Mobility & Flexibility - Joint Movement

Flexibility and range of motion are essential elements for an individual's overall health, physical fitness, and quality of life. Healthy flexibility helps the body:

• Maintain a physically active lifestyle.
• Maintain strength.
• Improve endurance.
• Prevent injury.

Flexibility and Range of Motion

Joint stiffness and pain can make it challenging to engage in everyday activities and maintain mobile, physical, emotional, and internal health. To keep the body flexible and moving, individuals need to use their entire body and range of movement. Becoming sedentary affects the body's flexibility, leading to slowed/blocked blood circulation, nerve energy signal disruption, and sickness. To improve flexibility and range of motion, it is recommended to include:

• Stretching the body
• Regular exercise and physical activity
• Yoga
• Healthy diet
• Healthy weight
• Proper sleep

For individuals with stiffened muscles and joints, chiropractic medicine can increase the body's flexibility, improving the range of motion in the joints. Chiropractic optimizes the function of the joints, improving mobility with less pain. When living with arthritis, chiropractic is an excellent therapy to decrease pain and activate the body's natural healing abilities. Chiropractic adjustments align the spine and improve nervous system function.

Nerve Pressure

Nerve pressure can cause pain or tingling sensations that can become difficult to manage. A shifted misaligned spine can compress nerve endings, causing pain that presents with or without movement. Getting the body in motion and moving around is essential to treat stiffness and joint pain. The objective of chiropractic is to align the spine and body and relieve pressure on the nerves helping the body gain back its flexibility and range of motion. Once the body is adjusted, the nerve endings are no longer irritated, relieving the pain. Chiropractic uses various techniques to deal with areas of compression, including stretching, percussive massage, low-laser therapy, ultrasound, and strengthening exercises.

• Chiropractic adjustments relieve pain and improve mobility.
• Strengthening exercises to keep the spine in proper alignment.
• Exercising keeps the adjustments in place.

A careful assessment of the condition will determine the cause of stiffness and joint immobility. Chiropractic can treat the joints, bones, and muscles to improve flexibility manage muscle spasms and soft tissue tenderness to alleviate symptoms restoring and improving range of motion. Chiropractic adjustments are combined with therapeutically designed stretches and exercises to perform at home, along with an anti-inflammation diet and supplements.

Body Composition

Zinc

Zinc is an essential nutrient that provides overall immune function. It is a powerful antioxidant that helps prevent and reduce oxidative stress and inflammation responses. Various bodily chemical reactions require Zinc. Zinc is necessary for muscle protein synthesis and hormone regulation. Zinc deficiency is common in older individuals and has been connected with degenerative diseases that include:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Atherosclerosis
• Age-related macular degeneration
• Weight loss
• Muscle atrophy

Sources of Zinc include:

• Nuts
• Legumes
• Chicken
• Red meat
• Oysters

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

Green, S et al. "Physiotherapy interventions for shoulder pain." The Cochrane database of systematic reviews vol. 2003,2 (2003): CD004258. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004258

Hartvigsen, Jan et al. "What low back pain is and why we need to pay attention." Lancet (London, England) vol. 391,10137 (2018): 2356-2367. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30480-X

Kavuncu, Vural, and Deniz Evcik. "Physiotherapy in rheumatoid arthritis." MedGenMed: Medscape general medicine vol. 6,2 3. 17 May. 2004

Page, Carolyn J et al. "Physiotherapy management of knee osteoarthritis." International journal of rheumatic diseases vol. 14,2 (2011): 145-51. doi:10.1111/j.1756-185X.2011.01612.x

Wessels, Inga et al. "Zinc as a Gatekeeper of Immune Function." Nutrients vol. 9,12 1286. 25 Nov. 2017, doi:10.3390/nu9121286

Over-the-counter or (OTC) orthotic insoles are foot supports that can be made from various materials which include:

• Foam
• Leather
• Plastic

OTC insoles are designed to fit inside your shoe. These have become popularized through T.V. commercials, fancy packaging

and can be bought at pretty much any grocery/pharmacy store.

