Can individuals reduce being sick by incorporating chiropractic care and health coaching as a treatment plan to relieve pain?
What Happens To The Body When It’s Sick?
How often do you feel constant aches and pains in various locations of your body? Do you feel that your head feels like there is cotton inside or that you have a pounding sensation that makes you stay in bed? Or how often have allergies made you constantly sneeze, making your back and chest hurt continuously? When it comes to the human body, these scenarios can cause a person to develop various ailments that can cause the body to become tired and sick. Environmental factors like stress, an excessive workload, improper dieting, and physical inactivity all play a role in causing overlapping risk profiles to the body while causing the immune system to work overtime. When it comes to the immune system and environmental factors, there is a bidirectional relationship as the immune system releases inflammatory cytokines to foreign pathogens and eliminates the issue. However, environmental factors affecting the immune system can even impact its functioning at the physical level. (Venter et al., 2020) When the body starts to feel sick, many people experience aches and pain in their muscles in the upper and lower quadrants. This can, over time, develop into overlapping pain-like symptoms that can cause doctors to prescribe medication to control these symptoms. Many symptoms that can be combined with being sick include:
Headaches/migraines
Nausea/vomiting
Fatigue
Muscle aches & pains
Allergies
When this happens, a person could be dealing with a tired, nervous system and experiencing body pains that can lead to various issues, thus needing treatment. We associate with certified medical providers who inform our patients of the benefits of incorporating chiropractic care and health coaching to improve their health and reduce sickness. While asking important questions to our associated medical providers, we advise patients to integrate ways to reduce the chances of being sick through a customized treatment plan. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., envisions this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
A Tired Nervous System & Body Pains
When it comes to the body starting to feel sick, it can be due to a tired, nervous system that is causing problems to arise in the body. The nervous system is the main control for the body as it controls pain, movement, organ function, and reactions, and the body needs to be consistently maintained to achieve optimal operations. When environmental factors affect the nervous system, it can lead to symptoms of nerve interference and body pain that can cause various issues. When various biomechanical, biochemical, and neuropsychological factors contribute to the body and cause pain, it can negatively affect a person’s quality of life. (Sarkovich et al., 2024) It can also negatively impact the spine and cause spinal misalignment, thus affecting the individual. When a person is dealing with spinal misalignment, they begin dealing with poor postural habits, limited range of motion, and pain within the upper, middle, and lower back. (Chu & Trager, 2022) This, in turn, causes a longer duration of the symptoms while increasing the presence and severity of degenerative changes. (Davis et al., 2022) So when degenerative changes and dangerous pressure are affecting the nerves correlated with spinal misalignment, many people can begin to seek treatment to realign the spine and reduce the chances of becoming sick.
The Role of Chiropractic Care On Improving Your Health-Video
Chiropractic Care For Improving The Body
When restoring spinal alignment and reducing the chances of the body becoming sick again, many people seek holistic, non-invasive, customized, cost-effective, holistic treatment. Chiropractic care can help realign the spine through manual and mechanical manipulation to determine the root cause of the issue and reduce nerve interference. Chiropractors can assess and detect nerve interference to identify any problems affecting the body. At the same time, chiropractic care can be used as a therapeutic intervention to regulate the body’s blood pressure and provide spinal rehabilitation. (Sullivan et al., 2020) At the same time, chiropractic care has a unique relationship with other treatments to ensure the body is healthy and energetic.
Health Coaching To Reduce Being Sick
While chiropractors can help restore the body through spinal realignment and rehabilitation, they also work with a health coach to make small changes and incorporate healthy habits to enhance chiropractic care. Exercise, proper dieting, and incorporating supplements combined with chiropractic care benefit complete wellness by reducing days of suffering from illnesses. (Khodakarami, 2020) When people start to think more about their help, incorporating chiropractic care with health coaching can be the key to maintaining healthy habits, listening, and being mindful of their bodies to reduce the effects of pain and discomfort. A healthy body can be energetic and free from diseases, dysfunction, pain, and discomfort, allowing individuals to continue their routine more healthily.
References
Chu, E. C., & Trager, R. J. (2022). Neck Pain and Headache After Pinealectomy: Improvement with Multimodal Chiropractic Therapies. Am J Case Rep, 23, e937906. https://doi.org/10.12659/AJCR.937906
Davis, B. A., Dunn, A. S., Golley, D. J., & Chicoine, D. R. (2022). Chiropractic Clinical Outcomes Among Older Adult Male Veterans With Chronic Lower Back Pain: A Retrospective Review of Quality-Assurance Data. J Chiropr Med, 21(2), 77-82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcm.2022.02.004
Khodakarami, N. (2020). Treatment of Patients with Low Back Pain: A Comparison of Physical Therapy and Chiropractic Manipulation. Healthcare (Basel), 8(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare8010044
Sarkovich, S., Leonardi, C., Darlow, M., Martin, D., Issa, P., Soria, T., Bronstone, A., & Clement, C. (2024). Back pain in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: frequency and risk factors. Spine Deform, 12(5), 1319-1327. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43390-024-00904-0
Sullivan, S. G., Paolacci, S., Kiani, A. K., & Bertelli, M. (2020). Chiropractic care for hypertension: Review of the literature and study of biological and genetic bases. Acta Biomed, 91(13-S), e2020017. https://doi.org/10.23750/abm.v91i13-S.10524
Venter, C., Eyerich, S., Sarin, T., & Klatt, K. C. (2020). Nutrition and the Immune System: A Complicated Tango. Nutrients, 12(3). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12030818
Can individuals dealing with scoliosis incorporate various exercises and stretches to improve their posture and reduce pain?
