Accidents and Injuries

Forklifts, also known as lift trucks, are used for loading, unloading, and transporting various goods and materials in construction, shipping, and retail industries. They are heavy-duty equipment and require extensive training to operate safely. Forklifts are involved in many serious workplace accidents causing thousands of injuries annually. Chiropractors specialize in injury care and rehabilitation from vehicle accidents and collisions. They can help restore optimal musculoskeletal function and health through adjustments, massage, decompression, and traction therapies.

Forklift Operation

The forklift is one of the most widely used pieces of equipment to raise, lower, or remove pallets, boxes, crates, or other containers and transport and stock goods and materials. There are a variety of lift trucks that include:

• Counterbalance forklifts
• Aisle trucks
• Reach trucks
• Order pickers
• Stackers
• Pallet jacks
• Side loaders
• Tow tractors

Operation

The weight, speed, and operation difficulty increase the risk of an accident, increasing the risk of injuries. Other factors include:

• They can reach up to 20 miles per hour or more.
• They have front braking systems making it harder to stop.
• The weight distribution is in the back.
• The rear wheels turn instead of the front, causing tip-overs.
• Most carry their loads in front and can obstruct an operator’s view.
• Lifting too heavy a load can destabilize a forklift and cause it to turn over.

Accident and Injury Causes

Federal work safety regulations require individuals to complete a training program to operate a forklift safely. The most common causes of accidents include:

• Lack of training and experience.
• Lack of safety equipment - helmets, seatbelts, grab handles, roll cages, cage guards, warning lights, and sirens.
• Lack of maintenance - bent forks, no load backrest, unbalanced wheels, etc.
• Improper loading - off center, damaged goods, loose loads.
• Lifting, moving or tilting the mast too fast.
• Riding with a raised load.
• Speeding.
• Improper backing-up techniques.
• Poor communication.
• Horseplay.
• Giving rides.
• Failing to immobilize the machine when the operator leaves.
• Failing to pay attention to the position of the forks.
• Failing to yield to pedestrians.
• Traveling up or down unsafe inclines.
• Driving off the side of a ramp.
• Design or manufacturing defects.

Common Accidents

The most common type of accidents involve:

• Tip-overs and Rollovers.
• Falling off the lift.
• Getting struck by falling materials or objects.
• Pedestrian injuries like getting hit by the vehicle or tripping over the forks.
• Getting caught in or compressed/crushed by the vehicle or objects.

Injuries

The most common injuries that result from lift accidents include:

• Contusions
• Sprains
• Muscle tears
• Back pain disorders
• Crush injuries
• Fractures

Chiropractic Therapy and Rehabilitation

Chiropractic therapy can help heal and rehabilitate musculoskeletal injuries. A chiropractic team will relieve pain symptoms and restore the body’s alignment and function. Treatment includes:

Adjustments

• To gently realign joints.
• Decrease pain.
• Increase range of motion.
• Improves posture.

Soft-tissue massage

• To relax tight muscles.
• Relieve spasms.
• Release tension in the connective tissue surrounding the muscles.
• Reduces pain.
• Improves the range of motion of the spine and joints.

Exercises and stretches

• To restore and maintain flexibility, joint stability, and mobility.

Joint bracing and taping

• To support sprained joints or muscles during healing.

Health Coaching

• Guides diet and nutrition to reduce inflammation and promote healthy eating to manage weight.

Forklift Fails

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 your own healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and 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

Bage, T et al. “Forklift-related lower limb injuries: a retrospective case series study with patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs).” Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England vol. 103,10 (2021): 730-733. doi:10.1308/rcsann.2020.7124

Born, C T et al. “Patterns of injury and disability caused by forklift trucks.” The Journal of trauma vol. 40,4 (1996): 636-9. doi:10.1097/00005373-199604000-00020

Hong, Choon Chiet, et al. “Forklift-Related Crush Injuries of the Foot and Ankle.” Foot & ankle international vol. 36,7 (2015): 806-11. doi:10.1177/1071100715576486

