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Back/Spine Care and Standing Work  El Paso, Texas

Back/Spine Care and Standing Work El Paso, Texas

Back/spine injuries now rank either second or third overall for workplace injury/s. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, every year there are over 900,000 cases of back injuries that account for 1 in 4 non-fatal job-related injuries that involve work days missed.�

 

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 126 Back/Spine Care and Standing Work  El Paso, Texas

Backcare & Standing Work

Back injuries can be painful, debilitating, and life-changing. 8 out of 10 people will experience a back/spine injury that can lead to chronic pain and health conditions. We all need to know, especially those of us that work standing up is firsthand knowledge of how important it is learning how to improve spine health and take steps to prevent back injury.

In order to prevent low back disorders means that there needs to be an understandingof the spine when working along with knowledge of back injury risk factors.

 

Back/Spine Basics

The spine is a flexible structure that consists of 24 bones that move, shift, and contort, called vertebrae. There are:

  • 7 in the neck
  • 12 in the chest
  • 5 in the low back

 

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 126 Back/Spine Care and Standing Work  El Paso, Texas

 

These are connected by ligaments and separated by pads of cartilage, called intervertebral discs. These are the shock absorbers that allow the flexible movement of the spine, specifically at the neck and the low back.

When we stand, the spine naturally curves inwards and outwards. The inward curve is called lordosis, and curves towards the front of the body at the lower back and neck area. The outward curve is called kyphosis, and curves towards the back of the body around the chest area. When we bend over the vertebrae of the lower back change position and shift from being in lordosis to kyphosis when completely bent over and then back again when upright. With this information, it is easy to see how much we move around, bend, stretch and reach during a regular day. The lower back gets used the most, which is why low back pain and injury/s and disorders are the most common.

 

yoga standing forward bend pose

Causes of Low Back/Spine Pain:

  • Muscles or ligaments get strained
  • Added pressure on the intervertebral discs
  • Nerve/s get compressed or entrapped
  • Vertebra gets damaged from trauma�

The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health concluded: �muscle strain is the most common type of work or nonwork back pain� (Bernard, 1997). This is good news for chiropractors and ergonomists because it means that we can find ways to reduce/change the way we work and the effort involved to minimize injury risks.

 

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 126 Back/Spine Care and Standing Work  El Paso, Texas

 

Keeping the intervertebral discs healthy plays an extremely significant role in preventing back/spine injuries. If these discs get damaged and start to degenerate,�flexibility begins to fade away, stiffness and soreness sets in and the ability to absorb the daily pressure/forces that comes with standing, moving and working.

There is not a normal blood supply to the intervertebral discs. Instead, as the discs change shape when we move around, the nutrients that they need are absorbed into the discs as the waste products are pumped out. This is why moving the body and staying active is very important. Because as you move you are literally feeding your spine and expelling the bad stuff. Intermittently changing postures and positions helps change the force and weight on the discs so that not all one area is taking the brunt of the force. Remember to move around and keep your spine as healthy as possible.

 

Risk factors

Major risk factors for back injuries include:

  • Awkward postures
  • Bending
  • Twisting�
  • Heavy physical tasks
  • Lifting
  • Forceful movements
  • Whole-body vibration aka W.B.V.
  • Static or unmoving work postures

These risks can happen separately or could be a combination of them all, and if these risks are taking place at any one time the higher probability of an injury/s.

Standing Work

When we stand, the pressure on the�lower back discs is relatively low. Not that there is pressure but it is much lower than when seated with an unsupported backrest like bleachers for example. Standing up uses 20% more energy than sitting does. When we need to bend down to pick up objects or reach to get overhead objects there is an increase in the forces and pressure on the lower back, and this is when an injury is likely to happen.

