Functional Medicine "Advancing The Medical Health Model"

Back discomfort symptoms include stiffness, spasms, tenderness, and headaches often caused by unhealthy posture and overuse muscle strain. Breathing back discomfort can be caused by injuries to the spinal musculoskeletal system, conditions and/or disease in the back, lungs, or heart, and other conditions unrelated to the back. When taking a breath, the intercostal muscles surrounding the rib cage contract, expanding the chest and allowing the lungs to fill with air. These muscles directly affect the spine, which is why back issues can present when breathing. Chiropractic care, decompression, and massage therapy, combined with a functional medicine approach, can realign the spine, release tight muscles, and restore function.

Breathing Back Discomfort

A problem in the back could be a root cause for discomfort and back problems while breathing.

Spinal Conditions

Scoliosis

• Scoliosis causes the spine to curve sideways, either in one direction, creating a C shape, or generating an S shape in two directions.
• The curvature can be so minimal that it cannot be seen or so severe that it can be life-threatening. Most scoliosis cases fall in between.
• Taking deep breaths can cause discomfort and pain because the spine curvature puts extra strain on certain muscles meant to support the body's weight in tandem with other muscles that have limited function or are no longer functioning.
• The condition normally begins in adolescence but can start later in life.

Scoliosis treatment varies depending on the severity.

Monitor

• A spinal physician will monitor the individual for mild curvature, as sometimes the process stops before it becomes serious. This is known as the wait-and-see, what-happens approach.

Activity, Chiropractic, and Physical Therapy

• Yoga can stop and even reverse the progression.
• Chiropractic care and physical therapy can help alleviate symptoms.

Bracing

• Bracing can be effective at stopping the progression.

Surgery

• For severe cases, surgery may be necessary.
• In this case, spinal fusion is the most common surgical procedure for this condition.
• Newer procedures like vertebral body tethering and ApiFix have been approved and could be an option.

Kyphosis

Kyphosis is another curve in the back that is supposed to be there.

• Instead of curving like scoliosis, kyphosis causes a curve forward in the thoracic spine/upper back.
• Problems arise when the curve is too pronounced.
• This curve can come from unhealthy posture, Scheuermann's disease, or being born with it.
• Kyphosis causes breathing back discomfort by straining the muscles in the upper back, which are used for each breath.
• Treatment often involves chiropractic and/or physical therapy to restore proper curvature and reduce inflammation.
• A back brace could be prescribed if discomfort and pain continue.
• Spinal fusion could be recommended for severe cases.

Lungs

The lungs and the spine are close to each other, which is why back discomfort and problems with breathing are connected.

Pneumonia

• Pneumonia is an infection in the lungs that causes the tiny sacks known as alveoli to fill with fluid.
• This is where the body takes oxygen from the inhaled air to the bloodstream.
• The infection causes inflammation and discomfort symptoms in and around the chest and back while taking deep breaths.

Lung Cancer

• Lung cancer can cause back issues and pain.
• Frequently coughing causes the muscles around the ribs and back to become overused and strained from the jerking and heaving.
• The strained muscles cause discomfort and pain when taking a breath.
• Tumors can push on sensitive nerves in the back, causing inflammation and pain.

Pleurisy

• There is a thin layer of protective tissue surrounding the lungs called pleura.
• Pleurisy describes the layer becoming infected and/or inflamed, which causes discomfort symptoms in the back when breathing.
• Pleurisy can be caused by injury, infection, or cancer.
• Individuals with autoimmune disorders are more at risk of developing the condition.

Pneumothorax

• Pneumothorax describes a full or partial lung collapse, usually on one side.
• The lung can collapse as a result of severe illness or injury.
• The lung collapses because air gets between the pleura and the lung and not allowing the lung to expand.
• Pain with breathing is a common indicator of pneumothorax.
• Individuals with this condition also experience severe shortness of breath and chest pain on one side.

Pulmonary Embolism

• A pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot gets stuck in an artery, blocking blood flow to part of the lung.
• The lungs will display signs of distress through back pain when trying to take a deep breath.
• This is a life-threatening condition that causes chest pain, coughing up blood, a heart rate over 100 beats per minute, dizziness or leg swelling, and painful breathing; get to an emergency room immediately.

Heart

Heart Attack

• The nerves associated with pain in the muscles and bones differ from those surrounding the organs, including the heart.
• However, a heart attack can cause back pain as the nerves of the heart travel along the same path as spinal nerves, specifically in the upper back.
• The brain can misinterpret pain signals from the same roots that supply peripheral nerves in the chest, arm, jaw, and back.
• Because they share nerve pathways, the upper back can present with pain during a heart attack.

Aortic Dissection

• The largest artery in the body is called the aorta.
• It comes off the top of the heart and then drops to supply blood to the rest of the body.
• Sometimes, the vessel can get a small tear in the chest area, which grows from the blood circulation pressure.
• Aortic dissection can cause intense back pain while breathing.

Chiropractic care, decompression, and massage therapy combined with functional medicine can help realign the spine, stretch and loosen the overused and strained muscles, and provide postural training and nutritional planning to help alleviate symptoms and restore function.

