All can help relax muscles, relieve pain and increase mobility.
Proven Reduced Back Pain with *FOOT ORTHOTICS* | El Paso, Tx
Kent S. Greenawalt, President, and CEO of Foot Levelers discuss how custom foot orthotics can help reduce back pain, low back pain, and sciatica.
In a recent research study published by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM), researchers demonstrated that Foot Levelers custom foot orthotics help considerably reduce back pain and several of its associated health issues.
The research study also demonstrated that Foot Levelers custom foot orthotics and chiropractic care help tremendously reduce low back pain and sciatica.
Foot Levelers custom foot orthotics and chiropractic care helped improve the patient’s overall health and wellness.
Dr. Alex Jimenez is a chiropractor in El Paso, TX. can help provide these benefits through the utilization of chiropractic care and Foot Levelers custom foot orthotics, among other treatments.
NCBI Resources
Pain in the upper and/or mid-back is not as common as lower back or neck pain. The upper back is called the thoracic spinal column, and it is the most secure part of the spine. The reach of movement in the upper back is limited because of the backbone�s attachments to the ribs (rib cage).
Upper back pain is generally caused by soft tissue injuries, like sprains or strains, muscle tension caused by bad posture, or looking downward for long time spans (eg, texting, mobile phone use).
Pilates or yoga can work wonders and always stretch before physical exercise.
Get fit – no regular physical activity can lead to serious conditions and possibly chronic pain.
Exercise benefits all, even some light walking around the neighborhood is enough. Just get moving!
Playing a sport could be a way to keep active. Remember, in order for any exercise to work is that it is done regularly.
Strength training is important, just as its name implies strength training builds muscle and reduces muscle imbalances.
It�s never too late to increase strength and flexibility.
Look at activities that you and your friends/family can enjoy and make doing them a regular thing.
A�chiropractor�is the ideal�medical professional to consult with for any unexplained pain in the musculoskeletal system. They are highly qualified professionals that their specialty is treating conditions like lower back pain and they are very affordable. If you or a loved one have pain in the lower back, give us a call. We�re here to help!
Understand *FOOT PRONATION* & How to Correct it with Orthotics | El Paso, TX (2019)
Foot pronation is the natural movement that occurs during foot landing while walking or running. Foot pronation also occurs while standing, and in this instance, it is the amount in which the foot rolls inward toward the arch. Foot pronation is normal, however, excessive foot pronation can cause a variety of health issues, including bad posture. The following video describes the 5 red flags of excessive foot pronation, which can ultimately affect a person’s overall health and wellness. Dr. Alex Jimenez can help diagnose and treat excessive foot pronation. Patients recommend Dr. Alex Jimenez and his staff as the non-surgical choice for excessive foot pronation health issues.
Chiropractic care is a wonderful practice that has widely diverse applications. While it is traditionally considered to be a pain management therapy or treatment for someone with back pain, studies show that it is incredibly effective in treating conditions that have little to do with the spine.
One such condition that several studies show chiropractic can successfully treat is myasthenia gravis (MG). It is a rare condition, with fewer than 200,000 cases showing up in the United States each year. It is marked by muscle weakness, difficulty with speech, double vision, and difficulty chewing.
Myasthenia Gravis: Signs and Symptoms
Myasthenia Gravis is a chronic condition, and the symptoms may come and go. During �exacerbation� the patient may notice a worsening of the symptoms or more symptoms. During �remission� the symptoms may decrease or even disappear entirely. Often the symptoms will become worse with activity or use and get better when the patient rests.
MG is a progressive disease with extreme muscle weakness as the primary symptom. The condition only affects the voluntary muscle groups, so the muscles that control the gastrointestinal tract and the heart are not affected.
In its early stages, it often with ocular weakness when it affects the muscles that control how the eyes and eyelids move. This leads to partial paralysis of those muscles, resulting in droopy eyelids and double vision.
Another early symptom is fatigue and weakness in the jaw and neck, making activities like chewing, swallowing, talking, and even holding up the head very difficult. Speech tends to become slurred with a nasal quality. The weakness can also make swallowing difficult or impossible, leading to choking spells that can make even the simple act of eating quite traumatic and exhausting.