 

Tips to Minimize Injury

Here are some tips to help minimize your risks of back/spine injury when you are doing standing work:

  1. Moving around is important to keep the spine healthy. Moving will help improve circulation and reduce muscle fatigue.
  2. Taking consistent short breaks will help reduce fatigue, discomfort and work other muscles.
  3. Gentle stretching during some of these breaks helps to ease muscle tension and gets circulation pumping.
  4. Pay attention to your posture and the way you stand as you work.
  5. Lean on a solid support to help reduce fatigue when you are standing with a support that you can put your back up against, lean against sideways, lean forwards against and to hold on to will increase safety.
  6. Keep your back strong and try to do exercises that will strengthen the back muscles. Activities, like Yoga, Crossfit, HITT or workouts focused on the spine for flexibility are the way to go.
  • Maintain a stable posture with your feet on a firm surface.
  • Avoid twisting the lower back around to reach for things.
  • Move your feet so that your whole body changes position.
  • Minimize bending, but when you have to, bend for objects in front of you and bend at the knees instead of the back. When bending for objects that are to the side of you change your stance so you are facing the object, and then bend down at the knees.
  • Don’t overreach but if you have to reach up to a high area to get something use a step-ladder.
  • Don’t reach over objects and move the obstruction or change your position before reaching for whatever it is.

 

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NCBI Resources

The one size fits all method just doesn�t cut it. A more focused approach for every individual leads to better results. Patients find that placing their bodies in certain positions and certain physical activities can:

  • Activate
  • Aggravate
  • Deactivate�their back pain.

Patients also find the pain being either better or worse. Understanding why sitting, standing, and walking can change the severity of low back pain can be helpful in diagnosis. These are important cues that help to diagnose and treat low back pain. People sit, stand, and walk all day. This is why so much research has been conducted on how these specific positions and activities contribute to low back pain.

 

A High-Risk Job, Your Spine, and Back Injury El Paso, Texas

A High-Risk Job, Your Spine, and Back Injury El Paso, Texas

Work/Job Ergonomics

In today’s workforce, many jobs place workers at a higher risk for a back injury. The list is pretty extensive and may surprise you! Individuals that have suffered a� neck or back injury at work know the cost goes beyond lost wages. The impact of these injuries on employees, employers, and the economy is staggering.

In a report published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 2.8 million cases of non-fatal occupational injuries and in 2018.� Of these cases, more than 50% lost time from work, transferred to a different job, or restricted work activity. Not all of these cases were spine-related injuries. However, 880,000 cases were back pain-related injuries.

The World Health Organization’s International Labour Office says that the problem is global.

Musculoskeletal diseases are a very common part of 270 million non-fatal work/job accidents where employees missed at least 3 workdays.

 

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 126 A High-Risk Job, Your Spine, and Back Injury El Paso, Texas

 

Risky Jobs

Occupational safety experts gather all kinds of information that they factor. This includes job requirements, work environment, and work station set up. In compiling the list of risky occupations, here are some of the criteria:

  • Heavy physical work
  • Forceful lifting movements
  • Bending
  • Twisting
  • Awkward work postures
  • Whole-body vibration
  • Static work postures like standing/sitting but never changing position compounds the risks to workers.

Two occupations that lead the list of jobs placing workers at the highest risk are construction and nurses/nursing home workers. Workers in both of these jobs tend to share the under-reporting of work-related injuries. This happens as the employees fear they will lose their job and cannot afford to take any time off.

Construction Workers

Employees at a construction site are repeatedly lifting, bending, carrying, pulling, and tugging. These repetitive movements lead to overuse injuries and back strain/sprains are a common part of this. More than 30% of workers have to miss job time. Those that must climb ladders or work on scaffolds have a greater risk of falling. This is where some serious spinal injuries can occur, causing disability and sometimes being fatal.

 

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 126 A High-Risk Job, Your Spine, and Back Injury El Paso, Texas

Nurses/Nursing Workers

Nursing homes and employment opportunities are growing from elderly population growth. These workers are at high risk for back pain and spine injury. This comes from transferring patients’ from their beds, bathtub, and bathroom facilities. All these actions require lifting, carrying, holding, pulling, pushing, and turning. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports nearly all back and shoulder injuries are the result of moving patients.

 

back pain in el paso tx.

Warehouse Workers

This is another job that requires lifting, along with using forceful movements, bending, twisting, carrying, and placing the body in awkward positions. Sometimes these workers have to drive a truck or an industrial vehicle that creates whole-body vibration. Continual exposure to vibration can cause backache and soreness that can lead to lost work time.

 

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 126 A High-Risk Job, Your Spine, and Back Injury El Paso, Texas

Dentists and Surgeons

Both of these professions involve prolonged standing, stooping, bending, and awkward body positioning. Not to mention the mental strain that diverts the doctor’s attention to proper posture and body mechanics that results in injury and pain.

