Accidents and Injuries

For individuals experiencing gluteus minimus pain and are unsure where to start to deal with it, can a physical therapist, chiropractor, or general practitioner help diagnose lower extremity pain and develop an appropriate treatment plan?

Gluteus Minimus Muscles

The gluteus minimus is the smallest muscle of the gluteal muscles. Combined with the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius, these muscles make up the glutes. The glutes help form the buttocks shape, stabilize the hips, rotate the legs, and raise the thighs. The gluteus minimus and medius specifically support the gluteus maximus's ability to raise the leg to the side and rotate the thigh inwards. (ScienceDirect. 2011)

Anatomy

• The gluteus minimus muscles are triangular and lie underneath the gluteus medius near the rotators of the hip joints. The muscles start in the lower ilium region, the upper and largest area of the hip bone that makes up the pelvis and attaches to the femur/thigh bone.
• The fibers on the top part of the muscle are thick and compact, while the lower fibers are flat and spread out.
• The superior gluteal nerves and blood vessels separate the gluteus minimus and the medius.
• The gluteus medius muscles start on the upper ilium region, which covers the gluteus minimus muscle entirely. The location of the gluteus minimus muscles envelopes the sciatic notch or the area in the pelvis that houses the piriformis muscle, superior gluteal vein, and superior gluteal artery, which provide a certain amount of protection.

Function

Movement depends on the location of the femur. The gluteus minimus muscle's function is to:

1. Flex
2. Rotate
3. Stabilize

• When the thigh is extended, it helps abduct or swing the leg out away from the body.
• When the hip bones are flexed, the gluteus minimus rotates the thigh inward with the help of the gluteus medius.
• The movements are done with the support of the muscle fibers, which contract to move the thigh in both directions. (ScienceDirect. 2011)
• The gluteus minimus and the medius also stabilize the hips and pelvis during movement and when resting.

Associated Conditions

One of the most common injuries is muscle wearing and tearing, which can cause pain over and around the greater trochanter. This is known as greater trochanteric pain syndrome or GTPS, a condition usually caused by a gluteus medius or minimus tendinopathy, which can include inflammation of the surrounding bursae. (Diane Reid. 2016) For a gluteus minimus tear, the pain/sensations will be felt outside the hip, especially when rolling or applying weight on the affected side. A tear can happen suddenly with no particular activity causing the tear to occur aside from normal use and stress on the muscle. Physical activities like walking may be painful.

Rehabilitation

Treatment depends on the severity of the condition. Usually, rest, ice, and over-the-counter medication can help reduce swelling and pain symptoms. For pain symptoms that are not subsiding, it’s recommended to see a healthcare provider who can run an MRI or X-ray to see the condition of the muscle and rule out other causes of pain. The healthcare provider will refer the patient to a physical therapy team that can evaluate the strength of the gluteus minimus and provide a list of exercises and stretches to help repair the muscle while conditioning the surrounding muscles. (SportsRec. 2017) Depending on the level of pain, sometimes the healthcare provider will prescribe a cortisone injection to the gluteus minimus muscle in conjunction with physical therapy. This will help alleviate the pain so that the physical therapy exercises can be done comfortably, allowing the gluteus maximus muscle to heal properly and strengthen. (Julie M. Labrosse et al., 2010)

The Science of Motion Chiropractic Care

General Disclaimer *

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and identified the relevant research studies 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 discuss the subject matter above further, don't hesitate to contact Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

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

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

References

ScienceDirect. (2011). Gluteus minimus muscle.

Reid D. (2016). The management of greater trochanteric pain syndrome: A systematic literature review. Journal of orthopaedics, 13(1), 15–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jor.2015.12.006

SportsRec. (2017). Physical therapy exercises for the gluteus minimus.

Labrosse, J. M., Cardinal, E., Leduc, B. E., Duranceau, J., Rémillard, J., Bureau, N. J., Belblidia, A., & Brassard, P. (2010). Effectiveness of ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injection for the treatment of gluteus medius tendinopathy. AJR. American journal of roentgenology, 194(1), 202–206. https://doi.org/10.2214/AJR.08.1215

Finger sprains and dislocations are common hand injuries that can happen during work, physical/sports activities, or in automobile collisions and accidents. Can recognizing the symptoms help in developing an effective treatment strategy?

Finger Sprains and Dislocations

Finger sprains and dislocations are common injuries of the hand that cause pain and swelling.

• A sprain happens when the finger tissue that supports a joint gets stretched beyond its limits in a way that stresses the ligaments and tendons.
• The ligament tissue can be partially or completely torn. If the damage is bad enough, the joint comes apart.
• This is a dislocation - A dislocation happens when the joint in the finger gets shifted out of its normal position.
• Both injuries can cause pain and stiffness in the finger and hand.

Sprains

Finger sprains can happen any time the finger bends in an awkward or unusual way. This can happen from falling on the hand or getting hurt when engaged in physical activities like sports or household chores. Sprains can occur in any of the knuckle joints in the finger. However, most commonly, the joint in the middle of the finger gets sprained. It's known as the proximal interphalangeal or PIP joint. (John Elfar, Tobias Mann. 2013) Symptoms of a finger sprain can include:

• Pain when you move your finger
• Swelling around the knuckle
• Tenderness in the finger and around the joint
• For a sprain, individuals may need to have imaging done to see if any of the bones in the hand are broken or fractured. (OrthoInfo. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 2022)

Treatment

Individuals are encouraged not to move the injured finger while in recovery and healing. It can be hard to do, but wearing a splint can help.