What Is Scoliosis?
More often than anything, many people have tried to maintain proper posture to prevent musculoskeletal and spinal conditions from forming. However, it can be difficult to maintain an appropriate posture when strenuous environmental factors come into play. This can range from being in a hunched position to developing spinal conditions that can affect the curvature of the spine. One of the most well-known spinal conditions many people can develop through numerous risk factors is spinal scoliosis. Spinal scoliosis is often defined as a curvature deviation in the normal vertical spinal line. (Janicki & Alman, 2007) This causes the spine to develop an S or C curve in the thoracic or lumbar portion of the spine, leading to overlapping risk profiles in the body and causing pain-like symptoms that can make a person feel miserable. Today’s article looks at scoliosis, how it affects the body, and how various exercises can help manage scoliosis. We discuss with certified medical providers who inform our patients how non-surgical treatments, like various exercises, help manage symptoms associated with scoliosis. While asking informed questions to our associated medical providers, we advise patients to include various exercises and pain management techniques to reduce pain-like symptoms correlating with scoliosis. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., encompasses this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
How Does It Affect The Body?
Since scoliosis is a spinal deformity condition that affects the spine, it can happen at any age and is categorized into four group forms:
Congenital (Presented by birth)
Neuromuscular (Resulted from cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy)
Idiopathic (The common spinal condition)
Degenerative (Adult-onset scoliosis)
Within these four groups of scoliosis, some of the pain-like symptoms can vary depending on the size of the curve and how far the progression leads to overlapping risk profiles in the thoracic and lumbar spine portions. (Aebi, 2005) Some of the symptoms that are associated with scoliosis are back pain. Many individuals with scoliosis, especially adolescent individuals, have back pain associated with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis due to increasing age, injuries, and how severe the spine is curved. (Achar & Yamanaka, 2020) Additional symptoms that many individuals experience with scoliosis that can affect their bodies have specific features that cause pain. Individuals with scoliosis often have increasing asymmetrical pain when standing for prolonged periods and residing at rest, thus mimicking sciatica pain. (Zaina et al., 2023) This is because pain is one of the biomarkers for scoliosis. When pain starts to affect the body, issues like muscle dysfunction, concave disc pressure, asymmetrical facet joint strains, and a high BMI (body mass index) become the main mechanical parameters in the body. They are assessed by doctors when being examined. (Ilharreborde et al., 2023) When individuals are being assessed by their doctors to manage scoliosis, non-surgical treatments can help manage the pain-like symptoms and restore joint stability and mobility to the body.
Movement Medicine: Chiropractic Care- Video
Various Exercises For Managing Scoliosis
When many individuals dealing with scoliosis go in for non-surgical treatments, they will be assessed and evaluated by pain specialists to determine what the next steps for treatment can be provided for them. For scoliosis, non-surgical treatments like chiropractic care can be provided to reduce the musculoskeletal conditions associated with scoliosis. Chiropractors utilize mechanical and manual spinal manipulation of the spine. They can set the vertebra back in place while restoring the spinal joint with optimal motion, improving the range of motion, and allowing the body to function properly. (Milne et al., 2022) At the same time, chiropractors can recommend various exercises and stretches to help manage symptoms associated with scoliosis as part of their treatment plan. Incorporating various exercises can help rectify spinal deformity, help the different muscle groups become stronger, and allow the individual to work a bit on managing scoliosis symptoms. Below are some of the various exercises and stretches to manage scoliosis.
Practicing Good Posture
Practicing good posture can benefit many individuals with scoliosis, especially young ones. Many people realize that maintaining good posture can help reduce muscle pain and tension in the back. It allows many people to realign their bodies and retrain them to stand with good posture naturally. Maintaining good posture, whether standing or seated, can allow doctors to scan the body for any tension signs. For those with scoliosis, it can gradually strengthen the weak core muscles in their bodies.
Abdominal Presses
Abdominal presses allow the individual to maintain neutral spinal alignment while strengthening the abdominal core muscles. To do this:
Individuals must lie on their backs on a yoga mat, keeping their backs in a neutral, tension-free position with bent knees.
They raise both feet and thighs off the mat to form a 90-degree angle with their knees above the hips. *They can support themselves with a chair or wall.
Next, individuals can use their hands to push and pull the knees with their abdominal muscles.
When doing this static exercise, make sure that they hold for three full breaths in two sets of ten and relax in between.
Bird-Dog
Bird-dog is a yoga move that can help stretch tight and weak muscles in the back and allow the body to balance itself. To do this:
Individuals can be on their hands and knees with a neutral spine position on a yoga mat, ensuring their hands are under their shoulders and their knees are under their hips.
With controlled breathing, extend one arm straight out while extending the opposite leg back.
Maintain the position for five to thirty seconds, andslowly return to the neutral spine.
Repeat the motion with the opposite for 10 to 15 reps.