Ull, Christopher et al. “Injuries after Forklift Trucks Accidents - Injury Patterns, Therapy and Outcome in the Context of the Statutory Accident Insurance.” “Gabelstaplerunfälle – Verletzungsmuster, Therapie und Outcome im berufsgenossenschaftlichen Kontext.” Zeitschrift fur Orthopadie und Unfallchirurgie, 10.1055/a-1402-1649. 19 Apr. 2021, doi:10.1055/a-1402-1649

Waters, Thomas et al. “Lower back disorders among forklift operators: an emerging occupational health problem?.” American journal of industrial medicine vol. 47,4 (2005): 333-40. doi:10.1002/ajim.20146

Dislocations impact the joint and are injuries that force/knock the bones out of position. Dislocations can be caused by a motor vehicle collision, falls, sports trauma, or weakened muscles and tendons. However, less impact/force is needed to dislocate smaller joints. Dislocations commonly occur at the shoulders, ankles, knees, hips, elbows, fingers and toes, and the jaw. The experience causes swelling, inability to move, and pain. A joint dislocation chiropractor can manipulate, reset, rehabilitate and strengthen the affected area and rebalance the body.

Joint Dislocation

The region where two or more bones come together is a joint. Each has a primary function, but their functions overlap. The joints allow the bones to move/articulate the skeletal system. Maintaining the body's balance requires mobility and stability.

• Mobility is the ability to move the body without restriction.
• Stability is maintaining equilibrium, healthy posture, and support during movement.
• The stable joints do not dislocate easily because their structures are not as flexible.
• Mobile joints are at an increased risk, as they can move in almost any direction.

The stability joints include the following:

• Cervical spine
• Elbow
• Lumbar spine
• Knee
• Foot

The mobility joints include:

• Shoulder
• Wrist
• Thoracic spine
• Hip
• Ankle

The kinetic chain is a sequence of joints forming an alternating pattern of stability and mobility that create a solid platform for dynamic movement. However, any joint can become dislocated, causing the affected area to become unsteady or immobile, strain or tear the surrounding muscles, nerves, and tendons which are the tissues that connect the bones to a joint.

• A joint can be partially dislocated/subluxation or fully dislocated.
• Joints dislocated previously have an increased risk of re-dislocating because the surrounding tissues that hold the joint have been torn or overly stretched.

Symptoms

Symptoms vary depending on the severity and location of the injury. Common symptoms include:

• Instability
• Loss of ability to move
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Pain
• Visible deformation

Increased Risk

Various factors can lead to joint dislocation, including:

• Weakness of the supporting ligaments and muscles from natural wear and tear/age or lack of physical conditioning.
• Older individuals with poor balance are more vulnerable to falls that can knock joints out of place.
• Young children developing have more elastic supporting ligaments and are prone to falls, collisions, and other injuries.
• Previous dislocations with overstretched or torn supporting tissues.
• Repeated dislocations are likely to follow the shoulder, knee, and hip.
• Inherited conditions can cause the elastic tissues to overstretch. Examples include Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and Marfan syndrome.
• Physical activities like extreme sports, contact sports, or sports that involve quick body shifts, twists, and turns on the feet.
• Physically demanding job.
• Operating heavy machinery/equipment.
• Joint hypermobility is common in children and around 5% of adults. It can be caused by weak or loose ligaments, weak or loose muscles, and/or shallow joint sockets.

Joint Dislocation Chiropractic

Treatment will vary based on the severity of the injury and the dislocated joint. Depending on the location and severity, a chiropractor will perform different movements/manipulations to realign the joint and strengthen the area.

• Significant force could be necessary to pull the bones apart to realign them back into their proper position.
• The joint may need to be pulled out and rotated slightly before being put back.
• The focus is on increasing ligament strength.
• Once the joint is back in place, it may need to remain immobile, possibly using a sling or splint to help fully heal the injury.
• Physical therapy exercises will be recommended to strengthen the muscles and ligaments around the joint to support it optimally.

