Nerve damage is also known as peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral nerves transmit information to and from the brain through the spinal cord to the rest of the body. Nerve damage symptoms are common in the neck, arms, hands, low back, legs, and feet. Communication becomes weakened, interrupted, or no longer transmits sensation signals. Nerve damage can be a complication from conditions like diabetes or present after an injury. Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic recognize the symptoms and can treat the injuries rehabilitating the nerves back to functional health.
Nerve Damage Symptoms
Nerve damage symptoms can happen to a single nerve or a group of nerves that can affect the rest of the body. Damage depends on the severity of the condition or injury.
Partially damaged nerves can heal on their own with minimal treatment to ensure they heal correctly.
The fibers are covered with tissues that are a type of insulation.
Sometimes only the fibers get damaged.
Sometimes a nerve gets stuck or jammed inside a tight space, causing irritation and, over time, scarring.
Severe nerve damage can involve the fibers and tissues and often require surgery.
Symptoms can range from mild to severe and depend on which nerve fibers are damaged. These could be the following:
Motor nerves
These nerves regulate all the muscles under conscious control.
These control motor functions like walking, talking, and grabbing and holding objects.
Damage to these nerves usually causes muscle weakness, cramps, and uncontrollable muscle twitching or spasms.
Sensory nerves
These nerves relay sensory information, including touch, taste, smell, vision, temperature, and pain.
Symptoms can include numbness or tingling.
There can also be difficulties:
Sensing pain
Sensing temperature changes.
Walking
Maintaining balance with your eyes closed.
Working with the hands.
Autonomic nerves
This group of nerves regulates unconscious actions, including breathing, heart and thyroid function, and digestion.
Symptoms include excessive sweating, blood pressure variations, inability to tolerate heat, and gastrointestinal issues.
Various symptoms can be experienced as many peripheral nerve injuries affect more than one type of nerve.
Signs
Improperly functioning nerves can cause uncomfortable or painful sensations because the nerves cannot carry the correct signals from the brain to the spinal cord. The signs of nerve damage include the following:
Feeling like you’re wearing an overly tight glove or sock constricting circulation and movement.
Numbness or tingling.
Pins and needles or what feels like mild electrical sensations.
Specific body/limb positions can cause or decrease numbness, tingling, or pins and needles.
Muscle weakness.
Dropping objects regularly.
Sharp pains in the hands, arms, low back, legs, or feet.
Restoring Function
Chiropractic treatments can help restore function and include:
Therapeutic Massage
Therapeutic massage will promote circulation to relieve numbness and tightness and help restore function and feeling.
Chiropractic
Chiropractic adjustments will realign the body and keep affected muscles and joints active.
Electrical Stimulation
Stimulators can activate injured nerves and muscles while the nerve regenerates and recovers.
Braces or Splints
These devices could be used to maintain the position of the affected limb, fingers, hand, or foot to improve muscle function and promote healing.
Exercise
Specifically, prescribed exercises will improve muscle strength, help to maintain range of motion, and reduce muscle cramps.
Diet
A nutritionist will develop a personalized anti-inflammatory diet to expedite healing.
Peripheral Therapy
References
Chen, Zhengrong. “Progress of peripheral nerve repair.” Chinese Journal of traumatology = Zhonghua Chuang Shang za Zhi vol. 5,6 (2002): 323-5.
Gordon, Tessa. “Electrical Stimulation to Enhance Axon Regeneration After Peripheral Nerve Injuries in Animal Models and Humans.” Neurotherapeutics: the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics vol. 13,2 (2016): 295-310. doi:10.1007/s13311-015-0415-1
WEBB, E M. “Peripheral nerve injuries; early surgical treatment.” California medicine vol. 80,3 (1954): 151-3.
Welch, J A. “Peripheral nerve injury.” Seminars in veterinary medicine and surgery (small animal) vol. 11,4 (1996): 273-84. doi:10.1016/s1096-2867(96)80020-x
Chiropractic is a form of neuromusculoskeletal care that repairs and re-optimizes the nervous system that helps to relieve tension, inflammation, pain and restore body health. Like any piece of machinery that requires regular maintenance to operate correctly without issues, so too is the body an exquisite machine that needs regular maintenance. Treatment restores and maintains optimal function to the nervous system, muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, and joints.
