Body Flexibleness: The body loses a small amount of flexibility during normal aging. Decreased body flexibility can negatively impact everyday life by preventing normal function. If the muscles are not taken through their full range of motion to maintain length, strength is lost, and decreased flexibility increases. This can happen from:
Water loss in the tissues and spine.
Increased stiffness in the joints.
Loss of elasticity throughout the muscle tendons and surrounding tissues.
Body Flexibleness
Individuals of all ages struggle with flexibility, but there is a difference in age stiffness. However, a sedentary lifestyle can make everyday activities feel more strenuous than before. Less flexibleness can also cause pain. For example, if the muscles in the front of the legs become tight, it can limit movement in the pelvis and hips, leading to low back pain.
Several problems can result from decreased flexibility, including:
Shorter steps while walking.
Slower walking speed.
Back pain.
Increased risk of falls.
Flexibleness improves overall movement and helps prevent simple strains and injuries, including:
Back injury.
Muscle strains.
Shoulder injury.
Hip injury.
Leg injury.
A stretching program for the hip muscles can improve walking speed and step length. This will result in improved walking function with improved and increased control, decreasing the risk of injury. Step length is also critical in preventing injuries. More distance while walking and longer steps mean better balance, making it essential to maintain flexibility in the leg muscles.
Chiropractic Decompression
Routine chiropractic adjustments and spinal decompression can slow the progression of joint degeneration, improve movement, and decrease the risk of injury. When the vertebrae are properly aligned, the entire body operates at its optimal level. There is proper lubrication of joints and muscles, improving mobility and function and removing stress on the nerves, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Chiropractic treats the joints, bones, and muscles to improve body flexibleness through manual and motorized decompression, adjustments, and massage, combined with health coaching, nutrition, stretching, and exercises to do at home.
DRX Spinal Decompression
References
“American College of Sports Medicine Position Stand. The recommended quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, and flexibility in healthy adults.” Medicine and science in sports and exercise vol. 30,6 (1998): 975-91. doi:10.1097/00005768-199806000-00032
Choi, Jioun, et al. “Influences of spinal decompression therapy and general traction therapy on the pain, disability, and straight leg raising of patients with intervertebral disc herniation.” Journal of physical therapy science vol. 27,2 (2015): 481-3. doi:10.1589/jpts.27.481
Tseng, Shiuan-Yu, et al. “Effect of Two Frequencies of Whole-Body Vibration Training on Balance and Flexibility of the Elderly: A Randomized Controlled Trial.” American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation vol. 95,10 (2016): 730-7. doi:10.1097/PHM.0000000000000477
Spinal decompression and Digestion. No one wants to worry about stomach issues. A rich and unhealthy diet can cause digestive issues, stomach pain, and back pain. This can turn into a severe chronic condition; studies have found links between spinal problems and gastrointestinal tract symptoms, which include:
Abdominal pain that radiates.
Constipation.
Difficulty controlling bowel movements.
Diarrhea.
Nausea.
Vomiting.
Chiropractic treats the spine that is essential to the function of the central nervous system, which is responsible for digestion. When the nervous system is not functioning correctly, the other systems begin to malfunction. Chiropractic manual and motorized spinal decompression can help with digestion by releasing trapped gas from joints while improving blood circulation that is natural and non-invasive.
Spinal Decompression and Digestion
Spinal alignment and digestion are closely connected. The nerves in the thoracic and lumbar regions affect digestion. When the spine is out of alignment, it stresses the nerves. Nerves that are pinched or constricted are inhibited/disrupted from sending the proper signals to the digestive system. This can lead to new or worsening digestive problems. Spinal conditions that can cause digestive issues:
Herniated discs
Ankylosing spondylosis
Spinal cord injuries
Tumors
Studies have found that digestive issues, including discomfort, heartburn, and bloating, have decreased with regular chiropractic and spinal decompression and decreased constipation and irregular bowel movements. This comes from chiropractic reactivating the body’s natural ability to heal itself.
Increased Circulation
When the spine gets decompressed, it opens up the spine to circulate fluids throughout the body.
This flushes the lymphatic system, increasing the immune system’s function.
Increasing the circulation also provides additional oxygen and nutrients to the brain, improving signaling, memory, and concentration.
Improved Digestion
Poor posture compresses the abdomen and cramps the space the gastrointestinal tract needs to process food properly.
