Accidents and Injuries

The ladder is one of the most utilized tools. Most individuals have a ladder or two in their homes or at work and never consider the dangers. Falling off a ladder can lead to serious injuries like muscle tears, broken bones, damage to the spinal cord, skull fractures, or traumatic brain injury. The objective is to educate homeowners and workers on being more alert, increasing awareness, and reinforcing safety protocols.

Ladder Falls and Injuries

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ladder falls account for more than 500,000 injuries and 300 deaths annually. Even professionals with experience in safety can make simple mistakes like carrying too heavy a load or not spotting signs of wearing or a defect that leads to injury.

Causes

Causes can arise from defects or user mistakes. These include:

A Defective Ladder

• Old worn-out
• Damaged or broken
• Loose or cracking rungs
• Ladders folding during use
• Using the improper type of ladder for the job or task

Incorrect Ladder Use 

• Carrying dangerous objects or heavy loads
• Stretching or reaching too far out
• Failing to secure the ladder properly
• Recklessness or horseplay

Injuries

Common falls can cause injuries severe enough to require professional medical care. Around one in five falls, on average, cause serious injuries that include.

• Muscle sprains and/or tears 
• Neck and back injuries
• Herniated discs
• Hip injuries and fractures
• Broken bones
• Spinal cord injuries
• Skull fractures
• Traumatic brain injuries

Any of these injuries could cause permanent disabilities or chronic conditions.

Chiropractic Care

A fall can damage joints, muscles, bones, and ligaments without realizing there is a problem or injury. The back and spine are most likely to be affected. When landing flat on your back, the joints that connect the spinal column can slip, causing inflammation and joint swelling. To prevent chronic pain and alleviate acute pain, seeking medical attention and chiropractic care as soon as possible is recommended. After confirming the spine is not fractured or broken, a chiropractor can bring relief and restore mobility and function. Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic are committed to helping individuals rehabilitate and recover from injuries. We develop a personalized plan to maximize the potential of recovering and returning to daily activities as soon as possible.

Safer In Seconds

General Disclaimer *

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please contact Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

References

Cabilan, C J et al. “Impact of ladder-related falls on the emergency department and recommendations for ladder safety.” Emergency medicine Australasia: EMA vol. 30,1 (2018): 95-102. doi:10.1111/1742-6723.12854

Hicks, Cameron, et al. “Ladder Use in Older People: Type, Frequency, Tasks, and Predictors of Risk Behaviours.” International journal of environmental research and public health vol. 18,18 9799. 17 Sep. 2021, doi:10.3390/ijerph18189799

“Ladder falls.” Health news (Waltham, Mass.) vol. 4,2 (1998): 7.

Muir, L, and S Kanwar. “Ladder injuries.” Injury vol. 24,7 (1993): 485-7. doi:10.1016/0020-1383(93)90156-z

Partridge, R A et al. “Causes and patterns of injury from ladder falls.” Academic emergency medicine: official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine vol. 5,1 (1998): 31-4. doi:10.1111/j.1553-2712.1998.tb02571.x

The thoracic spine, also known as the upper or middle back, is designed for stability to anchor the rib cage and protect the organs in the chest. It is highly resistant to injury and pain. However, when thoracic back pain does present, it is usually from long-term posture problems or an injury. Thoracic back pain is less common than lower back and neck pain, but it does affect up to 20% of the population, particularly women. Treatment options include chiropractic for quick and long-term pain relief.

Thoracic Back Pain and Soreness

The thoracic area is vital for various functions related to:

• Breathing mechanics
• Optimal arm function
• Organ protection
• Trunk support
• Nervous tissue health

Common reasons for experiencing thoracic back pain include:

• A direct hit or high-impact injury from a fall.
• Sports injury.
• Automobile accident.
• Unhealthy postures that put the spine in chronic misalignment, causing strain.
• Repetitive overuse injury from bending, reaching, lifting, twisting.
• Poor core or shoulder mechanics, causing muscle imbalance.
• Muscular irritation, the large upper back muscles are prone to developing strains or tightness that can be painful and difficult to alleviate.
• De-conditioning or lack of strength.
• Joint dysfunction can come from a sudden injury or natural degeneration from aging. Examples include facet joint cartilage tear or joint capsule tear.

Upper back pain usually feels like a sharp, burning pain localized to one spot or a general achiness that can flare up and spread out to the shoulder, neck, and arms.

Types of Upper Back Pain

These include:

• Myofascial pain
• Spine degeneration
• Joint dysfunction
• Nerve dysfunction
• General spinal misalignments

Depending on what specific tissues are affected, pain can occur with breathing or arm use. It is recommended to have a healthcare professional perform an examination and get an accurate diagnosis. A chiropractor understands the delicate balance and functions that the thoracic spine provides and can develop a proper treatment plan.

Chiropractic

Treatment options will depend on the symptoms, underlying dysfunctions, and individual preferences. ​Recommendations for treatment often include:

• Spine adjustments to improve alignment and nerve integrity.
• Posture training to maintain spinal alignment.
• Therapeutic massage.
• Exercise training to restore muscular balance.
• Non-invasive pain-relieving techniques.
• Health coaching.

Body Composition

Plant-Based Diets for Weight Loss

Individuals who follow vegan, vegetarian, and semivegetarian diets have reported and shown they are less likely to be overweight or obese. This can indicate that reducing intake of meat and animal products is beneficial for weight loss. Studies have found that individuals who follow a vegan diet may lose more weight than individuals on a more conventional weight loss diet, even with similar calories consumed, and often have significant improvements in blood sugar and inflammation markers.