Neuromusculoskeletal Care
Central Nervous System – CNS
The Central Nervous System or CNS is the body’s computer.
It processes functions in the body and mind.
It s made up of the brain and spinal cord.
It helps process external information through sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste.
The CNS interprets sensory information that goes through the spinal cord to the brain, and the body responds accordingly.
It controls voluntary movements like walking, talking, exercising.
It controls involuntary movements like blinking, breathing, digestion.
It allows thoughts, emotions, and perceptions to be created and expressed.
When the Central Nervous System works correctly, the body is coordinated, all senses send and receive information effectively, and cognition/thinking is clear.
Peripheral Nervous System – PNS
The Peripheral Nervous System or PNS transmits signals from the outside to the Central Nervous System.
The PNS is comprised of all the nerve bundles that run throughout the body.
The PNS is responsible for transmitting information back and forth from the CNS to the rest of the body by electrical impulses and current.
When the PNS is functioning correctly, and there is thorough nerve circulation throughout the body, there are no issues like numbness, weakness, pain, and digestion is in top form.
Enteric Nervous System – ENS
The Enteric Nervous System or ENS is a branch of the peripheral nervous system that signals the digestive system.
It comprises nerves that stretch across the entire gastrointestinal tract.
It allows the nervous system to communicate with the digestive tract and regulate activity.
It can stop the digestive process when the body is under stress or strain, i.e., fight or flight response.
Inflammation and stress can cause the enteric system to disrupt and cause digestive problems.
Pain Relief
Body pain can be an indication of an imbalance in the nervous system. Misalignment from work, home activities, trauma, injury, or posture problems, a subluxation/misalignment can turn into discomfort that leads to pain and neuromusculoskeletal system issues. Pain in the neuromusculoskeletal system can result from spinal misalignment and a shifting skeletal structure. The joints and misaligned bones compress the surrounding nerves and tissue, causing inflammation that results in pain symptoms. This causes the muscular system to compensate for the lack of stability support from the skeletal structure causing awkward body posturing. A chiropractor realigns the spinal structure, removing the compression/pressure from the nerves, tissues, muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
Body Composition
Chiropractic Medicine
The nervous system is highly responsive to chiropractic care because of chiropractic’s focus on the spine, which restores and rejuvenates. Chiropractic medicine and a properly aligned spine:
Reduces and eliminates pain.
Reduces and eliminates headaches and migraines.
Improves balance and coordination.
Improves digestive function.
Improves quality of sleep.
Increases energy.
Increases flexibility and mobility.
Enhances cognition and clear thinking.
References
Goudman, Lisa et al. “The Link Between Spinal Cord Stimulation and the Parasympathetic Nervous System in Patients With Failed Back Surgery Syndrome.” Neuromodulation: journal of the International Neuromodulation Society vol. 25,1 (2022): 128-136. doi:10.1111/ner.13400
Gyer, Giles et al. “Spinal manipulation therapy: Is it all about the brain? A current review of the neurophysiological effects of manipulation.” Journal of integrative medicine vol. 17,5 (2019): 328-337. doi:10.1016/j.joim.2019.05.004
Millet, Guillaume Y et al. “The role of the nervous system in neuromuscular fatigue induced by ultra-endurance exercise.” Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism = Physiologie appliquee, nutrition et metabolisme vol. 43,11 (2018): 1151-1157. doi:10.1139/apnm-2018-0161
Stoll, T et al. “Physiotherapie bei lumbaler Diskushernie” [Physiotherapy in lumbar disc herniation ]. Therapeutische Umschau. Revue therapeutique vol. 58,8 (2001): 487-92. doi:10.1024/0040-5930.58.8.487
Maintaining the body’s musculoskeletal system and keeping it strong can be done through chiropractic and by managing general overall health. This system includes the:
Bones
Muscles
Tendons
Ligaments
Soft tissues
These all work together to support the body’s weight and allow for movement.Injuries, disease, and aging can cause stiffness, pain, and other issues with mobility, function that can lead to various conditions and/or disease.