Shoulder Pain Chiropractic

General Disclaimer *

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and 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

Dizdarevic, Ismar, et al. "Epidemiology of Elbow Dislocations in High School Athletes." The American journal of sports medicine vol. 44,1 (2016): 202-8. doi:10.1177/0363546515610527

Hodge, Duncan K, and Marc R Safran. "Sideline management of common dislocations." Current sports medicine reports vol. 1,3 (2002): 149-55. doi:10.1249/00149619-200206000-00005

Prechel, Ulla et al. “The Treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Dislocation.” Deutsches Arzteblatt international vol. 115,5 (2018): 59-64. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0059

Skelley, Nathan W et al. "In-game Management of Common Joint Dislocations." Sports health vol. 6,3 (2014): 246-55. doi:10.1177/1941738113499721

Motor vehicle crashes and accidents cause significant trauma in a few seconds changing an individual's life completely. Severe injuries include traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, fractures, and amputations. Many individuals experience post-traumatic stress disorder - PTSD after a vehicle collision; even a minor accident can cause emotional trauma symptoms. PTSD commonly presents with other symptoms that range from depression to heart disease, and the most frequent symptom is physical pain. Chiropractic decompression, physical therapy, and therapeutic massage can help alleviate physical pain.

PTSD Physical Pain

Physical trauma can cause immediate physical effects and injury, as well as physical symptoms that present later on.

Symptoms

• Flashbacks or reliving the collision incident.
• Sleep disturbances.
• Nightmares about the wreck.
• Fatigue.
• Memory and concentration problems.
• Hyperarousal.
• Fear.
• Anxiety.
• Irritability or anger.
• Avoiding driving or riding in a vehicle.
• Trying not to talk or think about the crash or accident with friends, family, places, or anything associated with the trauma.
• Avoiding activities.
• Emotional numbness.
• Detachment.

All can generate physical muscle tension and chronic stress, leading to headaches, migraines, back pain, stomach pain, and body aches. Long-term physical pain symptoms can turn chronic pain and medication dependency into a vicious cycle.

Chiropractic Therapy

Chiropractic care diagnoses and treats disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Chiropractic treatment is recommended to help alleviate the physical symptoms of PTSD. Trauma causes individuals to store intense emotions in their bodies. Chiropractic manipulation and decompression release the tension in the muscles caused by the trauma and the emotional stress. Adjustments restore the body's alignment and open the nervous system circulation, allowing signals to flow freely, leading to a healthier mind-body connection.

Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy

General Disclaimer *

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

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

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

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

References

Beck, J Gayle, and Scott F Coffey. "Assessment and treatment of PTSD after a motor vehicle collision: Empirical findings and clinical observations." Professional psychology, research, and practice vol. 38,6 (2007): 629-639. doi:10.1037/0735-7028.38.6.629

Elder, Charles et al. "Comparative Effectiveness of Usual Care With or Without Chiropractic Care in Patients with Recurrent Musculoskeletal Back and Neck Pain." Journal of general internal medicine vol. 33,9 (2018): 1469-1477. doi:10.1007/s11606-018-4539-y

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd

Hu, JunMei, et al. "Chronic widespread pain after motor vehicle collision typically occurs through immediate development and nonrecovery: results of an emergency department-based cohort study." Pain vol. 157,2 (2016): 438-444. doi:10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000388

Forearm pain refers to soreness, aches, or discomfort between the wrist and the elbow. An injury or inflammation can affect any tissues, including muscles, bones, blood vessels, tendons, and the skin. The causes usually include overuse injuries, pinched nerves, accidents causing trauma, lifting or heaving heavy objects, sports injuries, and fractures. If left untreated, issues like chronic muscle pain and decreased and disrupted blood/nerve circulation can develop, leading to numbness and weakness. Chiropractic treatment can release tension, massage, reset, and stretch the muscles to expedite healing.

Anatomy

The forearm comprises the radius and ulna, which extend the forearm's length and cross at the wrist.

