Chiropractic + Wellness

Asthma, coughing, and heavy breathing can contribute to back muscle strain, soreness, and pain. An asthma attack can cause the body to heave during intense gasping, leaving the back muscles physically exhausted. Chiropractic adjustments and decompression can bring back pain relief, strengthen and stretch the spine and spinal muscles, and prevent it from returning, along with asthma management.

Asthma

The bronchial tubes divide into smaller passages called bronchi and then into bronchioles. The bronchioles have tiny air sacs called alveoli, where inhaled oxygen is delivered to the blood. After absorbing the oxygen, the blood leaves the lungs and travels to the heart. Asthma is a lung condition that can affect anyone at any age. Asthma narrows the lungs’ airways causing inflammation in response to respiratory triggers, making it harder for air to travel out of the airways when exhaling. Symptoms include:

• Wheezing
• Difficulty breathing
• Gasping to get air
• Coughing
• Tightness in the chest

Triggers can include:

• Hot and/or humid weather
• Exercise
• Cold air
• Pollen
• Pets
• Viral infections
• Respiratory infections

Asthma Coughing and Back Strain

Asthma symptoms can take a toll on the back muscles and spine. Asthma attacks that cause gasping and heavy breathing cause the primary muscle (diaphragm) that supports breathing to weaken and strain. The diaphragm helps the spine but cannot do so effectively when under constant strain.

Constant Coughing and Spinal Health

Coughing is the body’s way of expelling unwanted foreign bodies. Chronic coughing stresses, strains, and overexerts the spinal support muscles and impacts posture. Individuals unconsciously take on a tense, forward-leaning posture/position that can cause:

• Neck and shoulder stiffness, upper/lower back tightness, disc herniation, and pain.
• Vertebrae subluxations/spinal misalignments can interfere with circulation and nerve function.
• For short-term back pain following an asthma attack or coughing episode, it is recommended to rest, apply heat or ice, and take over-the-counter pain medication.
• Massage therapy and myofascial release can stretch and relax the muscles.
• Chiropractic manipulation relieves the stress on the nerves and muscles and stimulates the spinal cord and nerves to regain proper functioning.

Breathing Exercises and Yoga

Strengthened and conditioned core muscles can help to breathe more efficiently. When breathing normally it is usually a shallow inhale/exhale that does not fill the lungs to the total capacity. Diaphragmatic breathing is a technique to fully engage the diaphragm and abdominal muscles to fill the lungs with air more efficiently. Using the diaphragm correctly will:

• Strengthen the diaphragm.
• Use less energy to breathe.
• Slow down the breathing rate.
• Decrease the work of breathing hard.
• Decrease the demand for continuous oxygen.

Yoga is another core-strengthening technique that encourages focused breathing that can help improve asthma control.

Decompression Neurosurgeon

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 Lung Association. Breathing Exercises. (https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/wellness/breathing-exercises) Accessed 3/29/2022.

Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.) “Diaphragmatic breathing.” https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/9445-diaphragmatic-breathing

Lunardi, Adriana Claudia, et al. “Musculoskeletal dysfunction and pain in adults with asthma.” The Journal of asthma: Official Journal of the Association for the Care of Asthma vol. 48,1 (2011): 105-10. doi:10.3109/02770903.2010.520229

Rasmussen-Barr, E. et al. “Are respiratory disorders risk factors for troublesome low-back pain? A study of a general population cohort in Sweden.” 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. 28,11 (2019): 2502-2509. doi:10.1007/s00586-019-06071-5

Solakoğlu, Özge, et al. “The effects of forward head posture on expiratory muscle strength in chronic neck pain patients: A cross-sectional study.” Turkish Journal of physical medicine and rehabilitation vol. 66,2 161-168. 18 May. 2020, doi:10.5606/tftrd.2020.3153

Calf pain is common in individuals that are on their feet for long periods. This could be standing, walking, as part of a job or jogging, and running. In most cases, calf soreness and/or pain result from repetitive/overuse strain/injury/tear of the calf muscles. Pain along with stiffness presents with physical activity, exercise, movement. Chiropractic treatment and Active Release can help alleviate and eliminate calf pain.

