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Foods For Stress: EP Functional Health and Wellness Clinic

By
Dr. Alex Jimenez
-
Beautiful young female biting fork and happily smiling while enjoying healthy dish during breakfast in morning

Maintaining a healthy and well-balanced nutritional plan is recommended for overall health. When the body is nourished healthily, it will perform optimally. Stress is part of daily life, and certain foods can enhance the body’s ability to handle stress, help target physical and emotional states, and protect the brain. The Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic Team can provide therapeutic massage to increase circulation, and relax the mind and body, adjustments to restore any misalignments, and nutritional support and health coaching for total wellness.

Foods For Stress: EP Chiropractic Functional Team

Foods For Stress

Anxiety is a widespread condition affecting millions of individuals. Trying to lower stress levels includes self-care, sleep management, physical activity, and incorporating foods to reduce cortisol levels, the primary hormone responsible for stress.

Cortisol

Cortisol has a variety of functions that include:

  • Manages how the body uses carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.
  • Sleep cycle regulation.
  • Blood pressure regulation.
  • Increases blood sugar.
  • Decreases inflammation.

Cortisol is sometimes known as the stress hormone because the adrenal gland releases it when experiencing stress or when the body is under physical stress/inflammation. It is the key to managing the fight-or-flight instinct and is healthy for a short period as a protective mechanism providing the energy needed to respond to short-term stress. However, the long-term release of cortisol generates tension in the body, leading to chronic inflammation and raised blood pressure. Learning how to manage stress is necessary for lowering cortisol levels.

Symptoms

Symptoms vary and are different for everybody.

Physical

  • Exhaustion.
  • Sleep problems.
  • Headaches.
  • Muscle tension.
  • Jaw clenching.
  • Aches and pains.
  • Chronic illness from a weakened immune system.
  • Stomach or digestive problems.
  • High blood pressure.
  • Chest pain or a feeling like the heart is racing.
  • Dizziness.
  • Shaking.

Emotional and mental

  • Irritability and or anxiousness.
  • Sadness.
  • Depression.
  • Panic attacks.

Foods

The objective is to reduce inflammation, thus reducing cortisol levels. Recommended foods for stress include foods high in magnesium, vitamin B,  Omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and foods that benefit the gut. Here are a few.

Magnesium

Magnesium is highly beneficial in reducing inflammation, metabolizing cortisol, and relaxing the mind and body.

  • Dark chocolate.
  • Bananas.
  • Broccoli.
  • Spinach.
  • Avocados.
  • Pumpkin seeds.

Vitamin B

Vitamin B12 can help with the metabolism of cortisol.

Omega-3 Fatty Acid

These foods reduce inflammation.

  • Olive oil.
  • Avocados.
  • Tuna.
  • Sardines.
  • Mackerel.
  • Salmon
  • Anchovies.
  • Oysters.
  • Walnuts.
  • Chia seeds.
  • Flax seeds.

Protein

These foods promote balanced blood sugar levels.

  • Eggs.
  • Peanuts.
  • Almonds.
  • Chicken breast.
  • Turkey breast.
  • Lean beef.
  • Tuna.
  • Shrimp.
  • Salmon.
  • Lentils.
  • Quinoa.

Probiotic and Fermented

The immune system relies on the gut for immunity. Probiotics and fermented foods can help balance blood sugar and reduce cholesterol.

The key to lowering stress is a whole-body approach that includes exercise, proper sleep, and managing chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, all of which can put the body in a prolonged state of inflammation. Incorporating these foods into a nutritional plan can help relieve stress naturally.

Impact of Stress

References

Aucoin, Monique, and Sukriti Bhardwaj. “Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Hypoglycemia Symptoms Improved with Diet Modification.” Case reports in psychiatry vol. 2016 (2016): 7165425. doi:10.1155/2016/7165425

Errisuriz, Vanessa L et al. “Perceived stress and dietary choices: The moderating role of stress management.” Eating behaviors vol. 22 (2016): 211-216. doi:10.1016/j.eatbeh.2016.06.008

Norwitz, Nicholas G, and Uma Naidoo. “Nutrition as Metabolic Treatment for Anxiety.” Frontiers in psychiatry vol. 12 598119. 12 Feb. 2021, doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.598119

Serafini, Mauro, and Ilaria Peluso. “Functional Foods for Health: The Interrelated Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Role of Fruits, Vegetables, Herbs, Spices and Cocoa in Humans.” Current pharmaceutical design vol. 22,44 (2016): 6701-6715. doi:10.2174/1381612823666161123094235

Zellner, Debra A et al. “Food selection changes under stress.” Physiology & behavior vol. 87,4 (2006): 789-93. doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2006.01.014

Lumbar Strain: EP’s Sciatica Clinic

By
Dr. Alex Jimenez
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Shot of a young businessman suffering with back pain while working late in an office.

The lumbar/low back muscles support the upper body’s weight and are involved in moving, twisting, bending, pushing, pulling, and reaching. These repetitive actions can result in a lumbar strain, which is muscle damage or injury to the tendons or muscles of the lower back, causing spasms, soreness, and pain. A lumbar strain can be the source of severe pain symptoms; it can be debilitating and, if left untreated, can lead to chronic conditions. Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic can relieve symptoms, realign the body, relax, rehabilitate, strengthen muscles, and restore function.

Lumbar Strain: EP's Chiropractic Injury Team

Lumbar Strain

The lumbar vertebra makes up the region of the spine in the lower back. Sudden injuries or overuse injuries can damage the tendons and muscles. Lumbar muscle strain is caused when the muscle fibers are abnormally stretched or torn. Lumbar strain can be acute/sudden or chronic/lingering. A strain that has been present for days or weeks is referred to as acute. It is considered chronic if it has persisted for over three months. It can occur at any age but is most common in individuals in their forties. Increased risk factors can include:

  • Weakened back or abdominal muscles can cause
  • Tight hamstrings can pull the low back muscles down.
  • Excessive lower back curvature.
  • Forward-tilted pelvis.

Symptoms

Lumbar strain can have varied signs and symptoms depending on the location, damage, and cause of injury. The damage can range from simple overstretching injuries to partial or complete tears of varying degrees. The tears cause inflammation in the surrounding area, resulting in back spasms and difficulty moving. A muscle spasm is a cramp caused by a sudden and involuntary contraction or twitch and can be one of the symptoms of a lumbar strain. Other symptoms can include:

  • Muscle spasms either with activity or when resting.
  • Stiffness in the low back.
  • Difficulty standing or walking, with slight relief when resting.
  • Trouble doing simple tasks like bending or climbing stairs.
  • Low back pain can radiate into the buttocks without affecting the legs.
  • The lower back may be tender and sore to the touch.
  • Decreased muscle strength.
  • Restricted or limited range of motion.
  • Inability to maintain healthy posture because of stiffness and/or pain.
  • Discomfort symptoms that persist.
  • Discomfort ranges from mild aches to sharp, debilitating pain.
  • Intermittent flare-ups.

Causes

There are often multiple underlying risk factors contributing to the injury or damage. A few of the most common causes:

Chiropractic

Depending on the severity, a doctor or health care provider could recommend chiropractic treatment and physical therapy. The chiropractor will perform an evaluation, combined with the doctor’s diagnosis, to develop a customized/personalized treatment plan. Treatment may include:

  • Ice and heat therapy
  • Massage to stimulate blood circulation
  • Percussive muscle stimulation
  • Pelvic traction
  • Ultrasound
  • Stretching exercises
  • Exercises to do at home for long-term relief.

It is a safe option to loosen tight back muscles, relieve pain, and promote lower back healing.

Spine Injuries In Sports

References

Ball, Jacob R et al. “Lumbar Spine Injuries in Sports: Review of the Literature and Current Treatment Recommendations.” Sports medicine – open vol. 5,1 26. 24 Jun. 2019, doi:10.1186/s40798-019-0199-7

Domljan, Z et al. “Lumbalni strain-sindromi” [Lumbar strain syndromes]. Reumatizam vol. 38,5-6 (1991): 33-4.