Sometimes the condition never progresses past affecting the ocular nerves. Typically, it reaches peak severity within one to three years, and if it doesn�t advance past ocular within that time, it usually remains that way.
If the condition does progress, the weakness will continue its path from the head and neck, spreading to the shoulders, arms, and hands. If it continues, it will reach the lower limbs. As the weakness spreads, the patient may find it difficult to lift their arms over their head, walk for long distances, rise from a seated position, grip heavy objects, or climb stairs. However, myasthenia gravis patients very rarely start using wheelchairs.
It may also affect the muscles that control breathing. This can make the condition life-threatening.
Common Treatments for Myasthenia Gravis
There are medications available that are used to treat myasthenia gravis. Anticholinesterase agents help to increase the strength of the muscles and improve neuromuscular transmission. Immunosuppressive drugs are also used to help increase muscle strength by suppressing the body�s production of abnormal antibodies. However, there can be harmful side effects associated with these drugs.
Another conventional treatment is surgery where the thymus gland is removed. This method is effective in about 70 percent of patients who undergo it. Plasmapheresis is also used to remove the abnormal antibodies from the blood and modify the immune system. These are invasive procedures that carry some risk or complications or infection.
Chiropractic for Myasthenia Gravis
Several studies show how effective chiropractic is for myasthenia gravis. In some cases, the patients were completely healed of the condition with no symptoms. They were able to stop their medication and live a regular, full life.
The chiropractor performs high-velocity subluxations to specific areas on the spine. With regular treatment, myasthenia gravis patients can expect a dramatic improvement of their symptoms. This natural, noninvasive treatment option is safe and effective with no harmful or unpleasant side effects.
There is a small muscle deep in the buttocks, known, as the,�piriformis muscle.� This small muscle performs an essential function of rotating the leg outwards. Piriformis Syndrome is a condition that occurs when the muscle becomes tight and intrudes on the sciatic nerve. This causes pain, tenderness and sometimes numbness in the buttocks, which can also radiate down the leg and into the calf.
Potential causes for piriformis syndrome�are sitting for prolonged periods, which can tighten the muscle and an injury to the buttocks. This can come from a fall, accident, or sports injury. Trauma causes the small muscle to swell and irritate the sciatic nerve.
Muscle spasms can also cause piriformis syndrome, however, the cause of the spasms is still unknown.
Once an individual has piriformis syndrome, the condition can comeback periodically.
Piriformis Syndrome Small Muscle Treatment
Treatment options frequently used:
Medication
Over-the-counter or prescribed pain medicines, anti-inflammatory drugs, or muscle relaxers frequently serve to reduce the pain from piriformis syndrome. A doctor may also inject medicine directly into the piriformis muscle to improve the condition.
Heat
A common way to relax tight muscles is to apply heat. Piriformis syndrome sufferers may find relief from painful symptoms by periodically applying heat directly to the tender area.
Heat therapy�can relieve tightness of the muscle and promote healing of the area. Avoid treating the muscle with heat if the muscle may be torn.
Exercise
A proper exercise schedule will loosen the muscle and alleviate the symptoms. A chiropractor can prescribe the correct exercises to stretch and strengthen the muscle.
Manual�Therapy
Combined with other treatments or on their own. Massage is used for piriformis syndrome. This helps increase blood flow to the area. The massage therapist can manipulate the area to relieve tightness.
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractors view the entire body. They may treat other parts of the body, such as a foot or leg, in order to improve the condition of the piriformis muscle. They may also utilize pelvic and spinal adjustments, along with joint manipulation to stretch and loosen up the muscle.
It’s vital to take precautions to avoid re-aggravating the muscle. Proper stretching before exercise, periodic breaks when sitting. Spinal and pelvic maintenance will increase an individual’s chances of living pain free.
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.
First and foremost is the need to warm up your muscles before stretching. Stretching first can actually cause injury by pushing the joints too far. Spend a few minutes doing some light activity before stretching. This can be a quick walk or some basic calisthenics.