Incorporating these exercises can help manage pain-like symptoms associated with scoliosis, help many individuals strengthen their weak muscles, and help improve their posture on their health and wellness journey.
Ilharreborde, B., Simon, A. L., Shadi, M., & Kotwicki, T. (2023). Is scoliosis a source of pain? J Child Orthop, 17(6), 527-534. https://doi.org/10.1177/18632521231215861
Janicki, J. A., & Alman, B. (2007). Scoliosis: Review of diagnosis and treatment. Paediatr Child Health, 12(9), 771-776. https://doi.org/10.1093/pch/12.9.771
Milne, N., Longeri, L., Patel, A., Pool, J., Olson, K., Basson, A., & Gross, A. R. (2022). Spinal manipulation and mobilisation in the treatment of infants, children, and adolescents: a systematic scoping review. BMC Pediatr, 22(1), 721. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-022-03781-6
Zaina, F., Marchese, R., Donzelli, S., Cordani, C., Pulici, C., McAviney, J., & Negrini, S. (2023). Current Knowledge on the Different Characteristics of Back Pain in Adults with and without Scoliosis: A Systematic Review. J Clin Med, 12(16). https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12165182
Can individuals have a full night of sleep by making small changes to their sleep posture to reduce general aches and pains?
Introduction
Many individuals know that after a long, hard day of working or running errands, getting much rest is necessary to reduce tension in the body and put it in a relaxed state. Getting a quick nap to a full night of sleep is important not only for the body but also for the posture. However, many people get a bad night’s rest from various environmental factors that can keep them from getting the full benefits of eight hours of sleep. It can range from stressful events impacting a person’s life to overlapping risk profiles correlated with chronic conditions. Today’s article focuses on how poor posture can affect sleep and how there are different ways for a person to get a good night’s rest, improve sleep posture, and find the right mattress and pillows to allow the individual to stay asleep. We discuss with certified medical providers who inform our patients how various environmental factors can cause overlapping risk profiles and not getting a full night of rest. While asking informed questions to our associated medical providers, we advise patients to incorporate various techniques to improve sleep posture when getting a full night of quality sleep. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., encompasses this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
Poor Posture Affecting Sleep
Do you feel extremely tired throughout the day, even after a full night? Do you experience stiffness in the morning that gets better throughout the day? Or how often do you wake up constantly at night and have trouble staying asleep? Many individuals who have experienced these scenarios are frequently correlated with bad sleeping habits. Many individuals have dealt with poor sleeping habits throughout the day due to environmental factors that can impact their sleep. Some environmental factors, like poor posture, can affect how people sleep at night. Poor posture has always been associated with musculoskeletal disorders. When musculoskeletal disorders have overlapping risk profiles from physical workload and psychological stress, it can become a predictor or even correlate with sleep disorders. (Hammig, 2020) This is because having habitual in-bed behaviors like movement and posture could cause health complications and prevent people from getting a good night’s rest. (Elnaggar et al., 2023)
This is due to how individuals’ posture can affect their sleep quality and overall health. For instance, individuals dealing with chronic spinal pain will begin to develop poor posture over time. When this happens, it can coexist with other comorbidities like insomnia, which can lead to a larger negative effect on a person’s physical and mental functioning while preventing them from being less productive and having poor quality of sleep. (Bilterys et al., 2021) When people experience spinal pain, causing them to develop poor posture, it can lead to sleep disturbances. The correlation between sleep disturbances and poor posture can cause impairment of the physiological process that can contribute to maintaining chronic pain. (Skillgate et al., 2021) However, there are numerous ways for people to get a good night’s rest while improving their posture.
The Benefits Of Stretching-Video
Ways To Get a Good Night Rest
When it comes to finding ways to get a good night’s rest, many people will try to devise solutions to establish a routine for their bedtime. Some of the ways people can utilize for a good night’s rest include:
Lowering room temperature
Keeping a sleep diary
Limit caffeinated drinks in the evening
Limit electronics before bed
Stick and create a sleep schedule
By creating some of these habits and sticking with them, many people can get much-needed rest and more energy when they wake up. At the same time, proper sleeping habits can help improve sleeping posture.
Improving Sleep Posture
There is no right way to do it regarding proper sleeping habits and improving sleep posture. Everyone has a position they favor more to be comfortable. For instance, a person who sleeps on the back is more relaxed than sleeping on their sides. Since sleep posture is associated with sleep quality, poor posture may provoke increased wake time and affect a person’s ability to maintain an asleep state. (Cary et al., 2021) So, by listening to the body and following its natural sleep flow, a person can stay asleep longer and be comfortable.
Finding The Right Mattress & Pillow
At the same time, improving one’s sleeping posture is not the only way to get a good night’s rest. Finding the right mattress and pillows is important, too. When people seek mattresses and pillows to improve their sleep quality, many often seek out tempur-pedic mattresses to support their body and have the best sleep. Many tempur-pedic mattresses can help reduce pressure from the body, making a person comfortable and minimizing movement. Additionally, new pillows supporting the neck and lower back can reduce somatic symptoms and provide neutral spinal alignment for the body. (Yamada et al., 2023) When it comes to having the best quality of sleep, it can be achievable with proper sleep habits, a new set of pillows and mattresses, and a comfortable position that will allow people to feel refreshed and re-energized.