Calf  Muscles

The calf muscle is in the back of the lower leg, behind the shin bone, and consists of three muscles. The calf muscle supports the body when standing and enables movement of the foot and lower leg. The calf muscles support the body when:

• Walking
• Running
• Jumping
• Standing on the toes.
• Flexing the foot - lifting the toes toward the knee.
• It helps push the body forward and allows jumping, ankle rotation, and flexing of the foot.

Causes, Conditions, and Disorders

The overuse of the calf muscles usually causes calf soreness, discomfort, and pain. Over time, tiny tears develop in the muscles of the lower legs and calves. Repeated use can lead to more severe injury or condition without proper treatment. Conditions include:

Strain

The most common injury is a strain. Strains happen when the muscle fibers are overused and get stretched too far and/or tear. However, the fibers may not tear in that instance, and so the tear could occur at a later time while doing a basic movement like slightly bending or kneeling to tie a shoe. This is when individuals wonder how a tear happened with a simple action. But the tear was already present, just not fully torn.

Cramps

Muscle cramps and muscle spasms in the calves can be excruciating limiting mobility. Calf cramps can happen during the day or at night. They can result from several factors that include:

• Health conditions
• Dehydration
• Medications
• Pregnancy

Tennis leg

Healthcare providers call this strain tennis leg because it happens when the leg extends and the foot flexes. Tennis players are in this position when they serve and push themselves off into motion; however, it can happen in any sport, job, chore that involves the same movement. This type of muscle strain injury affects the gastrocnemius muscle. 

Compartment syndrome

Compartment syndrome happens when pressure builds up inside a muscle. The pressure significantly reduces the flow of blood and oxygen. It can result from trauma like a fracture or strenuous exercise/activity.

Symptoms

Calf muscle issues can cause calf muscle:

• Pain
• Tightness
• Stiffness
• Pain may be sharp or dull
• Pain can start as mild pain and progressively worsen.
• Limited mobility
• Limited range of motion
• Muscle weakness
• A bump, bulge, or lump in the back of the lower leg.
• Tenderness
• Bruising
• General leg cramps are common and are more likely to happen as the body ages. 
• Healthcare professionals estimate around 75% of individuals over 50 have had leg cramps and pain. 

Calf Health

To prevent and avoid problems with the calf muscles, individuals are recommended to:

Maintain a healthy diet and weight

• Individuals that are overweight are more likely to pull or strain a muscle.
• Excess pounds add pressure on the legs placing individuals at a higher risk of an injury.
• If obese or overweight, talk to a healthcare professional about healthy weight.

Stay hydrated

• Drink the proper amount of water and other fluids
• This decreases the chance of causing a cramp.

Stretch and warm-up

• Warmed-up calf muscles are less likely to stretch too far or tear.
• Before engaging in physical activity at work or school, do a few warm-up stretches to increase flexibility.
• When exercising, gradually increase the intensity.

Stay aware of medications.

• Certain medications can cause leg cramps and/or dehydration.
• Talk to a doctor about taking another medication that does not cause these side effects.

Body Composition

Nutrients of Protein

Protein is necessary for all of the body’s physiological functions. Protein and amino acids are the building blocks of the muscle tissue in the body. The body's muscles are a house, protein is the bricks, and the amino acids that form protein are the building blocks of muscle. The body manufactures various amino acids, but nine are essential amino acids - EAA because they are not made in the body. Individuals have to consume EAAs from food sources like:

• Meat
• Beans
• Nuts
• Soy

A diet that consists of mixed amino acids can help maximize muscle protein synthesis. Protein is essential in building muscle because amino acids help repair and maintain muscle tissue. After a strenuous activity or a workout, protein helps the body repair muscles that are slightly torn. To build a healthy body, the body needs to have the right amount of protein. Protein is an essential component of:

• Muscle development
• Bone density
• Muscle mass
• Lean tissue

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

Binstead JT, Munjal A, Varacallo M. Anatomy, Bony Pelvis, and Lower Limb, Calf. [Updated 2020 Aug 22]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan-. . Accessed 6/4/2021.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459362/ (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459362/)

Bright JM, Fields KB, Draper R. Ultrasound Diagnosis of Calf Injuries. Sports Health. 2017 Jul-Aug;9(4):352-355. . Accessed
6/4/2021.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5496702/ (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5496702/)

Young G. Leg cramps. BMJ Clinical Evidence. 2015 May 13;2015:1113. . Accessed 6/4/2021.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4429847/ (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4429847/)

Kinesthesia is the body's ability to sense movement, position, action, and location, also known as proprioception. An example is when moving the arm, the brain and body are aware that the arm has moved. When dealing with chronic back pain, individuals are unable to function normally with regular everyday movements causing discomfort.