Deep Breathing Back 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 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

Costumbrado J, Ghassemzadeh S. Spontaneous Pneumothorax. [Updated 2022 Jul 25]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459302/

Floman, Y., Burnei, G., Gavriliu, S. et al. Surgical management of moderate adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with ApiFix®: a short peri- apical fixation followed by post-operative curve reduction with exercises. Scoliosis 10, 4 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13013-015-0028-9

Hunter MP, Regunath H. Pleurisy. [Updated 2022 Jul 4]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK558958/

https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pneumothorax/symptoms-diagnosis-treatment

https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pulmonary-embolism/treating-and-managing

Mansfield JT, Bennett M. Scheuermann Disease. [Updated 2022 Aug 21]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499966/

Raitio A, Syvänen J, Helenius I. Vertebral Body Tethering: Indications, Surgical Technique, and a Systematic Review of Published Results. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2022; 11(9):2576. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11092576

Tendons and Ligaments: A tendon is a fibrous flexible, strong tissue similar to a rope that attaches the muscles to the bones. Tendons allow for the movement of the body's limbs and help prevent muscle injury by absorbing muscles' impact when running, jumping, or performing other actions. Ligaments are bands of solid elastic tissue that connect bone to bone, hold structures together and keep them stable, support the joints and limit their movement.

Tendons and Ligaments

• Tendons are strong and non-flexible.
• Ligaments are flexible and elastic.
• Both comprise collagen and living cells, essential in joints and bones and integral to locomotion.
• Tendons allow body movement by transmitting force from muscle to bone, allowing the body to stand, walk, and jump.
• Ligaments work by allowing for the full range of motion. 
• Ligaments are around the knees, ankles, elbows, shoulders, and other joints.

Connective Tissue

• The collagen connective tissue that makes up tendons and ligaments is the same; their patterns are different.
• Tendon fibers are laid out in a parallel pattern.
• Tendon connective tissue needs to have more elasticity to help move the muscles.
• Ligament fibers are laid out in a crisscross pattern. 
• Ligament connective tissue stabilizes and strengthens the bones' joint structure. 

Tendon Injury

A tendon that gets overstretched or torn is known as a strain. Common areas affected by strains are the:

• Leg
• Foot
• Back

Strains often result from repetitive work movements, intense physical activity, and sports. Individuals who overuse their bodies without proper rest and muscle repair recovery have an increased risk of injury. Symptoms include:

• Inflammation
• Swelling
• Pain
• Cramping
• Weakness

Ligament Injury

A ligament that gets overstretched or torn results in a sprain. Sprains can happen suddenly from a fall, awkward movement, or trauma. Sprains commonly occur in the:

• Ankle
• Knee
• Wrist

Examples include:

• Misstep causing the ankle to twist in an awkward position, snapping a ligament and causing unstableness or wobbliness.
• There could be a popping sensation or the feeling of a tear when the injury occurs.
• Wrist sprains often happen when reaching out and extending the hands to break a fall, and the wrist hyperextending back.
• The hyperextension overstretches the ligament.

Symptoms of a sprained ligament include:

• Inflammation
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Pain
• The joint may feel loose or weak and unable to take on weight.

The intensity of symptoms varies depending on whether the ligament is overextended or torn. Sprains are classified by grade:

• Grade 1 - a mild sprain with slight stretching of the ligament.
• Grade 2 - a moderate ligament tear, but not a complete tear.
• Grade 3 - a complete ligament tear, making the joint unstable.

Chiropractic Care

Tendons and ligaments do not receive full blood circulation like other soft tissues. Depending on the severity of the injury, and the slower transfer of oxygen and nutrients, ligament and tendon injuries can take six to twelve weeks to heal, and repeatedly stressing the injured area from overuse can extend recovery. Chiropractic adjustments, and massage therapy, combined with corrective exercises and stretches, will reduce inflammation, decrease pain, improve the range of motion, increase nerve and muscle function, and strengthen the muscles. Chiropractic treatment involves:

• Soft tissue work
• Percussive massage
• Cross friction massage
• Deep tissue massage
• Trigger point therapy
• Rest
• Ice
• Compression
• Elevation
• Ultrasound
• Anti-inflammatory nutritional recommendations

Knee Injuries Adjustment

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

Childress, Marc A, and Anthony Beutler. "Management of chronic tendon injuries." American family physician vol. 87,7 (2013): 486-90.

Fenwick, Steven A et al. "The vasculature and its role in the damaged and healing tendon." Arthritis research vol. 4,4 (2002): 252-60. doi:10.1186/ar416

Leong, Natalie L et al. "Tendon and Ligament Healing and Current Approaches to Tendon and Ligament Regeneration." Journal of

orthopedic research: official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society vol. 38,1 (2020): 7-12. doi:10.1002/jor.24475

https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/sprains-strains-and-other-soft-tissue-injuries

Scalcione, Luke R et al. "The athlete's hand: ligament and tendon injury." Seminars in musculoskeletal radiology vol. 16,4 (2012): 338-49. doi:10.1055/s-0032-1327007

Functional fitness conditioning exercises train the muscles for everyday activities safely and efficiently. It refers to exercises that simulate daily movements like standing, bending, reaching, jumping, twisting, pushing, pulling, squatting, lunging, turning, walking, and running. These exercises improve functional body strength to train the muscles to work together and prepare for daily tasks and chores that individuals do at home, at work, or in sports activities. Strengthening the muscles the same way they are needed for everyday tasks reduces the risk of injury, allowing individuals to go through the day without worrying about straining or pulling something.