The musculoskeletal system
The skeleton provides the framework for the muscles and other soft tissues. Working together, they support the body’s weight, help to maintain proper posture and the ability for movement. Various disorders and conditions can lead to problems with the musculoskeletal system. This includes:
Focusing on overall health and maintaining it will keep the system in top form. This is done by:
Eating a healthy balanced diet
Maintaining a healthy weight
Regular physical activity/exercise
Chiropractic support will take the body to optimal health levels.
How does the system work?
The nervous system is the body’s central command center. It controls voluntary muscle movements. Voluntary muscles are controlled intentionally. Large muscle groups are utilized to do activities like lifting a large object. Smaller groups are used for movements, like pressing a button. Movement/motion occurs when:
The nervous system which includes the brain and nerves, transmits a signal to activate the skeletal/voluntary muscles.
The muscle fibers contract/tense in response to the signal.
When the muscle activates, it pulls on the tendon.
Tendons attach muscles to bones.
The tendon pulls the bone, generating movement.
For the muscle to relax, the nervous system sends another signal.
This signal triggers the muscle/s to relax/deactivate.
The relaxed muscle releases tension
The bone is moved to a resting position.
System Parts
The musculoskeletal system functions to help stand, sit, walk, run and move in general. The adult body has 206 bones and more than 600 muscles. These are connected by ligaments, tendons, and soft tissues. The parts of the system are:
Bones
Bones support the body, protect organs and tissues, store calcium, fat and produce blood cells.
A bone’s outside shell encapsulates a spongy center.
Bones provide structure and form to the body.
They work with the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other connective tissues to help with movement.
Cartilage
This is a type of connective tissue.
Cartilage provides cushion to the bones inside the joints, along the spine, and ribcage.
It is firm and rubbery.
It protects bones from rubbing against each other.
It is also found in the nose, ears, pelvis, and lungs.
Joints
Bones come together and form joints.
Some have a large range of motion, for example, the ball-and-socket shoulder joint.
Others, like the knee, allow bones to move back and forth but do not rotate.
Muscles
Every muscle is made of thousands of fibers.
The muscles allow the body to move, sit upright, and remain still.
Some muscles help with running, dancing, and lifting.
Others are for writing, fastening something, talking, and swallowing.
Ligaments
Ligaments are made of tough collagen fibers
They connect the bones and provide stability to the joints.
Tendons
Tendons connect the muscles to the bones.
They are made of fibrous tissue and collagen
They are tough but not as stretchable.
Conditions and disorders
Various conditions can cause problems with the musculoskeletal system. They can affect the way an individual moves. The most common causes of inflammation, pain, and mobility issues are:
Aging
With the natural aging process, bones lose density.
Less-dense bones can lead to osteoporosis and bone fractures/broken bones.
As the body ages, muscles lose their mass, and cartilage starts to wear down.
This can lead to pain, stiffness, and decreased range of motion.
After an injury, an individual might not heal as quickly.
Arthritis
Pain, inflammation, and joint stiffness are the result of arthritis.
Older individuals are more likely to develop osteoarthritis. This is from the cartilage inside the joints breaking down. However, the condition can affect individuals of all ages.
Other types of arthritis also cause pain and inflammation. This includes:
Rheumatoid arthritis
Ankylosing spondylitis
Gout
Back problems
Back pain and muscle spasms can result from muscle strains or injuries, for example, a herniated disc.
Some conditions like spinal stenosis and scoliosis can cause structural problems in the back.
This can lead to pain and limited mobility.
Cancer
Different types of cancer affect the musculoskeletal system, for example, bone cancer.
Congenital abnormalities can affect the body’s structure, function, and appearance. For example, clubfoot is a common musculoskeletal condition that babies can be born with. It causes stiffness and reduces the range of motion.
Disease
A wide range of diseases can affect bones, muscles, and connective tissues functionality.
For example, osteonecrosiscauses the bones to deteriorate and the cells to die.