Chronic back pain can make an individual feel like a stranger in their body, altering their perception. Tension develops throughout the body due to the pain, causing tightness and positional adaptations that are unfamiliar, awkward, and unhealthy for the musculoskeletal system. These body positioning changes continue while the individual is unaware of what they are doing, causing further strain and injury.

Kinesthesia

Kinesthesia is essential for overall coordination, balance, and posture as long as the movements are done correctly with proper form. Chronic back pain can affect kinesthesia differently. Individuals can misjudge and estimate that their bodies' ability to lift, carry, or open something is more complicated or easier than it is. This can exceed the body's tolerances, causing:

• Strains
• Sprains
• Severe injuries

Once the back starts to hurt, this causes the individual's sense of kinesthesia to compensate for the pain. As a result, individuals may knowingly or unknowingly attempt to carry out uncoordinated, awkward movements and positions, making things worse.

Motor Control

Motor control is the ability to control movement. When experiencing back pain, individuals adjust their motor control to avoid specific movements that cause back pain. Motor control adaptations and kinesthesia involve body positioning and heightened responsiveness to stimuli, like muscle spasms. Even moderate back pain can cause awkward and dangerous responses causing individuals to overcompensate or become too cautious, worsening or creating new injuries in the process. The body is performing movements that do not follow proper form, even though an individual thinks they are protecting themselves.

Building Healthy Proprioception

A recommended strategy for building kinesthesia to benefit the back and the rest of the body is yoga. Yoga helps build bodily sensory awareness. It trains the body when sending significant signals from the muscles, joints, and tendons back to the proprioceptive centers in the brain. This happens immediately and increases over time.

Yoga Poses

Creating positive awareness of the body's movements will help relieve back pain as the body learns to feel, understand, and control the muscles. Here are a few poses to help, along with video links.

Reclining Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose

• Lie with the back flat on the floor.
• Grasp the big toe, foot, or ankle in both hands, or use a yoga strap or towel if you cannot reach the toes.
• Hold the pose as long as possible while comfortable.
• Repeat steps two and three on the other side.
• Perform twice a day.
• This pose stretches the lower back muscles, prevents spasms, and alleviates pain.
• Avoid this pose if you have a herniated disc or retrolisthesis.

Bridge Pose

• Lie flat on the floor with knees bent.
• Arms bent on the floor.
• Press down on the elbows and feet to raise the torso off the floor.
• Hold and Repeat 4 to 5 times
• Perform daily to relieve herniated disc, retrolisthesis, and vertebral fracture pain.
• Avoid this pose if dealing with spinal stenosis, anterolisthesis, facet syndrome, or quadratus lumborum spasm.

Lord of the Fishes Pose

Body awareness is critical, but if an individual moves in a way that's not natural to the body, it can cause injury. Kinesthesia and healthy posture can help avoid back pain and other health issues. A professional chiropractor can alleviate back pain, educate on proper form and recommend specific stretches and exercises to strengthen the body to prevent injury.

Body Composition

Magnesium

Magnesium supports a healthy immune system. It helps maintain:

• Healthy bone structure
• Muscle function
• Insulin levels

Magnesium assists the body with ATP energy metabolism and acts as a calcium blocker. This reduces cramping and aids in muscle relaxation after physical activity/exercise. Magnesium is essential in biochemical reactions in the body. A slight deficiency can lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and a higher risk of insulin resistance. Many magnesium-rich foods are high in fiber, like:

• Dark leafy greens
• Nuts
• Legumes
• Whole grains

Studies have shown that consuming a diet rich in Magnesium also provides a higher intake of dietary fiber. Dietary fiber aids in:

• Digestion
• Helps control weight
• Reduces cholesterol
• Stabilizes blood sugar

The best sources of Magnesium include:

• Spinach, swiss chard, and turnip greens
• Almonds and cashews
• Flax, pumpkin, and chia seeds
• Cocoa

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

Meier, Michael Lukas et al. "Low Back Pain: The Potential Contribution of Supraspinal Motor Control and Proprioception." The Neuroscientist: a review journal bringing neurobiology, neurology and psychiatry vol. 25,6 (2019): 583-596. doi:10.1177/1073858418809074