Decompressing the spine and correcting posture allows room for the muscles to contract, expand, and properly circulate waste.
Bowel Program
Treatment focuses on preventing further injuries and helping improve the individual’s quality of life. A doctor, chiropractor, health coach, or nutritionist can recommend a bowel program to help retrain the body to maintain regular bowel movements. These programs are personalized to the individual’s specific condition that takes into account:
Level of the spine injury or condition
Food and drink intake
Bowel movement pattern
Digestive problems
General health
Individual preferences
A bowel program sets up the timing of food intake, fluid intake, medications, and techniques to help bowel movements. The objective is to prevent spontaneous bowel movements, help pass stools regularly, and empty the rectum daily.
Spinal Decompression Reduced Disc Herniation UP To 90%
DRX9000 Decompression Treatment
References
Browning, Kirsteen N, and R Alberto Travagli. “Central nervous system control of gastrointestinal motility and secretion and modulation of gastrointestinal functions.” Comprehensive Physiology vol. 4,4 (2014): 1339-68. doi:10.1002/cphy.c130055
Holmes, Gregory M, and Emily N Blanke. “Gastrointestinal dysfunction after spinal cord injury.” Experimental neurology vol. 320 (2019): 113009. doi:10.1016/j.expneurol.2019.113009
Kehl, Amy S et al. “Relationship between the gut and the spine: a pilot study of first-degree relatives of patients with ankylosing spondylitis.” RMD open vol. 3,2 e000437. 16 Aug. 2017, doi:10.1136/rmdopen-2017-000437
Lara, Francisco Javier Pérez et al. “Chronic abdominal syndrome due to nervous compression. Study of 100 cases and proposed diagnostic-therapeutic algorithm.” Journal of gastrointestinal surgery: official journal of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract vol. 19,6 (2015): 1059-71. doi:10.1007/s11605-015-2801-8
Posture is the positioning of the body. There are two types of posture. Dynamic posture is how individuals position themselves when moving, like walking, running, or bending to lift an object. And static posture is how individuals position themselves when not in motion, like standing, sitting, or sleeping. Minimal stress is applied to the muscles and joints when practicing healthy posture. High-stress work and school combined with unhealthy body positions can cause health consequences to the spine, extremities, and musculoskeletal imbalances.
Health Consequences
Poor postures do not always present with spine or extremity pain right away. This is because individuals will feel discomfort and have the strength and mobility to correct unhealthy/awkward positions and minimize stress. However, eventually, the pain will begin to present as the muscles and joints can only take so much that the ability to correct poor positioning does not matter as there is a developing injury taking place, causing inflammation, letting the body know there is something not right. This often leads to chronic stress and the unnecessary wearing down of the joints to compensate for the unhealthy positions.
Early Signs
Early signs of postural problems can include:
Inability to sit or stand for a long time.
Stiffness when rising from a chair.
Feeling of added physical exhaustion.
Leaving the condition untreated often leads to:
Muscle imbalances.
Loss of normal flexibility.
Discomfort and pain present for no apparent reason.
Unhealthy Posture Symptoms
Symptoms can include:
Slouching
Rounded shoulders.
Potbelly.
Bent knees when standing or walking.
Muscle fatigue.
Aches and pains.
Back pain.
Headache.
Postural Structure
Poor posture interferes and disrupts several of the body’s posture structures. These include:
The static slow-twitch muscle fibers help maintain posture without exerting too much energy and contribute to balance by sensing the body’s position.
Static muscle fibers burn energy slowly and can work for a long time without tiring.
The fast-twitch or phasic muscle fibers are used for movement and activity. These fibers quickly use up their energy.
Because the phasic fibers have to work overtime instead of the static fibers to maintain the body’s position, muscle fatigue, weakness, and pain begin to set in.
Health
Health consequences can include:
Misaligned musculoskeletal system.
The advanced wearing of the spine making it fragile and prone to injury.
Chronic pain.
Decreased flexibility.
Joint mobility is affected.
Balance issues.
Increased risk of falling.
Difficulty digesting food.
Difficulty breathing.