The Radius

• This bone starts at the elbow and connects to the wrist on the thumb side.

Ulna

• This bone begins at the elbow and connects to the wrist on the side of the little finger.

Muscles

• Several muscles operate to rotate the forearm up/supination and down/pronation and flex and extend the fingers.

Causes

Forearm pain can happen to anyone and is usually related to traumatic or repetitive use injury. In other cases, pain may be associated with a benign growth, like a cyst or possibly a malignant tumor. Common causes include:

• Pulled and/or strained muscles
• Muscle ruptures or small tears
• A direct blow, fall, or any extreme twisting, bending or jamming action.
• Tendonitis from tennis or golfers elbow.
• Tennis elbow is caused by inflammation or tiny tears in the forearm muscles and tendons outside the elbow.
• Golfers' elbow is on the inside of the elbow.
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a repetitive stress disorder that affects the nerves and tendons of the wrist and forearm.

Musculoskeletal Causes

The musculoskeletal causes involve issues in how the forearm components operate together.

• Repetitive actions like lifting, gripping, and typing can compress nerves and blood vessels throughout the forearm.
• Repetitive positional injury can lead to swelling.
• Forearm problems like dislocations or sprains can also lead to chronic inflammation and pain.

Traumatic Causes

Traumatic causes include those that result in injury to components of the forearm.

• Anything that causes a direct injury to the forearm, including an automobile crash or accident, fall, or a direct hit, can fracture bones in the forearm.
• A sprain can twist or stretch a ligament or tendon.
• Activities that cause bending, twisting, quick sudden movement or direct impact can result in sprained multiple ligaments in the forearm.

Chiropractic Treatment

Healing forearm pain depends on the type of injury, location, and cause of the pain. Chiropractic addresses arm pain, tingling, and numbness in ways often overlooked by general physicians.

• A chiropractor will perform a physical examination to determine if there are any underlying causes.
• They may apply an ice pack to help control inflammation before the massage.
• The chiropractor will perform gentle adjustments to the wrist, arm, and shoulder.
• They may recommend a forearm brace to help retrain positioning and movement.
• They will recommend exercises and stretches to strengthen and maintain the adjustments.

Carpal Tunnel Pain Treatment

General Disclaimer *

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

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

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

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

References

Ellenbecker, Todd S et al. "Current concepts in examination and treatment of elbow tendon injury." Sports health vol. 5,2 (2013): 186-94. doi:10.1177/1941738112464761

Shamsoddini, Alireza, and Mohammad Taghi Hollisaz. "Effects of taping on pain, grip strength and wrist extension force in patients with tennis elbow." Trauma monthly vol. 18,2 (2013): 71-4. doi:10.5812/traumamon.12450

Suito, Motomu, et al. "Intertendinous epidermoid cyst of the forearm." Case reports in plastic surgery & hand surgery vol. 6,1 25-28. 28 Jan. 2019, doi:10.1080/23320885.2018.1564314

When the body goes through intense trauma like a car, truck, crash, or accident, the trauma can slip, bulge, herniate, or rupture the spinal fluid-filled discs that can extrude from the disc space, causing the nucleus pulposus to tear through the annulus fibrosus and compress the nerve roots causing pain. Depending on the severity and force of the crash or accident, a herniated disc can cause the vertebrae to push into the spinal canal, where it can compress, irritate, and/or injure the spinal cord, which can lead to other health issues. Nerve impingement from a herniated disc can also cause numbness and tingling in the hands, arms, legs, and feet. A chiropractic spine disc herniation decompression treatment plan can heal the herniation, realign the spine, stretch the muscles and joints, and rehabilitate the body back to top form.

Spine Disc Herniation

Symptoms of Herniation

Signs and symptoms depend on the spinal area and whether the disc is rubbing or compressing a nerve. Pain is often described as a sharp or burning sensation. A herniated disc usually affects one side of the body.

Pain Presents When Sitting Down - sitting causes a significant strain on the lower spinal discs. When sitting, the pain experienced can worsen.