• Splints are supports that are usually made from foam and pliable metal.
• A sprained finger can also be taped to one of the fingers next to it while in recovery, known as buddy-taping.
• Splinting a sprained finger while engaged in activities can protect the hand from worsening or further injury.
• However, splinting the finger when it is not needed can cause the joint to become stiff. (OrthoInfo. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 2022)

1. An injury known as "gamekeeper's thumb" is a more serious type of sprain.
2. Injury to the ligaments at the thumb joint can cause difficulty in pinching and gripping.
3. This injury must often be taped up or splinted for a significant amount of time for full recovery and could require surgery. (Chen-Yu Hung, Matthew Varacallo, Ke-Vin Chang. 2023)

Other treatments to help a sprained finger include:

• Elevate the hand if swelling and inflamed.
• Gentle finger exercises/movements to prevent stiffness.
• Icing the injured finger.
• Take an anti-inflammatory medication.

Individuals who have not broken bones or dislocated the joint will probably be able to move their finger in about a week. A doctor will set a timeline for when to start using the finger normally.

1. Individuals who sprain their finger that feels swollen and stiff for longer than a few weeks are recommended to consult a doctor or specialist.
2. They will need to check the hand to make ensure there aren't any breaks or fractures. (OrthoInfo. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 2022)
3. Thumb sprains and finger sprains in children may need to be splinted or taped for longer periods, as the ligament is not fully developed or as strong, which could lead to a tear.

Dislocations

A finger dislocation is a more severe injury involving the ligament, joint capsule, cartilage, and other tissues that causes misalignment of the finger. The ligaments and the joint capsule get torn when a joint is dislocated. The joint needs to be reset, which can be a simple process, or in severe cases, patients may need to be placed under anesthesia or undergo surgery to reset the joint properly.

• In these cases, tendons or other tissues might be preventing the joint from getting into position.
• Putting the finger back into the right position is known as"reduction." Once reduced, the finger needs to be splinted.
• Individuals also need an X-ray to ensure the joint is lined up correctly and that any bones were not broken or fractured when they sustained the injury. (James R. Borchers, Thomas M. Best. 2012)
• Once reset, caring for a dislocated finger is basically the same as a sprained finger. Using ice on the finger, keeping the hand elevated to reduce swelling.
• Individuals need to check with their doctor to find out when to start moving the finger. (James R. Borchers, Thomas M. Best. 2012)

The Chiropractic Approach To Improving Health

General Disclaimer *

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

Elfar, J., & Mann, T. (2013). Fracture-dislocations of the proximal interphalangeal joint. The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 21(2), 88–98. https://doi.org/10.5435/JAAOS-21-02-88

OrthoInfo from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. (2022) Hand fractures.

Hung, C. Y., Varacallo, M., & Chang, K. V. (2023). Gamekeeper's Thumb. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing.

OrthoInfo from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. (2022) Finger fractures.

Borchers, J. R., & Best, T. M. (2012). Common finger fractures and dislocations. American family physician, 85(8), 805–810.

When individuals experience a neuromusculoskeletal injury strain, can following basic pulled muscle treatment protocols help in healing and a full recovery?

Pulled Muscle Treatment

A pulled muscle or muscle strain occurs when a muscle is stretched beyond its ability resulting in discomfort symptoms and mobility issues. Microscopic tears can occur within the muscle fibers potentially worsening the injury. This type of injury usually causes mild to severe pain, bruising, and immobility, and nerve injuries can develop as well. Common muscle strains include:

• Pulled hamstrings
• Groin strains
• Pulled abdominal muscles
• Calf strains

Pulled muscle treatment requires patience to promote proper healing and restoration of optimal function.

• Individuals need to focus on the different stages of healing.
• Gradually increase activity levels as the body allows to prevent stiffness and atrophy which can cause complications.

Symptoms

The usual symptoms of this type of injury include:

• Pain
• Limited mobility
• Muscle spasms 
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Often individuals will feel a sudden grabbing or tearing sensation and are then unable to continue the activity.

Grading

Muscle strain injuries are graded by severity: (Hospital for Special Surgery. 2019)

Grade I

• Mild discomfort.
• Often there is no disability.
• Usually does not limit activity.

Grade II

• Moderate discomfort
• Can limit the ability to perform certain activities.
• May have moderate swelling and bruising.

Grade III

• Severe injury that can cause significant pain.
• Muscle spasms.
• Swelling.
• Significant bruising.

Basic Treatment Protocols

Most pulled muscle strain injuries heal with simple treatment. Following the right steps can ensure an expedited recovery. In the early stages after the injury, there is a balance between doing too much or not enough. The amount of activity an individual will be able to do, and the time required for recovery depends on the severity of the injury. Here are some guidelines in the right direction.

Rest

• Rest is recommended for the early recovery stage.
• Depending on the severity of the injury this could last from one to five days.
• Immobilization is usually not necessary, and not moving at all can lead to muscle and joint stiffness.
• This can be harmful and interfere with mobility. (Joel M. Kary. 2010)
• If immobilization is necessary, like using a splint or cast, careful supervision should be monitored by a healthcare provider.

Cold Therapy

• Cold therapy should begin as soon as possible after sustaining a pulled muscle.
• The therapy/ice helps reduce swelling, bleeding, and pain. (Gerard A Malanga, Ning Yan, Jill Stark. 2015)
• Cold therapy applications can be done frequently, but should not exceed 15 minutes at a time.

Stretching

• Stretching is important to relax the muscles and for pre-mobilization.
• Muscles that maintain flexibility help prevent further injury.

Strengthening

• The injury and the rest period can decrease the strength of the muscle.
• It is important to rebuild strength before returning to physical activities.
• Strengthened muscles help prevent re-injury.

Increased Activity to Prevent Muscle Fatigue

• Fatigued muscles are more likely to sustain injuries. (S. D. Mair, A. V. Seaber, R. R. Glisson, W. E. Garrett Jr. 1996)
• To avoid injuries make sure the muscles are not over-exerted.
• Gradually increase activity levels when starting an exercise program to build endurance.