Li, H et al. “Rehabilitation effect of exercise with soft tissue manipulation in patients with a lumbar muscle strain.” Nigerian journal of clinical practice vol. 20,5 (2017): 629-633. doi:10.4103/njcp.njcp_126_16

Williams, Whitney, and Noelle M Selkow. “Self-Myofascial Release of the Superficial Back Line Improves Sit-and-Reach Distance.” Journal of sport rehabilitation vol. 29,4 400-404. 18 Oct. 2019, doi:10.1123/jsr.2018-0306

Incorporating The MET Technique For Better Sleep

By
Dr. Alex Jimenez
-

Introduction

The body needs a good amount of rest after being in motion throughout the day in the form of sleep. Whether the body has been doing errands, standing, running, or walking, many individuals need to rest for a few hours to promote muscle growth and mental recovery. To that point, a good hour and a half nap or a full 8-hours of sleep can do the body good. However, when environmental factors or traumatic accidents start to affect the body, it can lead to pain-like symptoms in the muscle groups that can disrupt the sleeping process and allow recovery to occur in the form of sleep. Fortunately, numerous treatment techniques and therapies restore the body and allow the musculoskeletal system to recover. Today’s article looks at how different sleeping positions correlate with the musculoskeletal system, how pain disorders affect a person’s sleep, and how the MET technique can provide better sleep. We provide valuable information about our patients to certified medical providers offering available therapy treatments like the MET technique for individuals dealing with poor sleep quality associated with musculoskeletal pain disorders. We encourage each patient appropriately by referring them to our associated medical providers based on their diagnosis results. We accept that education is a spectacular way when asking our providers the most crucial questions at the patient’s acknowledgment. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., assesses this information as an educational service. Disclaimer

 

Sleeping Positions & The Musculoskeletal System

Have you been feeling muscle stiffness in certain areas of your body? Do you feel aches and pains in your low back when stretching? Or have you experienced headaches that seem to go away and come back after a nap? Many of these symptoms are associated with how your sleeping position affects your musculoskeletal system. Many of us have different sleeping positions to feel comfortable and get a full night of sleep. From sleeping on the sides (left or right), on the back, or the stomach, finding a comfortable position can make the musculoskeletal system feel weird. Research studies have revealed that different body postures and movements during sleep have been associated with sleep quality and numerous health outcomes. So if an adult sleeps on their back or side, it could correlate with how much sleep their musculoskeletal system is getting for their mental and physical health. According to Leon Chaitow, N.D., D.O. and Judith Walker DeLany, L.M.T book, “Clinical Application of Neuromuscular Techniques,” stated that recovery of a normal sleep pattern is extremely important for the musculoskeletal system as it provides tissue repair and allows the pituitary glands to release growth hormones in the body while sleep is taking place at night. However, the book also mentions that sleep patterns can be easily disturbed by numerous factors that cause distress and pain to the body affecting the sleep cycle.

 

Pain Disorders Affecting Sleep

 

When environmental factors begin to affect how the body functions, it can lead to numerous issues and complaints to the musculoskeletal system that can affect a person’s ability to function over time. It could affect the person’s posture as the muscles are being overstretched, causing issues with the body’s functionality. Studies reveal that different habitual sleep postures or musculoskeletal disorders throughout the day could cause compressive load and muscle contractions on the spinal tissues causing them to become tight and leading to correlating risk factors to the musculoskeletal system. Additionally, environmental risk factors associated with pain can cause muscle weakness and contribute to musculoskeletal problems and imbalances that cause the muscle tissues to become short and tense while changing motor regulation and performance. This means that any muscles that have been overused and injuries can cause pain to the ligaments and joints of the body, leading to musculoskeletal pain and injuries that can affect a person’s quality of sleep.

 

The Secret Of Unlocking Mobility- Video

Chiropractic: The Secret to Unlocking Mobility | El Paso, Tx (2023)

Have you been dealing with aches and pains in your muscles? Do you have issues with low back pain? Or do you feel your muscles tense when waking up from a good night’s rest? A good night’s sleep benefits the body’s musculoskeletal system by promoting tissue repair and growth. Many people dealing with musculoskeletal problems could affect their sleep cycle, causing pain-like symptoms in their bodies. When environmental factors or injuries occur to the musculoskeletal system, it can affect how a person sleeps and cause the muscles to become short and tense, leading to injuries over time. Luckily, available treatments are utilized to restore the body and stretch out the tight muscles to promote healing and help the individual to sleep better. The video above informs how chiropractic care can restore the body through spinal manipulation and allow mobility back to the different muscle groups. Many chiropractors would use various techniques to stretch the affected muscles and realign spinal subluxation in the body to help many individuals go throughout their day and have a better sleep.

The MET Technique & Better Sleep

 

When it comes to having a good night’s sleep, many individuals will find ways to reduce the pain that their body is experiencing by trying to find solutions to get those beneficial 8 hours. Studies reveal that sleep posture has been associated with sleep quality; it is important to identify the factors that could adversely affect a person’s ability to maintain sleep and reduce musculoskeletal issues. Treatments like chiropractic care combined with techniques like the MET (muscle energy technique) can help restore the body through spinal manipulation and stretching of soft muscle tissue when dealing with poor sleep and musculoskeletal problems. Studies reveal that the MET technique, combined with other treatments like chiropractic care, can help restore the range of motion to the joints while stretching weak and short muscles affected by musculoskeletal disorders. These combined techniques can relieve the body from pain and help many individuals sleep better while being aware of their bodies when sleeping to prevent future injuries or pain from reoccurring.

 

Conclusion

Knowing how you sleep and your position is important when it comes to having a better night’s sleep. Many factors are layered on top of one another that can affect the musculoskeletal system and cause the muscles to be tensed and short, which can lead to dysfunction and cause sleep issues. But with the combination of the MET technique and chiropractic treatment, many individuals can get their bodies restored and have a better night’s sleep without feeling muscle pain when waking up.

 

References

Cary, Doug, et al. “Examining Relationships between Sleep Posture, Waking Spinal Symptoms and Quality of Sleep: A Cross Sectional Study.” PloS One, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 30 Nov. 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8631621/.

Cary, Doug, et al. “Identifying Relationships between Sleep Posture and Non-Specific Spinal Symptoms in Adults: A Scoping Review.” BMJ Open, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 28 June 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6609073/.

Chaitow, Leon, and Judith Walker DeLany. Clinical Application of Neuromuscular Techniques. Churchill Livingstone, 2002.

Skarpsno, Eivind Schjelderup, et al. “Sleep Positions and Nocturnal Body Movements Based on Free-Living Accelerometer Recordings: Association with Demographics, Lifestyle, and Insomnia Symptoms.” Nature and Science of Sleep, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 Nov. 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5677378/.

Wendt, Michał, and Małgorzata Waszak. “Evaluation of the Combination of Muscle Energy Technique and Trigger Point Therapy in Asymptomatic Individuals with a Latent Trigger Point.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 14 Nov. 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7696776/.

Disclaimer

Constipation Sciatica: EP’s Chiropractic Specialists

By
Dr. Alex Jimenez
-
Close up of woman with pain of belly and back sitting on the bed at home

Constipation is a leading cause of low back pain in America and can cause a chain reaction in the rest of the body. When the digestional tract swells, it generates added stress on the back and surrounding nerves. Prolonged constipation and pressure can cause sciatica symptoms. Constipation sciatica can be relieved through chiropractic treatment, therapeutic massage, non-surgical spinal decompression, and functional medicine to alleviate symptoms and restore optimal body function.

Constipation Sciatica: EP's Chiropractic Injury Specialists

Constipation Sciatica

Sciatica is irritation, compression, and inflammation of the sciatic nerve, which supplies the thighs, lower legs, and feet. It is usually caused by a pinched/compressed of one or more spinal nerve roots between the vertebrae of the lower back. The buildup of stool in the intestines can cause a dull aching sensation in the low back that can radiate to surrounding areas. Common causes of constipation include:

  • Insufficient water/hydration levels.
  • An unhealthy diet.
  • Vitamin deficiency.
  • Stress.
  • Little to no physical activity.
  • Sporadic and unhealthy bowel movements.
  • Overuse of laxatives or enemas.

Other causes of constipation include:

  • Medication reactions.
  • Antacids that contain aluminum or calcium.
  • Calcium channel blockers.
  • Iron supplements.
  • Pain medications, especially narcotics.
  • Sedatives.
  • Antispasmodics.
  • Antidepressants.
  • Anticonvulsants.

Symptoms

Bowel movements vary for everyone, and not having a movement daily does not mean constipation is occurring. Some individuals have only three movements a week, while others have multiple movements daily. A recommended indicator of constipation is if there has been a sudden decrease in typical bowel movements. The digestive tract occupies a significant region of the lower torso. Back pain symptoms can present after the rectum becomes obstructed or stools have solidified in the colon. Once constipation has developed, the blockage presses against the nerves and muscles of the back. This causes a range of discomfort signaling by the brain, which worsens as the backup grows. Symptoms of general constipation include:

  • Feeling full despite not eating anything.
  • Bloating.
  • Swelling.
  • Abdominal cramping.
  • Infrequent bowel movements.
  • Discomfort or aching when trying to pass a stool.
  • Hard and/or lumpy stool.

Constipation is considered chronic when two or more of the following symptoms occur for at least three months:

  • Further decreased bowel movements.
  • Straining to defecate.
  • Stools do not loosen without the use of laxatives.
  • Passage of hard pebble/pellet stools.
  • Consistent abdominal pain that is relieved by even slight movement.
  • Feeling as if the bowels are not fully emptied or a blockage in the rectum.
  • Feeling the need to assist the release by pressing on the abdomen.

Chiropractic Treatment

Chiropractic treatment can realign the spine, release compressed nerves, increase the frequency of bowel movements, and through the massage and relaxation of the muscles, help to soften stools. Intestinal muscles push the stool to the anus, where it leaves/evacuates the body. Special nerve cells in the intestine, known as ganglion cells, innervate the muscles to push. These nerves connect to the celiac ganglion, which connects to the spinal cord through nerve roots that exit the spine in the lower thoracic and upper lumbar region. The celiac ganglion innervates the liver, stomach, gallbladder, spleen, kidneys, small intestine, and the ascending and transverse colon. Treatment for constipation and back pain depends on the cause of the symptoms. For example, if the constipation is caused by dehydration, a chiropractor will instruct the patient on water intake as part of the personalized treatment plan.

