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
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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.
Back soreness, pain, and discomfort can make walking even moving a challenge, but through assistive devices, you can keep moving. If a spinal condition affects your ability to walk or if you have recently undergone surgery, a cane or walker can help maintain your independence.
Canes and walkers are designed in a simple fashion, but come with amazing benefits: They improve:
Balance
Prevent falls
Takes stress/pressure off the spine
There are all kinds and styles of assistive walking devices. Here are a few tips to help you select the best cane or walker.
Which To Get Cane or Walker
There are options when it comes to choosing but with so many options knowing which is the best for your condition can be challenging.
Talk with your health provider, which could be a primary physician, nurse, chiropractor, physical therapist, or other health care professionals familiar with your medical history and discuss which device would suit your condition and lifestyle the best.
Canes and walkers each have their pros and cons depending on the condition/s. Some considerations to think about when choosing between a cane and a walker:
What is the purpose of the device?
Canes are ideal for problems that occur on one side of the body like sciatica, which often affects one leg, and walkers are ideal for pain that occurs on both sides like weakness in both of the legs.
Which should I get to support my weight?
Canes can support up to 25 percent of your weight, and walkers can support up to 50 percent.
What is the amount of stability you need in the device?
Walkers have the most stability, but there are four-point canes that can also support proper balance and spine safety.
What amount of flexibility do you need in the device?
If you want perhaps the flexibility to go up and downstairs�a cane may be a better choice, as walkers should not be used on stairs.��
Considerations and Questions
Once you�ve decided on what type, then it’s time to decide which type to buy and make sure it is the correct model and style for you. A health care provider can help you find the right model that suits your needs, fits correctly and will educate and show you how to properly use it. Considerations to think about when buying a cane or walker.
Canes
Canes fall into three categories:
Standard: The simplest type of cane and comes with a comfortable T-shaped handle. This helps with balance, but these aren’t able to bear as much weight.
The Offset: A cane that can support more weight than a standard model comes with a flat grip for those with a weak grip and an upper shaft that can bend outward.
Multi-legged: Multiple-legged canes offer maximum stability, perfect for preventing slips, and falls. The only issue could be is that because of the multiple legs means it can be a little awkward at first. But once you get the hang of it
Questions for a Cane
What grip should I go with?
There�s no right or wrong grip. This all comes down to you and what feels the most comfortable as you move around. But, larger grips work better for those with joint problems, and the foam grip style or a type of memory foam that shapes to your hand seems to be the current trend.
What if the grip I chose is not the correct one?
If numbness, tingling, or pain begins to present in your hand/s when using the device or after, consult your doctor, chiropractor or physical therapist.
Where are Canes available?
Canes can be purchased at medical supply stores and pharmacies. But they can also be purchased online, which is extremely helpful if the model you want is not available at the store.
Where to learn how to properly use the cane?
Talk to your chiropractor, physical therapist or doctor who can give you tips and guidelines on how to use the device. They will also help make sure that the cane fits correctly.
Working with a health care professional to achieve the right fit can be highly beneficial. If the grip does not feel right, it’s not comfortable, or if it’s too long/short, the cane ends up doing more harm than good. A therapist/chiropractor will make sure everything is right.
Walkers
Walkers fall into three models:
Standard: These walkers have four legs with rubber ends and provide quality support and stability. But, because there are no wheels it needs to be picked up to move around.
Front-wheel walker: This type has two wheels in the front and two solid legs in the rear. This type does not need to be picked up and requires less effort.
Four-wheeled walkers: These move the easiest, but they can be difficult to get used to placing all your weight because of the easy rolling. Although they do have breaks and wheel adjustments to control the wheel speed, it can take some getting used to and training. Some models come with a seat.
Questions for a Walker
What grip should I go with?
Walker grips are usually made of hard plastic, non-slip rubber, or flexible memory foam. Again it�s all up to you to decide which is the most comfortable.