Properly Warming Up

• Warming up before taking on physical activities will help loosen the muscles and prevent injuries.
• Beginning work or exercise with stiff muscles can lead to an increased chance of strain.
• Studies have shown that temperature can influence the stiffness of a muscle. (K. W. Ranatunga. 2018)
• Maintaining body and muscle warmth helps prevent injury and re-injury.

Injuries and Chiropractic: The Road To Recovery

General Disclaimer *

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

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

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

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

References

Hospital for Special Surgery, Muscle Strain: What You Need to Know About Pulled Muscles.

Kary J. M. (2010). Diagnosis and management of quadriceps strains and contusions. Current reviews in musculoskeletal medicine, 3(1-4), 26–31. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12178-010-9064-5

Malanga, G. A., Yan, N., & Stark, J. (2015). Mechanisms and efficacy of heat and cold therapies for musculoskeletal injury. Postgraduate medicine, 127(1), 57–65. https://doi.org/10.1080/00325481.2015.992719

Mair, S. D., Seaber, A. V., Glisson, R. R., & Garrett, W. E., Jr (1996). The role of fatigue in susceptibility to acute muscle strain injury. The American journal of sports medicine, 24(2), 137–143. https://doi.org/10.1177/036354659602400203

Ranatunga K. W. (2018). Temperature Effects on Force and Actin⁻Myosin Interaction in Muscle: A Look Back on Some Experimental Findings. International journal of molecular sciences, 19(5), 1538. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19051538

Can chiropractic treatment protocols diagnose what's causing head pressure in individuals, and provide effective treatment?

Head Pressure

Head pressure can have various causes and symptoms that affect different areas depending on whether the cause is a headache, allergies, injury, illness, or disease. The location of the pressure or pain can help a doctor of chiropractic determine the cause.

• The underlying factor is usually not life-threatening, but the pressure that has built can be the result of serious conditions like a head injury or brain tumor.
• Chiropractic ​care, which includes a combination of spinal manipulation, active and passive exercises, and massage, is often used for headache management and prevention. (Moore Craig, et al., 2018)
• Chiropractic therapy is often sought out for tension and cervicogenic headaches, migraines, and each responds differently to the treatment.

The Head

• The head is made up of a complex system of lobes, sinuses/channels, blood vessels, nerves, and ventricles. (Thau L, et al., 2022)
• The pressure of these systems is regulated and any disruption to this balance can be noticeable.
• Diagnosis can be difficult to figure out what is causing discomfort or head pressure.
• Pain, pressure, irritability, and nausea are all symptoms that can occur with headaches. (Rizzoli P, Mullally W. 2017)

Location

• Head pressure in more than one spot is possible with a migraine or a severe cold. (American Migraine Foundation 2023)
• Pain can present in more than one area if there has been a head injury.
• If the pressure is more specific in a certain region, it can help provide clues about the cause of the symptoms.
• Medical issues can cause pressure in different areas. (Rizzoli P, Mullally W. 2017)
• An example is a sinus infection which can cause pressure under the eyes and around the nose.
• A migraine or tension headache can present as: (MedlinePlus. Migraine 2021)
• A tight band around the head.
• Pain or pressure behind the eyes.
• Stiffness and pressure in the back of the head and/or neck.

Causes of Pressure

The root cause of the problem is not always clear. There can be a number of potential causes.

Tension Headache

Tension headaches are the most common that feels like pressure squeezing the head. They usually develop because of tightening scalp muscles caused by:

• Stress
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Head injuries
• Unusual positioning of the head or illness can cause tension headaches.

Other than muscle tension, tension headaches can develop from: (MedlinePlus. Tension headache.)

• Physical stress
• Emotional stress
• Eye strain
• Fatigue
• Overexertion
• Overuse of caffeine
• Caffeine withdrawal
• Over alcohol use
• Sinus infections
• A cold or flu
• Smoking
• Tension headaches can also run in families. (MedlinePlus. Tension headache.)

Sinus Headache

• A sinus headache - rhinosinusitis - is caused by a viral or bacterial infection in the sinus cavities. (American Migraine Foundation 2023)
• There are sinus cavities on each side of the nose, between the eyes, in the cheeks, and on the forehead.
• The location of where these headaches cause pressure varies, depending on which sinuses are infected. (Cedars Sinai. Sinus Conditions and Treatments)
• Sinus infection headaches are obvious from the discolored nasal drainage.
• Individuals can have facial pain and pressure, lose their sense of smell, or have a fever. (American Migraine Foundation 2023)

Ear Conditions

• The ears help the body sense movement and balance.
• A problem in the inner ear that helps control balance can cause a type of migraine known as a vestibular migraine. (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association)
• This type of migraine doesn't always present with pain symptoms.
• Problems with balance and feelings of vertigo/sense of spinning are common with these types of migraines. (American Migraine Foundation)
• An ear infection can also cause feelings of head pressure and/or pain.
• Infections can cause pressure to build on the delicate structures of the middle and inner ear.
• These infections are usually caused by viral illness or bacteria. (FamilyDoctor.org)

Neurological Causes

• Neurological diseases and conditions can lead to increased pressure in the head.
• The pain symptoms depend on the specific cause.
• For example, a stroke can affect the whole head, while decreased brain fluid levels may affect just the base of the skull.
• The latter condition is known as intracranial hypertension which means increased pressure in the brain. (Schizodimos, T et al., 2020)
• For some individuals, there is no clear cause, this is known as idiopathic intracranial hypertension. (Wall, Michael. 2017) (National Health Service 2023)

Other causes of increased intracranial pressure include:

• Medications
• Hormones
• Head injury
• Fluid buildup inside the brain - hydrocephalus (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2023)
• Brain infections like meningitis or encephalitis
• Brain blood clots 
• Brain tumors

Other

• Head pressure can also occur only at times when standing up, bending down to pick up an object, or otherwise changing posture in some way that blood pressure is affected.

