A chiropractor/nurse practitioner listens to a patient's work-related back pain symptoms and offers treatment options.
Musculoskeletal (MSK) problems are injuries or conditions that affect the muscles, joints, bones, ligaments, tendons, and discs. When MSK pain becomes chronic, it can limit mobility—meaning it gets harder to walk, lift, bend, kneel, climb stairs, work, and sleep.
For many Mexican and Mexican American individuals and families, mobility issues often come from a mix of:
Arthritis, especially knee osteoarthritis
Chronic low back pain
Work-related overuse injuries (shoulder, elbow, wrist/hand, hips, knees, feet)
Injuries from motor vehicle accidents (whiplash, back injury, shoulder injury, nerve irritation)
Higher rates of physically demanding jobs
Obesity and metabolic stress, which can increase joint load and inflammation
Gaps in access to conservative care, like rehab, chiropractic care, and coordinated musculoskeletal treatment
This article explains what is most common, why it happens, and how a personal injury-focused, integrative team—including nurse practitioners (NPs) and chiropractic care—can help people recover function while also supporting proper documentation and a clear plan of care when injuries involve legal and insurance processes.
In personal injury cases, it’s not enough to say, “I hurt.” What matters clinically (and often legally) is:
What structures were injured (joints, discs, soft tissues, nerves)
How the injury affects function (work limits, daily life limits)
What care is needed to improve mobility and reduce disability
How progress is measured (range of motion, strength, pain scores, functional testing)
Whether risk factors (like arthritis or obesity) are making recovery slower, but not “canceling” the injury
Musculoskeletal disorders are a major cause of disability in Mexico over time, with a rising burden and major impacts on function and daily life. (Clark et al., 2024, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38386887/) Chronic pain also raises frailty risk in older Mexican Americans, which makes early care and functional rehab even more important. (NIH, 2019, https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/older-mexican-american-adults-experiencing-pain-are-risk-developing-frailty)
Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common forms of arthritis. It frequently affects the knees, and knee pain can make it hard to:
Stand up from a chair
Walk long distances
Climb stairs
Kneel, squat, or crouch (common in many jobs)
A UTMB summary of research involving the Mexican Health and Aging Study notes that osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and is common among adults 40 and older, with risk shaped by factors such as obesity and physically demanding work. (UTMB, 2025, https://www.utmb.edu/spph/about-us/news/article/news/2025/05/12/arthritis-hospitalization-risk-mexico-utmb-study)
Why this matters in injury cases:
Even if someone already had mild arthritis, a crash or work injury can “flare” symptoms, reduce function, and trigger a new level of disability. A personal injury team must document:
Baseline function (what the person could do before)
New limits after injury
Objective findings (ROM loss, gait changes, swelling, weakness)
Response to care over time
The Arthritis Foundation’s Hispanic Wellness Guide supports practical self-management strategies like movement, weight management, and healthy routines—important during recovery. (Arthritis Foundation, n.d., https://www.arthritis.org/getmedia/1ad1c86d-79ac-4f82-ba93-9942dd7da93a/Hispanic-Wellness-Guide-VF.pdf)
Low back pain is one of the biggest causes of disability. In Mexico, low back pain is commonly identified as a top MSK issue and a major cause of disability. (Staufert et al., 2020, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32816643/)
Low back pain may involve:
Muscle strain and spasm
Facet joint irritation
Disc-related pain
Nerve irritation (leg pain, tingling, numbness)
After a car accident, back pain may come from sudden force, poor bracing posture, seatbelt strain, or twisting. After-work injuries may result from repetitive bending, lifting, carrying, and awkward positions.
Functional impacts that should be documented
Sitting tolerance (driving pain)
Lifting limits
Walking distance limits
Sleep disruption
Work restrictions
Physically demanding jobs can lead to repetitive strain injuries, especially when the work is fast-paced, forceful, and repetitive.
Research in Latino workers has shown a high prevalence of MSK conditions, including:
Epicondylitis (tennis/golfer’s elbow)
Rotator cuff syndrome
(Mora et al., 2014, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4452452/)
Meatpacking work environments have also been linked with high rates of pain complaints, often involving repetitive motions and forceful tasks. (SAGE article, 2021, https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/21650799211016908)
For aging Mexican immigrant farmworkers, MSK injury and pain can be linked with functional disability and reduced quality of life—especially as people get older and have fewer resources. (Berkeley HIA report, 2016, https://hia.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/article_musculoskeletal-inhury-functionala-disability-and-health-related-quality-of-life-in-aging-mexican-immigrant-farmworkers.pdf)
Common diagnoses seen in personal injury and work injury care
Rotator cuff strain/tendinopathy
Shoulder impingement patterns
Elbow tendinopathy (lateral/medial epicondylitis)
Wrist sprain/overuse pain
Trigger points and myofascial pain
Hand weakness and grip problems
Knees and feet carry body weight all day. Pain in these areas can change gait (walking pattern) and cause problems up the chain—hips, back, and even neck.