Other disorders, like fibrous dysplasia and brittle bone disease, cause the bones to fracture/break easily.
All types of injuries can affect bones, muscles, cartilage, and connective tissues.
Injuries can occur from repetitive overuse. Examples include:
Carpal tunnel syndrome, Bursitis, and Tendinitis
Sprains
Muscle tears
Broken bones
Injuries to the tendons, ligaments and other soft tissues can lead to chronic conditions.
Maintaining musculoskeletal health
Recommended ways of maintaining a healthy musculoskeletal system are to keep the bones and muscles healthy by getting:
Regular physical activity and exercise
This includes weight-bearing exercises combined with cardiovascular activities. Strengthening the muscles will support the joints and protect/prevent damage.
Proper sleep
This is so the bones and muscles can recover and rebuild.
Maintain a healthy weight
Added weight places pressure on the bones and joints.
This causes various health problems.
If there is added weight, it is recommended to consult a health coach and nutritionist about a personalized weight-loss plan.
They can help make healthy food choices that will make for strong bones and include anti-inflammation foods.
Quit tobacco use
Smoking decreases blood flow in the body.
The bones, muscles, and soft tissues need proper blood circulation to maintain health.
Regular chiropractic adjustments
Adjustments will help maintain the body’s balance and alignment.
This, along with recommended stretches and exercises, will take the body to optimal health.
Healthy Body Composition
Bodyweight Squat
This is one of the best strength exercises for building general functional low body strength. The muscle groups that get worked include the:
Quadriceps
Hamstrings
Glutes
Deep abdominals
Hip abductors
Hip rotators
Squats work almost every muscle in the legs. This also builds core strength to help with everyday movements like pushing, pulling, and lifting. There is no need to load added weight on the back to benefit from this exercise. Using the body’s weight is a perfect workout. This can be done with several variations once strength is built up. The objective is to focus on strict form for maximum effectiveness.
The feet should be shoulder-width apart.
Bend at the hips
Don’t let the knees go past the toes.
Lower the body until the thighs are parallel to the floor
References
American Chiropractic Association. Back Pain Facts and Statistics. Accessed 1/5/2021.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Arthritis. Accessed 1/5/2021.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Arthritis-Related Statistics. Accessed 1/5/2021.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders & Ergonomics. Accessed 1/5/2021.
Merck Manuals. Effects of Aging on the Musculoskeletal System. Accessed 1/5/2021.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Healthy Muscles Matter. Accessed 1/5/2021.
Re-energize from a lack of energy and fatigue with Bio-chiropractic. Millions of individuals struggle to get through the day or night depending on work/school schedules because of deficient energy levels that result in fatigue. Unfortunately, many begin taking over the counter or prescription medication, drinking coffee or highly caffeinated/energy beverages, or taking days off to catch up on rest. There is a wide range of high-sugar and caffeine energy products to help with fatigue. But, research has shown how overconsumption of these products can contribute and/or cause:
High blood pressure
Cardiovascular disease
Diabetes
When a tired body takes in caffeinated energy, it is only for a temporary energy boost.
Energy products can mask the fatigue causation. This could be a disease, a type of condition, or an overlapping of causes.
Nervous System
The nervous system is the body’s life energy source. It is responsible for facilitating millions of functions that occur throughout the body every day. These include:
Shifts the spine out of alignment, placing added pressure on the delicate nerves in the neck and back.
The compression causes nerve interference that disrupts optimal nerve energy flow from reaching the organs. This leads to:
Fatigue
Pain
Organ dysfunction
Eventually disease
Bio-Chiropractic
Bio-Chiropractic is a scientific and researched based form of musculoskeletal corrective care. It aims to unblock nerve interference through the proper realignment of the spine, returning it to its proper curvature. As a result, many individuals under chiropractic care report immediate relief from neck or back pain, along with a vibrant, energized feeling, and with time their overall health improves.
Body Composition Feedback
Malnutrition
Malnutrition can be defined as a deficiency, excess, or imbalance in an individual’s intake of energy and nutrients. Protein-energy deficiency is a common form of malnutrition. It is a health condition that can have immediate/negative effects on body composition. This deficiency causes damage to skeletal muscle mass as the body progresses into starvation mode, breaking down its own protein stored in the muscles for fuel.