Chiropractic and Physical Therapy
Chiropractors and physical therapists specialize in evaluating and treating musculoskeletal dysfunctions and disorders, identifying and screening for postural dysfunction. Chiropractic adjustments can be highly effective combined with other treatment modalities like massaging the soft tissues to improve circulation, reduce swelling inflammation, and promote healing. Spinal decompression therapy can help stretch and realign the spine to relieve back and/or leg pain. A customized exercise program will stretch and strengthen the body to maintain a healthy posture. Health coaching combined with dietary management can help with pain and inflammation and strengthen muscles and bones.
DRX9000 Spinal Decompression
References
American Chiropractic Association. Maintaining good posture. https://acatoday.org/content/posture-power-how-to-correct-your-body-alignment. Accessed Jan. 28, 2019.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Spine basics. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/spine-basics/. Accessed Jan. 30, 2019.
Bauer BA. Chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation. In: Mayo Clinic Guide to Integrative Medicine. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2017.
Muscolino JE. Posture and the gait cycle. In: Kinesiology: The Skeletal System and Muscle Function. 3rd ed. Elsevier; 2017.
Wang G. Powered traction devices for intervertebral decompression: Health technology assessment update. Washington Department of Labor and Industries, June 14, 2004.
Waters, Thomas R, and Robert B Dick. “Evidence of health risks associated with prolonged standing at work and intervention effectiveness.” Rehabilitation nursing: the official journal of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses vol. 40,3 (2015): 148-65. doi:10.1002/rnj.166
Individuals drive to jobs, to school, run errands, take road trips, spending a lot of time on the road. Accidents and crashes happen more frequently with all kinds of injuries. The National Highway Traffic Safety Commission has found that 37% of car accidents and crashes involve leg injuries and damage. Chiropractic physical rehabilitation and functional medicine can help heal injuries getting the individual back to everyday life.
Bruising and cuts are typical from the impact and the body getting slammed around. Lacerations can be noticed right away, but bruising comes from blood pooling underneath the skin and can take time to present, possibly 24 to 48 hours. Most bruises and cuts heal independently from home first aid care. A standard recovery used to take care of bruising is R.I.C.E or rest, ice, compression, and elevation. This helps the healing process; however, if the injury/s are more severe, chiropractic can help with therapeutic massage to relieve pain and strengthen the injured muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
ACL Injuries
The femur or thigh bone has several bands of tissue connecting it to the patella or kneecap and tibia or shin bone. One of the bands is the anterior cruciate ligament or ACL. Injuries to this band of tissue are common in sports. Car accidents and crashes are another common cause, specifically tearing the ligament. Individuals experiencing a tear may notice some or all of the following symptoms:
A cracking or popping sound when the accident or crash took place.
Swelling in and around the knee.
Severe pain in and around the knee.
Unstable and unsteady when walking or standing.
Reduced range of motion that makes walking or moving difficult.
A chiropractor can help treat the injury and help correct any muscular imbalances.
Meniscus Tears
Tears to the meniscus are also common in car accidents and crashes. The meniscusis a part of the knee. Two wedge-shaped pieces of cartilage provide a cushion where the femur and tibia meet to absorb shock. The wedges are called menisci.
When the meniscus tears, individuals might feel or hear a pop and could feel the leg suddenly give out.
Swelling in the knee.
Some pain but still be able to walk.
The knee will be stiff for the next few days.
More difficulty bearing weight or walking.
The RICE method is a recommended method of self-care. Many meniscus tears do not require surgery to improve knee function. Mild to moderate meniscus tears can be successfully treated with chiropractic techniques like soft tissue work, corrective stretches, and exercises. Surgery could eventually be necessary for severe cases to repair the meniscus to prevent long-term complications.
Chiropractic care can help the body heal and recover from a bone fracture. A patient’s bone density is evaluated and tested with an individualized treatment plan to help regain and maintain optimal bone strength. The treatments strengthen the muscles, reduce stiffness, improve nutrition, and relieve pain. Manipulation adjustments, rehabilitation, relaxation techniques, and dietary health coaching help individuals heal faster and strengthen their bones. The objective is to help regain increased mobility and range of motion.
Sciatica
Car accidents and crashes are one instance where the spine can be damaged enough to bring on sciatic pain where no back problems were present before. The impact from a car accident can cause the discs to be knocked out of place, damaged, and/or rupture around the surrounding tissue. Any of these results can pinch the sciatic nerve, leading to pain and other sciatica symptoms. Chiropractic can realign the spine and relieve pressure from the nerve/s.