 

Landscapers

The American Chiropractic Association puts landscapers in the top 10 list of jobs that cause back pain. This job puts these workers at a greater risk for cumulative trauma disorders. All the tasks that a landscaper has to do that include hedge trimming, tree pruning, and planting. These actions/movements involve lifting, reaching, bending, and stooping. This is a perfect set up for an overuse back injury.

Hand tools that get used over and over can cause painful conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome and thoracic outlet syndrome. Thoracic outlet syndrome is when the nerves and blood vessels become compressed between the neck and shoulder.

 

Store Cashier

Grocery and retail store cashiers require workers to stand in one place for a long time. This along with the repetitive motions of scanning, typing, opening, closing combined with bagging and lifting bags over and over can cause neck, shoulder, back, leg and foot pain. Over half of checkout workers complain of back pain.

 

Other High-Risk Jobs

  • Airline crews meaning pilots, baggage handlers,
  • Factory workers
  • Bakers
  • Bus
  • Cab drivers
  • Cable and telephone line installers
  • Carpenters
  • Electricians
  • Hairstylists
  • Plumbers
  • Carpet installers/cleaners
  • Dry cleaners
  • Medical technicians
  • Farmers
  • Firefighters
  • Police
  • Maintenance workers
  • Automotive technicians
  • Office personnel
  • Professional athletes

 

Job Injury Prevention

We may not be able to instantly change our occupation, but there are steps to help prevent neck and back injuries. The key is workplace ergonomics and safety. Be proactive to help reduce workplace risk for neck and back injury and share what you learn with co-workers.


 

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NCBI Resources

Injuries that are caused by repetitive movements often develop gradually.�This is the time when the symptoms are mild and come and go, so the individual just works through it and doesn�t think about it. It�s�not until the symptoms get very painful and debilitating that the individual realizes that something is wrong, and then they seek medical attention. Don�t wait, as soon as you feel a tingle, slight pinch, or a little soreness�and you feel that it stems from your work�s repetitive movements, get in touch with a doctor or chiropractor before it becomes excruciating.

 

Take Care of Your Back and Spine El Paso, Texas

Take Care of Your Back and Spine El Paso, Texas

Everyone needs to take care of their back/spine because it is what holds us up as long as we keep it straight and strong. Strengthening the core can help prevent a weak and misaligned spine from getting worse and helps to eliminate pain.�

Back safety should be priority one, as it affects all aspects of your life. Not only are you protecting your back, but are preventing future injury. From the time you wake until bedtime, here are some tips for changes in sleeping position, and getting in and out of a car.

We all need to pay attention to proper body positioning and body mechanics, as it will pay off in the long run.

 

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 126 Take Care of Your Back and Spine El Paso, Texas

Getting In and Out of Bed

This is usually the time when the pain starts and can make the rest of the day miserable. Here are a few tips that can help.

  • Lean forward from your hips, not from your back.
  • Try not to arch your back.
  • Push your upper body off the bed with your elbows and hands and swing both legs to the floor.
  • Keep your back straight.
  • Try not to bend at the waist.

 

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 126 Take Care of Your Back and Spine El Paso, Texas

Position for Sleeping

Sleep is very important. Finding a comfortable position while sleeping can be tough, especially with back pain. Using quality pillows in the right way can help provide comfort, support for your neck and back and keep you asleep.

  • Sleeping on your back is optimal but you should bend your legs and place a pillow under your knees allowing for optimal blood circulation.
  • Do not sleep on your stomach, as this places pressure on the pelvis and the lower back because there is no support underneath. If you must sleep like this try to keep it for a short while before changing position and place a pillow or two underneath for support.
  • A firm mattress can help keep your spine in line. But talk to a doctor or chiropractor to find out what style of mattress would benefit your back.
  • Rotate your mattress every three months and flip it over twice a year.

 

 

Take Care When Entering/Exiting an Automobile

Getting in and out of a car can be a tough challenge when dealing with back pain. Here are a few tips to help.

  • When getting in or out move the seat back as far as it goes, hold onto the side of the car, back of the seat, or the dashboard for support when lifting yourself out or when easing into the seat.
  • Bend at the knees, not the back and avoid twisting and turning to reach for objects, etc.
  • The use of proper body mechanics keeps the muscles working properly.
  • Use both arms and legs when raising and lowering yourself in and out of the seat.
  • Keep your body aligned and only turn your body as much as needed.

