they look foolish. You know, the whole thing is that at the day, we all look foolish to one extent or another.
[00:19:56] But the point is that if I always assume what others thought and paid attention to how I felt, as far as being embarrased and not being good enough, then I wouldn’t be where I’m at.
[00:20:11] I tell you, I’ve learned a lot from you, and if anything, my kids have learned a lot from you by just your persistence. You know, I can honestly tell you that my son is better as an athlete because of his relationship with you.
[00:20:29] But let me ask you, in terms of what kind of physical changes as well as emotional changes have happened with you in terms of watching your clients attain their goals?
[00:20:43] Hearing people say you saved me from.
[00:20:48] From diabetes, medications, diabetic medications, I mean you hear people say like.
[00:20:55] I would have died being in this obese state. You saved my life. Man. How do you not get emotional with things like that?
[00:21:04] How do you not get emotional? People saying like, you know, I thought I couldn’t walk or had this muscle imbalance or muscle type of. How do you say?
[00:21:18] I have this one client that couldn’t build muscle. I can’t remember terminology, but the fact that she can build muscle now where the doctor told her she wouldn’t be able to squat a bar and now she’s squatting over one hundred and thirty five pounds, that’s phenomenal.
[00:21:31] How does that not keep you motivated and getting up every single day when you don’t feel like getting up, you know, and I’ll say it again. I am in the King David. You know, when you had to encourage yourself, because somebody is not always going to be there to encourage you. You do have to encourage yourself so you can be the best or somebody else that needs it more than you. Ultimately, at the end of the day, someone has it harder than you and you can always help somebody under you.
[00:22:01] Oh, Danny, you’ve basically said it in very short and very important keywords. You know, we appreciate you. We’re here at the PUSH Fitness Center. You know, we’ve got some information there that you can use to find Mr. Alvarado, the PUSH Fitness Center is a monster center with a lot of people that care and make changes in people’s lives.
[00:22:25] If you guys have any questions, any comments, any ideas in terms of what we do for people, let us know. And we’re here to serve as Danny is. Danny, thank you very much, brother. And I appreciate everything you’ve done.
[00:22:38] And God bless, brother. God bless. Thank you.
Additional Topic Discussion: Chronic Pain
Sudden pain is a natural response of the nervous system which helps to demonstrate possible injury. By way of instance, pain signals travel from an injured region through the nerves and spinal cord to the brain. Pain is generally less severe as the injury heals, however, chronic pain is different than the average type of pain. With chronic pain, the human body will continue sending pain signals to the brain, regardless if the injury has healed. Chronic pain can last for several weeks to even several years. Chronic pain can tremendously affect a patient’s mobility and it can reduce flexibility, strength, and endurance.
Neural Zoomer Plus for Neurological Disease
Dr. Alex Jimenez utilizes a series of tests to help evaluate neurological diseases. The Neural ZoomerTM Plus is an array of neurological autoantibodies which offers specific antibody-to-antigen recognition. The Vibrant Neural ZoomerTM Plus is designed to assess an individual�s reactivity to 48 neurological antigens with connections to a variety of neurologically related diseases. The Vibrant Neural ZoomerTM Plus aims to reduce neurological conditions by empowering patients and physicians with a vital resource for early risk detection and an enhanced focus on personalized primary prevention.
Food Sensitivity for the IgG & IgA Immune Response
Dr. Alex Jimenez utilizes a series of tests to help evaluate health issues associated with a variety of food sensitivities and intolerances. The Food Sensitivity ZoomerTM is an array of 180 commonly consumed food antigens that offers very specific antibody-to-antigen recognition. This panel measures an individual�s IgG and IgA sensitivity to food antigens. Being able to test IgA antibodies provides additional information to foods that may be causing mucosal damage. Additionally, this test is ideal for patients who might be suffering from delayed reactions to certain foods. Utilizing an antibody-based food sensitivity test can help prioritize the necessary foods to eliminate and create a customized diet plan around the patient�s specific needs.
Gut Zoomer for Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)
Dr. Alex Jimenez utilizes a series of tests to help evaluate gut health associated with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). The Vibrant Gut ZoomerTM offers a report that includes dietary recommendations and other natural supplementation like prebiotics, probiotics, and polyphenols. The gut microbiome is mainly found in the large intestine and it has more than 1000 species of bacteria that play a fundamental role in the human body, from shaping the immune system and affecting the metabolism of nutrients to strengthening the intestinal mucosal barrier (gut-barrier). It is essential to understand how the number of bacteria that symbiotically live in the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract influences gut health because imbalances in the gut microbiome may ultimately lead to gastrointestinal (GI) tract symptoms, skin conditions, autoimmune disorders, immune system imbalances, and multiple inflammatory disorders.
Formulas for Methylation Support
XYMOGEN�s Exclusive Professional Formulas are available through select licensed health care professionals. The internet sale and discounting of XYMOGEN formulas are strictly prohibited.
Proudly,�Dr. Alexander Jimenez makes XYMOGEN formulas available only to patients under our care.
Please call our office in order for us to assign a doctor consultation for immediate access.