Diagnosis to Recovery

References

Fernandes, Walkyria Vilas Boas, et al. “The effect of a six-week osteopathic visceral manipulation in patients with non-specific chronic low back pain and functional constipation: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.” Trials vol. 19,1 151. 2 Mar. 2018, doi:10.1186/s13063-018-2532-8

Panarese, Alba, et al. “Chronic functional constipation is strongly linked to vitamin D deficiency.” World journal of gastroenterology vol. 25,14 (2019): 1729-1740. doi:10.3748/wjg.v25.i14.1729

Rédly, Monika. “The effects of chiropractic care on a patient with chronic constipation.” The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association vol. 45,3 (2001): 185–191.

Trager, Robert James, et al. “Association between radicular low back pain and constipation: a retrospective cohort study using a real-world national database.” Pain reports vol. 6,3 e954. 26 Aug. 2021, doi:10.1097/PR9.0000000000000954

Medication Overuse Headaches: EP Functional Health

By
Dr. Alex Jimenez
-
Shot of a senior man being treated by a physiotherapist.

Medication overuse headaches – MOH comes from frequent or excessive use of pain-relieving medications, resulting in daily or near-daily headaches for which the drugs become less and less effective. They are also known as rebound headaches, medication misuse, or drug-induced headaches. It is a common disorder, with around one out of every 100 individuals experiencing these headaches yearly. They can be disabling, causing individuals to be less productive. Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic can assess, diagnose, and manage headaches naturally with massage, adjustments, and decompression.

Medication Overuse Headaches: EP Chiropractic Team

Medication Overuse Headaches

The same medications that relieve headache pain can trigger headaches if used too often, triggering an unhealthy cycle. Diagnosis of medication overuse headaches means an individual must experience headaches more than 15 days a month for at least three months while taking pain-relieving and/or antimigraine meds and cannot find other cause/s for their headaches. It is more common in women and individuals with headache disorders, chronic pain conditions, and individuals dealing with depression and anxiety.

Symptoms

Symptoms can vary depending on the type of headache being treated and the medicine used. Common symptoms include:

  • They occur every day or nearly every day.
  • They usually start when waking up.
  • They improve with the medication but then return as it wears off.
  • Headache can feel like a dull, tension-type headache or more severe, like a migraine.

Other symptoms can include:

  • Sleep problems
  • Restlessness
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Memory problems
  • Constipation
  • Irritability
  • Neck discomfort and pain symptoms
  • Weakness
  • Nasal stuffiness and/or Runny nose
  • Light sensitivity
  • Teary eyes
  • Sound sensitivity
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting

Medicines

Doctors and medical experts don’t know the exact reasons/causes why these headaches occur, and the risk varies depending on the medication. But most medicines have the potential to lead to overuse headaches, including:

Simple Pain Relievers

  • Common pain relievers like aspirin and acetaminophen like Tylenol can contribute to the condition. This is especially true if taking more than the recommended dosages.
  • Other pain relievers like ibuprofen – Advil, Motrin IB, and naproxen sodium – Aleve has shown to have a low risk of contributing to overuse headaches.

Combination Pain Relievers

  • Pain relievers that can be purchased at a store that combines caffeine, aspirin, and acetaminophen – Excedrin has been found to contribute to the condition.
  • This group also includes combination prescription medicines that contain butalbital – Butapap, and Lanorinal. Drugs that contain butalbital have a high risk of causing medication overuse headaches.

Migraine Medicines

  • Various migraine medicines have been linked with the condition. They include triptans – Imitrex, Zomig, and certain headache meds known as ergots, such as ergotamine – Ergomar. These medicines have a moderate risk of causing headaches.
  • The ergot dihydroergotamine – Migranal, Trudhesa have a lower risk of causing headaches.
  • A newer group of migraine medicines known as gepants appear not to cause headaches. Gepants include ubrogepant – Ubrelvy and rimegepant – Nurtec ODT.

Opioids

  • Opium-derived meds or synthetic compounds have a high risk of causing medication overuse headaches. They include combinations of codeine and acetaminophen.

Prevention and Chiropractic

The following steps can help prevent headaches:

  • Follow the label instructions of the medications and the instructions of the doctor.
  • Limit any headache medications taken as needed to relieve head pain to no more than two to three days a week.
  • Consult with a doctor if there is a need to take medications more than two days a week.
  • Contact a doctor if headaches present more than four days a month which could require headache-preventive medication.
  • Control and avoid anything that triggers headaches, like stress, dehydration, hunger, certain foods and drinks, and unhealthy sleep.

Chiropractic

Our team utilizes a personalized and combined treatment approach, including understanding the triggers. The team will work to understand each individual’s situation. A treatment plan can consist of the following:

  • Therapeutic massage to relax and release tight muscles and increase circulation.
  • Spinal manipulation and adjustments to realign the body, improve function and alleviate the stress on the nervous system.
  • Non-surgical spinal decompression.
  • Health Coaching
  • Nutritional recommendations
  • Posture retraining, work postures, ergonomics, targeted stretches/exercises, and relaxation techniques.

Chiropractic and Brain Health

References

Alstadhaug, Karl B et al. “Preventing and treating medication overuse headache.” Pain reports vol. 2,4 e612. 26 Jul. 2017, doi:10.1097/PR9.0000000000000612

Bryans, Roland, et al. “Evidence-based guidelines for the chiropractic treatment of adults with headache.” Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics vol. 34,5 (2011): 274-89. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2011.04.008

Diener, Hans-Christoph, et al. “Pathophysiology, prevention, and treatment of medication overuse headache.” The Lancet. Neurology vol. 18,9 (2019): 891-902. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(19)30146-2

Kulkarni, Girish Baburao, et al. “Medication Overuse Headache.” Neurology India vol. 69, Supplement (2021): S76-S82. doi:10.4103/0028-3886.315981

Negro, Andrea, and Paolo Martelletti. “Gepants for the treatment of migraine.” Expert opinion on investigational drugs vol. 28,6 (2019): 555-567. doi:10.1080/13543784.2019.1618830

Scripter, Cassie. “Headache: Tension-Type Headache.” FP essentials vol. 473 (2018): 17-20.

Everyday Poor Posture Relieved By The MET Technique

By
Dr. Alex Jimenez
-

Introduction

From a young age, parents will always tell their kids to sit up straight or else they will have bad posture. As kids, we would tend to recline on the couch or chair, which would not affect our backs in the long run. However, as we age, move around more, and have jobs that require prolonged sitting or constantly looking down at our phones, our bodies are hunched or slouched for long periods. When the upper extremities, like the neck, shoulders, and thoracic region of the back, are hunched over, it can develop into future issues that cause musculoskeletal symptoms over time. When this happens, the muscle tissues begin to be overstretched. They could lead to overlapping problems that can cause many individuals to be dealing with upper back pain and areas of complaint. Today we are looking at the effects of poor posture, how prolonged sitting causes numerous symptoms, and how the MET technique relieves poor posture. We provide valuable information about our patients to certified medical providers offering available therapy treatments like the MET technique for individuals with poor posture and neck and back pain due to prolonged sitting. We encourage each patient appropriately by referring them to our associated medical providers based on their diagnosis results. We accept that education is a spectacular way when asking our providers the most crucial questions at the patient’s acknowledgment. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., assesses this information as an educational service. Disclaimer

 

The Effects Of Poor Posture

 

Have you been dealing with muscle strains in your upper back, neck, and shoulders? Are you constantly hunched over at your desk or looking down at your phone? Or are you experience sciatic nerve pain from sitting down always? Many of these issues from prolonged sitting can rapidly develop into poor posture and affect the musculoskeletal system and the spine. Studies reveal that when many individuals spend a significant amount of time sitting, especially in an awkward position, which can cause an increased risk of spinal pain and other effects on the various muscle groups in the shoulders, neck, and thoracic region. Not only that but according to the book written by Leon Chaitow, N.D, D.O., and Judith Walker DeLany, L.M.T, “Clinical Application of Neuromuscular Techniques,” mentioned the muscles in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar region of the body are among the first to be showing signs of changes in response to postural defects. To that point, when a person is slumped in a sitting position will cause strain to each muscle group in the back and affect both the upper and lower extremities of the body.

 

Prolonged Sitting & Symptoms

When many individuals are sitting down constantly, whether at a desk job or driving in a vehicle, it can take a toll on the entire body. When the body hasn’t been moving for a long time, it cause the individual to feel muscle strain and tightness in their upper body and a nagging sensation in their lower body. Studies reveal that prolonged sitting can cause discomfort in the lower back and causes reduced muscle endurance in the lower back, and could cause an increased risk of musculoskeletal disorders like sciatic nerve pain, where the gluteal muscles irritate the sciatic nerve causing radiating pain to travel down the legs. Another research study also reveals that being in a forced position for an extended period can cause an impact on the seating position of the upper body and can be associated with upper musculoskeletal disorders causing an area of complaints in the chin, back, neck, shoulders, arms, and hands. When a person has been sitting for an extended amount of time without taking a stretch break, the muscles begin to be in a constant state of contraction and become short and tense. 

The Benefits Of Good Posture-Video

The benefits of good posture - Murat Dalkilinç

Have you noticed that you have been leaning forward when walking from one location to another? Do you feel muscle tightness or irritating pain in your shoulders or legs? Or have you been experiencing unwanted pain in your neck and lower back? Many of these issues are due to having a slouched or hunched-over posture that can develop neck and back pain. Poor posture can lead to unwanted symptoms affecting the muscles and joints. Poor posture is due to everyday factors like being hunched over, looking down at the phone, or leaning forward to the computer. These little actions may not initially cause muscle pain but will cause issues over time. Luckily, there are various treatments to reduce the effects of poor posture and help restore the body. The video above explains the benefits of having good posture and trying to prevent future injuries and muscle strain from returning.