Chiropractic Treatment

The Injury Medical team will develop a personalized treatment plan to help relieve pressure symptoms through a multidisciplinary approach that can include. (Moore Craig, et al., 2018)

• Spinal manipulation
• Low-load craniocervical mobilization
• Joint mobilization
• Deep neck flexion exercises
• Neuromuscular massage
• Physical therapy exercises
• Relaxation techniques
• Stress management
• Nutritional recommendations

Multidisciplinary Evaluation and Treatment

General Disclaimer *

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

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

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

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

References

Moore, C., Leaver, A., Sibbritt, D., & Adams, J. (2018). The management of common recurrent headaches by chiropractors: a descriptive analysis of a nationally representative survey. BMC neurology, 18(1), 171. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-018-1173-6

Thau, L., Reddy, V., & Singh, P. (2022). Anatomy, Central Nervous System. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing.

Rizzoli, P., & Mullally, W. J. (2018). Headache. The American journal of medicine, 131(1), 17–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2017.09.005

American Migraine Foundation. Is it a migraine or a sinus headache?

MedlinePlus. Migraine.

MedlinePlus. Tension headache.

Cedars Sinai. Sinus conditions and treatments.

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Dizziness and balance.

American Migraine Foundation. What to know about vestibular migraine.

FamilyDoctor.org. Ear infection.

Schizodimos, T., Soulountsi, V., Iasonidou, C., & Kapravelos, N. (2020). An overview of the management of intracranial hypertension in the intensive care unit. Journal of Anesthesia, 34(5), 741–757. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00540-020-02795-7

Wall M. (2017). Update on Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension. Neurologic Clinics, 35(1), 45–57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ncl.2016.08.004

National Health Service. Intracranial hypertension.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Hydrocephalus. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/hydrocephalus

Overexertion and repetitive stress injuries make up a fourth of all work injuries. Repetitive pulling, lifting, punching in numbers, typing, pushing, holding, carrying, and scanning are the most common causes of job-related injuries. These types of injuries are the most common that cause missed days at work.  Overexertion can lead to lasting physical chronic conditions, ranging from chronic back pain to chronic joint pain caused by the advanced wearing and tearing of the various musculoskeletal tissues. Chiropractic medicine takes a comprehensive and whole-body approach to treating neuromusculoskeletal injuries. Chiropractic relieves tight or damaged muscles, increases nerve energy flow, and properly aligns the joints through adjustments, spinal traction, decompression, and various forms of manual manipulation.

Overexertion and Repetitive Stress Injuries

Overexertion and repetitive stress injuries typically occur over time/years of engaging in the same strenuous activity regularly. However, an overexertion injury can occur with one sudden or extreme movement. A worker can injure muscles, tendons, joints, and ligaments. Overexertion can lead to musculoskeletal disorders with symptoms including:

• Inflammation
• Swelling
• Numbness
• Stiffness
• Chronic pain
• Limited or total loss of mobility in the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints.

Types

A few of the most common examples of overexertion injuries include:

Soft-Tissue

• Injuries to muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints.

Back

• Pulled, strained back muscles.
• Herniated discs.
• Compressed nerve roots.
• Fractured vertebrae.

Dehydration and Heat Stroke 

• Most common among workers doing outdoor manual labor.

Repetitive and Overuse

• Injuries range from carpal tunnel syndrome to stress fractures.
• Often the result of weeks, months, or years of repeated movements
• In many cases, two or more injuries can happen simultaneously.
• For example, a worker is more likely to sustain an injury if they are dehydrated or they are performing dual tasks.

Causes

Certain movements and activities are more likely to cause overexertion injuries. Some of the most common include:

• Daily lifting of objects, light and heavy.
• Performing awkward movements that cause the body to be in unhealthy positions.
• Standing and/or sitting or for long periods.
• Using excessive force to perform tasks.
• Operating heavy machinery.
• Working in hot and/or humid conditions.

High-Rate Injury Industries

Industries in which overexertion injuries are most common include:

• Education.
• Health services.
• Manufacturing.
• Construction.
• Warehouse work.
• Transportation.
• Wholesale trade.
• Retail stores.

Chiropractic Treatment

These injuries can lead to missed work, debilitating pain, and medical bills. Depending on the severity of the injury, chiropractic care will use massage techniques, spinal manipulation, traction, and decompression therapies, to increase flexibility and mobility to reduce the chances of a recurring injury. The benefits of chiropractic include:

• Prevents the risk of worsening or future injuries.
• Expedites recovery to help individuals rehabilitate and get back to work sooner.
• Improves physical and mental well-being.
• Provide recommendations on how to properly stretch and strengthen muscles.
• Nutritional anti-inflammatory recommendations.

By learning how to avoid overexertion injuries, workers can be more productive, enjoy work, and improve their quality of life.

From Injury To Recovery

General Disclaimer *

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

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

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

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

References

Anderson, Vern Putz, et al. “Occupational fatalities, injuries, illnesses, and related economic loss in the wholesale and retail trade sector.” American Journal of industrial medicine vol. 53,7 (2010): 673-85. doi:10.1002/ajim.20813

Choi, Hyun-Woo, et al. “Characteristics of occupational musculoskeletal disorders of five sectors in the service industry between 2004 and 2013.” Annals of Occupational and environmental medicine vol. 29 41. 19 Sep. 2017, doi:10.1186/s40557-017-0198-4

Friedenberg, Rivi, et al. “Work-related musculoskeletal disorders and injuries among emergency medical technicians and paramedics: A comprehensive narrative review.” Archives of Environmental & occupational health vol. 77,1 (2022): 9-17. doi:10.1080/19338244.2020.1832038

Galinsky, T et al. “Overexertion injuries in home health care workers and the need for ergonomics.” Home health care services quarterly vol. 20,3 (2001): 57-73. doi:10.1300/J027v20n03_04