Arm or leg pain - Depending on the herniated disc, pain can spread to other surrounding areas.

• For a lower herniation, this could be the buttock, thigh, calf, and foot.
• For a herniated disc in the neck region, pain can be felt in the shoulder and arm.

Pain can present in the arm or leg when coughing, sneezing, or moving into certain positions.

Numbness or tingling - presents from the compressed nerves and spreads as the average blood/energy flow is disrupted.

Muscle Weakness -  the affected nerves that support the spinal muscles can lose normal strength causing awkward postures and fatigue.

A herniated disc can be present without symptoms - individuals won't know unless spinal imaging is ordered.

Sciatica Sensations - the damaged nerve roots affect the ability to function correctly and can cause burning pain, numbness, weakness, and tingling along the front and/or back of the thigh, leg, and/or foot. This can result from direct compression or chemical irritation from a leaked out herniated disc that causes inflammation around the nerve root area.

Chiropractic Injury Care

When a disc herniates, it inhibits the body from communicating and healing itself. To activate proper communication from the brain to the rest of the body, chiropractors perform spine disc herniation decompression which clears the neural system and opens the lines of communication.

Spine Disc Herniation Decompression

Nonsurgical spinal decompression gently stretches the spine to relieve pressure and heal the herniated disc. It is a safe procedure considered a natural alternative compared to surgery or pharmaceutical approaches. Spinal decompression therapy:

• It is safe for all ages
• It is non-invasive
• Sessions take between 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the individual and the injury that could require multiple sessions.
• Offers a quicker recovery time
• It is performed on a computer-controlled table customized to the individual's specific needs and injuries.

A treatment plan can expedite the recovery process, rehabilitate and strengthen the whole body, and help avoid minimally invasive spine surgery.

Neurosurgeon DRX9000

General Disclaimer *

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

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

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

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

References

Atlas, Steven J et al. "The impact of disability compensation on long-term treatment outcomes of patients with sciatica due to a lumbar disc herniation." Spine vol. 31,26 (2006): 3061-9. doi:10.1097/01.brs.0000250325.87083.8d

Dydyk AM, Ngnitewe Massa R, Mesfin FB. Disc Herniation. [Updated 2022 Jan 18]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441822/

Gane, Elise M et al. "The Impact of Musculoskeletal Injuries Sustained in Road Traffic Crashes on Work-Related Outcomes: A Systematic Review." International journal of environmental research and public health vol. 18,21 11504. 1 Nov. 2021, doi:10.3390/ijerph182111504

Scuderi, Gaetano J et al. "Symptomatic cervical disc herniation following a motor vehicle collision: return to work comparative study of workers' compensation versus personal injury insurance status." The spine journal: official journal of the North American Spine Society vol. 5,6 (2005): 639-44; discussion 644. doi:10.1016/j.spinee.2005.04.007

Injury Medical Spinal Decompression: Spinal decompression therapy/treatment can be surgical or non-surgical, with differences in the procedure, recovery time, and results. Individuals who experience compression-related problems can have severe and prolonged spinal conditions that can lead to various health issues. Individuals experiencing persistent or chronic neck, back, or leg pain should know the differences between surgical and non-surgical spinal decompression. Spinal decompression aims to relieve pressure on the discs and reduce stress on the nerves to eliminate the pain associated with compression on the spine, restoring optimal circulation and improving spinal function.

Surgical Procedure

• It is invasive, must be performed by a surgeon, and can have a recovery time of up to 6 weeks.
• Surgery is usually suggested as a last resort after alternative therapies have not succeeded or when the compression is so severe that surgery is the only option.
• Surgical spinal decompression is directed towards removal to reduce pressure instead of adjusting or stretching the discs.
• In cases of severe nerve compression, surgery can be an effective option.
• Risks include infection, damage to the spinal cord, and blood clots.

Types of Spinal Decompression Surgery

Types of surgeries; spinal fusion could be necessary to stabilize the spine. Common types of back surgery:

Discectomy

• This procedure removes a portion of the disc to relieve pressure on nerves.