References
Bilterys, T., Siffain, C., De Maeyer, I., Van Looveren, E., Mairesse, O., Nijs, J., Meeus, M., Ickmans, K., Cagnie, B., Goubert, D., Danneels, L., Moens, M., & Malfliet, A. (2021). Associates of Insomnia in People with Chronic Spinal Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Clin Med, 10(14). https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10143175
Cary, D., Jacques, A., & Briffa, K. (2021). Examining relationships between sleep posture, waking spinal symptoms and quality of sleep: A cross sectional study. PLOS ONE, 16(11), e0260582. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0260582
Elnaggar, O., Arelhi, R., Coenen, F., Hopkinson, A., Mason, L., & Paoletti, P. (2023). An interpretable framework for sleep posture change detection and postural inactivity segmentation using wrist kinematics. Sci Rep, 13(1), 18027. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-44567-9
Hammig, O. (2020). Work- and stress-related musculoskeletal and sleep disorders among health professionals: a cross-sectional study in a hospital setting in Switzerland. BMC Musculoskelet Disord, 21(1), 319. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-020-03327-w
Skillgate, E., Isacson Hjortzberg, M., Stromwall, P., Hallqvist, J., Onell, C., Holm, L. W., & Bohman, T. (2021). Non-Preferred Work and the Incidence of Spinal Pain and Psychological Distress-A Prospective Cohort Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 18(19). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph181910051
Yamada, S., Hoshi, T., Toda, M., Tsuge, T., Matsudaira, K., & Oka, H. (2023). Changes in neck pain and somatic symptoms before and after the adjustment of the pillow height. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 35(2), 106-113. https://doi.org/10.1589/jpts.35.106
Can individuals with spinal pain in their necks and back utilize decompression therapy to restore spinal disc height and find relief?
Introduction
Many people don’t realize that as the body gets older, so does the spine. The spine is part of the musculoskeletal system that provides structural support to the body by keeping it upright. The surrounding muscles, ligaments, and tissues surrounding the spine help with stability and mobility, while the spinal disc and joints provide shock absorption from the sheer vertical weight. When a person is on the move with their daily activities, the spine can allow the individual to be mobile without pain or discomfort. However, as time passes, the spine goes through degenerative changes that can cause pain and discomfort to the body, thus leaving the individual to deal with overlapping risk profiles that can affect their neck and back. To that point, many people seek out treatments to reduce the pain affecting their spine and restore the disc height in their bodies. Today’s article looks at how spinal pain affects a person’s neck and back and how treatments like spinal decompression can reduce spinal pain and restore disc height. We talk with certified medical providers who consolidate our patients’ information to assess how spinal pain can significantly impact a person’s well-being and quality of life in their bodies. We also inform and guide patients on how integrating spinal decompression can help reduce spinal pain and restore spinal disc height. We encourage our patients to ask their associated medical providers intricate and important questions about incorporating non-surgical treatments into a health and wellness routine to relieve spinal pain and regain their quality of life. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., includes this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
How Spinal Pain Affects A Person’s Neck & Back
Do you feel constant muscle aches and pains in your neck and back? Have you experienced stiffness and limited mobility when you are twisting and turning? Or do heavy objects cause muscle strain when moving from one location to another? Many individuals will be on the move and be in weird positions without feeling pain and discomfort when it comes to the spine. This is due to the surrounding muscles and tissues being stretched and the spinal discs taking on the vertical pressure on the spine. However, when environmental factors, traumatic injuries, or natural aging start to affect the spine, it can lead to the development of spinal pain. This is because the outer portion of the spinal disc is intact, and the inner portion of the disc is being affected. When abnormal stresses start to reduce the water intake within the disc, it can internally stimulate the pain receptors without nerve root symptoms inside the disc. (Zhang et al., 2009) This causes many individuals to deal with neck and back pain in their bodies and reduces their quality of life.
Spinal pain can lead to overlapping risk profiles that cause many individuals to deal with severe low back pain and neck pain, which then causes the surrounding muscles to become weak, tight, and overstretched. At the same time, the surrounding nerve roots are also affected as the nerve fibers surround the outer and inner parts of the spinal disc, which causes nociceptive pain properties to the neck and back region and leads to discogenic pain. (Coppes et al., 1997) When many individuals are dealing with muscle pain correlated with the spinal discs, it causes a pain-spasm-pain cycle that can affect their bodies due to not moving enough and causing painful muscular activities when trying to be mobile. (Roland, 1986) When a person has limited mobility cause they are experiencing spinal pain, their natural disc height slowly degenerates, causing more issues to their bodies and socioeconomic burdens. Fortunately, when many individuals are dealing with spinal pain, numerous treatments can reduce spinal pain and restore their disc height.