González Fuentes, Aroa, et al. “Work-related overexertion injuries in cleaning occupations: An exploration of the factors to predict the days of absence by means of machine learning methodologies.” Applied ergonomics, vol. 105 103847. 30 Jul. 2022, doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2022.103847

Schoenfisch, Ashley L et al. “Declining rates of work-related overexertion back injuries among union drywall installers in Washington State, 1989-2008: Improved work safety or shifting of care?.” American Journal of industrial medicine vol. 57,2 (2014): 184-94. doi:10.1002/ajim.22240

Williams, J M et al. “Work-related injuries in a rural emergency department population.” Academic emergency medicine: official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine vol. 4,4 (1997): 277-81. doi:10.1111/j.1553-2712.1997.tb03548.x

Automobile accidents and collisions can cause knee and ankle injuries in various ways. Automobile crashes are considered high-energy collisions versus slip and fall traumas which are generally low-energy. However, a 30mph or under-collision can have serious and detrimental effects on the knees and ankles. The sudden forces can cause the knees to collide with the dashboard or push the feet and legs into the body, generating intense pressure and compressing the bones, muscles, and ligaments damaging soft tissues and bone structures from the impact. The Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic Team can rehabilitate, realign, strengthen, and restore function to individuals with minor to severe auto collision injuries.

Knee and Ankle Injuries

Musculoskeletal motor vehicle crash/collision injuries affect the body's movement. The impact can pull, tear, crush, and smash bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, discs, and nerves. These injuries restrict the range of motion and can cause pain and sensation symptoms. The National Accident Sampling System reports 33% of injuries sustained during vehicle collisions are to the lower extremities.

• Despite the knees and ankles having soft tissues that absorb and distribute the energy's impact, the forces from the collision often happen instantly and unexpectedly, causing the individual to tense up, which overwhelms the structures.
• Even panic stepping on the brake pedal can cause injury to the ankle and foot.
• A passenger's reflex of trying to resist forces can experience foot, ankle, and knee injuries from bracing off the vehicle's floorboard.
• Automobile collisions can cause strains, sprains, fractures, and dislocations.

Torn, Strained, or Sprained Knee

• If the foot becomes planted on the floorboard while the body continues to move forward or sideways, the force can travel into the knee, causing twisting or shearing.
• Depending on the injury type, the impact strength can damage different ligaments.
• The ligaments resist forces that push the knee inwards/medially and outwards/laterally and slightly resist rotational forces.
• When any of these ligaments are damaged, swelling, pain, and limited ranges of motion can result.
• Putting weight on the affected leg can be difficult.
• In some cases, the ligaments tear completely, necessitating surgical repair.
• Once the individual can engage in mild activity, they can begin a rehabilitation program to restore function.
• Recovery times vary based on the location and severity of the injury.

Fractured Knee or Ankle

• When a fracture occurs in a joint, like the knees or ankles, surgical procedures may be necessary to repair the broken bone/s.
• Broken bones can result in simultaneous damage and/or inflammation of the connective tissues that can cause the muscles to contract/tighten or atrophy during the recovery and healing phases.
• Joints and bones are kept healthy with moderate movement and weight-bearing.
• Fractures require immobilization of the affected area.
• A physical therapy rehabilitation program can begin when the brace or cast comes off.
• Targeted exercises and resistance will strengthen and stretch the joint to improve flexibility and promote healing through improved circulation.

Torn Meniscus

• The meniscus is a C-shaped area of cartilage that rests between the thigh and shin bones.
• It acts as a shock absorber.
• The meniscus can become torn, resulting in pain, stiffness, and loss of motion.
• This injury can heal independently with the right rest and therapeutic exercises.
• A chiropractic auto collision specialist can diagnose the severity of the tear and provide the recommendations needed to rehabilitate and strengthen the knee.
• If the tear is severe enough, surgery may be required.

Strained or Sprained Ankle

• Strained tendons and sprained ligaments can result from the ankle being subject to tremendous force.
• Strains and sprains vary in severity.
• Both indicate that the connective tissue has been damaged or stretched beyond normal limits.
• They can present with pain, inflammation, and problems moving the affected area.
• With proper medical attention and rehabilitation, recovery is possible.

Torn Achilles Tendon

• The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscle to the heel and is necessary for walking, running, physical activity, and bearing weight.
• If the tendon gets torn, surgery will be required to reattach the muscle and tendon.
• After recovery, the individual can begin physical therapy to work the tendon and muscle, slowly building strength and range of motion.
• It is critical to do this with the supervision of an expert in musculoskeletal rehabilitation to avoid re-injury or developing new injuries.

Chiropractic Treatment

Any musculoskeletal motor vehicle injuries can result in intense pain that worsens with activity, inflammation, swelling, redness, and/or heat in the affected area. This is why correctly diagnosing the injury is essential if the condition is to be properly and thoroughly treated. A physical examination will vary based on the individual's state and can include:

• Strength assessment
• Range of motion
• Reflexes
• Other variables to determine the underlying issues.
• Diagnostic imaging such as X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans can help identify and clarify injuries' extent, nature, and location and rule out problems.

A qualified healthcare professional will combine the data with medical history to develop an accurate diagnosis. Our ability to effectively treat accident individuals is based on applying clinical expertise in musculoskeletal diagnosis and care. Our medical team takes a practical approach to helping individuals quickly heal from musculoskeletal injuries using the latest treatments possible. When you meet with one of our professionals, you will feel relaxed and confident that you have come to the right place.

From Injury To Recovery

General Disclaimer *

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

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, don't hesitate to get in touch with 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

Dischinger, P C et al. “Consequences and costs of lower extremity injuries.” Annual proceedings. Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine vol. 48 (2004): 339-53.

