Chiropractic + Wellness

Dehydration affects the body physically and mentally but also affects the health of the spine's discs. Spinal discs that lack proper hydration begin to compress, collapse between vertebrae, or cannot refill correctly, causing further compression and increasing the risk of spinal injury. Dehydrated discs can cause injuries like herniated disc/s, degenerative disc disease, and spinal stenosis. Chiropractic treatment offers spinal decompression that will restretch and realign the spine allowing the injury/s to heal and proper disc rehydration.

Spine Support

As crucial as the spine is within daily activities, it is vital to understand its mechanics. The spinal vertebrae discs work to absorb shock when bending, twisting, or flexing to ensure the bones do not rub together. Within each disc is the nucleus pulposus, made up of 85 percent water that provides movement when the spine rotates and moves in various directions. This high water content in the discs helps the spine function. The discs naturally lose some water as the body ages, but dehydration can also occur when individuals do not intake enough water from drinking or in food. If the dehydration is severe, the risk of injury increases or can aggravate existing spine conditions. The loss of hydration in an adult spine can cause a loss of disc height daily. Without proper rehydration, other medical issues can begin to present.

Symptoms

Depending on which discs are affected, the pain or numbness can travel from the neck into the shoulders, arms, and hands or from the lower back down through the legs. Symptoms can include:

• Back stiffness 
• Burning or tingling sensations
• Reduced or painful movement
• Back pain
• Weakness
• Numbness in the low back, legs, or feet
• Changes in knee and foot reflexes
• Sciatica

When the body is dehydrated, it can be difficult to replenish the water in the discs thoroughly, as well as nutrient levels through a consistent loss of fluid. Dehydration disrupts the balance which can lead to an increased risk of injury and increased degeneration. Causes of disc dehydration include:

• Trauma from an auto accident, fall, work, or sports injury.
• Repeated strain on the back from consistent lifting, reaching, bending, twisting, etc.
• Sudden weight loss can cause the body, including the discs, to lose fluid.
• Ankylosing spondylitis.

Spinal Rehydration

The entire body relies on proper hydration with direct water consumption to rehydrate the body but also incorporating fruits and vegetables to aid in hydration. These foods include:

• Watermelon
• Cantaloupe
• Lettuce
• Tomatoes

These foods are made of more than 90% water and contain essential nutrients and help the spine function more efficiently. Proper water consumption is based on age, body size, and activity level. However, to fully heal desiccated discs, spinal injuries, or back pain, chiropractic decompression, and manipulation adjustments are recommended. Non-surgical motorized spinal decompression treatment is gentle. The therapy lengthens and decompresses the spine reversing the pressure within the damaged disc/s creating an intradiscal vacuum that relieves the pressure off the nerve and helps reshape and rehydrate the damaged disc/s.

DOC

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

Djurasovic, Mladen, et al. “The influence of preoperative MRI findings on lumbar fusion clinical outcomes.” The European spine journal: official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society vol. 21,8 (2012): 1616-23. doi:10.1007/s00586-012-2244-9

Karki, D B et al. “Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings in Lumbar Disc Degeneration in Symptomatic Patients.” Journal of Nepal Health Research Council vol. 13,30 (2015): 154-9.

Twomey, L T, and J R Taylor. “Age changes in lumbar vertebrae and intervertebral discs.” Clinical Orthopedics and related research,224 (1987): 97-104.

Videman, Tapio et al. “Age- and pathology-specific measures of disc degeneration.” Spine vol. 33,25 (2008): 2781-8. doi:10.1097/BRS.0b013e31817e1d11

Chiropractic medicine has enjoyed a tremendous boost in popularity. People use it for managing pain, chronic conditions, prevent injury, and improve motion range, flexibility, and overall health. But what's the right age to start chiropractic care? What is the best time to start seeing a chiropractor?

Any age can benefit from chiropractic care and the sooner the better!

Can children receive chiropractic care?

Yes, children can see a chiropractor and receive treatment. Most chiropractors will see children under 18 years of age and many will see children under 2, including infants. It is safe, non-invasive, and is medication free.

Adverse events associated with pediatric chiropractic are extremely rare and there are no reported deaths resulting from the treatment. It is largely considered to be one of the safest forms of treatment available for a wide range of conditions, including pain management.