The MET Technique For Poor Posture

There are numerous ways to reduce the effects of poor posture from further affecting the body and reducing pain in the various muscles and joints. A good way to relieve stiffness in the neck and back is to do multiple stretches to restore blood flow back to the muscles. Another way to prevent neck and back pain is to incorporate MET (muscle energy treatment) techniques. Studies reveal that when individuals utilize MET treatments combined with posture correction exercises and stretches, it can significantly decrease pain in the neck and back while improving the range of motion to the muscles and soft tissues. Doing light stretches can help relieve tense muscles and promote good posture, as many individuals are becoming more aware of how they present themselves when they are not hunched over. 

 

Conclusion

When it comes to our bodies, it is important to know that being hunched over can lead to poor posture, and sitting down for an extended period can develop neck and back pain associated with overlapping symptoms. Poor posture can cause the muscles to become tense, short, and stiff, and when a person stretches from being hunched over will experience pain. Luckily, incorporating various stretches and using the MET technique allows the muscles to be stretched and prevent future injuries from reoccurring while allowing the individual to be more aware of their posture.

 

References

Chaitow, Leon, and Judith Walker DeLany. Clinical Application of Neuromuscular Techniques. Churchill Livingstone, 2002.

Joshi, Reema, and Nishita Poojary. “The Effect of Muscle Energy Technique and Posture Correction Exercises on Pain and Function in Patients with Non-Specific Chronic Neck Pain Having Forward Head Posture-a Randomized Controlled Trail.” International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 June 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9134480/.

Jung, Kyoung-Sim, et al. “Effects of Prolonged Sitting with Slumped Posture on Trunk Muscular Fatigue in Adolescents with and without Chronic Lower Back Pain.” Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania), U.S. National Library of Medicine, 23 Dec. 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7822118/.

Kuo, Yi-Liang, et al. “Sitting Posture during Prolonged Computer Typing with and without a Wearable Biofeedback Sensor.” Int J Environ Res Public Health, 19 May 2021, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8161121/.

Ohlendorf, Daniela, et al. “Influence of Ergonomic Layout of Musician Chairs on Posture and Seat Pressure in Musicians of Different Playing Levels.” PloS One, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 11 Dec. 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6289455/.

Disclaimer

Coping With Sports Injuries: EP Functional Wellness Clinic

By
Dr. Alex Jimenez
-
Close-up of woman receiving leg treatment with kinetek device at health spa.

Athletes, pros, semi-pros, weekend warriors, fitness enthusiasts, and physically active and healthy individuals can feel cheated when they suffer an injury. Sports injury recovery involves rest, physical therapy, chiropractic realignment, and rehabilitation. However, it can be all for naught if the individual doesn’t recover mentally and emotionally. Coping with the stress of an injury, being sidelined and moving beyond the negative, and focusing more on positive strategies is important and requires physical and psychological toughness.

Coping With Sports Injuries: EP's Chiropractic Functional Clinic

Coping With Sports Injuries

Incorporating sports psychology techniques is important as individuals can experience injury-related emotions like anxiety, sadness, frustration, anger, denial, isolation, and depression. Dealing with an injury and using the off time to reflect and gain new perspectives allows the athlete to improve their objectives by being more focused, flexible, and resilient.

Strategies That Can Help

Understand The Injury

Knowing the cause, treatment, and prevention of the specific injury results in deeper understanding and less fear or anxiety. Talking with a doctor, sports chiropractor, trainer, coach, and psychological therapist can help individuals learn what they need to do to recover quickly and optimally. A few things to consider the following include:

  • The type of injury.
  • Treatment options.
  • Purpose of the treatments.
  • Recovery time.
  • Coping strategies.
  • Rehabilitation expectations.
  • Safe alternative exercises.
  • Warning signs that injury is getting worse.
  • Getting a second opinion is recommended, especially if surgery is being advised.

Focus On Recovering

Instead of focusing on being unable to play, losing strength, relearning movements, and the length of time it may take, accepting that the body is injured and needs to be repaired to return to play is more beneficial. Taking responsibility for the recovery process generates positive outcomes and builds confidence.

Stay Committed

Getting discouraged and missing therapy sessions is expected, especially at the beginning when unable to perform, and pain symptoms are presenting. To get the most out of rehabilitation, stay focused on what needs to be done, not what’s being missed.

  • To expedite healing, stay committed, and maintain a positive attitude to overcoming the injury.
  • Apply the same mindset and motivation as you would when practicing the game to the treatment and therapy sessions.
  • Listen to what the doctor, chiropractor, therapist, and athletic trainer recommend, just as you would a coach.
  • Set small goals to build momentum and maintain balance, with the end goal of fully recovering and returning to the game.
  • Self-talk is important to reflect on progress, setbacks, new perspective on the game, and what you want to achieve.

Strengthen the Mind

Research shows that the healing process can happen faster by using mental techniques like imagery and self-hypnosis. These techniques use all senses to generate mental images, emotions, and sensations of the desired outcome. They are used for improving sports skills and techniques, game anxieties, and injury recovery.

Support

A common response after an injury is self-isolating from the team, coaches, family, and friends. However, maintaining contact with others during recovery is highly recommended as all these individuals are there when you need advice, to vent feelings, or to raise your spirits when feeling discouraged. Knowing you don’t have to face the injury alone can push you to keep going.

Alternate Fitness

Individuals going through injury treatment will undoubtedly go through physical strengthening, stretching, etc. But depending on the type of injury, individuals can modify their sports training or add safe and gentle alternate forms of exercise to maintain conditioning and strength for their sport. This can encourage recovery, as the individual is still participating and working to return to play. Talk with the doctor, chiropractor, trainer, or therapist to help create an alternative workout program around the specific sport.

With a proper diagnosis and treatment plan, taking rehabilitation and recovery slow, setting realistic goals, and maintaining a positive mindset, coping with injuries can be a successful learning journey.

Unlocking Pain Relief

References

Clement, Damien, et al. “Psychosocial responses during different phases of sport-injury rehabilitation: a qualitative study.” Journal of athletic training vol. 50,1 (2015): 95-104. doi:10.4085/1062-6050-49.3.52

Johnson, Karissa L, et al. “Exploring the Relationship Between Mental Toughness and Self-Compassion in the Context of Sports Injury.” Journal of sport rehabilitation vol. 32,3 256-264. 1 Dec. 2022, doi:10.1123/jsr.2022-0100

Leguizamo, Federico et al. “Personality, Coping Strategies, and Mental Health in High-Performance Athletes During Confinement Derived From the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Frontiers in public health vol. 8 561198. 8 Jan. 2021, doi:10.3389/fpubh.2020.561198

Rice, Simon M et al. “The Mental Health of Elite Athletes: A Narrative Systematic Review.” Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) vol. 46,9 (2016): 1333-53. doi:10.1007/s40279-016-0492-2

Smith, A M et al. “The psychological effects of sports injuries. Coping.” Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) vol. 9,6 (1990): 352-69. doi:10.2165/00007256-199009060-00004

Auto Accidents & The MET Technique

By
Dr. Alex Jimenez
-

Introduction

Many individuals are constantly in their vehicles and driving from one place to another in the quickest amount of time. When auto accidents occur, numerous effects can affect many individuals, especially their bodies and mentality. The emotional impact of an auto accident can change a person’s quality of life and take a toll on the person as they become miserable. Then there is the physical side, where the body lunges forward rapidly, causing excruciating pain in the upper and lower portions. The muscles, ligaments, and tissues become overstretched beyond their capacity causing pain-like symptoms to develop and overlap other risk profiles. Today’s article discusses the effects of an auto accident occurs on the body, the symptoms associated with auto accidents, and how treatment like chiropractic care utilizes techniques like the MET technique to assess the body. We provide information about our patients to certified medical providers that offer available therapy techniques like MET (muscle energy techniques) for individuals dealing with back and neck pain associated with auto accidents. We encourage each patient appropriately by referring them to our associated medical providers based on their diagnosis results. We accept that education is a spectacular way when asking our providers the most crucial questions at the patient’s acknowledgment. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., assesses this information as an educational service. Disclaimer

 

The Effects Of An Auto Accident On The Body

 

Have you been dealing with excruciating pain in your neck or back after an automobile collision? Have you noticed any of your muscles feeling stiffed or strained? Or have you been dealing with unwanted pain-like symptoms affecting your daily life? When a person has been through an auto accident, the spine, neck, and back along with their associated muscle groups, are affected by pain. When it comes to the effects of an auto accident on the body, we have to look at how the body reacts when the vehicles collide. Research studies have revealed neck pain is a common complaint to many adults involved in an auto accident. When a person collides with another car, their necks are lunged forward rapidly, causing a whiplash effect on the neck and shoulder muscles. Not only the neck is being affected, but also the back. Additional studies have mentioned that low back pain associated with vehicle collisions can cause the lumbar back muscles to be overstretched and develop non-fatal physical injuries over time, either during or the day after the accident. To that point, it can lead to unwanted symptoms associated with auto accidents and correlate with overlap risk profiles. 