Fildes, B et al. “Lower limb injuries to passenger car occupants.” Accident; analysis and prevention vol. 29,6 (1997): 785-91. doi:10.1016/s0001-4575(97)00047-x

Gane, Elise M et al. “The impact of musculoskeletal injuries sustained in road traffic crashes on work-related outcomes: a protocol for a systematic review.” Systematic reviews vol. 7,1 202. 20 Nov. 2018, doi:10.1186/s13643-018-0869-4

Hardin, E C et al. “Foot and ankle forces during an automobile collision: the influence of muscles.” Journal of biomechanics vol. 37,5 (2004): 637-44. doi:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2003.09.030

Li, Wen-Wei, and Cheng-Chang Lu. “Knee deformity following a motor vehicle accident.” Emergency medicine journal: EMJ vol. 38,6 (2021): 449-473. doi:10.1136/emermed-2020-210054

M, Asgari, and Keyvanian Sh S. “Crash Injury Analysis of Knee Joint Considering Pedestrian Safety.” Journal of biomedical physics & Engineering vol. 9,5 569-578. 1 Oct. 2019, doi:10.31661/jbpe.v0i0.424

Torry, Michael R et al. “Relationship of knee shear force and extensor moment on knee translations in females performing drop landings: a biplane fluoroscopy study.” Clinical biomechanics (Bristol, Avon) vol. 26,10 (2011): 1019-24. doi:10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2011.06.010

Automobile accidents are emotionally and physically traumatic events. After an accident, individuals assume that they are okay if they don't have any broken bones or gashing cuts. However, even minor accidents can lead to significant damage, but the individual doesn't know it. An invisible/delayed injury is any injury that is not immediately obvious or is not experienced by the individual until hours, days, or weeks later. The most common are soft tissue injuries, back injuries, whiplash, concussions, and internal bleeding. This is why it is imperative to see a doctor or chiropractic accident specialist as soon as possible after an accident.

Invisible Injuries Auto Accidents

The body goes into a fight or flight mode in a vehicle accident. That means a massive adrenaline surge makes anything happening to the body go unnoticed and unfelt. The individual does not feel pain and discomfort symptoms until later or much later.

Soft Tissue

• A soft tissue injury affects muscles, tendons, ligaments, and body parts other than bone.
• Even at low speeds, accidents, and collisions generate a significant force on the body.
• Drivers and passengers often come to a sudden stop along with the vehicle or get thrown around.
• This places intense stress on joints and other areas of the body.

Whiplash

The most common invisible soft-tissue injury is whiplash.

• Where the neck muscles are suddenly and forcefully thrown forward and then back, causing the muscles and ligaments to stretch beyond their normal range of motion.
• The injury typically results in pain, swelling, reduced mobility, and headaches.
• Symptoms may not present right away.
• Left untreated, whiplash can lead to long-term chronic pain. 

Head Injuries

• Head injuries are another common invisible injury.
• Even if the head did not hit/impact anything, the force and momentum can cause the brain to collide with the inside of the skull. 
• This can lead to a concussion or even more serious brain injuries.

Concussion

A concussion is a traumatic brain injury. Individuals can have a concussion without losing consciousness, depending on the accident's severity. Symptoms may be delayed or not experienced, but delayed treatment can lead to a longer recovery. Symptoms can include:

• Fatigue.
• Headache.
• Confusion.
• Inability to remember the accident.
• Nausea.
• Ringing in the ears.
• Dizziness.

Back Muscles or Spine Injuries

Back muscles and spinal cord injuries are invisible injuries that can happen after an automobile accident. Signs of a back injury include:

• The back muscles can be strained due to the impact and tension build-up.
• Sore muscles or pain may not present until a day or two later.
• Body stiffness.
• Reduced mobility.
• Muscle spasms.
• Trouble walking, standing, or sitting.
• Headaches.
• Numbness and tingling.

Injuries to the spine, even serious ones, may not be apparent immediately.

• The impact can cause the spine to shift out of alignment profoundly.
• Swelling and bleeding in or around the spinal cord can cause numbness or paralysis that can gradually progress.
• This invisible injury can have long-term consequences, including paralysis.

Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic is an effective treatment for neuromusculoskeletal injuries. The chiropractor will assess the damage and its severity to determine the best treatment for the individual. It relieves pain and discomfort symptoms, loosens and relaxes the muscles, and restores alignment, mobility, and a full range of motion. Chiropractic uses several tools and techniques to restore the spine and body balance. Results include:

• Pain relieved.
• Improved circulation.
• Restored alignment.
• Released compressed/pinched nerves.
• Improved posture and balance.
• Improved flexibility.
• Restored mobility.

Don't Ignore Post-Accident Pain

General Disclaimer *

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

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, don't hesitate to get in touch with 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

“Automobile-related injuries.” JAMA vol. 249,23 (1983): 3216-22. doi:10.1001/jama.1983.03330470056034

Barach, P, and E Richter. “Injury prevention.” The New England Journal of Medicine vol. 338,2 (1998): 132-3; author reply 133. doi:10.1056/NEJM199801083380215

Binder, Allan I. “Neck pain.” BMJ clinical evidence vol. 2008 1103. 4 Aug. 2008

Duncan, G J, and R Meals. “One hundred years of automobile-induced orthopedic injuries.” Orthopedics vol. 18,2 (1995): 165-70. doi:10.3928/0147-7447-19950201-15

“Motor Vehicle Safety.” Annals of emergency medicine vol. 68,1 (2016): 146-7. doi:10.1016/j.annemergmed.2016.04.045

Sims, J K et al. “Automobile accident occupant injuries.” JACEP vol. 5,10 (1976): 796-808. doi:10.1016/s0361-1124(76)80313-9

Vassiliou, Timon, et al. “Physical therapy and active exercises--an adequate treatment for prevention of late whiplash syndrome? Randomized controlled trial in 200 patients.” Pain vol. 124,1-2 (2006): 69-76. doi:10.1016/j.pain.2006.03.017

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. 