Plant-Based Protein and Muscle Gain

Some plant-based proteins are just as effective as animal protein at promoting muscle gain. A study found that supplementing rice protein following resistance training had similar benefits to whey protein supplementation. Both groups had:

• Decreased fat mass
• Increased lean body mass
• Skeletal muscle hypertrophy
• Improved power and strength

General Disclaimer *

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional, licensed physician, and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified health care professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and support, directly or indirectly, our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

References

Briggs AM, Smith AJ, Straker LM, Bragge P. Thoracic spine pain in the general population: prevalence, incidence and associated factors in children, adolescents and adults. A systematic review. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2009;10:77.

Cichoń, Dorota et al. “Efficacy of Physiotherapy in Reducing Back Pain and Improve Joint Mobility in Older Women.” Ortopedia, traumatologia, rehabilitacja vol. 21,1 (2019): 45-55. doi:10.5604/01.3001.0013.1115

Fouquet N, Bodin J, Descatha A, et al. Prevalence of thoracic spine pain in a surveillance network. Occup Med (Lond). 2015;65(2):122-5.

Jäger, Ralf et al. “Comparison of rice and whey protein isolate digestion rate and amino acid absorption.” Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition vol. 10,Suppl 1 P12. 6 Dec. 2013, doi:10.1186/1550-2783-10-S1-P12

Joy, Jordan M et al. “The effects of 8 weeks of whey or rice protein supplementation on body composition and exercise performance.” Nutrition journal vol. 12 86. 20 Jun. 2013, doi:10.1186/1475-2891-12-86

Medawar, Evelyn et al. “The effects of plant-based diets on the body and the brain: a systematic review.” Translational psychiatry vol. 9,1 226. 12 Sep. 2019, doi:10.1038/s41398-019-0552-0

Newby, PK et al. “Risk of overweight and obesity among semivegetarian, lactovegetarian, and vegan women.” The American journal of clinical nutrition vol. 81,6 (2005): 1267-74. doi:10.1093/ajcn/81.6.1267

Pope, Malcolm H et al. “Spine ergonomics.” Annual review of biomedical engineering vol. 4 (2002): 49-68. doi:10.1146/annurev.bioeng.4.092101.122107

Stress health recognizes how stress affects the body, thoughts, feelings, and behavior. Stress that's left untreated can contribute to various health problems. These include:

• Anxiety
• Decreased energy levels
• Digestive dysfunction
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Abnormal heart rate
• Heart disease
• Mental problems

Chiropractic serves as a powerful intervention for anxiety-related symptoms.

Stress Health Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Balance

Chiropractic benefits cardiovascular health as it directly affects the nervous and other body systems that include the spinal system, the bones, joints, and muscular system, affecting the function of the cardiovascular system. Chiropractic regulates these system's functions allowing for a moderate heart rate and blood pressure. Balanced blood pressure and heart rate can help minimize stress and anxiety, making it much easier to stay relaxed and focused. Individuals report experiencing decreased blood pressure and lower heart rate with long-term chiropractic treatment.

Mental Clarity

Cerebrospinal fluid/CSF is necessary for detoxifying the brain and helping to protect the brain. CSF transports oxygen and nutrients to the brain, helping to increase brain function efficiency. Chiropractic has been shown to increase the amount of cerebrospinal fluid delivered to the brain. This is because the spine is aligned correctly, allowing for a smooth flow of blood and nerve energy from the brain through the spine to the rest of the body. This provides:

• Sustained mental alertness
• Awareness
• Mental Clarity

This helps to combat mental fog or anxiety hyperactivity.

Improve Energy Levels

Chiropractic can help increase energy levels in different ways for different individuals.

• For some, this works by eliminating headaches, migraines, and other nerve dysfunction/s.
• For others, this happens by decreasing or eliminating pain symptoms.

These conditions can contribute to lowered energy levels. Constant stress can change the body's chemistry, leading to increased stress hormones like cortisol. Over time, these hormone releases can decrease energy, causing interference with the body/brain's natural rejuvenating processes that reduce stress. With chiropractic, the therapeutic effects help correct body chemistry and improve energy levels.

Body Composition

Increase Immune Function

Lymphatic fluid has a vital role in stress health and the function of the immune system. Lymphatic fluid helps separate and release:

• Toxins
• Viruses
• Fungus
• Bacteria from the body.

When lymphatic fluid flows smoothly and is not impeded or trapped in tissues, joints, or muscles, the immune system operates at a high level. Chiropractic helps drive lymphatic fluid out of the tissues, joints, and muscles of the body, facilitating optimal immune function.

General Disclaimer *

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional, or licensed physician, and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and support, directly or indirectly, our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

References

Dragoş, Dorin, and Maria Daniela Tănăsescu. "The effect of stress on the defense systems." Journal of medicine and life vol. 3,1 (2010): 10-8.

Meier, Jacqueline Katharina et al. "Stress Alters the Neural Context for Building New Memories." Journal of cognitive neuroscience vol. 32,12 (2020): 2226-2240. doi:10.1162/jocn_a_01613

Pickar, Joel G. "Neurophysiological effects of spinal manipulation." The spine journal: official journal of the North American Spine Society vol. 2,5 (2002): 357-71. doi:10.1016/s1529-9430(02)00400-x