The key is to be aware of your posture and safety awareness.

Daily living including sports and household chores should be done with overall and spinal safety in mind.

Whatever positions work for you and your regular activities bending, retrieving, lifting, and carrying objects, using correct techniques combined with proper posture will take care of your neck and back.


 

Back Pain Chiropractic Care | El Paso, Tx

 


 

NCBI Resources

Chiropractic can take care of your spine which means it is good for your overall health. While many people think that its only purpose is to treat back pain, chiropractic focuses on total body wellness. All too often problems within the body are interrelated. For instance, back pain could be the result of an altered gait due to an ankle injury.� A misaligned neck could cause a headache due to awkward sleep positions (or even the wrong pillow).

 

The Disease of Sitting and The Impact on Your Spine El Paso, TX.

The Disease of Sitting and The Impact on Your Spine El Paso, TX.

Sitting is wonderful, however, sitting for too long is considered worse than smoking. Sitting for too long could be considered a disease. Today’s society is about technology. However, this technology involves a great deal of inactivity and sitting for a long time. This behavior has been linked to chronic disease and on a variety of health issues not to mention the havoc, it inflicts on your spine.

Unfortunately, many work environments encourage their employees to sit for hours and hours without any kind of movement except for using the bathroom. Something has to change because as someone said, “if you don’t take the time to focus on yourself and your health, you will be forced to take the time to focus on your illness.”

11860 Vista Del Sol Ste. 126 The Disease of Sitting and The Impact on Your Spine El Paso, TX.

 

The Sedentary Work Lifestyle

Being in front of a computer all day may be part of the job, however, the goal is to bring in more activity into the day. This can be accomplished by maintaining proper posture through exercise, stretching and if need be to invest in a sit-stand desk.

Understanding why you should avoid long bouts of time sitting, means you need to know the research about what the medical community is dubbing the sitting disease.

 

Health Hazards of Sitting Too Long

Up to 80% of people sit for six or more hours every day, according to a study from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. Whether at work, plopped down in front of the TV,� or the daily commute doesn’t matter, the point is that people are spending long hours sitting down and the impact of inactivity is not good.

Individuals that sit for prolonged periods have a greater risk of dying from all causes. This is because a sedentary lifestyle has been shown to increase the risk for:

  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Cancers (breast, colon, colorectal, endometrial, and epithelial ovarian)
  • Type 2 diabetes in adults

These results came from 47 studies that focused on the health effects of being sedentary. These included the types of activity people engage in, from leisure activities to strong physical activity. Those who did not exercise had the greatest risk of health problems with being sedentary. Adding only two minutes of light exercise for every hour spent sitting lowers the risk of presenting health issues/conditions by one-third, according to the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology study.

 

 

The Way Sitting Hurts the Back and Neck

Spending the majority of the day every day in a seated position will eventually take its toll leaving your spine sore, stiff, and in pain. Too much sitting puts stress on the muscles and discs of the back and neck.

What happens from all the sitting is tightness in the hip flexors like the iliopsoas muscle forms, along with pressure and restricted blood flow in the muscles of the gluteus maximus. This muscle supports a good amount of the weight placed on the spine.

 

 

The longer individuals continue to repeat unhealthy sitting behavior, the higher the risk their posture begins to fall into slouching, into incorrect posture and possibly into spinal conditions and diseases. Slouching over time causes the ligaments to stretch beyond their healthy limit, combined with poor posture strains the spinal discs that can lead to herniation, bulging and complete loss of the intervertebral discs.

11860 Vista Del Sol Ste. 126 The Disease of Sitting and The Impact on Your Spine El Paso, TX.

This results in added strain to the outer annulus of the disc and increases disc bulging and disc pressure.

When sitting, it’s usually at a computer/working on tasks at a desk that results in the head being in a constant forward position, with rounded shoulders that results in what is known as poor posture syndrome. Staying in the office chair or any chair too long leads to an isolated episode of back or neck pain/soreness. What’s happening is that the normal wear and tear of the spinal discs is sped up from the unhealthy weight and pressure being placed on the spine. This results in back pain that becomes a regular daily thing instead of an occasional problem.