General Disclaimer *

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional, licensed physician, and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified health care professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and support, directly or indirectly, our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

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

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

Slip and fall accidents are among the most common causes of workplace/job injuries and can happen anywhere. Work areas can have all kinds of slipping or tripping hazards, including uneven or cracked floors, equipment, furniture, cords, wet floors, and clutter from debris. Individuals involved in a slip-and-fall accident can sustain injuries that vary in severity. The key is to see a doctor or chiropractor immediately to document the slipping and falling injuries and develop a personalized treatment and rehabilitation plan. Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic can help.

Slipping and Falling Injuries 

An individual can experience the following:

• Musculoskeletal injuries
• Back and/or spinal cord injuries
• Hip, knee, and ankle injuries
• Nerve injuries
• Fractured or broken bones
• Facial fractures
• Brain injuries
• Paralysis
• Permanent disability

Contributing Factors

The type of injury and degree of severity depends on physical and biological factors present during the slipping and falling. These include:

Physical Condition

• An individual's age, size, gender, and health can influence the type of injury sustained.

Height and Location of the Fall 

• Slipping, tripping, stumbling, or tumbling injuries could be minimal to severe, depending on the force, height, and location.

Surface Impact 

• The acceleration during the fall and how the body impacts the surface play an important role in the severity of the injury.

Body Position

• Protective reflexes, such as outstretched arms, to break the fall or whether or not the body hit the ground directly determine the injury and to what extent.

Symptoms

• Muscle pain and tension are the most common symptoms after slipping and falling.
• The muscle fibers overstretch, causing inflammation and swelling to develop.
• The pain can often start immediately after or a few days later, known as delayed injury symptoms.
• If the nerves sustain injury or irritation, they begin to swell, and the body responds to protect the damaged areas.
• The contact inflammation and irritation can cause tightness and spasms.
• Continuing ongoing discomfort and pain.
• Stomach discomfort and pain.
• Significant bruising.
• Limitations in movement.

Chiropractic Treatment

Chiropractors are experts in slip-and-fall injuries and will use adjustments and various therapy protocols to realign the body and restore function. The objective is to relieve symptoms, rehabilitate the injured area/s, and regain mobility. Physical therapy and strength-building exercises under a specialist's supervision and at home are implemented to get back the use of the injured body part.

Inflammation

General Disclaimer *

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

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, don't hesitate to get in touch with 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

Li, Jie, et al. “Slip and Fall Incidents at Work: A Visual Analytics Analysis of the Research Domain.” International journal of environmental research and public health vol. 16,24 4972. 6 Dec. 2019, doi:10.3390/ijerph16244972

Pant, Puspa Raj et al. “Home-related and work-related injuries in Makwanpur district, Nepal: a household survey.” Injury prevention: journal of the International Society for Child and Adolescent Injury Prevention vol. 27,5 (2021): 450-455. doi:10.1136/injuryprev-2020-043986

Shigemura, Tomonori, et al. “Characteristics of stepladder fall injuries: a retrospective study.” European journal of trauma and emergency surgery: official publication of the European Trauma Society vol. 47,6 (2021): 1867-1871. doi:10.1007/s00068-020-01339-8

Smith, Caroline K, and Jena Williams. “Work-related injuries in Washington State's Trucking Industry, by industry sector and occupation.” Accident; analysis and prevention vol. 65 (2014): 63-71. doi:10.1016/j.aap.2013.12.012

Son, Hyung Min, et al. “Occupational fall injuries presenting to the emergency department.” Emergency medicine Australasia: EMA vol. 26,2 (2014): 188-93. doi:10.1111/1742-6723.12166

It is a common scenario, whether sitting or standing, when we need to bend down or forward, and suddenly there is a sharp sting on one side of the low back. The sensation can cause the knees to buckle. So we stand up slowly to assess the condition and realize it is almost impossible to stand completely straight and even harder to bend forward. So we sit back down to try and relieve the pressure. It helps a little, but the injury has caused the back muscles to spasm and get tighter and tighter. When we try to get up, there can be one big or several mild to severe electrical shock sensations traveling through the back. A severely over-rotated vertebrae could be the cause and require chiropractic care, massage, and/or decompression therapy. 

Over Rotated Vertebrae

The spinal column is made of 26 interconnected vertebrae. When in motion, each vertebra moves, and as the torso rotates, the spine must rotate as well. The spine can move in several ways, including:

• Bending
• Rounding forward.
• Extending or arching backward.
• Twisting
• Tilting sideways uses some of the same muscles when twisting.

Although the spine can move in various directions, there are limits to how far it can and should go. For example, when bending forward to lift an object, an individual can unknowingly over-extend and over-rotate vertebrae. This is where the risk of injury increases. A rotational injury of the spine occurs when the torso turns too far, and the spinal cord can't handle it. This can stretch the ligaments in the spine to the point of snapping, causing the facet joints to dislocate. Ligament strains and facet dislocations are two of the most common rotational spine injuries.

Complications

An over-rotated vertebrae injury can also lead to complications that include.

Chronic Pain

• Spinal nerve damage can lead to chronic pain conditions.

Mobility Problems

• Mobility problems are common following an injury of the spine.
• This comes from damage to the nerves that innervate the legs, causing weakness and coordination problems.

Pressure Ulcers

• Numbness following a spine injury can cause individuals not to notice pressure ulcers developing.
• These can lead to infections and could require hospitalization.

Individuals accumulate tension and/or weakness in the oblique abdominal muscles and other trunk muscles that can lead to chronic tightness and weakness, affecting movement and decreasing the range of motion.