Micronutrient deficiency is a lack of nutrients like minerals and vitamins. These support important functions like cell regeneration, the immune system, and eyesight. Common examples are iron and/or calcium deficiencies. Micronutrient deficiency has the greatest impact on the body’s physiological functions/processes. They can occur at the same time that protein-energy deficiency is happening overlapping each other. Nutritional deficiencies can impact processes like:
Building and repairing muscle
Protein-energy deficiency has a more pronounced effect on body composition, as lowered protein intake can lead to increased losses in muscle mass.
Berkson, D L. “Osteoarthritis, chiropractic, and nutrition: osteoarthritis considered as a natural part of a three-stage subluxation complex: its reversibility: its relevance and treatability by chiropractic and nutritional correlates.” Medical hypotheses vol. 36,4 (1991): 356-67. doi:10.1016/0306-9877(91)90010-v
Jensen, Gordon L et al. “Recognizing malnutrition in adults: definitions and characteristics, screening, assessment, and team approach.” JPEN. Journal of parenteral and enteral nutrition vol. 37,6 (2013): 802-7. doi:10.1177/0148607113492338
Oakley, Paul A et al. “Restoring lumbar lordosis: a systematic review of controlled trials utilizing Chiropractic Bio Physics® (CBP®) non-surgical approach to increasing lumbar lordosis in the treatment of low back disorders.” Journal of physical therapy science vol. 32,9 (2020): 601-610. doi:10.1589/jpts.32.601
The body’s functionality, circulation, and communicationare significantly affected by the health of the nervous system. The brain, spinal cord, and nerve roots connect every part of the body into a massive communication highway. If circulation and communication are interrupted, interfered with, or completely blocked then the body’s health begins to breakdown. Chiropractic treatment and spinal alignment will clear the pathways and get the nerve energy flowing restoring overall health.
Nervous System Operations
The nervous system regulates all areas of the body in communication, coordination, and it functions in the control of all major bodily functions. This includes:
Basic cellular function
Organ processes
Higher-level brain functions that include
Learning
Thinking
Memory
The nerves within the nervous system communicate via chemical and electrical messages. Nerve cells primarily communicate through quick electronic pathways and signals.
Nerve Energy Compromised
The signals that pass between the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and rest of the body maintain connectivity, coordination, and proper organ function. The electrical energy necessary to keep the circulation/signals flowing smoothly happens with optimal nerve strength. Causes that can affect nerve integrity include:
Chronic inflammation
Injury
Mental health factor
Spinal misalignment
If the circulation/communication highway in the nervous system is compromised, it can rapidly turn into misinterpreted, crossed, false, or no signals being sent. Ultimately, the signals can turn into total confusion, making the body fall into a state of total dysfunction. The lines of communication need to remain clear and uninhibited. This allows the body to function with ease as all systems cooperate.
Spinal Misalignment Affects Nerve Energy
With all the signals traveling through the spinal cord, any misalignment will affect circulation. Common causes of misalignment include:
Misalignment can be addressed with professional chiropractic adjustments. A chiropractor will pinpoint any subtle changes, address them, and restore the nerves’ circulation, as well as restore the body’s balance.
Restore and Maximize Nerve Circulation
Chiropractic is a research-based systematic approach to whole-body care and is designed to yield optimal results non-invasively. Contact Injury Medical Chiropractic to see what they can offer in helping to achieve health goals.
The Body’s Composition
Stress is hard enough to handle, but chronic stress can have complex, detrimental effects on emotional health. Over time, stress can wear away at both mental and physical health. And it does not take weeks or months to start seeing the effects.
It can take as little as four days to notice a significant impact on energy, fatigue, and soreness levels. Remember that achieving healthy body composition is more than just building muscle and losing fat. Maintaining a proper diet and getting enough sleep is necessary to make consistent progress.