Movement Medicine- Video
How Spinal Decompression Reduces Spinal Pain
When people are seeking treatments for their spinal pain, many will seek surgical treatments to reduce their pain, but it will be a bit pricey. However, many individuals will opt for non-surgical treatments due to their affordability. Non-surgical treatments are cost-effective and customizable to a person’s pain and discomfort. From chiropractic care to acupuncture, depending on the severity of the person’s pain, many will find the relief they seek. One of the most innovative treatments for reducing spinal pain is spinal decompression. Spinal decompression allows the individual to be strapped into a traction table. This is because it gently pulls on the spine to realign the spinal disc by reducing the pressure on the spine to invoke the body’s natural healing process to relieve pain. (Ramos & Martin, 1994) Additionally, when many individuals are using spinal decompression, the gentle traction provides a motorized distraction to the spine that may induce physical changes to the spinal disc and help restore a person’s range of motion, flexibility, and mobility. (Amjad et al., 2022)
Spinal Decompression Restoring Spinal Disc Height
When a person is being strapped into the spinal decompression machine, the gentle traction helps the spinal disc return to the spine, allowing the fluids and nutrients to rehydrate the spine, increasing the spine’s disc height. This is because spinal decompression creates negative pressure on the spine, allowing the spinal disc to return to its original height and providing relief. Plus, the amazing thing that spinal decompression does is that it can be combined with physical therapy to help stretch and strengthen the surrounding muscles near the spine to provide more stability and flexibility. (Vanti et al., 2023) This allows the individual to be more mindful of their bodies and start incorporating small habit changes to reduce the pain from returning. When many people begin to think about their health and wellness by going to treatment, they will regain their quality of life and get back to their daily routine without the issues affecting their spine.
References
Amjad, F., Mohseni-Bandpei, M. A., Gilani, S. A., Ahmad, A., & Hanif, A. (2022). Effects of non-surgical decompression therapy in addition to routine physical therapy on pain, range of motion, endurance, functional disability and quality of life versus routine physical therapy alone in patients with lumbar radiculopathy; a randomized controlled trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord, 23(1), 255. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-022-05196-x
Coppes, M. H., Marani, E., Thomeer, R. T., & Groen, G. J. (1997). Innervation of “painful” lumbar discs. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 22(20), 2342-2349; discussion 2349-2350. https://doi.org/10.1097/00007632-199710150-00005
Ramos, G., & Martin, W. (1994). Effects of vertebral axial decompression on intradiscal pressure. J Neurosurg, 81(3), 350-353. https://doi.org/10.3171/jns.1994.81.3.0350
Roland, M. O. (1986). A critical review of the evidence for a pain-spasm-pain cycle in spinal disorders. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon), 1(2), 102-109. https://doi.org/10.1016/0268-0033(86)90085-9
Vanti, C., Saccardo, K., Panizzolo, A., Turone, L., Guccione, A. A., & Pillastrini, P. (2023). The effects of the addition of mechanical traction to physical therapy on low back pain? A systematic review with meta-analysis. Acta Orthop Traumatol Turc, 57(1), 3-16. https://doi.org/10.5152/j.aott.2023.21323
Zhang, Y. G., Guo, T. M., Guo, X., & Wu, S. X. (2009). Clinical diagnosis for discogenic low back pain. Int J Biol Sci, 5(7), 647-658. https://doi.org/10.7150/ijbs.5.647
Can working individuals dealing with degenerative pain syndrome incorporate decompression to provide body relief and mobility?
Introduction
As part of the musculoskeletal system, the spine allows the body to stand vertically and helps protect the spinal cord from injuries. Since the central nervous system provides neuron signals from the brain to the nerve roots, the human body can be mobile without pain or discomfort. This is due to the spinal discs between the facet joints, which can be compressed, absorb the vertical axial pressure, and help distribute the weight to the lower and upper extremity muscles. However, as many people realize, repetitive movements and wear and tear on the spinal structure can lead to overlapping risk profiles that can cause the spinal disc to degenerate and invoke pain in the musculoskeletal system. To that point, it can cause the individual to be in extreme pain and discomfort over time. Today’s article looks at how degenerative pain syndrome affects the spine, the symptoms it’s associated with, and how decompression can reduce degenerative pain syndrome. We talk with certified medical providers who consolidate our patients’ information to provide numerous treatments to relieve degenerative pain syndrome that is causing mobility issues on the spine. We also inform and guide patients on how decompression can help reduce the pain-like symptoms correlating with degenerative pain syndrome. We encourage our patients to ask their associated medical providers intricated and important questions about the referred pain-like symptoms they are experiencing from degenerative pain that is affecting their quality of life. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., incorporates this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
Degenerative Pain Syndrome On The Spine
Do you feel muscle aches or pains in your back after an extended period of lying down, sitting, or standing? Do you feel constant pain after carrying a heavy object from one location to another? Or does twisting or turning your torso provide temporary relief? Many people often don’t realize that many of these pain-like issues are associated with degenerative pain syndrome that affects the spine. Since the body ages naturally, the spine does as well through degeneration. When the spinal discs start to degenerate, it can cause the vertical axial pressure to flatten and squeeze the disc, disrupting its ability to keep hydrated and causing it to protrude out of its original position. At the same time, the height of the spinal disc will gradually fall, and the consequence is a change in dynamics in the affected spine segments. (Kos et al., 2019) Degeneration can cascade down to the surrounding ligaments, muscles, and joints when degeneration starts to affect the spine.