Chiropractic Treatment Plan

Depending on the time and severity of the injury, a personalized treatment plan may consist of the following:

• Wearing a back brace.
• Non-surgical decompression.
• Muscle stimulation.
• Soft tissue massage.
• Chiropractic mobilization to release the spasms and reset the spine.
• Rest

Facet Syndrome Treatment

General Disclaimer *

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

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, don't hesitate to get in touch with 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

Janssen, Michiel M A, et al. "Pre-existent vertebral rotation in the human spine is influenced by body position." 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. 19,10 (2010): 1728-34. doi:10.1007/s00586-010-1400-3

Kruger, Erwin A et al. "Comprehensive management of pressure ulcers in spinal cord injury: current concepts and future trends." The Journal of spinal cord medicine vol. 36,6 (2013): 572-85. doi:10.1179/2045772313Y.0000000093

Passias, Peter G et al. "Segmental lumbar rotation in patients with discogenic low back pain during functional weight-bearing activities." The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume vol. 93,1 (2011): 29-37. doi:10.2106/JBJS.I.01348

Shan, X., Ning, X., Chen, Z. et al. Low back pain development response to sustained trunk axial twisting. Eur Spine J 22, 1972–1978 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-013-2784-7

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

Ladder Falls and Injuries

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

Causes

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

A Defective Ladder

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

Incorrect Ladder Use 

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

Injuries

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

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

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

Chiropractic Care

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

Safer In Seconds

General Disclaimer *

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

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

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

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

References

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

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

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

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

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

The body's musculoskeletal system consists of bones, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, and connective tissues. These parts get pushed to the extreme with everyday wear and tear, job, school, house chores, and tasks. All the flexing and contracting cause tightness, strain, and soreness that can contribute to negative muscle behavior that holds the muscles in an unhealthy position and in a semi-flexed or tightened state. An example is an unhealthy posture that becomes the norm for an individual. A percussive massage can release tightness, maintain flexibility, relieve discomfort, alleviate stress, and improve circulation.

Percussive Massage Therapy

A percussive/percussion massage is a form of physical therapy that utilizes vibration through repeated pressure bursts to massage muscles. Percussive therapy offers more control over targeted muscle groups than foam rollers and other static massagers. The treatment involves using an electric massage device to relieve muscle tension. Different massage heads for various therapeutic purposes move rapidly and forcefully, applying pressure directly to the soft tissues while the vibrations help release and loosen the areas.

How The Massage Works

• Fascia, which wraps around the muscles and joints, can become tight and inflamed, causing soreness and pain.
• Research shows that tight fascia can limit mobility and proper range of motion.
• When a muscle group is stiff and limits the range of motion of a specific part of the body, the rest of the muscles and body will overcompensate. This increases the risk of serious injury.
• Percussive therapy loosens the tissues and increases blood circulation.
• Once the stiffness and soreness are relieved, continued percussive therapy can prevent tightness from reforming, improve the range of motion, and speed up muscle recovery.
• Massage guns can penetrate up to an inch into the soft tissue, stimulating the muscles and helping release tension.

Benefits

Improved mobility

• Percussive massage distributes the thickened fascia fluid to relieve pressure and tightness.
• Repeated pressure at high speed thins the fluids, making the fascia more workable so the muscles can move easily and efficiently.

Reduced Soreness

• Lactic acid builds up in the muscles after working, physical activity, and exercise.
• This build-up causes soreness and pain.
• The percussion forces muscle fibers to release the lactic acid, reducing the soreness.

Decreased DOMS/Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness

• It's common to experience pain and soreness 24 to 72 hours after unfamiliar physical activity, such as a new job, exercise routine, or rehabilitation after injury or surgery.
• This is known as delayed onset muscle soreness or DOMS, which results from tiny muscle fiber tears.
• Percussive therapy increases skin temperature, blood flow, and hormonal responses to reduce inflammation and pain.

Increases Relaxation

• After work, school, physical activities, and working out, a percussive massage session can help the body wind down and relax.
• A percussive massage will help the muscles release and relax when the body is exhausted or overwhelmed.

How To Use A Percussive Massager

• Before starting a new medical treatment, including percussion therapy, talk to your doctor, physical therapist, or chiropractor.
• Ensure you know the difference between normal muscle soreness and pain from an injury.
• Don't use a massager on an injured muscle or body part, as the aggressive motion could aggravate the injury.
• Avoid using the device on bones or joints.
• Never use a massage gun directly on the neck; perform the massage on the shoulders and upper back.
• Start with the lowest intensity level.
• The low and medium settings should provide plenty of power for most users.
• As you become more comfortable with the device, you'll understand how your body reacts then you can try out the higher settings.
• A percussive massager should be used in short bursts on small, targeted areas.
• It is recommended to perform treatments for only a few minutes.
• Seeing the muscles turning reddish during the massage signals that blood is flowing and it's time to move on to another area.
• If the massage gun makes the skin sore or sensitive, make tiny circles instead of holding the massager in one spot.
• Some massagers have pressure-sensing technology to help apply the right amount of pressure.

Combined with chiropractic and professional massage, percussive therapy can help individuals maintain a relaxed musculoskeletal system. 

Best Massage Guns

General Disclaimer *

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

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please 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

Cafarelli, E et al. "Vibratory massage and short-term recovery from muscular fatigue." International journal of sports medicine vol. 11,6 (1990): 474-8. doi:10.1055/s-2007-1024840

Cerciello, Simone, et al. "Clinical applications of vibration therapy in orthopedic practice." Muscles, ligaments and tendons journal vol. 6,1 147-56. 19 May. 2016, doi:10.11138/mltj/2016.6.1.147

Cheatham, Scott W et al. "Mechanical Percussion Devices: A Survey of Practice Patterns Among Healthcare Professionals." International journal of sports physical therapy vol. 16,3 766-777. 2 Jun. 2021, doi:10.26603/001c.23530