OTC's can be marketed to:

• Provide comfort 

Bring pain relief from common conditions:

• Bunions
• Plantar fasciitis
• Arch support problems

OTC insoles are also available to fit in a variety of shoes:

• High heels
• Athletic shoes
• Boots

That work with every individual's lifestyle.

OTC insoles are dangerous and can cause more harm than help.

Many people do not realize their feet could be the cause of:

• Knee
• Hip
• Back pain

This is why Chiropractors treat issues, such as plantar fasciitis by performing lower back adjustments and look to the feet when diagnosing and treating patients.

Patients must be cautioned against self-diagnosing and using OTC orthotics.

Custom made orthotic insoles are a great solution.

Here are the three bad things that OTC insoles can do to your body.

1. OTC Insoles Do Not Provide Support

• Every person’s body is unique.

We are all different:

• Heights
• Weights
• Have different body compositions

This also means that our feet are unique, with some of us even having two feet that completely different from one another. Because of our unique body composition, there is really no one-size-fits-all cure. When it comes to the feet, customization is the key. Ineffective support can lead to increased pain and discomfort.

The way to avoid ineffective support is to seek professional advice first.

• You see the scanners inside the stores to help you find which insole is right for you, however, these are designed to sell, sell, sell.
• Getting a foot scan by a medical professional that can assess your body and feet in person is the way to go.
• They will talk with you, personally about treatment options and will help you find the best solution.

2. Make Physical Discomfort Worse & Cost You More Money because now you need Treatment

• OTC insoles are typically made of inexpensive materials.
• OTC insoles wear down faster and require constant replacement.

You could purchase the wrong type of OTC insole, which can create more pain and discomfort.  When experiencing pain or discomfort, our bodies are under stress. Stress also increases from financial burdens or seeking medical treatment which can be time-consuming and uncertain.

Self-diagnosing your issues while standing in a store can be dangerous, instead relieve your stress by seeking expert help.

Custom orthotics are also covered by some insurance providers.

3. The function of Your Foot/Ankle Worsens

• Body function goes down when insoles are not properly prescribed or fitted.
• The wrong insole can make a well-fitting shoe too tight for example.
• Wrong insoles can redistribute body weight the wrong way to think that the foot pain is alleviated but then the ankles get sore or we can't bend our feet.
• Bad insoles can also make it difficult to run or walk.
• Wearing the wrong insole can create new injuries.

 Orthotics alter the way our bodies move and affect how we walk, stand, and absorb shock.

Selecting the right orthotic is essential to how our body functions every day.

Custom orthotics are designed specifically for an individual’s body:

• Stabilize joints
• Reduce pain
• Prevent deformity
• Create proper posture 
• Improve foot function

Remember that it's not possible to purchase  OTC insoles designed specifically for an individual.

But you can get custom fit orthotics to:

• Relieve discomfort
• Help your body operate properly
• Save you stress and money

Reduce your Back Pain with *FOOT ORTHOTICS* | El Paso, Tx (2019)

 Kent S. Greenawalt, President, and CEO of Foot Levelers discuss how custom foot orthotics can help reduce back pain, low back pain, and sciatica. In a recent research study published by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM), researchers demonstrated that Foot Levelers custom foot orthotics help considerably reduce back pain and several of its associated health issues.

The research study also demonstrated that Foot Levelers custom foot orthotics and chiropractic care help tremendously reduce low back pain and sciatica. Foot Levelers custom foot orthotics and chiropractic care helped improve the patient's overall health and wellness. Dr. Alex Jimenez is a chiropractor in El Paso, TX who can help provide these benefits through the utilization of chiropractic care and Foot Levelers custom foot orthotics, among other treatments.

Sedentary lifestyle prevention through chiropractic is highly recommended for seniors. With advanced age, the body's muscles, bones, and spinal system begin to wear down and need to be maintained to retain their mobility and flexibility. Regular chiropractic adjustments are recommended as part of an active/fitness lifestyle for seniors and can help older individuals maintain optimal health.