Dr. Alex Jimenez�s Blog Post Disclaimer
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.*
Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*
References
Lorei, M P, and E B Hershman. �Peripheral nerve injuries in athletes. Treatment and prevention.��Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.)�vol. 16,2 (1993): 130-47. doi:10.2165/00007256-199316020-00005
A healthy lifestyle combined with�exercise�creates toned muscles that protect the body/spine and improve blood circulation. Chiropractic is designed to bring pain relief, realign the spine, and restore the body to its natural balance through treatment and a strengthening program.
Spinal Blood Supply
The vascular system’s function is to nourish every cell in the body. This includes the:
Vertebral column
Spinal cord
Neural structures
Muscles
Blood
Blood contains:
Plasma – fluid
Red blood cells – erythrocytes
White blood cells
Platelets
Plasma and Cell Nourishment
Plasma, or the liquid part of blood, total’s to about 90% of blood combined with water, salts, hormones, and proteins. It delivers the proteins, fats, minerals, and lipids to each cell in the body. Cells can’t reproduce or repair any damage or injury to the body without nutrient replenishment.
Red Blood Cells/Oxygen
The primary benefit cells derive from blood is oxygen. Oxygen is needed to burn glucose for energy. This oxygen comes from red blood cells. Oxygenated blood pumps from the heart through the arteries while deoxygenated blood returns to the heart through the veins. The pulmonary artery is an exception, as it carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs and is reoxygenated there. The pulmonary vein then takes the oxygenated blood back to the heart from the lungs.Then the oxygenated blood gets circulated throughout the body.
White Blood Cells/Immunity
White blood cells are the components of the immune system and fight infection/s and bacterial toxins.
There are different types of white blood cells, these include:
Neutrophils
Eosinophils
Lymphocytes
Basophils
Monocytes
Each has a different job. These antibodies are transported through the circulatory system.
Platelets/Clotting
Platelets control bleeding from injury/s by creating a clot, through a series of chemical reactions. The spine is served by the body�s system of arteries and veins.
Strengthening
Exercise instructions for specific conditions are given by a physical therapist or chiropractor. The following exercise tips apply to everyone. Remember injury prevention is key for a healthy body.
Warm-Up
Before starting any exercise, it’s important to warm up. A series of dynamic moves can boost your heart rate and warm up the muscles during your work out. Select whole-body movements like leg lunges combined with arm motion or walk in place while raising and lowering your arms. Once you’ve warmed up, you can stretch without risk of injury.
Appropriate Footwear
When buying tennis shoes, check for stability, flexibility, and comfort. During your test walk, make sure that the shoes feel firm and move through your entire range of motion for a stable gait. Footwear should be flexible enough to give easily at the base of the toe for a smooth gait, and there should be cushioning at all the right places with plenty of room for the toes to move. Shoes that properly fit your feet means that your walk will be more natural and healthy during exercise and in motion.
Keep Posture In Mind
Perhaps the biggest reason that these exercise tips are so important is that strong and flexible muscles will help you have proper posture. Be mindful of the following as you move:
When sitting, the feet should be on the floor, shoulders should be relaxed, and forearms should remain parallel with the ground.
If standing for an extended time, make sure to maintain posture by tucking the stomach muscles in.
When standing for a very long time, shift the weight from one foot to the other and from the heels to the toes and back again.
These simple tips for maintaining proper posture will passively work muscles and result in a healthier spine.
Stretch Muscles
Finally, it is important to target large muscle groups with passive exercises. Use your weight to slowly stretch your hamstrings, piriformis, and entire back. Passive stretching is gentle and relieves stress points that cause back pain. These gentle exercises provide a great deal of relief and are easily adjusted to fit your fitness level.
A chiropractor will work with you to create an exercise program that is optimal for you. Be sure to follow through with the plan and include these tips in your regular work out.
Sit-Ups/Crunches/Planks and the like
We have ligaments that connect bone to bone, and tendons that connect muscles to bones. All of these structures work together to help move and to stay balanced. Strengthening one area of your body, like the spine, should include strengthening the surrounding areas where the spine really takes the weight. And that is the core.