 

Symptoms Associated With Auto Accidents

The symptoms associated with auto accidents affecting neck and back muscles vary depending on the collision’s severity. According to “Clinical Application of Neuromuscular Techniques,” Leon Chaitow, N.D., D.O., and Judith Walker DeLany, L.M.T., stated that when someone suffers from an auto accident, the traumatic forces affect not only the cervical or temporomandibular muscles but also the lumbar muscles. This causes the muscle tissue fibers to be torn and damaged, which causes muscle pain. The book also mentioned that a person injured in a collision could develop nociceptive modulated neck, shoulders, and back muscle dysfunction. To that point, the flexor and extensor muscles are hyperextended, shortened, and strained, which is the result of causing muscle stiffness, pain, and limited range of motion to the neck, shoulder, and back.

 

Unlocking Pain Relief: How We Assess Motion To Alleviate Pain-Video

Unlocking Pain Relief: How We Assess Motion to Alleviate Pain | El Paso, Tx (2023)

Have you been experiencing a limited range of motion to your shoulders, neck, and back? What about feeling muscle stiffness when stretching? Or do you feel muscle tenderness in certain body areas after an auto accident? Many of these pain-like symptoms are associated with auto accidents affecting the neck, shoulders, and back. This causes constant body pain, and many issues develop over time in the various muscle groups. Luckily there are ways to reduce the pain and help restore the body to function. The video above explains how chiropractic care is used to assess the body through spinal manipulation. Chiropractic care uses various techniques to help with spinal subluxation and loosen up stiff, tight muscles to help relax and restore each muscle group while relieving unwanted pain from the muscle tissues and ligaments.

Chiropractic Care & The MET Technique Assessing The Body

 

Studies reveal that auto accidents are a major cause of spinal and muscle injuries treated by chiropractic care. When a person suffers after an auto accident, they will experience pain all over their bodies and try to find ways to relieve the pain affecting their daily lives through treatment. One of the treatments that can help reduce pain and restore the body is chiropractic care. When chiropractors are treating the body to reduce pain, they use various techniques like the MET technique (muscle energy technique) to stretch and strengthen soft tissue and use manual manipulation to realign the spine, work out the tight muscles, nerves, and ligaments to prevent further damage on the body while getting the affected individuals back to shape. Chiropractic care also has a close relationship with other treatments like physical therapy to help strengthen the muscles in the body and help many people be aware of how their bodies function. 

 

Conclusion

Overall, when a person has experience pain in their back, neck, and shoulder muscles from an auto accident, it can affect their emotional and physical well-being. The effects of an auto accident cause unwanted pain symptoms to develop and correlate with nociceptive modulated dysfunction. To that point, it can cause issues like muscle stiffness and tenderness in the affected areas. Fortunately, treatments like chiropractic care allow the body to be restored through manual manipulation and the MET technique to gently stretch the soft tissues and muscles and realign the body back to functioning. Incorporating chiropractic care with the MET technique, the body will experience relief, and the host can be pain-free.

 

References

Chaitow, Leon, and Judith Walker DeLany. Clinical Application of Neuromuscular Techniques. Churchill Livingstone, 2002.

Dies, Stephen, and J Walter Strapp. “Chiropractic Treatment of Patients in Motor Vehicle Accidents: A Statistical Analysis.” The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Sept. 1992, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2484939/.

Fewster, Kayla M, et al. “Low-Velocity Motor Vehicle Collision Characteristics Associated with Claimed Low Back Pain.” Traffic Injury Prevention, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 10 May 2019, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31074647/.

Vos, Cees J, et al. “Impact of Motor Vehicle Accidents on Neck Pain and Disability in General Practice.” The British Journal of General Practice : the Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Sept. 2008, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2529200/.

Disclaimer

Digestive Disorders: Heartburn, Acid Reflux, and GERD

By
Dr. Alex Jimenez
-
Nurse talking to senior man and analyzing his medical report before doctor's examining at hospital waiting room.

Digestive disorders affect millions of individuals and cover a variety of diseases ranging from mild to severe. These conditions involve the digestive tract, also known as the gastrointestinal or GI tract. The digestive disorders of heartburn, acid reflux, and gastroesophageal reflux disease/GERD are related and have similar symptoms but are different. Accurately diagnosing digestive disorders involves a thorough medical history, imaging and lab tests, and physical examination to develop the proper treatment plan.

Digestive Disorders: Heartburn, Acid Reflux, and GERD

Digestive Disorders

The gastrointestinal tract includes the esophagus, liver, gallbladder, stomach, pancreas, and large and small intestines.

Heartburn

Heartburn has nothing to do with the heart but describes a burning sensation in the chest. Individuals experience heartburn when stomach acid flows back into the esophagus. Occasional heartburn after eating spicy foods or foods an individual is not used to is common and is no cause for alarm. Most can manage the discomfort symptoms with lifestyle adjustments and over-the-counter medications. Chronic heartburn that interferes with daily/nightly routines could indicate a more serious condition requiring medical care. Symptoms include:

  • The burning discomfort sensations in the stomach and chest regions are usually worse after eating a meal, bending down, at night, and when lying down.
  • A bitter or acidic taste.

Acid Reflux

The esophagus comprises mainly smooth muscle that extends from the throat down through the chest cavity and past the abdomen, where it connects with the stomach. When swallowing, the esophagus opens and squeezes food down to the bottom, where a valve (lower esophageal sphincter LES) separates it from the stomach. The valve is normally closed. When swallowing, it opens so that food can pass through and then closes up. Acid reflux is a disorder that causes the valve to open when it’s not supposed to. This allows stomach contents like acid, digestive juices, enzymes, and food to flow backward from the stomach into the esophagus, causing heartburn symptoms. This usually happens when the lower esophageal sphincter is under added pressure, weakened, or malfunctioning. Symptoms can be caused by:

  • Overeating.
  • Eating spicy or acidic foods that can trigger symptoms.
  • Eating right before going to bed.
  • Medications.
  • Over alcohol consumption.
  • Exercising after eating.
  • Pregnancy.
  • Smoking.

Acid reflux and heartburn affect everyone, but most can handle the discomfort by taking antacids and avoiding the foods that brought it on. Occasional acid reflux can be treated with over-the-counter medication, including:

GERD

Acid reflux can potentially progress to gastroesophageal reflux disease, a more serious form of acid reflux that lasts longer. GERD is frequent heartburn that happens two or more times a week. Other signs and symptoms can include:

  • Regurgitation of food or sour liquid.
  • Difficulty swallowing.
  • Inflammation of vocal cords.
  • A sensation of a lump in the throat.
  • Coughing to clear throat constantly.
  • Asthma-like symptoms.
  • Chest pain, especially when lying down at night.

Various factors can cause GERD, that include lifestyle and physiological. It can develop as a result of the following:

  • Delayed stomach emptying.
  • Being overweight or obese.
  • Medications.
  • Pregnancy.
  • Hiatal hernias.
  • Smoking.
  • Connective tissue disorders like scleroderma.

Some individuals with digestive disorders may need more extensive diagnostic evaluations, including GI endoscopy, laboratory tests, and imaging.

Chiropractic Treatment

Body misalignments, unhealthy posture, and restrictive positions can contribute to digestive disorders that put pressure on the stomach and chest, triggering symptoms. A chiropractor can realign the body and take the stress off the joints and spine, relieving the pressure on the nerves. They can also strengthen the muscles through adjustments that help alleviate pressure on the stomach. A chiropractor designs a treatment plan that suits the individual’s needs, including stretches and exercises, nutrition, and health coaching to achieve and manage a healthy weight.

Chiropractic Precision

References

Carvalho de Miranda Chaves, Renata, et al. “Respiratory physiotherapy can increase lower esophageal sphincter pressure in GERD patients.” Respiratory medicine vol. 106,12 (2012): 1794-9. doi:10.1016/j.rmed.2012.08.023

Harding, Susan M. “Acid reflux and asthma.” Current opinion in pulmonary medicine vol. 9,1 (2003): 42-5. doi:10.1097/00063198-200301000-00007

Kahrilas, Peter J. “Regurgitation in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease.” Gastroenterology & hepatology vol. 9,1 (2013): 37-9.

Pope, C E 2nd. “Acid-reflux disorders.” The New England journal of medicine vol. 331,10 (1994): 656-60. doi:10.1056/NEJM199409083311007

The MET Technique On Myofascial Trigger Points & Gait Performance

By
Dr. Alex Jimenez
-

Introduction

How a person walks or their gait performance can determine how their body’s balance and stability are functioning. Since the body has many muscles, ligaments, and tissues in the musculoskeletal system protecting the spine and the vital organs that work together to maintain proper functionality when a person is in motion; however, the body can succumb to numerous issues that can affect a person’s gait performance and cause the upper and lower extremities to develop myofascial trigger points in the muscle fibers. When these issues begin to cause dysfunction in the body, it can lead to many disorders associated with gait disturbances. Today we will focus on how to approach gait disturbances, how trigger points affect gait performances, and how treatment techniques like MET can help. We provide information about our patients to certified medical providers that offer available therapy techniques like MET (muscle energy techniques) for individuals dealing with gait disturbances associated with trigger points that correlate to how a person walks. We encourage each patient appropriately by referring them to our associated medical providers based on their diagnosis results. We accept that education is a spectacular way when asking our providers the most crucial questions at the patient’s acknowledgment. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., assesses this information as an educational service. Disclaimer

 

How To Approach Gait Disturbances?