Preparing the home for a walker
Walkers can get snagged on rugs or bump into the furniture so it�s a good idea to set up your home and move the furniture/objects to help accommodate your movement.
Where can I purchase a walker?
Walkers are available at medical supply stores and pharmacies. They can also be purchased online.
How can I learn how to properly use my walker?
Using a walker can be a little uncomfortable at first. Movements that were easy, like sitting to standing might need to take some time to get the feel of it. But with time and practice, it will become second nature. Talk to your doctor or chiropractor/physical therapist about the right way to use your walker. They can help you develop a strategy and technique to improve mobility.
Spine Pain Won’t Slow You Down
Mobility assistive devices, like canes, and walkers can help you move around after an accident, spine surgery, or a chronic spine condition and allow you to maintain your freedom.
Our uplifting southwest community surrounded by its infinite beauty is a fantastic place to live and enjoy our families; it is, therefore, our mission to help each of our patients to live,�to�love,�to�matter�and�to�thrive�pain-free�in this beautiful special place.
Shoulder Pain Treatment El Paso, TX Chiropractor
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As you move into your senior years, you may expect some discomfort and loss of mobility. Aging is hard on the body. But it is important to understand that there are things you can do to feel better. Regular exercise, a healthy diet, and�chiropractic care�can all make your senior years active and thriving.
As parents and grandparents, we first need to think about the activities that we will be doing throughout the day and consider how to protect ourselves and loved ones from falls and falling injury/s.
Around the House
Most accidents indeed happen at the house. Add that to the increasing number of people, both young and elder, that work from home. Consider the following tips.
Home
If possible, hire a professional to clean the gutters or get one of those gutter washers that you can use from the ground. Falls from the roof results in multiple injuries, and some are very serious.
Would you please not stand on a chair to change lights or clean those out-of-reach areas? Always use a reliable heavy-duty step ladder with anti-slip steps and handrails. Doctors from emergency rooms report that falls from chairs are a common case they treat.
Proper Lighting
Having the right lighting throughout the house is the best defense against tripping and falling. The stairways, hallways, and entrances are primary areas that should be adequately lit to see everything around you. The light switches should be easy to find and activate. Inexpensive nightlights should be placed anywhere you go at night, like the kitchen or bathroom. A small flashlight should also be kept nearby, possibly a keychain or next to the bed in case of an emergency or if the power goes out.
Kitchen
Falling on wood or tile kitchen floors can have a serious impact on the body. A wet slippery floor can be another cause for a fall, so clean up spills or fix a dripping refrigerator immediately. Using a no-slip floor wax rather than conventional floor wax will reduce accident probability. Keep a secondary heavy-duty step ladder with wide anti-slip steps and handrails for the kitchen.
Bathroom
The bathroom has the potential to be one of the most dangerous rooms. The slick hard floor floors from bath/shower water, along with the limited room to move around comfortably and metal towel rods, can make for a dangerous space to fall in. However, bathrooms can be made safe by the following:
Handrails/grabs can be placed along the walls and shower/bath, near the toilet and sink. Make sure that the proper height is measured.
Anti-slip bath/shower mats and anti-slip floormats can go a long way to help prevent falls. They provide traction and stability while standing and moving around.
There are some top assisted bath devices in various drug stores and home centers. They include shower seats and walk-in baths.
Raised toilet seats can be easily installed and shorten the distance needed to sit and, more importantly, get up comfortably from the toilet.
Elderly and physically challenged individuals could still need help. Make sure assistance is readily available. Elderly and physically challenged individuals could benefit by carrying an alarm or emergency contact system in case they fall or need help.
Stairways
The stairway is an area that can be another danger zone. One stairway danger is the use of canes, walkers, and walkers with wheels. These can easily get snagged on a step, or the wheels can slip and quickly travel down the stairs. Safety railing and step mats with traction nibs can help prevent slips and falls. Outdoor stairs should have non-slip tape to prevent falling.