Most chiropractors are trained in treating children as part of their education. The techniques are gentle but effective. Chiropractic is a safe, effective complement to regular child healthcare.

The bigger question is, should children receive chiropractic care?

And the answer to that is, absolutely!

What benefits do children get from chiropractic care?

When a child’s spine is aligned correctly, they tend to be healthier. Birth itself can put the body through some degree of trauma as the infant is squeezed through the birth canal, often aided by forceps or suction.

Later, as they learn to crawl and walk, the falls and bumps they receive can also put stress on the body by taking the spine out of alignment and the body out of balance. Chiropractic provides children with relief from those stressors and helps them have stronger bodies to withstand better the physical stressors they will experience in adulthood.

The first ten years of a child’s life are a time of rapid development and growth. However, even seemingly innocuous activities like using a computer or wearing a backpack can cause misalignments of the spine. Add to that sports injury and poor posture, and you have even more reasons to begin chiropractic care for your child as early as possible.

When the spine is not aligned, it can put pressure on various nerves and interrupt the pathways of the nervous system. This can result in organ malfunction or not performing at an optimal level as well as muscle issues. This can lead to a variety of symptoms such as asthma, bed wetting, colic, stomach ache, hyperactivity, ear infections, frequent flu or colds, and poor posture.

Gentle, safe chiropractic adjustments can help children find relief from these symptoms. It can also be used as a preventative care strategy so that children can avoid developing them. It plays a positive, effective role in a child’s overall wellness and good health.

Is chiropractic safe for children?

What many parents may not know is that chiropractors have been treating children for more than 100 years. It has an excellent reputation and studies show it is extremely safe. Studies that examine malpractice insurance coverage show that chiropractors have a very low risk and exceptional safety record.

Ideally, chiropractic adjustments should start with the mother before the baby is even born. When the mother has a properly aligned spine, her pelvis is in the optimal position to give birth. If the pelvis is out of alignment, it can result in problems with the birth, including making it very hard on the infant.

As soon as the baby is born, he or she should be evaluated by a chiropractor. Even an “easy” birth with no complications can put stress on the infant’s spine which, in turn, puts stress on the nervous system. When evaluated at birth, the chiropractor can apply gentle, non-force pressure to realign the baby’s spine. Both mother and child will reap the benefits of a healthier, happier baby.

Most Recommended Chiropractor El Paso, Tx

Chiropractic care focuses on re-establishing the natural healing of the body through manual adjustments and manipulation of the spine. A chiropractor diagnoses and treats neuromuscular disorders by restoring a healthy functionality between the spine and the nervous system, together with educating on the proper stretches, exercises, and a balanced nutrition to promote further healing. Chiropractic treatment restores normal spinal mobility which in turn alleviates the irritation of the spinal nerve that causes pain and affects the function of the other systems in the body. A chiropractor will offer relief to many conditions and disorders.  

If you are an active amateur or a competitive runner, using the services of a chiropractor can make a vast change in your overall health, reduce your pain from injuries and improve your alignment for a more effective run.

Runners need chiropractic rehabilitation and can help you keep your body in top condition as an athlete. All sports falls into an area that chiropractors can specialize in, focusing their training and experience on targeted treatments for runners.

Recovering from a Sports Injury

Most athletes get injured at one point or another in their career, whether it is while participating in their sport or an accident in their daily lives. Recovery from an injury can be difficult at times, and even after hours of physical therapy, you may feel that you aren't ready to start training again.

Physical therapy is a great help in recovering strength in soft tissue and muscle after an injury or surgery. However, sports-medicine trained chiropractors can improve the mobility of your joints after an injury. Sports chiropractors work with the soft tissue in conjunction with the joints in a coordinated fashion. An examination will take a look at:

• How you move
• How you stand
• What the arch of your foot looks like
• How your knees are aligned
• How your hips are aligned

After the examination, the sports chiropractor will assess the runner to recommend treatment.

Sports Chiropractic Treatments for Running Injuries

According to U.S. News and World Report, there are four primary chiropractic treatments for running injuries.