Functional Fitness Conditioning

Functional fitness conditioning exercises can be done at home, park, or gym and is an excellent way to combat restlessness and keep the body moving. Training the muscles to work the way they do daily prepares the body to move optimally and efficiently in various situations. Functional fitness exercises simultaneously utilize upper and lower body muscles to increase core stability and train the whole body. Examples include:

• Push up
• Walking lunge
• Body weight squat

Combining strength training with exercises that mirror the movements of daily life increase overall strength and improves:

• Balance
• Endurance
• Flexibility
• Mobility

Various gyms or fitness centers may offer functional fitness conditioning classes or incorporate functional fitness into their exercise courses. Exercise equipment can include:

• Stability balls
• Slam balls
• Kettlebells
• Cable machines
• Ropes
• Plyometric steps

Primarily using body weight makes this strength training simple and safe for almost anybody. Functional fitness conditioning is laidback, requiring less equipment and intensity. The objective is to develop and strengthen the entire body to handle daily life while minimizing the risk of injury, making it suitable for individuals of all ages and fitness levels.

Benefits

These include benefits for overall health and physical performance.

Everyday life

• Quality of life improves because of the stress relief factor.
• This type of training has been reported to be more enjoyable because the training is for everyday life.

Increased muscle memory

• Builds muscle and core strength and exercises the brain to increase memory.

Increased mobility

• Improves balance
• Coordination
• Flexibility
• Muscle strength
• Agility

Improves balance and posture

• Training and strengthening the muscles to manage/balance weight correctly reduces stress on the body.

Faster injury recovery 

• A strengthened body operates at optimal levels that improve repairing and healing capabilities.

It is recommended to check with your doctor before starting any new exercise program, and pregnant women should check with their doctors. A personal trainer, functional medicine, or sports chiropractor can discuss available conditioning options specific to the individual.

Functional Fitness

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

Fahlman, Mariane M et al. “Effects of resistance training on functional ability in elderly individuals.” American Journal of health promotion: AJHP vol. 25,4 (2011): 237-43. doi:10.4278/ajhp.081125-QUAN-292

Gerards, Marissa H G, et al. “Perturbation-based balance training to improve balance control and reduce falls in older adults - study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.” BMC geriatrics vol. 21,1 9. 6 Jan. 2021, doi:10.1186/s12877-020-01944-7

Pacheco, Matheus Maia, et al. “Functional vs. Strength training in adults: specific needs define the best intervention.” International Journal of sports physical therapy vol. 8,1 (2013): 34-43.

Pullyblank, Kristin, et al. “Effects of the Strong Hearts, Healthy Communities Intervention on Functional Fitness of Rural Women.” The Journal of rural health: official Journal of the American Rural Health Association and the National Rural Health Care Association vol. 36,1 (2020): 104-110. doi:10.1111/jrh.12361

Introduction

Many individuals plan fun outdoor activities when the weather is nice and warm during spring and summer. Hiking, swimming, or road trips are some of the activities many people do enjoy. Each activity provides new memories to enjoy and work with the body by incorporating the muscles, tissues, and ligaments through everyday movement. As fun as these outdoor activities are, the outdoors can be dangerous when you least expect it, as factors can cause damage to the body without even a person realizing it is happening. Today’s article looks at a bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi, commonly known as Lyme disease, its symptoms, and available treatments for Lyme disease. We refer patients to certified providers specializing in therapies to help those with Lyme Disease. We also guide our patients by referring to our associated medical providers based on their examination when it’s appropriate. We find that education is the solution to asking our providers insightful questions. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer

What Is Lyme Disease?

Have you noticed a rash that randomly appeared out of nowhere? How about feeling the effects of fatigue throughout the entire day? Or how about inflammatory issues affecting your joints? Some of these are signs and symptoms that you might be at risk of developing Lyme disease. The original description of how Lyme disease was manifested dates back to 1883 in Europe by the German physician Alfred Buchwald, who described it as now called ACA (acrodermatitis Chronica atrophicans), and research studies defined Lyme disease as a multi-organ animal-borne disease from ticks that affects the vital organs (skin, nerves, and heart) associated with the musculoskeletal system. Lyme disease is transmittable from either the tick itself or a tick-infested animal like a rodent or a deer. Lyme disease is quite difficult to diagnose since a tick can hide in tall, grassy, and woodsy areas that many individuals walk through and don’t recall ever getting a tick bite.

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*

The body is a set of complex systems, including bones, organs, nerves, muscles, and tissue. Breathing disorders are increasing, including chronic bronchitis, asthma, emphysema, and other conditions. Viscerosomatic reflexes include poor breathing quality brought on by allergies, breathing disorders like COPD that can cause intense coughing, sneezing, hunching, arching of the back, and heaving that causes back pain and referred pain.

The brain sends electronic impulses to the different areas of the body through the spine/nervous system. If the nerves get shifted, stretched, compressed, or knocked out of position, the brain could start sending messages of pain and discomfort, which can also cause other body systems to malfunction. If the body is constantly transmitting pain signals, it can disrupt sleep, dietary habits, and overall well-being. Misalignment can disrupt the information delivered by the nervous system, leading to inflammation, irritation, and imbalances in the body.

Regular chiropractic maintains the nervous system to operate the way it was designed. Proper alignment of the spine and body will improve the nervous system's health and function, encouraging the brain to release endorphins achieving pain relief, and leading to optimal health. When the nervous system performs optimally, the other systems will follow, including better breathing quality.

Poor Breathing

Breathing difficulties are widespread with various causes that include:

• Allergies
• Environmental pollutants
• Viral and bacterial infections that cause inflammation
• Physical health
• Anxiety
• Digestive problems
• Untreated illness or condition
• An overactive immune response can all contribute to poor breathing quality.

Individuals might not notice that their breathing quality is poor but instead notice they are:

• Frequent exhaustion
• Having to stop constantly in the middle of activities.
• Experience brain fog.
• Memory issues/forgetfulness.
• Physical performance - endurance, flexibility, and muscle is deteriorating.