Ergonomic chairs, sit-stand desks, fitness/stability balls and utilizing proper posture/exercises are tools to help mitigate the damage of sitting all day.

This includes stretching the muscles like the:

  • Pectorals
  • Scalene muscles in the neck
  • Hip flexors

Strengthening the muscles that are not used is very important. Muscles like the abdominals, glutes, back extensors and scapular muscles will bring back the spine�s normal balance, improving posture and getting relief from pain. Varying posture is another great way to exercise different muscles and ligaments by occasionally standing and moving around for a few minutes every half-hour. This keeps joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments loose and pain-free.

 

piriformis syndrome rehabilitation exercises

Work Health

We�ve all been there working, typing feeling the positive flow and then you see two hours have passed and you haven�t gotten up from your chair at all.

Experts recommend activity every 20-30 minutes, with 20 minutes of standing per hour. Desk technology has arrived and wants to keep employees healthy. Sit-stand desks are proving to be highly beneficial to companies throughout the country. These desks allow you to transition from sitting to standing while your desk stays the same.

Standing at work has shown to boost productivity all the while allowing you to readjust posture, lose weight by burning 30% more calories and keeps your spine healthy.

11860 Vista Del Sol Ste. 126 The Disease of Sitting and The Impact on Your Spine El Paso, TX.

 

Stand Up

Even without a sit-stand desk, there are still ways of combating sitting disease and protecting your spine. Consider:

  • Doing some work standing up at a high table or counter.
  • Walk laps during discussions so you and your co-workers get some movement.
  • Take stand-and-stretch breaks every 30 minutes, set a timer if you have to.
  • Walk to a coworkers office to tell them in person instead of emailing/texting.
  • Park your car a little bit further from the office to work your steps.
  • After lunch walk around or do some stand-up work as this will help with digestion.

This will reduce your sitting throughout the day. Remember that changing posture is good for your back and neck, but don�t take it to the other extreme and stop sitting. It’s all about mixing it up. Sitting, standing, and moving around throughout the day is the best way to keep your spine/body-safe, and in optimal health at work and home.


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NCBI Resources

This may sound melodramatic, but it�s true. As we talked about above, sitting for prolonged periods of time puts you at greater risk of diseases that may end up killing you.�A study�published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, �found people who sat for over 11 hours a day had a 40% greater risk of dying within three years from any cause than people who sat less than 4 hours a day.�

 

Physical Activity and Exercise For a Healthy Spine El Paso, TX.

Physical Activity and Exercise For a Healthy Spine El Paso, TX.

Physical Activity to Prevent Back Pain and Weight Gain

 

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 126 Physical Activity and Exercise For a Healthy Spine El Paso, TX.

Osteoporosis

Regular physical activity will improve the body’s:

  • Balance
  • Reflexes
  • Coordination

This significantly reduces potential falls and injuries. Injuries from falling can be devastating for someone with osteoporosis.

Consult with your doctor before beginning any exercise program.

 

 

To help reverse bone loss, physical activity must fit the individual’s type and intensity. This will determine the appropriate exercises for your level of fitness as well as the risk of fracture.

As a way to begin walking is a great way to start a regular exercise therapy.

Walking improves bone strength because it distributes the body’s weight in a balanced manner over and over again. Bone responds best to the intensity of the walk and not the duration. Bones need to be consistently challenged as they respond by making more osteoblasts or the cellular material that fills the bone cavities. Adding these higher levels of resistance causes healthy stress to bones. This is what increases bone density.

Adding a variety of weight-bearing activities:

  • Dancing
  • Skating
  • Aerobics
  • Strength/weight training aka resistance training

 

OA-Osteoarthritis� & RA-Rheumatoid Arthritis

Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are conditions that affect the flexibility of the spinal or facet joints. Flexibility, in this case, means the ability of joints to move through their normal range of motion. The amount of an individual’s range of motion is determined by how tight the muscles, tendons, and ligaments are. When muscles can stretch freely, this means the joint has better flexibility.

 

facetogenic neuropathic, osteoarthritis and headaches pain el paso tx.

Low Back Pain & Possible Sciatica

To prevent low back and leg pain, the back, and hip muscles need to be flexible and strong. Individuals with poor flexibility and weak muscles in the back, pelvis, and thighs have a higher risk of increasing the curve of the lower back which can make the pelvis tilt too far forward.