If you are a patient of Injury Medical & Chiropractic�Clinic, you may inquire about XYMOGEN by calling 915-850-0900.
For your convenience and review of the XYMOGEN products please review the following link. *XYMOGEN-Catalog-Download
* All of the above XYMOGEN policies remain strictly in force.
Modern Integrated Medicine
The National University of Health Sciences is an institution that offers a variety of rewarding professions to attendees. Students can practice their passion for helping other people achieve overall health and wellness through the institution’s mission. The National University of Health Sciences prepares students to become leaders in the forefront of modern integrated medicine, including chiropractic care. Students have an opportunity to gain unparalleled experience at the National University of Health Sciences to help restore the natural integrity of the patient and define the future of modern integrated medicine.
As we age, staying active keeps us healthy,� our lives are lengthened and we feel great! Older individuals are discovering that exercise, sports and being physically fit does not mean having to do hardcore workouts and hard-to-maintain exercise/s and schedules.
Many of these individuals get their exercise from active pastimes like biking, Crossfit, and tennis. Others participate in less active recreational activities like walking, gardening or golf. Regardless of which activity they get into, they are all getting relaxation and fun while securing a healthy future.
Exercise helps us feel better because it improves our health.
Spending just a little time each day doing some type of physical activity, will bring these benefits:
Longer
Healthier life
Stronger bones
Reduced joint
Reduced muscle pain
Improved mobility
Improved balance
Lower risk of falls
Lower risk of serious injuries e.g. hip fractures
Slower loss of muscle mass
Fortunately, individuals are living longer but their quality of life means staying healthy and active to remain independent.
Staying active will lower the risk of many common diseases, relieve arthritis�pain and help you recover faster when illness hits.
Activity and Safety
Keeping active means that it’s also important to be safe during these activities/exercises. With more older individuals participating in physical activities, there is an equal increase in sports-related injuries. This is true for bicyclists, skiers, weight lifters and those that use exercise machines.
A recent study by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC),� showed an estimated 53,000 people ages 65 and up were treated in U.S. emergency rooms for sports, physical activity-related injuries. Additional injuries were treated in doctor’s clinics/offices.
The increase comes from more older individuals engaging in active sports. However, most of these injuries were not severe but more importantly, they could’ve been prevented. An example was cyclists treated in emergency rooms for head injuries were not wearing helmets. Wearing a helmet reduces the risk of serious head injury up to 85 percent. Regular exercise along with doing it safely means you can enjoy yourself a lot more.
Activity log
Medium physical activity for 30 minutes a day is beneficial for everyone but especially those with chronic bone/joint conditions.
The 30 minutes of activity can be broken up into shorter periods of different activities, like 15 minutes of gardening and 15 minutes of stretching exercises. This can help not getting bored with a routine by mixing it up.
Activity log to keep track of the time you spend on each.
Injury Prevention Tips
When exercise/participating in an activity, doctors recommend following these tips:
Wear the proper safety gear for whichever activity/sport you choose.
Wear the right shoes for each sport/activity.
Warm-up before engaging in physical activity. This could be moderate walking at your normal pace with an emphasis on arm movements.
Exercise at least 30 minutes a day. Break the activities into shorter periods of 10 or 15 minutes throughout the day.
Follow the 10 percent rule, which means never increasing the program like walking/running distance or weight-lifting more than 10 percent a week.
Try not to do the same routine two days in a row.
Mix it up so as not to sprain/strain the same muscles and allow the other muscles to get a workout. So walk, swim, tennis or lift weights, as this keeps the exercise more interesting.
Read instructions carefully when working with exercise equipment, and if needed, ask a qualified professional to help you.
Check exercise equipment making sure it’s in proper working order.
If weight training interests you but you have never done it, make sure to get professional consultation before starting.
Stop exercising if there is severe pain or swelling and get checked by your doctor.
There are plenty of ways to enhance our lives as we age, and staying fit and active along with the proper diet are a few of the most important.
Our clinical focus and personal goals are to help your body heal itself naturally quickly and effectively.� At times, it may seem like a long path; nevertheless, with our commitment to you, it�s sure to be an�exciting journey. The�commitment to you in health is to, never lose�our deep connection to each one of our patients on this journey.
When your body is truly healthy, you will arrive at your optimal fitness level proper physiological fitness state. �We want to help you live a new and improved lifestyle. Over the last two decades, while researching and testing methods with thousands of patients, we have learned what works effectively at decreasing pain while increasing human vitality.
Lower Back Pain Chiropractic Treatment El Paso, TX
NCBI Resources
Aerobic exercise increases the blood flow to the body�s tissues, and people with high levels of cardiovascular fitness generally do better dealing with spinal problems. However, before anyone with a�spine condition or any medical condition�for that matter, starts a�wellness and fitness program, they should check with their primary caregiver, to clear the individual as�fit to exercise.
IFM's Find A Practitioner tool is the largest referral network in Functional Medicine, created to help patients locate Functional Medicine practitioners anywhere in the world. IFM Certified Practitioners are listed first in the search results, given their extensive education in Functional Medicine