For the back, abdominal strengthening is important because the abs act as a front/forward anchor for the spine. They work as a counterbalance for the back muscles which means that both muscle groups need to be strong to keep the spine properly supported. If the abdominal muscles are weak then the back muscles have to work harder to support the spine.
This can lead to sprains or strains, and back pain. Strengthen, stretch, and stabilize the muscles. These are the keys to keeping the spine healthy. Building up muscle strength, keeping muscles flexible, and working on the core will help stabilize the spine. A physical therapy exercise program includes strengthening, stretching, and stabilization specific to each individual’s condition. Don’t skip the abdominal exercises when dealing with back pain, they will help in the long run!
In today’s busy world individuals need a little help when it comes to letting go of bad/negative behaviors and adopting/embracing positive behaviors to sustain optimal health and lifestyle. This is where a health coach�comes in.
More adults in the United States have a chronic disease and around thirty percent have two or more.
Many healthcare professionals do not know how to counsel patients on healthy living and, if they do, the information is limited to very basic knowledge like exercise and eat healthily. With this type of info and not a lot of enthusiasm, patients are not going to listen or make lasting changes.
Many providers do not listen to what’s going on and just tell patients what to do, instead of discussing the best options they have for their health. People being told what to do are not likely to listen or act upon the recommendations.
A health coach creates a custom getting healthy plan with you that fits your life, gets you going, sets up a strategy for the challenges and sees you through! This is what a health coach does.
Health coaching Involves
Communication
Motivation
Continued Support
This allows individuals to make meaningful behavior changes that will last forever.
Coaching centers on:
Thorough conversation
Listening
Clinical Intervention
Strategies
These are aimed to actively engage patients in positive behavior change.
Health coaches take on patients wherever they are in their health. An individual can be healthy and just want some advice to individuals that are extremely unhealthy with weight issues, chronic illness, disease or all of the above.
The point is to help individuals learn self-management techniques. The coach teaches, motivates and strategizes with the individual to make educated/informed decisions that will turn into regular healthy habits.
Coaching comes in the form of:
Setting�goals that are achievable�
A Patient’s Values
Strengths
Motivation
Encouraging the patient
This is how healthy attitudes and behaviors are developed.
The Health Journey Begins
The patient’s health history is taken into account. Then the coach asks:
Where they want to be in their health
What Values they hold close
What Goals they have in mind
The plan is Created
Progress is Tracked
Challenges are met
The long-term plan is Created
Patients oftentimes do not know where they are from a health perspective and might not be sure how to explain. This is where health coaches and their training can breakdown any questions/issues a patient may have.
A health coach will look at where a patient is healthwise based on:
Emotional factors
Environmental factors
Financial factors
Psychological factors
Physical factors
Recreational factors
Spiritual factors
Social factors
This health inventory is for the patient to reflect on where they are in their health and where they want to be.
Patients are welcome and encouraged to ask questions about the plan, make changes, reset goals, etc.
Motivating the Patient
Motivation can come in various forms. As people learn in various ways, so too are the motivational strategies to get patients to exercise the positive behavior outlined in their treatment plan. Some ways coaches motivate are:
They collaborate with patients and don’t approach the plan with an all-knowing mindset.
Understand the motivation of the individual to change.
Motivational Principles:
Empathy
Discrepancy
Support patient’s ability
Six stages of behavioral change:
Precontemplation – Patients do not see any problems and do not consider their behavior as negative, and do not see the problems their behavior is causing.
Contemplation – Patients start to think about healthy behaviors.
Preparation/Determination�– Patients are ready to take action toward behavior change and believe the new behavior will lead to a healthy life.
Action�– Change begins and the intention is to keep going.
Maintenance – Behavior change has been for more than six months and continuing on the right track.
Termination�– Negative behaviors are eliminated.
There are different strategies to get through each stage and on to the next until the positive behavior is achieved.
Helping the patient find the coaching plan that is right for them.
Patients are helped by figuring out what they want to change about their health based on what they see and
the most important changes for them. There is no correct answer, as it is different for everyone.
Understanding Your Values
Coaches encourage the patient to identify their values, and what is most important for each individual.
These include:
Family
Friendship
Health
Love
Values begin early in childhood and become reevaluated as life goes on, and can change.