 

Have you been dealing with mobility issues when walking? How about feeling stiffness in your hips or lower body extremities? Or have you experienced headaches or neck pain? Many of these issues are associated with gait disturbances that can affect your ability to walk. When it comes to gait disturbances, studies reveal that underlying systemic disorders or other environmental factors could trigger the prevalence of gait disturbances. Regarding gait disturbances, it is important to know that as the body ages, it can cause issues to the musculoskeletal system naturally, and environmental factors can further affect the central nervous system to cause gait disturbances. Additional studies have mentioned that gait disorders in the elderly could potentially lead to various issues that affect a person’s quality of life. When approaching gait disturbances, many doctors will examine to see the causes of these gait disturbances that correlate with the musculoskeletal system. It could be:

  • Orthopedic problems
  • Neurological conditions
  • Musculoskeletal disturbances
  • Metabolic disturbances

Many of these issues can cause the lower half of the body to shift the skeletal joints, leading to tight, stiff muscles and developing tiny hard nodules in the muscle fibers that can further affect gait performance.

 

How Do Trigger Points Affect Gait Performances

 

So how can these tiny hard nodules affect gait performance in the body? These small hard nodules are trigger points and often correlate with overlapping risk profiles associated with musculoskeletal disorders. “Clinical Application of Neuromuscular Techniques,” written by Leon Chaitow, N.D., D.O, and Judith Walker DeLany, L.M.T., mentioned that various additional causes and maintaining factors may be associated with dysfunctional patterns that correlate with trigger point involvement. The book also says that different influences affecting the muscles can increase trigger point activity while inducing influences from acute or chronic soft tissue dysfunction. Research studies reveal that myofascial pain syndrome is a collection of sensory, motor, and autonomic symptoms that correlate with musculoskeletal symptoms like local/referred pain, decreased range of motion, and muscle weakness. When trigger points are causing problems in the muscle fibers, it can affect a person’s gait performance and cause them to lose function when walking.

 

Balance Issues Associated With Myofascial Trigger Points-Video

What can cause balance problems while walking with neck pain and headache? - Dr. Satish Babu K

Have you been dealing with balancing issues when walking? Do your muscles feel tight in certain areas? Or do constant headaches or neck pain affect your day? The video above explains what can cause balancing issues that affect gait performance and cause numerous symptoms like headaches and neck pain. Many balance issues are associated with myofascial trigger points affecting your gait performance. Myofascial trigger points can overlap risk profiles that can affect the muscle fibers in the body. Many correlating factors can affect a person’s gait performance, leading to musculoskeletal disorders related to trigger points. When musculoskeletal disorders are correlated with myofascial trigger points, it can decrease a person’s health and wellness if not treated early on. Fortunately, some treatments incorporate techniques to reduce muscle and joint pain while alleviating symptoms associated with myofascial trigger points.

How The MET Technques Helps With Gait Performance & Trigger Points

When a person is dealing with imbalances affecting their gait performance and having overlapping risk profiles associated with trigger points, treatment techniques can help improve their gait while reducing pain-like symptoms. Many pain specialists will use the MET technique (muscle energy technique) to help stretch affected muscles that are stiff and help regain mobility back to the body. Therapies like chiropractic care utilize this technique combined with spinal manipulation to help realign the body while loosening up stiff muscles affecting gait performance. When a person continues treatment care to regain mobility, it allows them to be aware of how they walk and carry themselves without pain.

 

Conclusion

How a person walks is how their balance and stability function in different environments. A person’s gait performance has to maintain the functionality that allows the various muscles, ligaments, and tissues in the musculoskeletal system to move. When environmental factors or musculoskeletal disorders affect the different muscles, it can cause overlapping issues that affect gait performance. To that point, it leads to stiffness and pain associated with trigger points. Luckily techniques like the MET combined with chiropractic care can help realign the body and loosen up stiff muscles and joints to regain mobility back to the body and help improve overall gait performance.

 

References

Chaitow, Leon, and Judith Walker DeLany. Clinical Application of Neuromuscular Techniques. Churchill Livingstone, 2002.

Jafri, M Saleet. “Mechanisms of Myofascial Pain.” International Scholarly Research Notices, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2014, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4285362/.

Marshall, Frederick J. “Approach to the Elderly Patient with Gait Disturbance.” Neurology. Clinical Practice, U.S. National Library of Medicine, June 2012, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3613197/.

Pirker, Walter, and Regina Katzenschlager. “Gait Disorders in Adults and the Elderly : A Clinical Guide.” Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Feb. 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5318488/.

Disclaimer

Sleeping Health: EP Functional Health and Wellness Clinic

By
Dr. Alex Jimenez
-
Physiotherapy, back massage and woman in hospital for health, rehabilitation and wellness. Physical.

Healthy sleep is vital for having enough energy, thinking clearly, and managing everyday stresses confidently. Chronic unhealthy sleep patterns and/or insomnia can lead to and contribute to various health issues. This includes daytime fatigue, irritability, difficulty concentrating, delayed reaction time, constantly getting sick, and memory problems. Sleeping health problems can get worse with every night of poor rest. Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic provide treatment, training, and tools to realign and relax the body and restore healthy sleep.

Sleeping Health: EP's Chiropractic Specialists

Sleeping Health Problems

Lack of sleep disrupts and slows down nerve impulses and transmissions throughout the body. This can lead to health problems that can include:

  • Excessive fatigue
  • Brain fog
  • Slow responses
  • Physical performance problems
  • Inability to remember
  • Low sex drive
  • Chronic illness
  • Over time the risk of developing a serious medical condition increases and can include:
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • High blood pressure
  • Diabetes
  • Weakened immune system
  • Stroke
  • Heart attack
  • Seizures

Staying On

There is some research that insomnia is associated with hyperarousal or the state of staying on. It often starts with a stressful event that sets off the body’s systems, causing the inability to relax completely. Body discomfort and pain symptoms can also present when the mind and body can’t relax. The entire body can tighten/stiffen, causing aches, soreness, and pain. Continuation of sleeping health problems of the cycle leads to more stress.

Healthy Sleep Benefits

Adults need seven to nine hours of sleep every night to operate optimally. The benefits of healthy sleep include:

  • Healthy immune system function.
  • Thorough tissue and muscle repair.
  • Remembering and recalling things comes easier.
  • Improved insulin regulation, helping to manage food cravings and weight.
  • Enhanced regulation of cortisol.
  • Improved mood and outlook.

Chiropractic Treatment

Chiropractic care, massage, and decompression therapy can help break the cycle. Breaking the process is necessary to help the body recover and rehabilitate properly. Treatment retrains the body to relax; stretching and pulling the muscles increases blood circulation, as well as advanced and improved brain signals telling the body to relax. A chiropractor will evaluate the individuals sleeping patterns and recommend various solutions. The benefits for individuals with sleep issues include:

  • Alleviates muscle tension.
  • Stimulates nerve circulation and blood flow.
  • Relaxes the whole body.
  • Enhances central nervous system function.
  • Relieves pain and discomfort.
  • A chiropractor will also provide the following:
  • Sleeping position recommendations.
  • Postural stretches and exercises.
  • Recommendations on supportive mattresses.
  • Ergonomics for work, home, and bed.

Chiropractic’s Evolution

References

Hale, Deborah, and Katherine Marshall. “Sleep and Sleep Hygiene.” Home healthcare now vol. 37,4 (2019): 227. doi:10.1097/NHH.0000000000000803

Liu, Amy. “Sleep Training.” Pediatric annals vol. 49,3 (2020): e101-e105. doi:10.3928/19382359-20200218-01

What Are Sleep Deprivation and Deficiency?www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleepdeprivation#:~:text=Sleep%20deficiency%20is%20linked%20to,adults%2C%20teens%2C%20and%20children.

What Makes You Sleep? www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep-deprivation/body-clock

How Sleep Affects Your Health www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep-deprivation/health-effects

Riemann, Dieter. “Sleep hygiene, insomnia, and mental health.” Journal of sleep research vol. 27,1 (2018): 3. doi:10.1111/jsr.12661

Years of Back Muscle Rigidity: EP Sciatica Clinic

By
Dr. Alex Jimenez
-
Mature man patient lies on comfortable couch while female chiropractic does back massage to him in contemporary hospital office

Individuals can experience back muscle rigidity for years and not realize it. This is because the muscles tighten incrementally, and slowly the body begins to acclimate to the feeling and positioning that it becomes normal. And it continues with gradually increased aches and pains. Not until an individual has experienced a therapeutic massage and chiropractic adjustment do they realize just how tight and stiff they were. This is when individuals realize how their musculoskeletal system works and need to maintain loose, flexible muscle tissue for mobility and function. Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic can treat, rehabilitate, educate, and improve an individual’s overall health.

Years of Back Muscle Rigidity: EP Chiropractic Injury Team

Muscle Rigidity

When the body needs to move, the brain sends a nerve signal to the muscles in that region, causing the muscles to tighten or contract. Muscles can contract a little or a lot, depending on the activity. After contracting, the muscles relax until the next time they are needed. Muscle rigidity happens when a muscle or a group of muscles stays fully or partly contracted for an extended period. The nerve signals keep telling the muscle to contract even when the muscle is no longer needed. This can last for several hours or days.