A chiropractor can recommend stretches, or you can use some of these basic techniques. There are two basic forms of stretching, static and dynamic.
Static Stretching & Dynamic Stretching
Static stretching involves holding a position for a certain period of time in order to loosen up the muscles. This is what most people think of when they think about stretching. However, dynamic stretching involves moving specific parts of the body to work on flexibility.
Effective Back Pain Stretches Can Be Done At Home. For example:
Lie on your back with your knees bent
Grasp one knee in both hands and pull it up towards your chest. Hold this position for 30 seconds
Lower the knee to the starting pose
Repeat with the other knee.
Both knees can be done at the same time.
A Similar Stretch Begins In The Same Position As The Previous Stretch Except:
Instead of lifting your knee to your chest
Roll both legs to one side so that your knees are as close to the floor as possible
Hold this position for 10 seconds, and then roll to the other side
Another Stretch Recommended By Chiropractors Comes From Yoga, Known As The “Cat Pose.”
On the floor hands and knees, with your hands directly under your shoulders.
Let your abdomen drop down towards the floor
Then, reverse this movement by arching your back
Repeat this cycle three to five times
Other Dynamic Stretches Can Also Be Good For Muscle Pain. Try doing:
Hand walks to stretch your shoulders and abdominal muscles.
Stand up straight and slowly lower your hands towards the floor.
Walk your hands out in front of you until you are as far down as you can go.
Then walk your hands back to the starting position.
A Final Stretch That Can Help Sore Back Muscles Known As The “Scorpion.”
Lie face-down and stretch your arms out to the sides
First, slowly move your right foot towards your left arm
Then, move your left foot towards your right arm
Make sure to move in a slow and controlled fashion
When you are suffering from muscle or joint pain, it is a good idea to stretch both in the morning and the evening. By incorporating these exercises into your daily routine, you can avoid common injuries.
If you need further instruction regarding stretches, please give us a call so that you can schedule an appointment.
Muscle Relaxants? Nearly everyone, more than 80 percent of the world�s population, will experience back pain at some point in their lifetime. Just ask the 31 million Americans suffering from low back pain at any given time.
In fact, globally it is the leading cause of disability. It is the most common reason that people miss work and the second more common reason for doctor�s office visits. In the United States alone more than $50 billion is spent each year trying to relieve back pain, but even that figure is not complete, but only based on trackable, identifiable costs.
There have been studies published over the years that unequivocally show chiropractic as a viable and extremely effective treatment for back pain. Several of these studies plainly show that chiropractic is better than muscle relaxants.
Muscle Relaxants & Chiropractic Study
One study that is one of the most notable was conducted at Life University in Georgia. It has been cited in several journals and used as a catalyst for proving the efficacy of chiropractic treatment for back pain and its superiority to muscle relaxants.
Study Parameters
The study involved 192 subjects who had been experiencing lower back pain for a period of time ranging from two to six weeks. The subjects were separated into three groups:
Group One – Chiropractic adjustments combined with placebo medication
Group Two � Muscle relaxants combined with sham chiropractic adjustments
Group Three � Control Group � received both placebo medication and sham chiropractic adjustments
All groups were given the same length of care, four weeks, with an evaluation of progress at the two-week mark and the four-week mark. The pain was assessed using the Zung Self-Rating for Depression scale, the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire, and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Upon admission into the study during the initial visit as well as at the two-week evaluation, Shober�s Test for Lumbar Flexibility was also administered.
The subjects in all three groups were also allowed to take acetaminophen for pain. This was an additional evaluative measure to assess the need for additional self-medication.
During the course of the study there was a two-week treatment period where the subjects in the chiropractic adjustment group received a total of seven adjustments. These adjustments were tailored to each patient�s specific needs and included pelvic adjustments, sacral (lower back), or lumbar and upper cervical (neck and back).
The sham treatments mimicked all aspects of an actual chiropractic adjustment including dialog, normal visit length, and procedures. However, no actual adjustments were performed.