Clarity is important to help the patient build self-awareness to make intelligent decisions and staying balanced.
A coach might ask questions like:
What made you choose the unhealthy product versus the healthy version?
How much stress do you think you have to deal with on a daily basis?
Do you make time for yourself?
For some, identifying negative behavior can help, as the patient grows and realizes how their health is changing, their values start to change.
This information helps to create a plan of action along with steps to help the patient’s decision making.
While working with the patient to determine goals and create steps, tools and methods are created help to ensure the patient understands their role in getting healthy.
Asking Questions
Coaches ask patients what they know and what they would like to know?�There are no incorrect questions, aks away, as the more an individual knows, as well as the more that the coach knows about the patient, the better the treatment plan will be.
Teaching
If the patient doesn�t understand, the process is repeated until the patient is able to explain the treatment plan back to the coach so everything is clear.
This technique is recognized by various associations, including the:
American Academy of Family Physicians
American Hospital Association
Primary Areas of Improvement
Before setting goals the patients go over the primary areas of their life that they want to improve/change.
These primary areas may be very similar to the patient�s values.
Examples include:
Health
Family
Career
Finances
Recreation
Social Relationships
Once a patient has identified what they would like to focus on, brainstorming sessions are put into action, as to what they want to change or improve for each primary area.
They are then broken down into smaller goals in the creation of the main plan of action.
As the patient moves forward they are more motivated and encouraged to take on bigger challenges.
Couple making a healthy smoothie
Goals
Patients understand what areas of their life they want to improve/change.
With the primary areas known, the patient begins the challenge of changing their current unhealthy status to healthy.
Areas to consider:
What exactly do I want to achieve?
How will I achieve this goal?
Timeframe to achieve this goal?
Why is this goal important to me?
Where to go to next once the goal is achieved?
SMART Goals
When the patient is ready, the coach will assist in developing:
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Relevant
Timely
SMART goals that allow for structure and trackability and create clear milestones for the individual.
Planning
Once a health coach understands where the patient wants to go, the next phase is planning.
Patients help in creating their treatment plan.
This plan is an agreement between the patient and the health coach that describes the behavior change that the patient wants to make, how they’re going to go about it, and their commitment to the final result.
Example of goals a patient will follow to lose weight:
Try new fruits and vegetables
Find creative ways to incorporate exercise at work.
Stay hydrated by keeping a water bottle and refilling it every two hours.
Cooking healthy meals at first twice a week then three times and so on.
Walking after meals.
These small tasks make it easier for the patient to see their progress.
The coach will check with the patient regularly to make sure they are sticking to the plan.
Health Coach
Goal Progress
Health coaches can ensure a patient has consistent motivational support by creating a follow-up plan that works in conjunction with their primary treatment plan.
Follow-up care may include schedules for physical exams or tests, referrals, and recommendations to keep positive behavior development.
Coaches and patients work together to create realistic goals for the future.
As the patient progresses, the health coach may make additional recommendations or work with the patient to adjust their plan or making sure the patient knows where to turn to if they have questions.
Continued Support
Once goals are being achieved it is important to have support to continue the positive behavior. Traditional sources of support include:
Family
Friends
Colleagues
Community
Patients may not always have access to external support, coaches also teach the patients how to find positive support in various activities around town that can help patients and their overall health.
At Injury Medical Chiropractic & Functional Wellness clinic we have the best-rated team of health practitioners to get you to your best optimal health.
*Detox Your Body* | Detox Doctor | El Paso, TX (2019)
Fred Foreman is a basketball coach who depends on his overall health and wellness to be able to engage in his everyday responsibilities. As a result, coach Foreman started the 6 Day Detox Program, designed to help renew and enhance the human body’s cleansing and detoxification capabilities.
NCBI Resources
Good health is built on diet and exercise. The goal is to continually improve by maintaining healthy habits that develop more healthy behaviors. You do not have to do anything drastic. You will have an easier time making changes if you start small and gradually shift towards a lifestyle that is best for you. A health coach can get you operating and performing at the highest level!
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