The breathing quality impacts how well the body's systems can carry out their essential functions and be prepared for unexpected events. The body adjusts oxygen intake capacity in line with the energy required to perform physical activity. All bodily systems, including the cardiovascular, immune, and muscular systems, depend on the respiratory system to generate energy. 

Better Breathing Benefits

Achieving improved lung function can help with:

• Digestion
• Sleep
• Cognitive activities
• Heart health
• Waste elimination
• Immune protection against viruses, bacteria, fungi, and other diseases.

Chiropractic

A crucial part of the respiratory system's function is transporting nutrients and oxygen throughout the body. Chiropractic treatment releases tension by moving muscle fascia and the spine that may have become stuck, compressed, or shifted out of position, causing poor posture and injury. Chiropractic eliminates toxins and cellular waste from tight, knotted areas by breaking up stagnant tissues.

Circulation Improvement

Chiropractic increases circulation, allowing fresh blood, lymphatic fluid, nutrients, and oxygen to enter the deprived tissues. These regions include:

• Muscles in the shoulder, neck, back
• Bones and joints across the spine
• Body tissues
• Ligaments
• Tendons

Chiropractic treatment can be manual/mechanical traction/decompression, combined with therapeutic tissue massage, exercise, and diet recommendations.

Decompression De La Espalda

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

McCarty, Justin C, and Berrylin J Ferguson. "Identifying asthma triggers." Otolaryngologic clinics of North America vol. 47,1 (2014): 109-18. doi:10.1016/j.otc.2013.08.012

Purnomo, Ariana Tulus, et al. "Non-Contact Monitoring and Classification of Breathing Pattern for the Supervision of People Infected by COVID-19." Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 21,9 3172. 3 May. 2021, doi:10.3390/s21093172

Schend, Jason, et al. "An Osteopathic Modular Approach to Asthma: A Narrative Review." The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association vol. 120,11 (2020): 774-782. doi:10.7556/jaoa.2020.121

Introduction

The gut system is a massive ecosystem that helps modulate the body’s immune system and metabolic changes that the body itself is going through. The gut system provides the body with the necessary nutrients to function correctly and transports these nutrients to their respective sections like the endocrine system, the nervous system, and the musculoskeletal system to do their jobs. When gut disorders start to affect the intestinal walls, it can cause the inflammatory cytokines to attack the gut walls due to bacteria and nutrients leaking out of the tight junctions. Fortunately, there are therapeutic ways to help the gut system and prevent inflammation from causing more issues in the gut. Today’s article looks at gut metainflammation and how nutraceuticals can help many individuals with gut metainflammation. Referring patients to qualified, skilled providers who specialize in gastroenterology treatments. We provide guidance to our patients by referring to our associated medical providers based on their examination when it’s appropriate. We find that education is critical for asking insightful questions to our providers. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. 

Can my insurance cover it? Yes, it may. If you are uncertain, here is the link to all the insurance providers we cover. If you have any questions or concerns, please call Dr. Jimenez at 915-850-0900.

What Is Gut Metainflammation?

Does your gut system feel sore or tender to the touch? Do ordinary factors like stress, sleep problems, hormone imbalances, and cardiovascular issues affect you more than they should have? Have you experienced inflammatory gut issues like IBS or leaky gut? Having any gut disorder is no laughing matter for your health. When the gut system is experiencing chronic low‐grade inflammatory sequela, this is what gut metainflammation is in the body. Gut metainflammation is defined as an over‐activation of immunity in the gut that leads to increased production of inflammatory cytokines, thus referring to metabolism-induced inflammation. Research studies have shown that when the gut is experiencing metainflammation, it causes a disturbance to the neurometabolic pathways. This causes an increase in the aging processes and metabolic signaling issues the gut is trying to provide for the body. Other research studies have shown that metainflammation is one of the primary markers for metabolic disorders like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and NAFLD (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease). Gut metainflammation also causes an increase in peripheral and central inflammation that can cause gut disorders like leaky gut to allow bacteria and toxins to enter the bloodstream, thus leading to peripheral and central inflammation of the body.

Treatments For GI Disorders-Video

Massage is the manipulation of the body's muscles and tissues using controlled force, gentle and slow kneading, and assisted instrumentation. Decompression Massage Center tailors treatment plans to the individual's health needs to help expedite recovery. A medical decompression massage can:

• Bring pain relief
• Relieve stress
• Relieve muscle aches and tension
• Release knotted or cramped muscles
• Improve sleep
• Improve mental/emotional state
• Accelerate injury rehabilitation
• Strengthen the musculoskeletal system
• Release toxins
• Boost the immune system

Trained professionals perform massage therapy in a clinical or hospital setting to find and focus on problem areas. The therapeutic massage involves focused work on the body's:

• Soft tissues
• Muscles
• Tendons
• Ligaments

Discomfort and Pain Relief

A massage therapist works on several medical issues that are either chronic or acute, which include:

• Overuse/Repetitive stress injuries.
• Neck pain
• Whiplash.
• Migraines.
• Tension headaches, cluster headaches, and sinus headaches.
• Shoulder pain.
• Back pain.
• Radiating pain.
• Strains and sprains.
• Tendonitis.
• Post-surgical scar tissue rehabilitation with a doctor’s clearance.