Study Results
At the conclusion of the study, the subjects who received chiropractic treatment reported a significant decrease in pain and an increase in flexibility. Of the groups that did not receive chiropractic treatment there were no significant differences noted. There was a decrease in disability and depression across all three groups, indicating that muscle relaxants are effective in treating back pain, but overall chiropractic care is the more effective option for treating back pain and disability.
What Does This Mean For Patients With Back Pain?
Patients suffering from back pain can receive greater relief without the undesirable side effects of muscle relaxants by seeking chiropractic care. Patients who are using muscle relaxants to treat their back pain should talk to their chiropractor and doctor about incorporating chiropractic treatment into their patient care regimen. Patients experiencing back pain should pursue chiropractic care before resorting to more aggressive methods including muscle relaxants.
Chiropractic care is a safe, non-invasive treatment for back pain. It also facilitates healing, increases flexibility, and improves mobility. Patients who are looking for a healthy treatment option that focuses on overall wellness, Chiropractic could be the answer.
Chiropractic Helps:Tendonitis is a condition that occurs when a tendon that connects bone to muscle is injured, overused, or used improperly. The result is inflammation, pain and sometimes swelling. In the case of an injury where the tendon is stressed to otherwise injured, soft tissue around the area may also become involved. Each year more than 4 million people in the U.S. seek medical treatment for symptoms of tendonitis.
Common types of tendonitis include runner�s knee, tennis elbow, and pitcher�s shoulder. However, other tendons in the body can also experience tendonitis symptoms. The Achilles tendon, ankle, wrist, and even fingers can all become inflamed from the condition.
Often a primary care physician diagnoses the injury, but once there is a definitive diagnosis, the best treatment is one that is natural and holistic. Chiropractic care is an outstanding choice for treatment.
Chiropractic Helps: Thorough Healing
Tendonitis often recurs in many people. This is due, at least in part to improper or incomplete healing. Many people will resume normal activities as soon as the pain subsides when they should continue caring for the injury so that it can heal completely. This leads to inflammation of the area again as the original injury is aggravated, but it can also lead to re-injury in that same area. Chiropractic care can help tendonitis heal completely and help prevent re-injury to the area.
Chiropractic Helps: Tendonitis
Since tendonitis symptoms can mimic other serious conditions, the first step in treatment is confirming the diagnosis. The doctor may use X-rays, MRIs, or CAT scans to make a positive diagnosis of tendonitis.
From there, the chiropractor will work with the patient to develop a treatment plan that is natural and effective, tailored to the patient�s unique needs. At the core of this treatment is a targeted plan that treats the cause of the problem, not just the symptoms.
If there is a great deal of inflammation the chiropractor may employ inflammation reducing techniques such as bracing, rest, ice, electrical muscle stimulation, and other therapies. This helps to loosen the tendon and lessen the inflammation so that treatment can progress.
Once the inflammation is under control, the chiropractor may begin massage, physical therapy, joint manipulation, or strengthening exercises. If the patient has diminished or limited joint mobility then joint manipulation or adjustments may be the best option.
Chiropractic Helps: Length Of Treatment
The initial pain may subside or even disappear within the first two to three weeks. However, that does not mean that the patient is out of the woods. This is where many patients go wrong. They mistakenly believe that once the pain is gone the condition is healed.
This is not true. While the inflammation may indeed decrease over the first three weeks, the complete healing takes around six weeks and often longer. Scar tissue is formed during this time which helps the body repair the injury. Once the injury is repaired though, that scar tissue must be broken down in order for the area to regain its mobility and flexibility.
The chiropractor will use various techniques including massage and ultrasound to break down the scar tissue. Mild stretches may be incorporated into the treatment plan. Once the tissues are fully healed, exercise can aid in breaking down the scar tissue even more. These exercises will work the muscles but they won�t involve the tendons.
Chiropractic Helps: Healing Tendonitis For Good
Tendonitis can be healed completely and a good chiropractor can help. Most chiropractors take a whole body approach, including diet, specific supplements, and lifestyle choices that will help the healing process of tendonitis. Once chiropractic treatment is complete for tendonitis, the patient can usually return to normal activities without the risk of re-injury or re-inflammation.
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