 

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 126 Physical Activity and Exercise For a Healthy Spine El Paso, TX.

 

Proper posture combined with flexible and strong muscles can help prevent nerve compression and pain.

 

Overall Health

Having healthy body composition means there needs to be more lean body mass i.e. muscle mass and less body fat. Strength training/CrossFit helps by raising the metabolic rate while lowering body fat. The increased muscle strength helps maintain correct posture and body mechanics in whatever you do.

Physical activity reduces the chance of injury while increasing physical performance like being able to climb stairs or carry groceries with much-added ease and confidence.

 

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 126 Physical Activity and Exercise For a Healthy Spine El Paso, TX.

Exercise Suggestions

The benefits a regular exercise program offers are one of the keys to a healthier lifestyle. But take it in steps, see a health coach, physical therapist or chiropractor to help educate and guide you through an exercise treatment plan. Helpful tips:

  • It can take 6 to 8 weeks to see results so focus on short-term goals.
  • Work regular exercise into your schedule but keep important activities as a priority.
  • Friends and relatives can help give you support and join in the exercise.
  • You don’t have to do an entire workout. Instead, exercise for 10 minutes.
  • Consistency in physical activity is the goal. It’s not how long or hard the exercise is.
  • Keep a journal of your workouts and progress.

With the healthy changes made today, including diet choices and regular physical activity/exercise, your life will be one-hundred times better. This does not mean that you have to become an intense workout aficionado. Remember all that is needed is a reduction in weight of only 10%. This is what is needed to reduce the detrimental effects of being overweight.

Our clinical focus and personal goals are to help your body heal itself naturally quickly and effectively.� At times, it may seem like a long path; nevertheless, with our commitment to you, it�s sure to be an�exciting journey. The�commitment to you in health is to, never lose�our deep connection to each one of our patients on this journey.

When your body is truly healthy, you will arrive at your optimal fitness level proper physiological fitness state. �We want to help you live a new and improved lifestyle. Over the last two decades, while researching and testing methods with thousands of patients, we have learned what works effectively at decreasing pain while increasing human vitality.


 

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NCBI Resources

It can be tempting to not exercise with a spinal condition. But remember that if there is no movement at all, you could make the pain worse.�Knowing what your body can handle and sticking to a workable schedule, these healthy steps will relieve you and help with your low back pain.

 

Spinal Cord Injury Therapies El Paso, Texas

Spinal Cord Injury Therapies El Paso, Texas

Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury/s are separated into two phases: There is the primary injury and the secondary injury.

The primary injury refers to the physical trauma to the spine. This could be a:

  • Car accident
  • Sports accident
  • Severe fall
  • Other traumatic events

 

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 126 Spinal Cord Injury Therapies El Paso, Texas

 

When the primary injury happens, neurological injury to the nerves and spinal cord can take place in the form of:

 

Compression

  • The compressing of the spinal cord/nerves can cause an impact of bone, disc, and ligaments against the tissues. This is because the spinal canal becomes narrowed and shifts out of proper alignment. This causes the nerves to get pinched during the injury.

 

Stretching

  • Tissues get stretched beyond what they’re capable of so the spinal cord can suffer serious damage with the slightest trauma directly to it. Complete cutting or severing of the cord is rare.

 

Blood supply inadequacy

  • The injury can cut off or significantly reduce blood supply to the cord and nerves. If the microscopic blood vessels get damaged almost instantaneous hemorrhage or bleeding into the spinal cord.

 

Spinal cord damage can be seen on an MRI immediately after trauma.

Secondary injury is a cascade of events that occur after the initial trauma, which is the body’s attempt to heal the injury.

This could be seconds, hours, days, and weeks afterward. Several factors play a role in how severe secondary injury will be.

The body releases chemicals in response to trauma. These chemicals cause inflammation, decreased blood flow, and cell death.

Treatments/therapies for spinal cord injuries usually directed at one or more steps during this cascade. Goals of treatment:

  • Decrease inflammation
  • Increase blood flow
  • Reduce scar formation
  • Slow degradation and cell death

 

imaging and diagnostics el paso tx.