Decompression Massage

A therapeutic decompression massage is more profound, with individuals experiencing more tenderness as the therapist works through the tissue using various techniques and instruments that could incorporate:

• Deep tissue massage
• Percussive massage
• Heat and ice
• Myofascial release
• Trigger point work
• Various movement therapies
• Gentle resistance stretching techniques

Massage Spot Work

A decompression massage could be recommended as an extended part of a treatment plan. Spot work focuses on areas of concern for a shorter period while enhancing the decompression treatment. Focused massage techniques will:

• Alleviate pain
• Increase range of motion
• Restore movement and function
• Assist in healing faster

Spinal 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

Demirel, Aynur, et al. “Regression of lumbar disc herniation by physiotherapy. Does non-surgical spinal decompression therapy make a difference? A double-blind, randomized controlled trial.” Journal of back and musculoskeletal rehabilitation vol. 30,5 (2017): 1015-1022. doi:10.3233/BMR-169581

Keller, Glenda. “The effects of massage therapy after decompression and fusion surgery of the lumbar spine: a case study.” International journal of therapeutic massage & bodywork vol. 5,4 (2012): 3-8. doi:10.3822/ijtmb.v5i4.189

Menard, Martha Brown. “Immediate Effect of Therapeutic Massage on Pain Sensation and Unpleasantness: A Consecutive Case Series.” Global advances in health and medicine vol. 4,5 (2015): 56-60. doi:10.7453/gahmj.2015.059

Zainuddin, Zainal, et al. “Effects of massage on delayed-onset muscle soreness, swelling, and recovery of muscle function.” Journal of athletic training vol. 40,3 (2005): 174-80.

Introduction

The human body makes sure that everything is working properly. From regulating hormones to making sure that each organ system is doing its job properly, the body will function normally without any problems. But when unwanted pathogens start to enter the body and cause the body to be dysfunctional, it can lead to the development of chronic symptoms to pop up over time. When this happens, there are many affiliated clinics and distribution organizations that can help alleviate the symptoms through therapeutic treatments and even bring the body back to its original functioning self, and one of those treatments is HCTP therapy. In this 2 part series, we will be discussing more what HCTP therapy is and the procedures for HCTP therapy. Part 1 discussed and looked at what is HCTP therapy and how it is different than other forms of therapy. By referring patients to qualified and skilled providers that specialized in regenerative cellular therapy, we work with affiliated clinics and distributor organizations, both internationally and nationally with the services that we offer. We find that education is the key to asking valuable questions to our providers. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer

Can my insurance cover it? Yes, in case you are uncertain here is the link to all the insurance providers we cover. If you have any questions, please call Dr. Jimenez at 915-850-0900.

What Is HCTP Therapy?

Human cellular tissue products or HCTP are the body’s own raw cellular material that can help regenerate damaged, diseased cells that were inflicted when the body was severely injured. Research shows that HCTP therapy has the remarkable ability to differentiate into different cell types in the body while also retaining the ability to self-replicate and maintain the characteristics of the original cell. HCTP therapy is also another form of regenerative medicine that many providers who are specialized in regenerative treatment can also help alleviate chronic symptoms that the body has encountered over time. Other research shows that HCTP therapy has become one of the promising options that can help the body by replacing damaged and diseased cells.

How Is HCTP Therapy Different?

Introduction

When unwanted pathogens are attacking the body, it can cause many chronic illnesses and can damage the cells, organs, and tissues. However, through the usage of human cellular tissue products or HCTPs through affiliated clinics, they can help replenish the damaged cells through regeneration and can even help alleviate some of the symptoms that were causing the body pain. In this 2 part series, we will be taking a more in-depth look at HCTP and how its beneficial properties can help dampen the effects of chronic diseases. Part 1 took a look at what is HCTP and how it can help treat chronic illnesses. By referring patients to qualified and skilled providers that specialized in regenerative cellular therapy, we work with affiliated clinics and distributor organizations, both internationally and nationally with the services that we offer. We find that education is the key to asking valuable questions to our providers. Dr. Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer

Can my insurance cover it? Yes, in case you are uncertain here is the link to all the insurance providers we cover. If you have any questions, please call Dr. Jimenez at 915-850-0900.

What Is HCTP?

Human cellular tissue products or HCTP is the proper term for regenerative medicine. Studies have shown that HCTP has become a promising form of medicine as it aims to help repair and replace damaged cells, tissues, and organs, while bringing them back to a normal function in the body. Not only that but research shows that HCTP are unspecialized cells of the human body that can differentiate into any cells in the body while having the ability to self-renewal.

More Medical Evidence Of HCTP

With more and more studies of HCTP and its beneficial properties, it shows that HCTP has the ability to build tissue in the body but also has amazing therapeutic uses in tissue regeneration and repair. Granted only affiliated clinics and distribution organizations (both nationally and internationally) uses HCTP in their practices, the results speak to themselves as HCTP has provided many benefits to some of the most common cases of chronic illnesses and symptoms that the body endures. And with HCTP, it can even help dampen the effects as well.

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*

Introduction

When the body sustains an injury, the immune system springs into action by going to the injured area and healing it through inflammation. Inflammation in the body is necessary when a person is injured and the affected area swells and becomes inflamed and begins to heal shortly. When someone is doing a treatment for their own wellbeing, their bodies can induce inflammation in order to start the healing process and begin to recover afterward. In this 2 part series, we will be taking a look at how inflammation can affect the body after a regenerative procedure and what anti-inflammatory foods are perfect for the body. Part 1 discussed what are the post-procedure protocols that a person should follow after their regenerative treatment. By referring patients to qualified and skilled providers that specialized in regenerative cellular therapy, we work with affiliated clinics and distributor organizations, both internationally and nationally with the services that we offer. We find that education is the key to asking valuable questions to our providers. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer

Can my insurance cover it? Yes, in case you are uncertain here is the link to all the insurance providers we cover. If you have any questions, please call Dr. Jimenez at 915-850-0900.