Carpeting/Rugs
Carpeting and rugs are great for warmth, foot care, and decoration, but they can also pose a danger. Here are a few tips:
Throw rugs that are not properly anchored to the floor should be anchored or used in an area that will not pose a potential injury. These rugs can be bought with a rubber backing to prevent slippage. Stores carry non-slip backing that can be cut and used between the floor and the rug.
Carpeting needs to be smooth and not wrinkled, which can snag and cause tripping.
Bent corners should be removed and fixed to prevent unraveling or tacked down with non-slip tape.
Loose fibers need to be cut off.
Furniture
Individuals that don’t use an assisted device like a cane or walker could find navigating through the house difficult. Furniture should be arranged and organized for easy maneuverability. Electrical cords should be safely placed out of the walking path.These cords can be tacked to the floorboard, placed behind/under furniture, or stored in special cord tubes/runners. Small tables, floor lamps, and plants should not be in the walking path as well as this can cause an easy bump to fall scenario.�
Footwear
Footwear should be nice but also practical. Flat-soled shoes, high heels, not properly structured, or ill-fitting shoes can lead to slips and falls. Unsupported feet will not provide a solid foundation to help prevent a fall.
If there are foot issues, custom foot orthotics can really help stabilize balance, help the spine stay aligned, and bring relief from pain. Orthotics are designed to fit inside shoes to relieve pain from various foot conditions/issues. Non-slip and anti-slip soled shoes can also help prevent a slip and fall. With these types of shoes, care needs to be taken to avoid sticking to floor surfaces. This can contribute to stumbling and tripping. Don’t wear socks or hosiery on smooth tiled/wood floors; because there is no floor-foot traction, the potential for slipping increases.
When walking outside, if the sidewalk is slippery, walk on the grass or dirt area. Try walking in an area that does not show iciness or wetness. Cat litter or rock/sidewalk salt can provide foot traction.
Assistive Devices for Balance and Stability
If you feel unstable while walking, ask your doctor about an assisted device that includes canes and walkers. If using a cane, make sure the rubber grip tip is not worn down.
Conclusion
Here are a few tips that may help you to take a proactive approach to fall prevention. Depending on specific conditions and needs, you may want to talk to your doctor, chiropractor, physical therapist, or other health care professional. They will create a customized individual plan to help prevent falls and enjoy life.
Our clinical focus and personal goals are to help your body heal 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 never to lose our deep connection to each one of our patients on this journey.
Plantar Fasciitis, Reduce Foot Pain with Custom Orthotics
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Aging is hard on the body. As you move into your senior years, you may expect some discomfort and loss of mobility. But it is important to understand that there are things you can do to feel better. Regular exercise, a healthy diet, and chiropractic care can all make your senior years active and thriving.
Most of us know what sciatica means and that is low back pain that radiates/spreads into the buttock down into the leg and sometimes into the foot. The pain can be mild to excruciating, but fortunately, if it is mild�sciatica can usually be alleviated in 3 months.�These are a few non-invasive conservative treatment therapies that can be done at the house.
Here are a few at the house sciatica remedies for people who started experiencing sciatic nerve pain or whose pain is not severe. But you should get a doctor�s approval before trying any of these at the house therapies.
If sciatica has been present for a few weeks or the low back and leg pain has become debilitating you should see a doctor.
House Tip 1. Exercise is OK & Beneficial
It might seem strange to exercise when you�re in pain, but research has shown that too much rest can aggravate back and leg symptoms.
Remember this is not a hardcore burning massive calories exercise, but a gentle exercise routine that you can work into your day.
These Exercises should not be painful or strenuous.
A walk around the house is a great form of physical activity that keeps your spine strong without worsening the injury.
Make your spine stronger with core exercises, but make sure they will not exacerbate your sciatica symptoms. And remember that exercise triggers the release of endorphins to reduce the pain.
House Tip 2. Start Stretching
Start doing gentle stretches regularly. Stretching will improve your spinal flexibility and motion range and also builds core strength. Most stretches can be done while watching your favorite show/movie.