Tong, Matthew Hoyan et al. "Is There a Relationship Between Lumbar Proprioception and Low Back Pain? A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis." Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation vol. 98,1 (2017): 120-136.e2. doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2016.05.016

Wang, Jinsong, et al. "Dietary magnesium intake improves insulin resistance among non-diabetic individuals with metabolic syndrome participating in a dietary trial." Nutrients vol. 5,10 3910-9. 27 Sep. 2013, doi:10.3390/nu5103910

For many chiropractic patients, the first experience with chiropractic comes during early adulthood or middle age. Most adults seek out chiropractic care because they are in some sort of pain. If you are one of those that are new to chiropractic, its effectiveness may surprise you. Your next thought might be about how chiropractic could help others in your life—friends, family and more.

Fortunately, sharing chiropractic with your loved ones is easy because it is so well-suited to just about everyone. Whatever the age of the individual, chiropractic can be adapted to provide gentle preventative care and to improve overall health.

How Chiropractic Helps at Any Age

A few visits to the chiropractor makes it pretty obvious that the practice can help you feel better, relieve pain, improve your mobility and just generally aid in your overall health. But what about your parents, grandparents, or children? Let’s look at the benefits for children and older adults:

Benefits of Chiropractic for Children

Sometimes it can seem like children are invincible. They are flexible, heal quickly and tend to bounce back from situations that would floor an adult. But kids need support to be as healthy as possible, especially as they grow up. Chiropractic care is excellent for encouraging healthy growth in infants, toddlers, children, and teens.

Some of the benefits of chiropractic for children include:

• Spinal alignment. The small spines of children can become misaligned much like those of adults. Regular chiropractic adjustments help to bring your child’s spine back into proper alignment, which encourages proper functioning of the nervous system, immune system and more.
• Healthy movement patterns. It is normal to develop at least a few unhealthy movement patterns as we move from childhood to adulthood. These bad patterns can lead to injuries on down the line. Chiropractic care can help teach children how to move safely, which can yield benefits for a lifetime.
• Gentle adjustments designed for young bodies. Chiropractors who work with children learn special techniques to ensure that adjustments heal and not hurt. Immature bodies work in much the same way as older bodies, but a delicate touch is still important for safety.

Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Older Adults

Older adults can also experience numerous benefits from chiropractic care. The elderly in particular face a number of health challenges that chiropractic can assist with. Some of the benefits of chiropractic care for older adults include:

• Pain relief. Chiropractic can do wonders for pain management, all without drugs or surgery. Regular adjustments and other supplemental therapies have been proven to reduce or eliminate pain, something older adults can truly appreciate.
• More mobility. Just because you get older does not mean you should have to stop doing the things you love. Chiropractors know how to gently increase your mobility so that you can get back on your feet and enjoy life the way you deserve.
• Improved immune response. The nervous system and immune system are linked in many ways. Adjustments help to align the spine and improve nervous system function. An adjustment can also aid in immune system function, which means your body can fight off invaders more effectively.

Customized Chiropractic for Your Needs

Our chiropractic team is well-equipped to provide the services you and your loved ones need to feel your best. We are trained to help patients of all ages, from newborns to those 100-years-old and beyond! Let us show you what we have to offer and how we can make your life healthier and more enjoyable.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment with our chiropractic team. We look forward to meeting you!

Using Functional *Foot Orthotics* | El Paso, TX (2019)

What is a Pronated Foot and How do Custom Orthotics Help?

When a foot is pronated, it means the arches have fallen and the foot is flat.

Flat feet are less shock-absorbent and make for a less stable base for the rest of the body. This includes the bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons.

Flat Feet can also:

• Shift the body out of alignment
• Cause pain in the feet, knees, hips, neck, and spine
• Lead to injury/s like shin splints, Achilles tendinitis, and plantar fasciitis
• Women with flat feet are 50% more likely to have low back pain
• Up to 1/3 of people suffer from flat feet

Causes of Pronation

The connective tissue, called the plantar fascia, on the underside of the foot is what maintains the foot’s healthy arch shape.

Walking and standing, injury and health conditions can cause the fascia to stretch out and flatten.

Once the fascia stretches out, there is nothing to bring the spring back.

Treatment

• Chiropractic adjusting to ensure proper positioning of bones and joints
• Custom orthotics for pronation control, support, and comfort