What Is Regenerative Medicine?

When the body sustains a severe injury, it can damage the body’s cells, tissues, and organs causing the healing process to slow down than usual. Research shows that regenerative medicine helps restore, replace and regenerate the body’s cells to their original state. Regenerative medicine can even help with the body’s natural healing process by boosting it up. There are many affiliated clinics and distributors that do regenerative medicine internationally to make sure that the body is functioning normally and that the body’s cellular structure is intact.

What To Do After Regenerative Medicine Treatment?

In part 1, it showed the post-procedure protocols that a person should do. It is very important that the individual should take it easy after any procedure that they went through. By resting and relaxing the body as much as possible, the treatment can begin to heal the body and inflammation can help the healing process as well. However, if the person starts to disrupt the healing process by increasing the inflammatory cells in the body through a change of eating habits and lifestyle, it can kill the HTCP (human cellular tissue products) that are injected into the body and that can develop into chronic illnesses over time.

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*

Introduction

When the body sustains injuries, it goes through a process called inflammation. Studies show that when the body starts activating the immune system and sending out inflammatory cells to the targeted area and healing the body quickly. Through the usage of human cellular tissue products, it can help the body where the area has been inflamed, however, it is important for individuals that are going to have regenerative medicine treatment, that their body has low inflammation in order for the treatment to work. In this 2 part series, we will be discussing what is inflammation, how food can alleviate or create inflammation, and how can it affect the pre-procedure protocols for regenerative medicine. Part 1 took a look at pre-procedure protocols that a person must take before going into their regenerative medicine treatment. By referring patients to qualified and skilled providers that specialized in regenerative cellular therapy, we work with affiliated clinics and distributor organizations, both internationally and nationally with the services that we offer. We find that education is the key to asking valuable questions to our providers. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer

Can my insurance cover it? Yes, in case you are uncertain here is the link to all the insurance providers we cover. If you have any questions, please call Dr. Jimenez at 915-850-0900.

What Is Inflammation?

Inflammation is one of the main causes of many of the most debilitating diseases of the human body. Research shows that inflammation is actually part of the body’s natural defense mechanism that plays a huge role in the healing process. When an unwanted pathogen enters the body, it will launch the immune system to go and get rid of the problem. Inflammation has two categories when it is in the body and they are acute inflammation and chronic inflammation. Acute inflammation is where the body will send out inflammatory cells to heal the body when there is sudden damage. Chronic inflammation is when the body sends out continuous inflammatory cells to non-threatened areas repeatedly. Chronic inflammation has been linked to pain, Parkinson’s, cancer, depression, and many other types of conditions.

For individuals that are getting ready for regenerative treatment, it is important to make sure that the specialist does whatever possible to lower inflammation for the body and it is equally important for the individual to try and prevent it as well. Surprisingly though, through regenerative cellular treatment, using MSC can help reduce inflammation in the body. However, if a person is doing things that can cause inflammation to the body, then the treatment will be less effective and the inflammation can progress further into a chronic state.

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*

Introduction

The body has trillions of cells that help maintain order for the body and make sure that it is functioning properly. The cells in the body help regulate growth development, making sure that the tissues of the muscles and organs are working and pumping blood to be circulated to each system. But when unwanted pathogens or fatal injuries damage the body and scar the tissue cells, then that is where stem cell therapy comes to the rescue. In this 2 part series, we will be giving an in-depth look at what are stem cells, where do they come from, and the type of stem cells that are associated with the body. Part 1 was taking a look at what is regenerative cellular treatment, what is regenerative medicine, a brief introduction of what are stem cells. By referring patients to qualified and skilled providers that specialized in regenerative cellular therapy, we work with affiliated clinics and distributor organizations, both internationally and nationally with the services that we offer. We find that education is the key to asking valuable questions to our providers. Dr. Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer

Can my insurance cover it? Yes, in case you are uncertain here is the link to all the insurance providers we cover. If you have any questions, please call Dr. Jimenez at 915-850-0900.

What Are Stem Cells?

In part 1, it discussed what are stem cells in general terms. Stem cell research has been throughout the news and research shows that stem cell therapy is a form of regenerative medicine that can help repair damaged tissues, specifically, the heart, nerve cells, and even blood cells. Other research studies show that stem cells can provide a better understanding to professionals that specialized in stem cell therapy to develop cell-based therapies for many chronic illnesses like diabetes, heart failure, and many other chronic conditions that harm the body. Stem cells are the body’s raw material that can help generate new cells to replace the damaged ones in the body.

 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*

New findings affirm that our intestinal health influences our brain via the bloodstream, nerves, lymphatic and immune system.

The body's ability to heal itself is quite remarkable. When injury or illness presents, the body's systems activate to deal with the problem and restore itself to health. The spine's bones protect the communication pathways of the spinal cord and nerve roots. If the nervous system suffers injury or is damaged in some way, causing impairment, it can cause malfunctioning of the tissues and organs throughout the body. Chiropractic care combined with functional medicine can restore and enhance the body's self-healing abilities to optimal levels.

The Body's Ability To Heal Itself

A healthy body regenerates, fights infection, heals wounds, and repairs damage. The body is in a constant state of removing damage and producing new, healthy tissues.