DOC Spinal Decompression Table
References
Atkinson, T, and P Atkinson. “Knee injuries in motor vehicle collisions: a study of the National Accident Sampling System database for the years 1979-1995.” Accident; analysis and prevention vol. 32,6 (2000): 779-86. doi:10.1016/s0001-4575(99)00131-1
Foulk, David M, and Brian H Mullis. “Hip dislocation: evaluation and management.” The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons vol. 18,4 (2010): 199-209. doi:10.5435/00124635-201004000-00003
Wilson, L S Jr et al. “Foot and ankle injuries in motor vehicle accidents.” Foot & ankle international vol. 22,8 (2001): 649-52. doi:10.1177/107110070102200806
Spinal stress can affect nerve health. Neuropathy happens when disease or damage is sustained in the nerves that transmit messages from the brain through the spinal cord to the whole body. The source of the damage can be inside the spine, where a herniated disc could be squeezing the nerves, impeding or completely blocking blood circulation until deterioration begins to disease or damage nerve receptors. Removing the pressure from the spine and reversing the stress on the nerves can be done through manual or motorized spinal decompression.
Spinal Stress and the Nerves
The peripheral nervous system is comprised of three types of nerves that are directly influenced by the central nervous system, each with a distinct function which is why there is a wide range of symptoms associated with neuropathy. The types of nerves include:
Sensory nerves receive sensations from the skin like heat, cold, pleasure, and pain.
Spinal nerves contain sensory and motor fibers giving them sensory and motor functions. The spinal nerves receive sensory messages from the skin, internal organs, and bones. Any disruption from a bent, crushed, or entangled nerve group will not allow proper blood circulation and message transmission, causing delayed responses, tingling, numbness, and pain. If left untreated, it could cause permanent damage that can lead to chronic pain. Decompression therapy accelerates healing as it floods the spine with blood, oxygen, and nutrients.
Peripheral nerves originate from the spinal cord and extend a network of lines throughout the body called dermatomes. Injury to one dermatome can radiate/spread out to other dermatomes and the peripheral areas like the hands and feet. Once communication with the brain is compromised, results can lead to sensations like numbness and severe pain. Several factors can result in peripheral neuropathy, including:
Gordon, Tessa. “Peripheral Nerve Regeneration and Muscle Reinnervation.” International journal of molecular sciences vol. 21,22 8652. 17 Nov. 2020, doi:10.3390/ijms21228652
Menorca, Ron M G et al. “Nerve physiology: mechanisms of injury and recovery.” Hand clinics vol. 29,3 (2013): 317-30. doi:10.1016/j.hcl.2013.04.002
Wang, Mark L et al. “Peripheral nerve injury, scarring, and recovery.” Connective tissue research vol. 60,1 (2019): 3-9. doi:10.1080/03008207.2018.1489381
Sciatica is experienced as lower back pain and pain that radiates down the back of the legs. It is pain caused by compression, irritation, or inflammation of the sciatic nerve. It is generally experienced on one side of the body. Body movements like twisting, bending, sitting, or responses like coughing and sneezing can worsen the pain. Individuals with sciatica also experience muscle weakness, numbness, tingling, or electrical shock-like sensations. Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic offer manual and motorized sciatic nerve decompression to stretch/realign the spine, release the compressed nerves, and relieve pain.
Sciatic Nerve Decompression
The spine consists of 23 spinal discs that are shock absorbers for the body during movement. Each disc consists of a soft inner core of a gel substance and a thick outer layer. Wear and tear of the spinal discs from aging, degenerative disc disease, repetitive physical activities like lifting and bending, obesity, and poor posture are some of the factors that can stress the spine, causing the thick outer layer of the spinal disc to crack/breakdown causing the soft inner core to leak out forming a bulging or herniated disc. This type of injury compresses, pinches, or irritates one or more nerve roots that form the sciatic nerve, triggering sciatica.
Spinal stenosis or the narrowing of the spinal canal.
Spondylolisthesis, or the slipping or dislocation of the spinal vertebrae in the lower part of the spine.
Are also known sciatica causes.
Symptoms
Common compressed nerve symptoms include:
Pain or burning sensations radiating down the leg.
Because branches of the sciatic nerve extend from the lumbar spine through the buttocks and down the leg, pain, burning sensations or dull aching can present along the nerve’s pathway if the nerve gets compressed or irritated.