The Symptoms Associated With Degenerative Pain
When the surrounding joints, muscles, and ligaments are affected by degenerative disc pain, it can be due to multiple factors contributing to the pain-like symptoms. Inflammation is one of the symptoms that are associated with degenerative pain syndrome, as disturbances can affect the circadian rhythm and disrupt homeostasis, which then leads to increased stress on the spinal disc, which then contributes to the degenerative process. (Chao-Yang et al., 2021) Inflammation can cause the affected muscles to be inflamed and cause more overlapping risk profiles, as it can affect the upper and lower extremities. Additionally, mechanical loading may affect disc degeneration in various ways at the different vertebral levels. (Salo et al., 2022) This can lead to pain-like symptoms like:
Arm and leg tenderness
Nerve pain
Loss of sensory functions on the upper and lower extremities
Tingling sensations
Muscle pain
However, numerous treatments can help restore spinal mobility and lessen the painful effects of the degenerative pain syndrome of the spine.
The Non-Surgical Approach To Wellness- Video
When it comes to seeking treatment for degenerative pain syndrome, many individuals will do research on which treatment is affordable for their pain, hence why many people opt for non-surgical treatment to alleviate their pain. Non-surgical treatments are customized to the individual’s pain. They can help kickstart the person’s wellness journey, which can include a combination of exercise, manual therapy, and lifestyle modifications. (Brogger et al., 2018) The video above shows how a non-surgical approach can benefit someone with degenerative pain syndrome affecting their spine.
Decompression Reducing Degenerative Pain Syndrome
With many available treatments to reduce pain-like symptoms affecting the spine, non-surgical treatments can be an option. Ranging from chiropractic care to acupuncture, non-surgical treatments can be combined to minimize the pain-like effects. Decompression, as part of the non-surgical treatment options, is an excellent way to reduce the degenerative pain process in the spine. Decompression allows the spinal column to be gently pulled through a traction machine to relieve the spinal disc. When a traction machine decomposes the spine, the pain intensity is significantly reduced in all body parts. (Ljunggren et al., 1984) This is due to negative pressure being reinstated back to the spine to increase disc height and restore the nutrients back to the affected disc and rehydrate them. (Choi et al., 2022) When people start incorporating decompression through consecutive treatment, their pain intensity is reduced, and their spine is mobile again while slowing down the degenerative process on the spine. This allows them to take better care of their bodies by making small changes in their health and wellness.
References
Brogger, H. A., Maribo, T., Christensen, R., & Schiottz-Christensen, B. (2018). Comparative effectiveness and prognostic factors for outcome of surgical and non-surgical management of lumbar spinal stenosis in an elderly population: protocol for an observational study. BMJ Open, 8(12), e024949. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-024949
Chao-Yang, G., Peng, C., & Hai-Hong, Z. (2021). Roles of NLRP3 inflammasome in intervertebral disc degeneration. Osteoarthritis Cartilage, 29(6), 793-801. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2021.02.204
Choi, E., Gil, H. Y., Ju, J., Han, W. K., Nahm, F. S., & Lee, P.-B. (2022). Effect of Nonsurgical Spinal Decompression on Intensity of Pain and Herniated Disc Volume in Subacute Lumbar Herniated Disc. International Journal of Clinical Practice, 2022, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/6343837
Ljunggren, A. E., Weber, H., & Larsen, S. (1984). Autotraction versus manual traction in patients with prolapsed lumbar intervertebral discs. Scand J Rehabil Med, 16(3), 117-124. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6494835
Salo, S., Hurri, H., Rikkonen, T., Sund, R., Kroger, H., & Sirola, J. (2022). Association between severe lumbar disc degeneration and self-reported occupational physical loading. J Occup Health, 64(1), e12316. https://doi.org/10.1002/1348-9585.12316
For individuals with back pain, how can health practitioners incorporate non-surgical solutions to reduce spinal pain?
Introduction
The spine is one of the most important structures in the human body, providing host mobility and stability when vertical pressure is pressing on the spinal structure. The spine is surrounded by various muscles, ligaments, and tissues that help support the upper and lower body portions and extremities. When normal factors like heaving lifting, improper stances, obesity, or pre-existing conditions start to affect the body, it can cause the spinal structure to potentially cause unwanted issues that lead to back, neck, and shoulder pain. When experiencing these three common body pains often correlate with other associated symptoms that can affect the other extremities. When this happens, many individuals begin to miss out on work or daily activities that can cause them to be miserable, and they even try to look for various solutions to reduce the pain they are experiencing. Today’s article looks at one of the common body pains like back pain and how it can cause numerous issues that affect a person’s ability to function, and how non-surgical solutions can not only reduce the pain-like effects but also provide the necessary relief that many people deserve in their health and wellness journey. We speak with certified medical providers who incorporate our patients’ information to provide numerous treatment plans to ease the pain-like symptoms associated with spinal issues causing back pain. We also inform our patients that there are non-surgical options to reduce these pain-like issues and restore spinal mobility to the body. We encourage our patients to ask intricated and educational questions to our associated medical providers about the pain-like symptoms they are experiencing correlating with the lower back. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., utilizes this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
Back Pain Affecting The Spine
Do you often experience radiating pain in your lower back that causes symptoms of numbness or tingling sensations down to your legs and feet? Do you feel muscle stiffness in the morning while getting up, only to slowly disappear throughout the day? Or do you feel symptoms of muscle aches and pain when carrying a heavy object from one location to another? Many individuals, more often than not, have dealt with back pain associated with various factors. With back pain being in the top three common problems in the workforce, many individuals have dealt with the common problem in multiple ways. From improper heavy lifting to excessive sitting at a desk, back pain can cause musculoskeletal issues that many are trying to find relief. Low back pain can either be acute or chronic, depending on the severity. It can lead to mobility impairment within the thoracic, lumbar, and sacroiliac spinal regions, causing referred pain to the lower extremities. It can lead to a life of impairment without any symptoms or signs of serious medical or psychological conditions associated with environmental factors. (Delitto et al., 2012) Back pain is also associated with spinal conditions like inflammation, asymmetric loading, and muscle strain, which can cause the spinal structures to be compressed, thus causing disc herniations. (Zemková & Zapletalová, 2021)
Additionally, back pain is a multifactorial musculoskeletal condition that causes many individuals to be in a socio-economic situation that can decrease their quality of life. Many examples of back pain are correlated with altered motor control within the spinal erector muscles that causes impaired proprioception in the spine. (Fagundes Loss et al., 2020) When this happens to many individuals, they often experience a hindrance of lumbar stability, body balance, posture, and postural control. At the same time, when many working individuals are having severe back pain associated with everyday factors, the amount of pain they are in can change the threshold of the mechanoreceptors that are transmitting the pain signals through the spinal cord. To this point, back pain can affect the neuromuscular response and affect normal musculoskeletal functionality. Fortunately, numerous treatments can help reduce back pain and provide relief to spinal pain that is affecting many individuals.