The longer the muscle remains contracted, the more symptoms present and persist. Muscle rigidity is often triggered by stress. Stress affects the body’s nervous system, including nerves and their function. The nervous system can respond to stress by generating additional pressure on the blood vessels, reducing blood circulation, and causing tension and pain.

Causes

Certain medications, such as statins, can cause muscle rigidity, and several conditions can also contribute to it. These include:

  • Dehydration is a condition as a result of not drinking enough water.
  • A repetitive strain injury is an injury to the muscles or nerves due to muscle overuse.
  • Pinched nerves.
  • Delayed-onset muscle soreness is stiffness and pain that develops hours or days after strenuous physical activity and exercise.
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome is a condition that causes extreme fatigue, sleep problems, and pain.
  • Myofascial pain syndrome is a chronic disorder where pressure on sensitive muscle points causes pain.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder affecting the joints.
  • Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder that can cause muscle soreness, pain, and rigidity.
  • Claudication is a condition in which cramping occurs due to a lack of blood flow to the muscles, usually in the legs.
  • Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever wick-borne illnesses that can cause nerve damage.
  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a neurodegenerative disease that causes nerve problems and a loss of voluntary muscle control.
  • Chronic exertional compartment syndrome is a muscle and nerve condition that causes pain and swelling.
  • Dystonia is a condition that causes random/involuntary muscle contractions.
  • Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease that can cause joint pain and stiffness.
  • Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disease that affects movement.
  • Polymyalgia rheumatica is a chronic inflammatory disease that can cause muscle pain and stiffness.
  • Bacterial and Viral infections.

Treatment

The objective of treatment is to train the muscles to relax completely. The specific treatment used can vary depending on the cause and severity.

Chiropractic

Chiropractic treatment will address the condition or injury and then the muscle rigidity. Treatment involves massaging (manually and percussively) the areas to relax and stretch the tight tissues. Chiropractic releases and realigns the misaligned joints and bones to their proper position. The central nervous system recognizes the new positioning as naturally energy efficient. However, there will still be aches and soreness as the body adjusts until it becomes more consistent and normal for the individual.

Home Therapy

Home therapy is recommended with physical therapy and/or chiropractic to maintain flexibility and make necessary changes/adjustments to a treatment plan as the patient progresses and the muscles start to adhere to the massaging, manipulation, and training. They can include the following:

  • Applying a warm compress or heating pad to the affected area increases circulation.
  • Targeted gentle stretches.
  • Avoiding certain activities that could trigger the muscle to become rigid again until the body is ready.
  • Encouraging the muscles to relax using:
  • Yoga
  • Deep breathing
  • Meditation
  • Tai chi
  • Biofeedback
  • Music and art therapy
  • Aromatherapy

Sciatica Explained

References

Chandwani D, Varacallo M. Exertional Compartment Syndrome. [Updated 2022 Sep 4]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK544284/

Chu, Eric Chun-Pu et al. “Chiropractic care of Parkinson’s disease and deformity.” Journal of medicine and life vol. 15,5 (2022): 717-722. doi:10.25122/jml-2021-0418

Joshi, Aditi et al. “Effectiveness of Myofascial Release (MFR) vs. High-Frequency Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) for Pain Relief and Functional Improvement in College Students With Trapezius Myalgia.” Cureus vol. 14,10 e29898. 4 Oct. 2022, doi:10.7759/cureus.29898

Tan, Xueli, et al. “The efficacy of music therapy protocols for decreasing pain, anxiety, and muscle tension levels during burn dressing changes: a prospective randomized crossover trial.” Journal of burn care & research: official publication of the American Burn Association vol. 31,4 (2010): 590-7. doi:10.1097/BCR.0b013e3181e4d71b

Digestive Enzymes: EP Functional Health and Wellness Clinic

By
Dr. Alex Jimenez
-
Happy female doctor and mature patient shaking hands while greeting in waiting room at medical clinic.

The body makes digestive enzymes to help break down food carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Healthy digestion and nutrient absorption depend on these enzymes, a protein that speeds up chemical reactions in the mouth, pancreas, and intestines. Certain health conditions like pancreatic insufficiency and lactose intolerance can cause low enzyme levels and insufficiency and may need replacement digestive enzymes to help prevent malabsorption. That’s where digestive enzyme supplements come in.

Digestive Enzymes: EP's Functional Chiropractic TeamDigestive Enzymes

Digestive enzymes are a vital part of digestion; without them, the body can’t break foods down, and nutrients can’t be fully absorbed. A lack of digestive enzymes can lead to gastrointestinal/GI symptoms and cause malnourishment, even with a nutritious diet. The result is unpleasant digestive symptoms that can include:

  • Poor absorption of nutrients
  • Bloating
  • Stomach pain
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting

Digestive enzyme supplements have been used for treating common forms of gut irritation, heartburn, and other ailments.

Enzyme Types

The main digestive enzymes made in the pancreas include:

Amylase

  • It is also made in the mouth.
  • Breaks down carbohydrates, or starches, into sugar molecules.
  • Low amylase can lead to diarrhea.

Lipase

  • This works with liver bile to break down fats.
  • Lipase insufficiency causes decreased levels of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.

Protease

  • This enzyme breaks down proteins into amino acids.
  • It also helps keep bacteria, yeast, and protozoa out of the intestines.
  • A shortage of protease can lead to allergies or toxicity in the intestines.

Enzymes made in the small intestine include:

Lactase

  • Breaks down lactose, a sugar found in dairy products.

Sucrase

  • Breaks down sucrose, a sugar found in fruits and vegetables.

Insufficiency

When the body does not produce enough digestive enzymes or doesn’t release them correctly. A few types include:

Lactose Intolerance

  • The body does not produce enough lactase, making digesting the natural sugar in milk and dairy products difficult.

Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency

  • EPI is when the pancreas does not produce enough of the enzymes necessary to digest carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

Congenital Sucrase-Isomaltase Deficiency

  • The body does not have enough sucrase to digest certain sugars.

Symptoms

Common digestive enzyme insufficiency symptoms:

Talking to a doctor if symptoms persist is recommended, as these could be signs of gut irritation or indicate a more serious condition.

Supplements

Prescription Enzymes

Depending on the severity, individuals diagnosed with enzyme insufficiency may need to take prescription digestive enzymes. These supplements assist in food breakdown and nutrient absorption. The most common enzyme replacement therapy is pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy or PERT. PERT is a prescribed medication that includes amylase, lipase, and protease. Individuals with cystic fibrosis often have pancreatic enzyme insufficiency, as the body can’t release the enzymes properly. And individuals with pancreatitis require PERT because their pancreas develops mucus and scar tissue over time.

Over-The-Counter Enzymes

Over-the-counter digestive enzyme supplements can contain amylase, lipase, and protease and can help with acid reflux, gas, bloating, and diarrhea. Some contain lactase and alpha-galactosidase. Alpha-galactosidase can help break down a non-absorbable fiber called galactooligosaccharides /GOS, mostly found in beans, root vegetables, and certain dairy products.

Certain foods contain digestive enzymes, including:

  • Honey
  • Avocados
  • Bananas
  • Pineapples
  • Mangos
  • Papayas
  • Ginger
  • Sauerkraut
  • Kiwi
  • Kefir

Supplementing the diet with some of these foods can help with digestion.

Functional Nutrition

References

Beliveau, Peter J H, et al. “An Investigation of Chiropractor-Directed Weight-Loss Interventions: Secondary Analysis of O-COAST.” Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics vol. 42,5 (2019): 353-365. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2018.11.015

Brennan, Gregory T, and Muhammad Wasif Saif. “Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy: A Concise Review.” JOP: Journal of the pancreas vol. 20,5 (2019): 121-125.

Corring, T. “The adaptation of digestive enzymes to the diet: its physiological significance.” Reproduction, nutrition, developpement vol. 20,4B (1980): 1217-35. doi:10.1051/rnd:19800713

Goodman, Barbara E. “Insights into digestion and absorption of major nutrients in humans.” Advances in physiology education vol. 34,2 (2010): 44-53. doi:10.1152/advan.00094.2009

Vogt, Günter. “Synthesis of digestive enzymes, food processing, and nutrient absorption in decapod crustaceans: a comparison to the mammalian model of digestion.” Zoology (Jena, Germany) vol. 147 (2021): 125945. doi:10.1016/j.zool.2021.125945

Whitcomb, David C, and Mark E Lowe. “Human pancreatic digestive enzymes.” Digestive diseases and sciences vol. 52,1 (2007): 1-17. doi:10.1007/s10620-006-9589-z

Aerobic Exercise Health: EP Functional Wellness Clinic

By
Dr. Alex Jimenez
-
Fitness, man and running on treadmill for workout, exercise or cardio training for endurance at the.

Aerobic Exercise Health: The body adapts differently to different types of exercise. Aerobic, cardio, and endurance all refer to activities stimulating heart and breathing rates to provide the muscles with oxygenated blood. The oxygen is delivered by blood pumped from the heart through the arteries and returns to the heart through the veins. This explains all the heavy breathing during workouts. Aerobic exercise increases energy production in the muscle cells and blood delivery in the cardiovascular system.