• Cells can heal themselves when they become unhealthy and replicate to replace injured or damaged cells.
• The body produces new cells to heal the damage if a bone gets fractured or broken.
• When the skin gets cut, the blood clots, stopping the bleeding, white blood cells remove the injured and dead cells, and new healthy cells repair the damaged tissue.
• The immune system deals with viruses, bacteria, and toxins.
• Natural destroyer cells recognize when the body's cells have been invaded by a virus and destroy the infected cell.

Inflammation

Inflammation is the body's reaction to an injury or infection, activating the immune system to restore the injured or infected area to health.

• A fever is the body's raising its temperature to levels that will kill viruses and bacteria.
• The elevation in temperature also triggers certain cellular mechanisms which help the body fight the infection.

Stem Cells

The body heals and regenerates itself through stem cells.

• Once the body is formed, embryonic stem cells disappear, and adult stem cells take over.
• The adult stem cells divide, producing an identical stem cell and a healthy, mature cell of a specific type.
• Each type of adult stem cell only can become certain types of tissue.
• For example, Mesenchymal Stem Cells can regenerate bone, fat, muscle, and cartilage cells.
• Neural Stem Cells help regenerate nerve tissue in the brain and spinal cord.
• Epithelial Stem Cells regenerate skin.
• Adult stem cells can reproduce for a long time but eventually stop reproducing as efficiently.

Nervous System

The nervous system assists the whole body in maintaining communication, using electrical and chemical impulses to send and receive messages. The system reacts to changes inside and outside the body. Infections, injuries, disorders, and conditions can cause imbalances causing communication problems that can lead to health issues. Common problems of the nervous system include:

• Sciatica – Pressure on a nerve/s caused by a slipped, bulging, or herniated disc in the spine or arthritis of the spine and, sometimes, other factors.
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Neuralgia
• Shingles – Infection of sensory nerves caused by the varicella-zoster virus.
• Stroke – Lack of blood to part of the brain.
• Parkinson's disease – The death of neurons in a part of the brain called the midbrain. Symptoms include shaking and mobility problems.
• Epilepsy – Abnormal electrical activity in the brain causing seizures.
• Meningitis – Inflammation of the membrane covering the brain.
• Multiple sclerosis – The myelin sheaths protecting the nerves of the central nervous system become damaged and deteriorates.

Chiropractic Care

Subluxations are misaligned or damaged joints that are not functioning correctly. These joints can place pressure on a nerve, which interferes with the normal nervous system function. Chiropractic care can realign, restore and maintain neuromusculoskeletal system health to reactivate the body's natural healing abilities.

Cerebral Palsy Chiropractic 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 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

Haavik, Heidi, et al. "Effects of 12 Weeks of Chiropractic Care on Central Integration of Dual Somatosensory Input in Chronic Pain Patients: A Preliminary Study." Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics vol. 40,3 (2017): 127-138. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2016.10.002

Lee, Courtney, et al. "Mind-body therapies for the self-management of chronic pain symptoms." Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.) vol. 15 Suppl 1 (2014): S21-39. doi:10.1111/pme.12383

Maltese PE, Michelini S, Baronio M, Bertelli M. Molecular foundations of chiropractic therapy. Acta Biomed. 2019 Sep 30;90(10-S):93-102. doi: 10.23750/abm.v90i10-S.8768. PMID: 31577263; PMCID: PMC7233649.

McSwan, Joyce, et al. "Self-Healing: A Concept for Musculoskeletal Body Pain Management - Scientific Evidence and Mode of Action." Journal of pain research vol. 14 2943-2958. 21 Sep. 2021, doi:10.2147/JPR.S321037

Navid, Muhammad Samran et al. "The effects of chiropractic spinal manipulation on central processing of tonic pain - a pilot study using standardized low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA)." Scientific reports vol. 9,1 6925. 6 May. 2019, doi:10.1038/s41598-019-42984-3

Individuals that have experienced a muscle strain, pull, spasm, etc., that has healed can begin to behave overly cautious, avoiding putting full weight on the area or using full motion out of fear of re-injuring it. This can and does strain other body areas because of the imbalance and awkward positioning. It also leads to anxiety, emotional distress, and decreased self-confidence in everyday movement. Adjustments, massage, and decompression therapy can maintain musculoskeletal health, and a chiropractor can help retrain individuals on healthy posture and confident movement.

Muscle Guarding

Muscles can be held in a position of readiness to act, like the stress response of fight or flight. When this happens, the muscles are partially contracted in preparation for action and is a form of muscle-guarding. But once the fight or flight passes, the muscles relax into their normal position. With injury muscle guarding, the fears and stresses after recovering from an injury can cause the injured and non-injured muscles to stay in the guarded/semi-contracted position. The longer the muscle guarding continues, fatigue begins to set in, decreasing function, restricting mobility, and making the body more vulnerable to damage and injury.

The Brain

The discomfort, pain, or just the thought reinforces the need to guard the area. The brain will find a way to move without causing pain and create compensating but unhealthy movement patterns that strain the other areas of the body. The body adapts to not using the formerly injured muscles and now relies on the other muscles to perform the functions in a non-relaxed state that can become normal, causing stiffness, soreness, tenderness, tendon tension, and pain.

• An example is a hip strain, pull or spasm that has been treated and has healed, but the individual is fearful of another injury or going through the painful experience again and begins walking by shifting all their weight to the other side and steps with a limp or some abnormal motion that strains and/or injures the rest of the body. 

Chiropractic Treatment and Retraining

Individuals experiencing muscle guarding can find help through chiropractic to retrain their muscles to return to their normal position and regain confidence in their movements. The body will be rebalanced by releasing and relaxing the tight muscles. Then therapeutic repetitive movements, specialized exercises, stretches, and relaxation techniques will help the individual relearn to use the muscles without fear.