House Tip 3. Ice Packs and Heating Pads Help
Alternating heat and ice therapy can bring relief from nerve pain. Ice helps reduce inflammation, and heat generates blood flow to the areas of pain that speeds up healing. Both help reduce muscle spasms that usually come with sciatica.
Apply the ice pack for 15 minutes once every hour, and then bring the heat for 15 minutes every 2 or 3 hours. Remember to protect your skin when using these pads, and never sleep with the heat or ice pads.
House Tip 4. Change Your Posture
If you are working at your desk or just relaxing, don’t stay in the same position too long, as it can make the pain spike.
Therefore move around and change your posture every 20 minutes. Using the correct posture for various activities will help take the pressure off your spine and reduce symptoms.
House Tip 5. If You Need To Use Medication Properly
Over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications can help ease symptoms when they present. These medications can relieve inflammation and pain, whereas acetaminophen (Tylenol) only reduces pain.
However, there are health risks, so make sure to discuss their safety with your doctor.
Examples include:
Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
Aspirin (Ecotrin)
Naproxen (Aleve)
The Remedies Are Not Working
Recognize when at the house remedies are not reducing your symptoms. When the treatments aren’t helping, it could be time to see a doctor, chiropractor or spine specialist.
People including myself want to avoid the doctor. It could be knowing how to use your health insurance or if you don�t have any. Whatever the reason do not opt for the ignorance is bliss and hope it will all go away.
If you need help figuring out how to use your insurance here at Injury Medical our staff are trained to help guide you through the process. And if you don’t have insurance we can still help and work out different types of plans.
Now there are sciatica symptoms that warrant immediate medical attention. In these rare cases, holding off medical care could cause permanent nerve damage.
If any of the following occur, please see your doctor as soon as you can:
There is severe throbbing/stinging pain in your low back and legs
Nerve associated symptoms like:
Weakness
Numbness
Tingling
Electric shock-like pain
The pain is not improving after 2 weeks
The pain gets worse, even with house therapies
Loss of bowel or bladder control
At the end of the day reducing sciatica symptoms doesn�t always mean having to use an extreme treatment approach. Relieving sciatica symptoms at the house with light exercise, ice/heat therapy, correct posture, and medication can help speed up recovery. The most important thing you can do is to take it seriously and call your doctor or chiropractor if relief is not happening.
Please contact our chiropractic team today to schedule an appointment if you are experiencing symptoms of sciatica. We are ready to help you feel better and get back on your feet again!
*Effective Treatment* for Sciatic Nerve Pain| El Paso, Tx
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A study cited by the health magazine�Prevention�found that sixty percent of sciatica sufferers who failed to get relief from other treatments found their symptoms improved after chiropractic care. In fact, they got the same level of relief as those who went through surgery � without any of the serious side effects that so often come with surgical procedures.
Creating a healthy, safe ergonomic work environment is important to protect your back, neck and whole body. Just by taking simple breaks and enhancing your workspace with a sit-stand desk will protect your spine and general health.
Break Taking
Working in the same position and using the same muscles, joints, and ligaments for hours is not good for any part of your body. Ergonomists are lifestylescientists that design spaces/equipment/tools to reduce discomfort, fatigue, and injury, agree that taking frequent and brief rest breaks is essential for total and optimal body health. And, it�s not just your legs that need a break every now and then.
At work, start practicing:
Eye breaks:Looking at the computer screen for a long time changes how the eyes work. What happens is you blink less and expose the eyes to the air. Therefore, every 15 minutes look away from the screen for a minute or two to a distant area that is at least 20 feet away or further. This allows the muscles in the eye to relax. Also, blink your eyes real quick for a few seconds. This refreshes the tear ducts and clears dust from the surface of the eyes.
Micro-breaks: These are breaks that are less than two minutes and perfect to utilize between office jobs. Most people work in bursts rather than continuously. So in between these bursts�take a rest in a:
Relaxed
Flat
Straight posture
These breaks are short but perfect for stretching, standing up, and moving around, or switching to a different task like making a phone call or making some copies, etc. These types of breaks are a break from using the same set of muscles over and over.