The Role Of Chiropractic Care- Video
How many times a day do you experience back pain associated with stiffness, general aches, or pains that are affecting your ability to work? Do you notice you hunching more when moving from one location to another? Or do you feel aches and pain in your back after stretching in the morning? Many individuals dealing with these common environmental factors are closely associated with back pain. Back pain is in the top three most common problems many individuals have experienced at some point in their lives. More often than not, many people have dealt with back pain by using home remedies to reduce the pain-like effects. However, research studies reveal that when many individuals start to ignore the pain, it can lead them to a life of disability and cause numerous amounts of distress if not treated right away. (Parker et al., 2015) Hence, non-surgical treatments can not only reduce the pain associated with back pain but also help restore spinal mobility. Non-surgical treatments like chiropractic care incorporate spinal manipulation, which can positively affect the spine. (Koes et al., 1996) What chiropractic care does is that it includes mechanical and manual manipulation techniques to stretch out tight muscles and reduce trigger points from reforming. The video above shows how chiropractic care can positively affect the individual while being part of a health and wellness journey to reducing back pain.
Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression For Back Pain
Just like chiropractic care, spinal decompression is another non-surgical treatment that uses traction to gently pull and stretch the spine to alleviate compressed spinal discs associated with back pain and help stretch out tight muscles. When many people start to incorporate spinal decompression as part of their routine, they will notice that spinal decompression can reduce intradiscal pressure within the negative range. (Ramos, 2004) What this does is that when the spinal discs are being pulled by gentle traction, all the fluids and nutrients that were not hydrating the disc flow back and help kickstart the body’s natural healing process. When many people begin to utilize spinal decompression for their back pain, they will notice a huge reduction in their pain after a few consecutive sessions. (Crisp et al., 1955) When many people start to combine other various non-surgical therapies with spinal decompression, they will be able to regain their spinal mobility while being more mindful of what environmental factors are affecting their spine and not repeat the issue to allow back pain to return.
References
Crisp, E. J., Cyriax, J. H., & Christie, B. G. (1955). Discussion on the treatment of backache by traction. Proc R Soc Med, 48(10), 805-814. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/13266831
Delitto, A., George, S. Z., Van Dillen, L., Whitman, J. M., Sowa, G., Shekelle, P., Denninger, T. R., & Godges, J. J. (2012). Low Back Pain. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 42(4), A1-A57. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2012.42.4.a1
Fagundes Loss, J., de Souza da Silva, L., Ferreira Miranda, I., Groisman, S., Santiago Wagner Neto, E., Souza, C., & Tarrago Candotti, C. (2020). Immediate effects of a lumbar spine manipulation on pain sensitivity and postural control in individuals with nonspecific low back pain: a randomized controlled trial. Chiropr Man Therap, 28(1), 25. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12998-020-00316-7
Koes, B. W., Assendelft, W. J., van der Heijden, G. J., & Bouter, L. M. (1996). Spinal manipulation for low back pain. An updated systematic review of randomized clinical trials. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 21(24), 2860-2871; discussion 2872-2863. https://doi.org/10.1097/00007632-199612150-00013
Parker, S. L., Mendenhall, S. K., Godil, S. S., Sivasubramanian, P., Cahill, K., Ziewacz, J., & McGirt, M. J. (2015). Incidence of Low Back Pain After Lumbar Discectomy for Herniated Disc and Its Effect on Patient-reported Outcomes. Clin Orthop Relat Res, 473(6), 1988-1999. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-015-4193-1
Ramos, G. (2004). Efficacy of vertebral axial decompression on chronic low back pain: study of dosage regimen. Neurol Res, 26(3), 320-324. https://doi.org/10.1179/016164104225014030
Zemková, E., & Zapletalová, L. (2021). Back Problems: Pros and Cons of Core Strengthening Exercises as a Part of Athlete Training. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(10), 5400. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18105400
How can spinal decompression reduce pain while restoring spinal flexibility in many individuals with lumbar degenerative disorders?