• Active Release Technique (ART) - combines massage and stretching by applying deep tension while moving a joint through its range of motion. This treatment is used primarily for adhesions in the muscle.
• Graston Technique - used to break down surface-level scar tissue with hand-held stainless steel tools.
• Functional Dry Needling - releases tension in trigger points through deep muscle stimulation with needles. This treatment can help the psoas muscle, a hip flexor muscle.
• Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) - releases tension through the stimulation of surface muscles.

General Chiropractic Adjustments

Chiropractors are trained to look at the whole body and align it for optimum balance. Many runners find it beneficial to have regular periodic adjustments to regain their body's balance from daily stress and the impact of running. Aligning the body can relieve tension or pain that is caused by misalignment before it becomes more than a minor impediment.

Runners may not even realize that the tension they feel is the beginning of pain caused by being out of balance until it is adjusted. Chiropractic adjustments are often part and parcel of a runner's training program to strengthen and improve performance. They can also help recover from pregnancy and postpartum bodily changes.

Preventing Injury and Promoting Optimal Performance

With regular care of a sports-trained chiropractor, runners can actually prevent injury and promote optimal performance by keeping their bodies fine-tuned, working at maximum capacity. A trained chiropractor can find imbalances that may lead to injury and correct them before they become a problem. With your body in perfect balance, muscles and joints work more efficiently, powering up your performance as a runner and making the most of your body's resources.

Misalignment can be caused by many common runners’ experiences including running on the same type of surface every day, running on a slanted surface such as a beach or replacing running shoes too infrequently. As a runner, you can work to vary your running surfaces and keep a better watch on your shoes, but your chiropractor will let you know if your body is in need of more balance.

To learn more or to schedule an appointment, please give us a call at the number provided at the top of this website. We're here to help!

5 Red Flags of *FOOT PRONATION* | El Paso, Tx (2019)

Feet: The foundation of pain

99% of feet are normal at birth. But after the first year, 8% develop foot problems, 41% by age 5 and 80% by age 20. By age 40, almost everyone has a foot condition of some sort. Many foot conditions eventually contribute to health concerns, especially the generalized condition of “back pain” or runner’s knee. Spotting a potential problem originating in the feet can prevent other injuries from affecting your health and lifestyle.

Runners who are able to avoid injury are those who land the lightest on their feet, which sustains the lowest levels of impact. Researchers suggest that runners think about landing more softly and adjust their stride so that they land closer to the midfoot.

But that is easier said than done, as most runners tend to be heel-strikers.

Runners with excessive pronation that try to transition to a forefoot strike pattern could be more susceptible to inner foot and ankle injuries.

Runners with high arches who attempt to transition to a forefoot strike pattern are prone to suffer sprained ankles and metatarsal stress fractures.

Running can lead to a number of different injuries

• Sudden trauma
• Developed over time from microtrauma
• Biomechanical errors
• Structural asymmetries
• Tissue weaknesses
• Excessive external loads

Runners do their best to treat pain through stretching or exercises that target the area that hurts, but sometimes the source of the pain might actually be elsewhere. That source is foot imbalance.

Custom orthotics improve biomechanics

Custom orthotics are used to align and support the foot/ankle complex in a more near-normal physiologic position for a weight-bearing foot to prevent dysfunction and/or improve the function of movable body parts.[3] They are indicated to:

• Creates a symmetrical foundation by blocking pronation or support supination
• Provides heel strike shock absorption
• Inhibits serial biomechanical stress
• Enhances neuromuscular re-education

Custom-made orthotics that use viscoelastic materials can help to reduce the musculoskeletal impact from heel strikes when running.

This shock absorption can be of help particularly when there is instability, chronic degeneration, or inflammatory arthritis in the joints.

Orthotics are designed specifically to cushion foot impact and reduce pain triggers.

The irritating pain that accompanies tight muscles along with limited mobility and the numbness that extends down your buttocks and legs are the all too familiar symptoms associated with low back pain relating to conditions of the lumbar spine. But, when your lumbar back pain points to the sacroiliac joint instead, what are your treatment options?

The function of the sacroiliac joint is to support the movements of the lower extremities. With overuse or underuse, the local muscles surrounding the joint may become inflamed or tight, adding pressure and stress that will often lead to sacroiliac joint dysfunction, the possible true cause for your low back pain.