Rest breaks: These you want to do every 30 to 60 minutes. This is the break to, get up, move around, and do something else non-office related. Go get a beverage, quick conversation with a coworker, or take a walk around the office or building. As long it’s within reason. This allows your body and mind to empty and workout different muscles. Practice this and the feeling of tiredness will be a thing of the past.
Exercise breaks: This is purely a stretching and gentle exercise break to do to relieve muscle fatigue. These should be done every one to two hours.
Ergonomic software: It is easy to lose track of how long you’ve been working. There is software that monitors how long you’ve been on the computer and will alert you to take a break at different intervals and offer easy ergonomic exercises to keep your muscles loose and in top office shape.
Ergonomic Products
There are plenty of products out there to improve your workplace environment and promote top spine health. Consider an ergonomic chair, computer accessories, or sit-stand desk to help maintain proper posture.
These products can be adjusted and customized to your needs. They encourage healthy long-term habits that can reduce and prevent various types of injuries. Sit-to-stand desks allow transition from sitting to a standing position. Varying your posture throughout the day is highly beneficial to general health and even helps to burn extra calories.
These ergonomic products are for creating a healthy/safe work environment. Therefore take some time to research the product you are interested in before buying.� Here are a few questions to think about:
Do the manufacturer’s claims make sense or are too good to be true?
Is there evidence that can support their claims?
Is it a cheap knock-off? Knock off products should be avoided as they can worsen and create more injuries. However, when it comes to the brand name products, don’t go for the fully loaded models that could cost quite a bit, instead find something in the middle but that still meets ergonomic standards.
Are you comfortable using the product?
What do experts/reviews say about the product? If it’s not recommended then don’t use it.
Some products can feel strange or uncomfortable because they make you change the way you work. Don’t panic, as this is the point of the product that you have to get used to. But it will be beneficial to your overall health. However, if a product continues to feel uncomfortable or causes pain after short use, then discontinue using and try something else.
Improving spinal health and hygiene at work is as simple as taking breaks for light stretching, walking around, and utilizing ergonomic office products to stay fit and injury-free. Whatever you choose, understand how your back and neck are moving/functioning during the workday/night by using ergonomic practices that will keep your body/mind healthy and prevent office injuries.
Control *FOOT MOTION & POSTURE* with Functional Foot Orthotics | El Paso, Tx (2019)
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Ergonomics is a scientific discipline that�s been in existence for many years. Keeping their work environments safe and efficient and traditionally concerned with factory workers, ergonomic professionals have expanded their work to include all types of workers from laborers to seniors to office workers & students.
It looks for means to improve our environment to lower the risks of illness and harm, enhance productivity, and improve the caliber of our work life.
Musculoskeletal health is one of the highest costs in healthcare today.
There are 1 in 2 Americans that have a musculoskeletal condition. And the need for support along with body alignment is at an all-time high.
In today’s world surveys found that Americans wear two to three pairs of shoes during the week.
However, these shoes are not made to support:
The body
Fit the feet
And can be dangerous to general musculoskeletal health
Health and freedom from pain are important factors in a healthy quality of life. But it starts with proper support for the body that begins from the ground up.
Many believe that to get proper support all you need is to buy top shoes that are optimized with athletic properties. While athletic shoes are definitely more comfortable they do not provide adequate support for the body and can affect posture and the body’s alignment.
The shoes out on the market today, whether athletic or dress are more about fashion than function. These shoes are designed based on sample sizes. Shoe companies use for men a size ten and for women a size eight for their sample. Then material is�added or subtracted to create the larger or smaller sizes.
The resultant shoes are designed to fit and provide optimum performance but are not customized to conform to each individual’s unique feet.�
Shoes are designed to protect feet from the elements and adapt to various activities.
They are not designed to handle the additional forces necessary to support the body.