Introduction
As we naturally age, so do our spines and spinal discs, as the natural fluids and nutrients stop hydrating the discs and cause them to degenerate. When disc degeneration starts to affect the spine, it can cause pain-like symptoms in the lumbar regions, which then develop into lower back pain or other musculoskeletal disorders that affect the lower extremities. When disc degeneration starts to affect the lumbar region, many individuals will notice that they are not as flexible as when they were younger. The physical signs of straining their muscles from improper lifting, falling, or carrying heavy objects can cause muscle strain and pain. When this happens, many individuals will treat the pain with home remedies, which can provide temporary relief but can aggravate it more when people make repetitive motions to their lumbar spine, which can result in injuries. Fortunately, non-surgical treatments that can help slow down the process of disc degeneration while rehydrating the spinal disc. Today’s article looks at why disc degeneration affects lumbar flexibility and how treatments like spinal decompression reduce disc degeneration while restoring lumbar flexibility. Coincidentally, we communicate with certified medical providers who incorporate our patients’ information to provide various treatment plans to reduce the disc degeneration process and provide pain relief. We also inform them that there are non-surgical options to reduce the pain-like symptoms associated with disc degeneration and help restore lumbar flexibility. We encourage our patients to ask amazing educational questions to our associated medical providers about their symptoms correlating with body pain in a safe and positive environment. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., incorporates this information as an academic service. Disclaimer
How Does DDD Affect Lumbar Flexibility?
Have you been experiencing stiffness in your back when you wake up in the morning? Do you feel muscle aches and pains when bending down and picking up heavy objects? Or do you feel radiating pain in your legs and back? When many individuals are in excruciating pain, many don’t often realize that their lower back pain could also be associated with their spinal disc degenerating. Since the spinal disc and the body can degenerate naturally, it can lead to the development of musculoskeletal disorders. DDD, or degenerative disc disease, is a common disabling condition that can greatly impact the musculoskeletal system and is the main cause of individuals missing out on their daily activities. (Cao et al., 2022) When normal or traumatic factors begin to cause repetitive motions to the spine, it can cause the spinal disc to be compressed and, over time, degenerate. This, in turn, causes the spine to be less flexible and becomes a socio-economic challenge.
When disc degeneration starts to cause spinal inflexibility, it can lead to the development of low back pain. Since low back pain is a common health concern, it can affect many individuals worldwide, as disc degeneration is a common factor. (Samanta et al., 2023) Since disc degeneration is a multi-factorial disorder, the musculoskeletal and organ systems are also affected as it can cause referred pain to different body locations. Luckily, many individuals can find the treatment they are looking for, as many seek relief from the many pain issues that disc degeneration has caused.
Lumbar Spine Injuries In Athletes- Video
Since disc degeneration is a multi-factorial cause of disability, it can become a primary source of back pain. When normal factors contribute to back pain, it likely correlates with disc degeneration and can cause cellular, structural, compositional, and mechanical changes throughout the spine. (Ashinsky et al., 2021) However, many individuals seeking treatment can look into non-surgical therapies as they are cost-effective and safe on the spine. Non-surgical treatments are safe and gentle on the spine as they can be customizable to the person’s pain and combined with other treatment forms. One of the non-surgical treatments is spinal decompression, which uses gentle traction on the spine to rehydrate the spinal disc from degeneration and help kick-start the body’s natural healing process. The video above shows how disc degeneration is correlated with disc herniation and how these treatments can reduce its pain-like effects on the spine.
Spinal Decompression Reducing DDD
When many individuals are going in for treatment for disc degeneration, many will often try spinal decompression as it is affordable. Many healthcare professionals will assess the individual by creating a personalized plan before entering the traction machine. Many individuals will get a CT scan to assess the changes caused by DDD. (Dullerud & Nakstad, 1994) This determines how severe the disc space is. The traction machine for spinal decompression determines the optimal treatment duration, frequency, and mode of administrating traction to the spine to reduce DDD. (Pellecchia, 1994) Additionally, the efficiency of traction from spinal decompression can help many people with low back and provide relief. (Beurskens et al., 1995)
References
Ashinsky, B., Smith, H. E., Mauck, R. L., & Gullbrand, S. E. (2021). Intervertebral disc degeneration and regeneration: a motion segment perspective. Eur Cell Mater, 41, 370-380. https://doi.org/10.22203/eCM.v041a24
Beurskens, A. J., de Vet, H. C., Koke, A. J., Lindeman, E., Regtop, W., van der Heijden, G. J., & Knipschild, P. G. (1995). Efficacy of traction for non-specific low back pain: a randomised clinical trial. Lancet, 346(8990), 1596-1600. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(95)91930-9
Cao, G., Yang, S., Cao, J., Tan, Z., Wu, L., Dong, F., Ding, W., & Zhang, F. (2022). The Role of Oxidative Stress in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration. Oxid Med Cell Longev, 2022, 2166817. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/2166817
Dullerud, R., & Nakstad, P. H. (1994). CT changes after conservative treatment for lumbar disk herniation. Acta Radiol, 35(5), 415-419. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8086244
Samanta, A., Lufkin, T., & Kraus, P. (2023). Intervertebral disc degeneration-Current therapeutic options and challenges. Front Public Health, 11, 1156749. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1156749
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