Aerobic Exercise Health: EP Chiropractic Fitness Team

Aerobic Exercise Health

The Heart

All the muscles get to rest on and off when in use. The heart is a unique muscle that pumps blood through the body that never gets time off. This is why it is important to strengthen the heart. With aerobic exercise, the heart’s chamber/left ventricle gets larger, producing more blood per pump to the rest of the body. This improves cardiac output for the blood pumped by the heart per minute. When the heart is stronger, pumping more blood per beat means it doesn’t have to beat as rapidly. A lower resting heart rate is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and promotes long and healthy life.

Vascular

Each time the heart beats, blood pumps from the left ventricle into the aorta and flows into a branching vessel network. Every artery in the body provides resistance to the circulation that the heart pushes against. The resistance provided can vary, depending on overall health and health conditions.

  • Aerobic exercise training reduces the workload by reducing arterial stiffness.
  • Aerobic exercise increases heart rate, pushing more blood through the arteries.
  • The inner wall of the arteries recognizes the increased blood flow causing the arteries to widen.
  • With regular training, the arteries acclimate and become more effective at expanding with each rush of blood.
  • No aerobic activity can cause the arteries to stiffen, causing circulation problems.
  • Increased arterial stiffness is associated with coronary artery plaque development.
  • Aerobic exercise impacts the vascular system by promoting capillary growth.
  • Capillaries are microscopic vessels where oxygen diffuses from red blood cells to the muscle and other cells.
  • The body stimulates a molecule called vascular endothelial growth factor to grow additional capillaries to regulate energy demand more efficiently.
  • Older individuals benefit from aerobic activity similarly to young individuals.

Metabolic

Along with cardiovascular benefits, aerobic exercise increases the muscles’ energy production. The energy is produced in muscle cells primarily through an oxidative energy system. Oxidative energy production takes place within cells called mitochondria. Once blood delivers oxygen to the muscle cells, it can be used to produce energy that powers the muscles.

  • Aerobic exercise training improves the muscle cells’ ability to burn fat by generating more mitochondria and enhancing functionality.
  • Following each training session, the body burns more fat than usual.
  • Aerobic training can increase resting metabolic rate, resulting in more calories burned.
  • It can increase post-exercise oxygen consumption/EPOC, resulting in increased calorie burn after training in addition to calories burned during exercise.

Muscle

The muscles adapt from aerobic training. Muscles are made up of various fiber types.

  • Aerobic exercise training primarily influences type 1 fibers, known as slow-twitch fibers.
  • The name comes from the proteins responsible for their contractions.
  • Relative to type 2a fibers/fast-twitch, type 1 fibers contract more slowly but have an increased capacity to contract over and over for longer.
  • Aerobic training results in hypertrophy of type 1 muscle fibers by adding more slow-twitch proteins.

Strengthening the heart and making arteries more flexible directly impacts health and physical function. Aerobic exercise strengthens and trains the heart to circulate blood efficiently. Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic can develop a personalized health plan for your needs.

Aerobic Exercise Health: Dance Workout

References

Arbab-Zadeh, Armin, et al. “Cardiac remodeling in response to 1 year of intensive endurance training.” Circulation vol. 130,24 (2014): 2152-61. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.114.010775

Gavin, Timothy P et al. “No difference in the skeletal muscle angiogenic response to aerobic exercise training between young and aged men.” The Journal of physiology vol. 585, Pt 1 (2007): 231-9. doi:10.1113/Physiol.2007.143198

Hellsten, Ylva, and Michael Nyberg. “Cardiovascular Adaptations to Exercise Training.” Comprehensive Physiology vol. 6,1 1-32. 15 Dec. 2015, doi:10.1002/cphy.c140080

Nauman, Javaid, et al. “Temporal changes in resting heart rate and deaths from ischemic heart disease.” JAMA vol. 306,23 (2011): 2579-87. doi:10.1001/jama.2011.1826

Popel, A S. “Theory of oxygen transport to tissue.” Critical reviews in biomedical engineering vol. 17,3 (1989): 257-321.

Seals, Douglas R et al. “Aerobic exercise training and vascular function with aging in healthy men and women.” The Journal of physiology vol. 597,19 (2019): 4901-4914. doi:10.1113/JP277764

Vocal Cord Injury: EP Functional Health and Wellness Clinic

By
Dr. Alex Jimenez
-

Automobile collisions, work, sports, and personal accidents can cause neck injuries that can affect other areas, leading to long-term health problems. Neck injuries involving soft tissue damage frequently persist after the incident. One of the injuries includes vocal cord damage caused by impact to the larynx. The larynx, or voicebox, is an organ that is behind the Adam’s apple. A neck injury impacting the larynx can affect the ability to speak and breathe and cause vocal cord paralysis. Treatment can involve surgery, voice therapy, physical therapy, and chiropractic.

Vocal Cord Injury: EP Chiropractic Injury Specialists

Vocal Cord Injury

The vocal cords are two flexible bands of muscle tissue at the entrance of the trachea. The vocal cords are normally in a relaxed open position to allow breathing. When talking, the bands combine and vibrate to make a sound. Surgery, viral infections, certain cancers, and neck trauma can cause vocal cord paralysis. In this condition, nerve damage blocks or inhibits impulses from transmitting to the voice box. The muscles, usually one of them, become paralyzed, preventing swallowing and ingesting saliva through the windpipe/trachea. In rare cases, both muscles are unable to move.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms can include:

  • Difficulty breathing
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Hoarse breathing.
  • Noisy breathing.
  • Speaking problems
  • The need to take frequent breaths while speaking.
  • Loss of vocal pitch.
  • Inability to talk loudly.
  • Trouble Swallowing
  • Choking or coughing when swallowing.
  • Loss of gag reflex.
  • Frequent coughing and throat clearing.

Causes

Neck or Chest Injury

  • Trauma to the neck or chest can injure the voice box nerves.

Infections

  • Infections like Lyme disease, Epstein-Barr virus, and herpes can cause inflammation and nerve damage.

Tumors

  • Tumors, cancerous and noncancerous, can grow inside or around the muscles, cartilage, and nerves.

Neurological

  • Neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease can lead to vocal cord paralysis.

Surgical Injury

  • Surgical procedure mistakes or complications on or near the neck or upper chest can result in damage to the voice box nerves.
  • Surgeries to the thyroid or parathyroid glands, esophagus, neck, and chest have an increased risk.

Stroke

  • A stroke chokes blood flow to the brain and can damage the region of the brain that transmits messages to the voice box.

Treatment

Treatment is determined by a doctor based on the individual medical condition and diagnostic tests. Treatment can involve:

Speech Therapy

Speech therapy is recommended as the laryngeal muscles are strengthened through various exercises, improving breathing function. A speech therapist will begin working with the individual on exercises targeting the weakened vocal folds by enhancing airflow and blood circulation.

Physical Therapy and Chiropractic

Treatment involves performing gentle exercises that work on the vocal cords gradually and progressively but does not stress them. Chiropractors work with the physical therapist performing high-velocity, low-amplitude manipulation targeted at the lower neck and upper thoracic area, the C3/T1 vertebrae. A treatment plan will also use massage, non-surgical decompression, instrument/tool-assisted soft-tissue mobilization, low laser or ultrasound, and at-home stretches and exercises.

Surgery

Surgery could be necessary for individuals experiencing no improvement despite doing the prescribed speech and physical therapy exercises. Different types of procedures are based on the degree and extent of the paralysis:

  • Injections – Collagen and fillers are injected into the vocal cords to reposition the affected muscles closer to the larynx.
  • Phonosurgery – The vocal cords are repositioned through restructuring.
  • Tracheotomy – If the vocal folds are closing, a surgeon may make an incision in the neck at the opening of the windpipe and insert a breathing tube. This bypasses the air blockage caused by the vocal folds and promotes proper air circulation.

Cervical Spine Instability

References

Chen, Ching-Chang, et al. “Long-term result of vocal cord paralysis after anterior cervical discectomy.” 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. 23,3 (2014): 622-6. doi:10.1007/s00586-013-3084-y

Dankbaar JW, et al. Vocal cord paralysis: Anatomy, imaging, and pathology. Insights in Imaging. 2014; doi:10.1007/s13244-014-0364-y.

Fitzpatrick, P C, and R H Miller. “Vocal cord paralysis.” The Journal of the Louisiana State Medical Society: official organ of the Louisiana State Medical Society vol. 150,8 (1998): 340-3.

Kriskovich, M D et al. “Vocal fold paralysis after anterior cervical spine surgery: incidence, mechanism, and prevention of injury.” The Laryngoscope vol. 110,9 (2000): 1467-73. doi:10.1097/00005537-200009000-00011

Vocal fold paralysis. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/vocal-fold-paralysis. Accessed May 18, 2022.

Vocal fold paralysis. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/Vocal-Fold-Paralysis. Accessed May 18, 2022.

Waddell, Roger K. “Chiropractic care for a patient with spasmodic dysphonia associated with cervical spine trauma.” Journal of chiropractic medicine vol. 4,1 (2005): 19-24. doi:10.1016/S0899-3467(07)60108-6

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STOP SUFFERING! We specialize in advanced non-surgical approaches in treating sciatica. Our focus is to stop the pain, remove the cause and prevent chronic recurrence of complex sciatica pain syndromes. We treat with advanced protocols and supportive care plans. Blessings - Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, IFMCP, CIFM, ATN
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