Take a look at the extensive wear patterns on your shoes and see if there are imbalances in the feet. If there are areas that are really worn/flattened out then there can be severe pronation taking place. This is one serious reason to look into foot orthotics,
Not to worry, as excessive foot pronation affects everyone.
While at school, work or conducting daily chores is when individuals pronate and while wearing shoes with no arch/spine support.
Pronation in the feet combined with shoes that don’t fit with no support has a negative impact on posture and alignment.
With no sufficient support, the body reverts to the imbalanced state. With continued use and not addressed will cause pain in the:
Knees
Hips
Back
Neck
And unfortunately, most of us ignore and even power through the pain caused by the poor fit and lack of support from these shoes.
Reasons to Use Custom Orthotics
The feet make up the body�s foundation. Just like a house, problems with the foundation will create problems throughout the structure over time. Therefore if the foundation is remedied properly then the other issues remedy themselves or are easier to treat because the feet are already taken care of.
Feet problems/issues create back problems. Fixing foot problems will make a difference with the back pain treatment plan.
Individuals think their feet are just fine. However, they don’t know what problems are in the background waiting for the worst moment to present. Imbalance/dysfunction is a silent issue that can ripple into many problems along with pain in the spine.
Feet are as unique as fingerprints. Custom orthotics will make a vast difference between the right and left foot and accommodate the body to achieve its full potential.
Custom orthotics are built just for you. Based on a high-resolution 3D scan of your feet, that is sent to a Foot Levelers� team of technicians, who create your 100% unique, tailored foot orthotic/s.
Don�t be fooled by over-the-counter knock offs. These are mass-produced insoles that can worsen pain. And while most cases of back pain respond well with Chiropractic care, adding custom foot orthotics will enhance the effectiveness of the treatment with no need for surgery or side effects from medications.
Your feet and your body will thank you and will improve health by maintaining proper posture, combined with full-body support to achieve optimal quality of life.
How to eliminate Back Pain naturally | (2020) Foot Levelers |El Paso, Tx
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When there are problems with the feet, it can cause problems through the legs and all the way to the spine. This can cause the ankle to pronate, meaning it rolls inward. This alters the way the�bones of the foot�line up which extends through the tibia, or shin bone.
This can cause a condition called knock knees and it can change the way the entire body is aligned. This puts the body out of balance, destabilizing the spine, and can even cause the pelvis to tilt to one side or the other. When you are walking or standing, the stress caused by the misalignment can create a domino effect, causing or contributing to low back pain.
Neck pain caused by a whiplash injury definitely warrants a visit to a chiropractic whiplash specialist that can provide non-surgical treatment and pain relief.
Whiplash is an injury to the neck muscles from a rapid forward and backward motion of the neck caused by trauma from a car accident, sports injury, slip and fall accident or even just turning one’s head but doing it with a fast whipping motion that causes the neck/spine muscles to become swollen and irritated. It can cause acute short-term neck pain and restricted movement.
How a Whiplash Injury Is Diagnosed
A chiropractor evaluates the spine in its entirety. If you go to a chiropractic clinic with neck pain following trauma. The chiropractor will examine the whole spine because the other areas of the spine could be affected and not just the neck region.
The chiropractor locates the areas where motion is restricted if there are any disc injuries, muscle spasms, and ligament injuries. They will first apply motion and staticpalpation diagnostic techniques where they feel and touch the various areas where the pain is present, as well as where there is no pain. A chiropractor will also feel for:
Tenderness
Tightness
How well the spinal joints move
They will also analyze the patient’s walk noting their posture and if there is possible spinal misalignment. This will help the chiropractor understand the patient’s body’s mechanics and what their spine is doing to compensate for the injury. This can mean:
Leaning to one side
Getting up in a very careful way so as to avoid pain
Hunching over
Only turning in one direction
In addition to the evaluation, they will also order an x-ray or an MRI to evaluate any deteriorating changes that could have existed before the whiplash injury. The images and physical and neurological evaluation resultsare compared to figure out and develop the best treatment plan.
