Showing posts from January, 2020
Ultrasound is a passive therapy, which means this is a treatment that a physical therapist administers . It creates g entle pulsating, penetrating heat that soothes, and relaxes spinal and any other muscles that may be tight, knotted and sore. It is an added supplemental therapy of the primary treatment like chiropractic, therapeutic stretching, and exercise. Ultrasound releases and warms the muscles and soft tissues thus increasing circulation that speeds recovery/healing . How does ultrasound work? The equipment creates high-frequency sound waves that flow through to the tight, knotted area with a round-headed probe. The sound waves flow deep into the muscle tissue and ligaments all the while creating a soothing heat that loosens up the tissues. Treatment application The therapist will apply a hypoallergenic gel to the skin, that makes for a smooth moveable surface. Then the therapist goes in gentle, circular motions with the probe, and performs...
BMI is a term that everyone has heard at least once in their life. We have been using it for over 100 years. Many doctors, personal trainers, and other individuals in the health field use it to see where clients fall on the BMI scale. Generally, the higher someones BMI, the more pain and joint discomfort the individual has. This is caused by excess pressure on the joints and inflammation. BMI stands for Body Mass Index and the number is determined by a math equation (divide an individual's weight by their height squared). Essentially, a healthy BMI is between 18.5 - 24.99. The ideal reason BMI is used is to help determine who is at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, type two diabetes, high blood pressure, and even certain cancers. However, BMI is not the most accurate measurement around anymore. Waist ratio is another technique that can provide more accurate results than BMI alone. A waist ratio test can be performed at home and is fairly cheap to do. ...
Here are a few questions that most new patients have along with the answers about chiropractic adjustments, how they work, what they do and what to expect when visiting a chiropractor. How do adjustments work? Chiropractic adjustments are painless, but there is soreness from the massage, the working out of trigger points, knots and from the realignment of the spine into its proper position. New chiropractic patients sometimes involuntarily stiffen or fight the adjustment and feel some discomfort. However, once they relax the treatment will go very smoothly. I f the patient has gone through recent trauma like a car accident or personal injury where whiplash or inflammation has set in then there will be some pain. This is completely normal. However, once the adjustment has been completed patients report feeling relief, calmness, a sense of well-being , and improved mobility . During an adjustment what is that pop? When the vertebrae are realigned , there are sm...
The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland found in the center of the neck. It plays a fundamental role in a variety of bodily functions by releasing hormones that control heartbeat and digestion as well as regulate energy. However, if the thyroid gland doesn't produce the right amount of hormones, the body's functions start to slow down which can result in various health issues. Hypothyroidism, also known as an underactive thyroid, occurs when the body doesn't produce enough thyroid hormones. Hypothyroidism affects more women than men and it frequently affects people over the age of 60. Hypothyroidism may not cause any noticeable symptoms in the early stages but if left untreated, it can cause a variety of health issues, such as joint pain, obesity, heart disease, and infertility. If you've been recently diagnosed with hypothyroidism after symptoms have manifested or following a routine blood test, it's essential to understand that there are safe and effe...
Do you feel: Alternating between constipation and diarrhea? Unexplained itchy skin? Acne and unhealthy skin? Excessive hair loss? Difficulty gaining weight? If you are experiencing any of these situations, then you might be experiencing some zinc deficiency in your body. Whenever someone thinks of zinc, their minds go to the immune system in the body. Surprisingly though, the immune system needs zinc so that way, the body could function properly. Not only that, but zinc is the unsung mineral that has numerous functions and structural roles that is throughout the body. Zinc also makes sure that the body is at a healthy weight for anyone who may have disorders from chronic illnesses or from autoimmune diseases that can make the bodyweight fluctuate from being overweight to underweight. Zinc Beneficial Properties One of the things to know is that zinc cannot be naturally produced in the body, but it can be consumed through food or supplements. This mineral can help the b...
The endocrine system is made up of a collection of glands that release hormones that regulate a variety of bodily functions, including metabolism. The thyroid gland is a large, butterfly-shaped organ found in the center of the neck. The thyroid gland secretes three hormones, known as triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), and calcitonin, in response to stimulation from the pituitary gland which secretes a compound, known as the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). However, if the thyroid gland produces too little or too many hormones, it can ultimately cause a variety of health issues, including obesity. According to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, approximately 27 million people in the United States have thyroid dysfunction. Healthcare professionals found a connection between diabetes and thyroid dysfunction. People with obesity and diabetes have an increased risk of developing thyroid dysfunction compared with the healthy population. Because the thyroid gland r...
Individuals with chronic back and neck pain often have sleeping problems/disorders because of their pain. This is usually the case as the connection between chronic pain and not being able to sleep goes hand in hand. However, it goes a bit deeper than that. People that have chronic back or neck pain and struggle with sleep, assume it’s the pain that is keeping you from a sound sleep. Around two-thirds of individuals with chronic pain have sleeping problems that usually lead to sleep disorders. Research is finding that pain and insomnia have a mutual relationship. Managing chronic back pain is a tough challenge. Add to that poor sleep and your quality of life just goes down. Here we explore the relationship between chronic pain and insomnia and offer some strategies to get proper sleep while managing your pain. Insomnia #1 Sleep Complaint Insomnia is the number one sleep problem , but there is some misunderstanding as to what it is. Insomnia is not just about...
According to scientists, our gut microbiome may be associated with health issues like metabolic syndrome, including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Scientists demonstrated that Akkermansia muciniphila, a culture of bacteria naturally found in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of healthy people, may be associated with weight loss in humans. While diet and lifestyle modifications are recommended to help regulate metabolic syndrome and its associated health issues, recent research studies determined that using "beneficial" gut bacteria, such as A. muciniphila, may regulate excess weight and obesity. How A. Muciniphila Can Help Improve Metabolic Syndrome A research study in the Louvain Drug Research Institute of the University of Louvain and the Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc found that A. muciniphila supplements reduced the risk of developing metabolic syndrome and other health issues like heart disease, stroke, and diabetes in people with excess weight and obesity. Sc...
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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 contact us.
Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*
email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com
phone: 915-850-0900
Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*