Sedentary Lifestyle Prevention

Many seniors tend to reduce physical activity after reaching retirement age. Many individuals just want to kick back and relax. However, living too laid-back can impact overall health. A lack of exercise and physical activity can cause the muscles, cardiovascular system, and skeletal system to prematurely wear out. Living an active lifestyle will keep individuals at their best when retiring and maintain a healthy quality of life.

Pain Management

Chiropractic can help individuals realize their full potential. The chiropractic approach to achieving top health means treating the source of symptoms, and not just the symptoms. This helps maintain a high quality of life. Chiropractic sedentary prevention includes:

Adjustments

Adjustments to the body are the core of chiropractic. Adjustments are utilized to realign the spine that helps treat various nervous system-related conditions. These include subluxations, slipped discs, sciatica, nerve damage, and more. Adjustments also increase the immune system's functionality. This is extremely beneficial for older individuals.

Nutritional Recommendations

Older individuals can benefit from a customized nutrition plan to help with any deficits in their diets. Often older individuals need more calcium to help fortify bone health. Chiropractors and health coaches can provide individuals with nutritional information needed to live a healthy life.

Exercise Program

An active lifestyle is an essential component of staying healthy. Chiropractors can provide individuals with specialized exercises that take into account their specific and specialized needs.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is another component of chiropractic, as it helps enhance the adjustments.

Health Coaching

Health coaching can provide individuals with the tools necessary to take charge of their health. Counseling involves exercise recommendations, nutritional advice, healthy habits development, and more depending on the individual's abilities.

Stay Moving

A sedentary lifestyle places an older individual's spine in a compromised position. Older individuals have an increased risk of developing detrimental spinal conditions. Overexertion happens more easily in weakened bodies. The solution is to maintain physical activity with proper support. Chiropractic is designed to improve the whole-body. If you’re looking for sedentary prevention and the latest care approaches, contact us, we're ready to help!

Chiropractic Shoulder Pain Treatment

Dr. Alex Jimenez’s Blog Post Disclaimer

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate 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 also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to 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. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*

References

Hawk, Cheryl et al. “Best Practices for Chiropractic Care for Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Consensus Update.” Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics vol. 40,4 (2017): 217-229. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2017.02.001

The hip joint is the body’s largest ball-and-socket joint that allows for fluid movement during running, walking, and more.

There is a cushion of cartilage that helps prevent friction when the hip bone moves.

The hip is durable, but with age and use, this cushion can wear down or sustain an injury. So can the muscles, tendons, and bones surrounding the hip, caused by several conditions. These include:

• Arthritis, Avascular necrosis (or osteonecrosis)
• Certain cancers
• Bursitis
• Hip fractures
• Hip labral tear
• Muscle or tendon strain
• Tendinitis

Treating your hip is successful when the focus is on restoring the balance and function of the entire body. This starts from the ground up with the feet, beginning with chiropractic care plus custom orthotics have been proven to help, instead of merely reducing the pain and inflammation in the irritated areas.

Symptoms of Hip Pain

Depending on the condition that's causing your hip pain, you might feel the discomfort in:

• Inside of the hip joint
• Outside of the hip joint
• Groin
• Buttocks
• Thigh

Treatment

A Chiropractor along with custom orthotics can alleviate your hip pain with adjustments, rehab, icing/heating and resting the affected joint.

Your doctor or chiropractor can help you set up a stretching and strengthening exercise regimen that will improve your hip’s function and reduce your pain.

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

Functional custom foot orthotics understand the anatomy of the foot. By supporting the 3 arches of the foot, functional custom foot orthotics can help promote proper posture to prevent a variety of health issues, including neck pain and back pain. Over the counter, inserts may create more harm than good.

Functional custom foot orthotics can also help maintain overall health and wellness. Because every person is unique, functional custom foot orthotics can help balance a person's unique body structure and function. Dr. Alex Jimenez can help provide functional custom foot orthotics to patients who need to improve their overall health and wellness.