 

The overall treatment of a spine injury is focused on stabilizing the injury. Once that has been accomplished, there are two following goals:

  1. Transplanting nerves
  2. Nerve regeneration

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 126 Spinal Cord Injury Therapies El Paso, Texas

 

Treatments for Spinal Cord Injury

Treatment priority is to reduce the effects of primary and secondary injuries. One is to immobilize the spine to prevent further injury. This typically happens at the scene of the accident and can be done with a hard collar or brace. IV fluids and medications to maintain blood pressure and possible administration of oxygen may be used. These techniques are fairly standard to deal with primary injury/s.

Surgery could be needed to remove physical impingement/compression on the nerves, restore blood flow, and provide room for subsequent inflammation to help the body heal itself.

Sometimes surgery takes place later to restore the alignment of the bone and correct any deformities that may have occurred. This is as important as decompression for maximizing a patient’s rehabilitation. Stabilization from surgery can help patients sit upright, walk, and maintain proper weight on the trunk. It also helps to avoid developing posture problems in the future.

Methylprednisolone is a steroid that’s considered a neuroprotective agent. This is the only drug treatment supported by the medical community to be used immediately following the primary injury. There is still debate among the medical community as to the effectiveness of this steroid. To date, it has not been defined as a standard of care by any major medical associations.

 

Treatment Research

Other treatments have been proposed and proven successful in animal trials. These treatments first go through animal trials before human trials. Replicating the benefits in humans is still quite difficult to achieve. There were 100 different treatments that do work in animals, however, methylprednisolone is the only treatment that has demonstrated consistent results.

Reasons why research for spinal cord injuries is tough:

Anatomical differences in animal’s spinal cords: While rodents are typically used for most research, their spinal cords have the ability to create stepping patterns without signals from the brain. That means that after a spinal cord injury with no treatment they can learn to walk again. The human spinal cord cannot do this.

The differences between actual injury and a simulated one: Actual injuries that result in trauma to the spine usually have neurological compression that exceeds that seen in the animal models during the simulated injury. This means that treatments that are effective in animal trials where there is less trauma to the bones and nerves than�when the same treatments are tried for actual injuries, could be less effective because the injury/s are more severe.

During spinal cord treatment tests, researchers typically use mild/moderate spinal cord injuries. Human injuries can vary from one extreme to another that they are either too severe for therapy or too mild that they recover without treatment.

Doing the same experiments and research on animals and humans is complicated: There are all kinds of variables in animal research that can’t be controlled in human studies. There are different models of injury, that happen at different times and are treated with different medications, and all contribute to inconsistencies. The results significantly change the accounts of how useful any given treatment is, especially when comparing the animal studies and human studies.

Example –� Treatments in a laboratory are begun within one hour after injury simulation. This doesn’t happen in clinical settings, because typically, first responders at accident sites work to stabilize the patient’s airway, and spine before they are transported to an emergency room. Replicating that procedure with actual first responders can be quite difficult to do in clinical studies.

Promising Treatments

There are promising treatments in spinal cord injury:

  • Hypothermia
  • Naloxone
  • Corticosteroids

All three have shown positive results in animal trials. But there have been varying results in human trials. While these are positive results, further research from scientists and physicians is needed to develop a highly effective treatment for spinal cord injury.

Hypothermia treatment has piqued a great deal of interest based on a case of its use on a professional football player, that suffered a spinal cord injury. It was a success, but unfortunately, other human studies utilizing this treatment failed to demonstrate the same benefits and some believe the risks outweigh the benefits. Physicians believe that the player’s positive outcome was the result of a less severe injury and early decompression, and not necessarily from the hypothermia treatment.

Researchers debate that freezing reduces blood flow in the injured spinal cord but that it could worsen the secondary injury/s.

Conclusion

Treating spinal cord injury research is still a major focus in the medical community. With progress taking place there is still not yet the major breakthrough. Continued investigation into treatments for spinal cord injuries will go on until spinal injuries are no more.


 

Severe *Sciatica”* Pain Relief | El Paso, Tx (2020)


 

NCBI Resources

Spinal injury or trauma can result in myofascial pain syndrome, but lifestyle factors usually have a hand in the condition. Poor posture over a long period,�for example,�sleeping in an awkward position can cause physical muscular stress on the spinal muscles.�Mental and emotional stress can present itself through muscle tension�that helps the development of trigger points.