Whiplash Treatment Stages
After a whiplash injury happens a chiropractor works to reduce neck inflammation with various therapies like:
Massage
Ultrasound
Light stretching
Soft manual therapy techniques
They may also recommend applying an ice pack on the neck and light neck support for a short time. As the inflammation and pain decrease the chiropractor will begin applying gentle spinal manipulation along with other techniques to restore the normal motion to the neck’s facet joints.
Chiropractic Whiplash Injury Treatment
A treatment plan depends on the severity of the whiplash injury. Some manipulation techniques used are:
Flexion-distraction technique
This is a gentle non-thrusting type of spinal manipulation that helps treat herniated discs. A whiplash injury can cause an aggravated bulging or herniated disc. If this happens a chiropractor uses a slow palm pump action on the disc rather than direct thrusting force.
Instrument-assisted manipulation
This technique also non-thrusting utilizes a hand-held instrument. A chiropractor generates force without thrusting directly into the spine. This therapy is great for older patients who may have degenerative joint syndrome.
Specific spinal manipulation
Spinal joints that are restricted or have abnormal motion are identified. Then the chiropractor restores motion to the joint with a gentle thrust. This stretches the soft tissue and stimulates the nervous system to bring back normal motion.
Along with these spinal therapies/techniques, a chiropractor also uses manual therapy to treat the soft tissues like the ligaments and muscles. Some examples of manual techniques are:
Instrument-assisted soft tissue therapy is where a chiropractor uses an instrument/s like the Graston technique, that gently treats any injured soft tissues. They will gently apply the instrument along the injured area with repeated strokes.
Manual joint stretching and resistance therapy is a form of manual therapy that uses the muscle’s own energy to create isometric contractions that help relax the muscles, and help lengthen the muscles.
Therapeutic massage is where a chiropractor or physical therapist performs massage to ease and relax muscle tension in the neck.
Trigger point therapy identifies specific tight painful points/areas of muscle by applying direct pressure with the hands or fingers on these points to alleviate the muscle tension.
Interferential electrical stimulation This technique uses low-frequency electrical current to stimulate the muscles and reduce inflammation.
Ultrasound increases blood circulation and helps reduce muscle spasms, stiffness, and pain. This happens by sending sound waves deep into the muscle’s tissue which generates low heat and increases circulation.
Therapeutic exercises to restore normal spinal motion and reduce whiplash symptoms.
Chiropractic medicine looks at the whole person and not just the symptoms. Neck pain is different for everyone, so chiropractors don�t just focus on the pain because the whiplash injury could have affected other areas that the patient doesn’t feel pain or anything.
But as the spine is a complex structure that works as a unit, a problem in one area can slowly or quickly start to create problems in other areas of the spine much like falling dominoes.
With these techniques, a chiropractor will help increase a patient’s daily activities back to normal as quickly as they can, depending on the severity of the injury. They will work as hard as they can to address any added spinal or nerve-related causes/injuries stemming from the original whiplash injury and treat them as well until normal movement is restored and there is no longer pain.
Remember that prevention is the key to optimal long-term health!
Our team has taken great pride in bringing our families and injured patients only clinically proved treatment protocols. �By teaching complete holistic wellness as a lifestyle, we also change not only our patient�s lives but their families as well.� We do this so that we may reach as many El Pasoans who need us, no matter the affordability issues.
El Paso, TX Chiropractic Neck Pain Treatment
NCBI Resources
Often,�people with whiplash don�t experience any effects until a day, or even two, after. The key is to stay ahead of the pain and take measures sooner rather than later to relieve it and keep it at bay. It also provides documentation should other issues arise, and you need the information for legal purposes.
If you are in an accident, especially if you get rear-ended, and experience whiplash, see a doctor that day ��even if you don�t feel much pain. The sooner you visit a chiropractic clinic, the sooner you can begin treatment should a problem develop.
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