Laminotomy

• The procedure removes a small portion of the bone or a section of the bony arch to increase the size of the spinal canal and relieve pressure.

Laminectomy

• The procedure removes the entire bony arch or lamina to increase the size of the spinal canal and relieve pressure.

Foraminotomy

• This procedure removes bone and other tissue to widen the openings for the nerve roots to pass through.

Osteophyte Removal

• The procedure involves removing bony growths.

Corpectomy

• The procedure removes a vertebral body along with discs.

Injury Medical Spinal Decompression

Surgery for a damaged/injured spine is not always necessary. Treatment regimes vary depending on each individual’s medical condition. Non-surgical motorized spinal decompression is a non-invasive back treatment that uses a mechanized decompression table to slowly and gently stretch the spine. The therapy gradually relieves the pressure on the compressed nerve root/s resulting in reduced or complete alleviation of pain.

Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Treats

• Neck pain
• Back pain
• Sciatica
• Injured, damaged, or diseased nerve roots
• Damaged discs
• Deteriorated discs
• Bulging or Herniated discs
• Osteoarthritis
• Facet Joint Syndrome

Benefits

• Painless
• Non-invasive
• Sessions only take 30-45 minutes
• Feel immediate results

Decompression Program

An Injury Medical Spinal Decompression program incorporates:

Injury Medical Spinal Decompression Sessions

• Decompression treatment sessions last about 30-45 minutes for 4-6 weeks.
• The sessions are conducted in the chiropractor's office.

Post Decompression Treatment

• This is necessary to ensure that the injured areas are fully relaxed and conditioned for chiropractic manual adjustments.
• Massage therapy
• Percussive massage
• Cold laser
• Heat and/or ice
• These treatments facilitate blood and nerve circulation.

Chiropractic Adjustments

• Chiropractic adjustments enhance decompression by fine-tuning mechanical and structural misalignments.

Health Coaching

Supplements and essential vitamins:

• Support, repair, and restore the discs
• Decrease inflammation
• Increase healing

Core Strengthening/Postural Rehabilitation 

• Core exercises are recommended to strengthen the muscles and soft tissues.
• Posture exercises

Oxygen, water, and nutrients circulate abundantly, promoting healing as the discs re-hydrate, and are re-nourished, improving and enhancing spine function. Individuals can enjoy increased levels of mobility, strength in the spine and muscles, and more flexibility.

Descompresión Espinal Con La DRX9000

General Disclaimer *

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

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

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

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

References

American Spinal Decompression Association: "Spinal Decompression Therapy."

Daniel, D.M. Chiropractic and Osteopathy, 2007.

Macario, Alex, and Joseph V Pergolizzi. “Systematic literature review of spinal decompression via motorized traction for chronic discogenic low back pain.” Pain practice: the official journal of World Institute of Pain vol. 6,3 (2006): 171-8. doi:10.1111/j.1533-2500.2006.00082.x

O'Hara K, editor. Decompression: a treatment for back pain. Vol. 11. National Association of Healthcare Professionals; 2004. pp. 1-2.http://www.naohp.com/menu/publications/mccu/bibliography.htm#10 [Google Scholar]

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

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

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

Stress Health Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Balance

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

Mental Clarity

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

• Sustained mental alertness
• Awareness
• Mental Clarity

This helps to combat mental fog or anxiety hyperactivity.

Improve Energy Levels

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

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

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

Body Composition

Increase Immune Function

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

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

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

General Disclaimer *

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

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

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

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

References

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

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

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

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

Thoracic Back Pain and Soreness

The thoracic area is vital for various functions related to:

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

Common reasons for experiencing thoracic back pain include:

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

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

Types of Upper Back Pain

These include:

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

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

Chiropractic

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

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

Body Composition

Plant-Based Diets for Weight Loss

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

Plant-Based Protein and Muscle Gain

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

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

General Disclaimer *

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

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

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

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

References

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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