Protective Muscle Guarding

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

Hanlon, Shawn et al. “Examining Ankle-Joint Laxity Using 2 Knee Positions and With Simulated Muscle Guarding.” Journal of athletic training vol. 51,2 (2016): 111-7. doi:10.4085/1062-6050-51.3.06

Olugbade, Temitayo et al. “The relationship between guarding, pain, and emotion.” Pain reports vol. 4,4 e770. 22 Jul. 2019, doi:10.1097/PR9.0000000000000770

Prkachin, Kenneth M et al. “Pain behavior and the development of pain-related disability: the importance of guarding.” The Clinical journal of pain vol. 23,3 (2007): 270-7. doi:10.1097/AJP.0b013e3180308d28

Ankylosing spondylitis/AS is a common type of arthritis that can cause damage to spinal structures, body parts, and organs. Ankylosing spondylitis causes inflammation in the spine’s ligaments and joints which can cause affected vertebrae to fuse, but other symptoms/complications are skin disorders. Ankylosing spondylitis flare-ups can present with skin disorders like rashes and the possible development of skin diseases like psoriasis.

Ankylosing Spondylitis

The inflammation causes back stiffness and pain that causes the spine to become inflexible and rigid. The vertebrae can fuse in extreme cases.

• It is typically seen in the early adult population as back pain and hip pain.
• Symptoms are more common in individuals between 17 and 45.
• Men are more likely to be affected than women.
• Genetics can play a role in this condition.

Doctors utilize multiple approaches to relieve symptoms and manage the condition through combined exercise, chiropractic, physical therapy, diet, and stress management to help improve quality of life.

Skin Disorders

A flare-up can present as a skin rash but can also affect the skin in other ways that include:

• Rashes brought on by medication treatments.
• Trouble healing from incisions after surgery.

Psoriasis

• Psoriasis presents as red skin patches appearing anywhere on the body.
• The most common areas are the scalp, palms, elbows, and knees.
• The affected skin can itch, become tender, and can also sting and burn.
• Some psoriasis outbreaks result in lesions or blisters.

Ankylosing Spondylitis vs. Psoriatic Arthritis

• Ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis are related and come under spondyloarthritis/SpA rheumatic disease.
• Ankylosing spondylitis is typically localized to the spine, whereas psoriatic arthritis can affect almost any joint in the body and presents with tendinopathy.
• Some individuals with AS can begin to develop psoriasis.

Management

Doctors are currently treating psoriasis with multiple treatment options that can include: 

•  Topical agents such as vitamin D analogs.
• Corticosteroids can help with pain and swelling. 
• Non-steroidal topical agents can be used for facial and flexible body parts like the armpits, elbows, and back of the knees.
• Light/phototherapy using narrow-band UV-B light.
• Medications can also help but can produce side effects.

Ankylosing spondylitis skin disorders present ongoing challenges. However, increasing treatment options are helping to minimize the condition’s impact on a better quality of life.

AS Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, 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 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

Meier, Katharina, et al. “Skin manifestations in spondyloarthritis.” Therapeutic advances in musculoskeletal disease vol. 12 1759720X20975915. 8 Dec. 2020, doi:10.1177/1759720X20975915

Myers, Elisha et al. “An Update on Narrowband Ultraviolet B Therapy for the Treatment of Skin Diseases.” Cureus vol. 13,11 e19182. 1 Nov. 2021, doi:10.7759/cureus.19182

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Muscle tension happens when the muscles stay contracted after working, sports, exercise, and stress, presenting with stiffness and achiness that progresses to chronic myofascial pain. Myofascial is used to describe the connective tissues throughout the body. Myo refers to the muscles, and fascia refers to the body tissues. Myofascial pain syndrome describes muscle pain in various forms. Most individuals have experienced chronic muscle tension in muscle pain or tension headaches. Myofascial pain can vary, ranging from mild to severe. Chiropractic can provide treatment and post-prevention plans to eliminate the pain and strengthen the body.

Connective Tissue

Myofascial pain syndrome is a complex condition that could be repetitive stress injuries on the muscles or nervous system malfunction and is often characterized by symptoms like:

• Muscle tenderness, soreness, and aches.
• Sensitive areas all over the body - trigger points.
• Fatigue
• Sleep problems

Each symptom is not a sign of the condition, but it could be myofascial pain syndrome when combined and does not resolve with some time. This chronic pain disorder is associated with referred pain that appears in one part of the body but the root cause in another region.

Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic medicine will get to the root of the problem with a thorough diagnosis. This will be done through physical examination, medical history, and symptom review. The chiropractor will perform a detailed exam of the affected muscles, including a range of motion test, strength test, and palpations of suspected trigger points to see how the muscles respond, twitch, and/or cause pain in a specific pattern or region. Sometimes blood tests are ordered to look for other causes, like vitamin D deficiency or hypothyroidism. Chiropractic can combine treatment therapies that include:

Massage therapy

• Therapeutic massage will loosen the tight, knotted muscles and relieve cramping and/or spasms.

Physical Therapy

• Includes stretching, postural, and strengthening exercises.

Medication

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications or NSAIDs like ibuprofen and naproxen can help manage inflammation.

Injections

• Pain medications are directly injected into the trigger points.

Chiropractic physicians work on the whole body and not just the hurting areas. Chiropractors are trained to incorporate treatment with primary care and specialists. Patients receive education in exercise programs, corrective exercises, nutritional recommendations, and health coaching.

Spine Decompression

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*