The�trapezius muscle, that extends from the back of the neck down the shoulders and upper back, is the most common site of spinal trigger points and myofascial pain because of the significant amount of pressure that the muscle has to bear and its susceptibility to whiplash.

 

Repetitive Motion Disorders (RMDs) and The Spine El Paso, TX.

Repetitive Motion Disorders (RMDs) and The Spine El Paso, TX.

How RMD’s affect the spine

Most repetitive motion injuries or RMDs affect the arms and hands. However, they can also happen in the spine.

The majority of back injuries, especially in the workplace, are often the result of long-term repetitive wear and tear on the:

  • Muscles
  • Ligaments
  • Tendons
  • Spinal discs

Repetitive work motions like:

  • Pulling
  • Reaching
  • Twisting
  • Bending

All of these movements can weaken and stress the spine and increase the risk of injury.

 

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 126 Repetitive Motion Disorders (RMDs) and The Spine El Paso, TX.

Treatment for RMD’s

When first treating an RMD, the first step is to reduce or stop the motions that are causing the symptoms. Other therapies include:

  • Ice therapy reduces pain and swelling.
  • Medications like cortisone and anti-inflammatory’s also reduce pain and swelling.
  • Chiropractic/Physical therapy relieves soreness and pain in the muscles and joints and strengthens the muscles to help prevent future injuries.
  • Splints relieve pressure on the muscles and nerves.
  • Surgery in rare cases can help relieve symptoms and prevent permanent damage.

 

11860 Vista Del Sol Ste. 128 Change of Weather Worsening Back Pain El Paso, TX.

Prevention

RMDs can be prevented. Here are some important tips to reduce�repetitive motion injury:

  • Take frequent breaks to avoid overuse of muscles with little rest breaks of whatever muscles/ligaments you are using.
  • Regular exercise along with stretching and relaxation helps build strength, increase mobility, range of motion and prevent future injury.
  • Look at your posture to make sure it is correct for the task at hand. This helps the elbows, wrists, hands, and spine maintain alignment during repetitive motions.
  • Don’t stay in a single position for too long. Change your posture frequently during any type of activity to relax one set of muscles and use another set, then switch and so on and so forth.
  • Practicing correct form and technique will go a long way in preventing a repetitive injury.
  • Avoid over-reaching, stretching and twisting.
  • Use protective equipment and gear.
  • Have a properly designed workstation with office or work equipment at the proper height, distance and allows you to work safely and comfortably.

 

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 126 Repetitive Motion Disorders (RMDs) and The Spine El Paso, TX.

Staying Healthy

Staying healthy and avoiding RMD’s is first priority if you work at a job or regularly participate in activities where repetitive motion/s and movement/s are used.

Give yourself time to rest, exercise, and implement proper techniques. See a doctor or injury chiropractor if you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed. Ergonomically evaluating the causes is an important part of the diagnostic evaluation for patients with these conditions.

Therefore, mapping out a customized treatment plan for changing the way you work/perform these motions is the ultimate goal.

We focus on what works for you. We also strive to create fitness and better the body through researched methods and total wellness programs. These programs are natural and use the body�s own ability to achieve goals of improvement, rather than introducing harmful chemicals, controversial hormone replacement, surgery, or addictive drugs.

We want you to live a life that is fulfilled with more energy, a positive attitude, better sleep, less pain, proper body weight and educated on how to maintain this way of life. I have made a life of taking care of every one of my patients.


 

The “LIFE CHANGING” Foot Orthotics | El Paso, Tx (2020)

 


 

NCBI Resources

Barring traumatic injury due to an accident, working in a factory environment can cause problems with mobility, pain, and flexibility. The�nature of the job�places specific demands on the human body that can lead to certain types of injuries and health conditions, which include:

  • Repetitive motion injury � When a worker performs the same task that involves the same movements over and over, it can lead to certain types of injuries. Carpal tunnel is a common repetitive motion injury.
  • Overexertion � Lifting, pulling, even standing can take a toll on the body, especially when it is done without adequate breaks. The person can get muscle fatigue, pulled muscles, and pulled tendons.
  • Body movement injuries � When the worker is continuously reaching, twisting, crawling, and bending, it can cause problems with the muscles and joints.

 

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