Weakness in the affected leg.
When walking or moving the legs, the nerves transmit information to the brain, stimulating the muscles to react in specific ways.
A pinched sciatic nerve can cause interference with relaying signals, resulting in weakness.
Numbness.
The compression impedes blood circulation and nerve energy transmission.
Spinal decompression therapy relieves pressure on the spine by pulling/stretching it in small increments. Non-surgical spinal decompression creates negative pressure within the discs. The negative pressure pulls or vacuums back the disc material that has protruded or herniated and an abundance of nutrients to activate the healing response. The chiropractor, physical therapist, or nurse uses motorized medical equipment with sensors linked to a computer-aided system to perform the procedure. The equipment is designed to adjust the pull force accordingly to prevent muscle resistance. The adjustable table also allows the spine to be stretched at different angles to target the upper or lower back.
The objective of spinal decompression treatment is to relieve the symptoms of sciatica or disc disorders and heal the injured disc. We utilize spinal decompression as an effective tool in treating a vast array of spinal conditions.
DRX9000 Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression
References
Berry, James A et al. “A Review of Lumbar Radiculopathy, Diagnosis, and Treatment.” Cureus vol. 11,10 e5934. 17 Oct. 2019, doi:10.7759/cureus.5934
Davis D, Maini K, Vasudevan A. Sciatica. [Updated 2022 Feb 4]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507908/
Giuffre BA, Jeanmonod R. Anatomy, Sciatic Nerve. [Updated 2021 Jul 29]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482431/
National Institutes of Health. (2019.) “Sciatica.” https://medlineplus.gov/sciatica.html
Motorized non-surgical decompression helps relieve pain, removes pressure on the nerves, promotes healing, and increases blood flow to the spine. Spinal discs cannot attain nutrients from the blood without circulation. Decompression opens the spine, flooding the discs with nutrients that result in quicker and optimal healing. This, combined with manual chiropractic adjustments and therapeutic massage, can help get an individual to a pain-free lifestyle.
Spinal Discs
The soft disc material that separates each spinal bone can lose hydration, causing the material to dry out and compress. The discs can also compress from pressure from added weight, trauma from an automobile accident, work, school, and sports injury. Often the soft gel center of the discs spills out, causing a disc herniation. This is usually accompanied by:
Numbness
Tingling
Soreness
Stiffness
Sharp pain
Dull pain
Achiness
Muscle Weakness
Stinging/Burning sensation
Leg pain
Poor balance
These are often indicators of a nerve or nerve bundle, including the sciatic nerve becoming compressed by a herniated disc, bulging disc or slipped disc, stenosis, facet syndrome, or degenerative disc disease. When this happens, the symptoms may be felt in the back or neck area, and/or they may spread out into the arms, hands, legs, or feet.
We focus on providing expert chiropractic treatment that incorporates the most current research and technology into personalized treatment plans. Our goal is to help the individual heal as quickly as possible while educating and training them to use tools to maintain health and wellness.
What Is Spinal Decompression?
References
Andersson, G B, and R A Deyo. “History and physical examination in patients with herniated lumbar discs.” Spine vol. 21,24 Suppl (1996): 10S-18S. doi:10.1097/00007632-199612151-00003
Apfel, Christian C et al. “Restoration of disk height through non-surgical spinal decompression is associated with decreased discogenic low back pain: a retrospective cohort study.” BMC musculoskeletal disorders vol. 11 155. 8 Jul. 2010, doi:10.1186/1471-2474-11-155
Cherkin, DC, and F A MacCornack. “Patient evaluations of low back pain care from family physicians and chiropractors.” The Western journal of medicine vol. 150,3 (1989): 351-5.
Koçak, Fatmanur Aybala et al. “Comparison of the short-term effects of the conventional motorized traction with non-surgical spinal decompression performed with a DRX9000 device on pain, functionality, depression, and quality of life in patients with low back pain associated with lumbar disc herniation: A single-blind randomized controlled trial.” Turkish Journal of physical medicine and rehabilitation vol. 64,1 17-27. 16 Feb. 2017, doi:10.5606/tftrd.2017.154
Urban, Jill PG, and Sally Roberts. “Degeneration of the intervertebral disc.” Arthritis research & therapy vol. 5,3 (2003): 120-30. doi:10.1186/ar629
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