Foot pain and knee pain can lead to:
Slower walking speed
Fear of falling
Less activity (more stiffness and weakness)
In older Mexican Americans, pain is not just uncomfortable—it is linked to increased frailty risk over time. (NIH, 2019, https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/older-mexican-american-adults-experiencing-pain-are-risk-developing-frailty)
Many people work in fields that demand:
Lifting and carrying
Repetitive tool use
Overhead work
Frequent bending/twisting
Over time, these loads tend to affect the tendons, joints, and discs. The result can be chronic MSK pain and disability. (Mora et al., 2014, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4452452/)
Higher body weight increases joint load, especially in:
Knees
Feet
Hips
It can also increase systemic inflammation and reduce tolerance for activity. UTMB’s arthritis summary highlights obesity and physically demanding work as important factors in the burden of osteoarthritis. (UTMB, 2025, https://www.utmb.edu/spph/about-us/news/article/news/2025/05/12/arthritis-hospitalization-risk-mexico-utmb-study)
When people hurt, they move less. When they move less, they lose strength, flexibility, and balance.
NIH research specifically reports that older Mexican Americans with pain were more likely to develop frailty over time. (NIH, 2019, https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/older-mexican-american-adults-experiencing-pain-are-risk-developing-frailty)
Conservative care helps many people with MSK conditions—especially when started early. But access isn’t equal.
A Boston Medical Center report on disparities noted persistent differences in access to chiropractic care and physical rehabilitation for adults with low back pain, including lower use among Hispanic adults. (BMC, 2023, https://www.bmc.org/news/new-study-finds-racial-and-ethnic-disparities-persist-access-chiropractic-care-and-physical)
Why this matters for PersonalInjuryDoctorGroup.com:
A personal injury-focused model can reduce barriers by offering coordinated evaluation, rehab planning, and step-by-step documentation from day one.
In a personal injury setting, care is most effective when it is:
Clinically strong (good diagnosis, functional rehab)
Consistent (clear treatment plan and follow-ups)
Measurable (objective findings tracked over time)
Coordinated (NP + chiropractic + rehab + referrals when needed)
Culturally respectful (communication that fits the person’s needs)
NPs help by:
Medical evaluation and safety screening
Identify red flags (fracture, infection, serious neurologic issues)
Decide when imaging or referral is needed
Pain management with a safety-first approach
Medication review and safer options when needed
Sleep support, because sleep loss worsens pain
Inflammation and healing support
Nutrition and hydration coaching
Weight-support strategies when appropriate
Managing metabolic conditions that can slow recovery
Care coordination
Referrals (orthopedics, rheumatology, neurology, PT)
Support for ongoing work restrictions and progress monitoring
(ChiroMed APRN resource, 2026, https://chiromed.com/category/advanced-practice-registered-nurses-aprn/)
Chiropractic care can support mobility recovery by addressing:
Joint motion restrictions (spine and extremities)
Movement quality (how the person bends, lifts, walks, and reaches)
Soft tissue stiffness and mechanical pain patterns
Rehab exercises that restore strength and stability
For low back pain, conservative care approaches like chiropractic and physical rehabilitation are highlighted as evidence-based options, yet access differences persist—supporting the value of organized, team-based care. (BMC, 2023, https://www.bmc.org/news/new-study-finds-racial-and-ethnic-disparities-persist-access-chiropractic-care-and-physical)
Instead of chasing “zero pain” right away, focus on function:
Walking farther
Sleeping better
Standing longer
Returning to safe work tasks
Reaching and lifting without flare-ups
Functional milestones to track
Walking time (minutes)
Sitting tolerance (minutes)
Lifting tolerance (pounds)
Stair tolerance (flights)
ROM measures (degrees)
Strength measures (graded testing)
A smart work-focused plan includes:
Micro-breaks (30–60 seconds every 20–40 minutes)
Tool and grip changes when possible
Lifting mechanics coaching
Shoulder stability work for overhead tasks
Core and hip strengthening to reduce back strain
High rates of overuse conditions like epicondylitis and rotator cuff problems make prevention and strengthening crucial. (Mora et al., 2014, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4452452/)
Protective strength zones
Glutes (hip stability for knees and back)
Core (spine support)
Upper back (posture and shoulder mechanics)
Calves/feet (walking stability)
If arthritis is present, the plan should still address the injury clearly, while also supporting long-term joint health.
Helpful strategies include:
Low-impact walking and cycling
Strength training for legs and hips
Weight management support when appropriate
Pain education to reduce the fear of movement
(Arthritis Foundation, n.d., https://www.arthritis.org/getmedia/1ad1c86d-79ac-4f82-ba93-9942dd7da93a/Hispanic-Wellness-Guide-VF.pdf)
Culturally competent care is not stereotyping. It’s clinical communication.
It may include:
Language preference support
Clear explanations without medical jargon
Respect for family involvement if the patient wants it
Asking about home remedies without judgment
Discussing stress, sleep, and workload honestly
Research on pain care in Hispanic/Latino contexts has emphasized that beliefs, values, and communication can shape pain experience and care decisions, so trust and clarity matter. (Duggleby, 2003, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12637823/)
Seek urgent evaluation for:
New bowel or bladder control problems
Numbness in the groin/saddle region
Rapidly worsening weakness
Severe pain with fever
Major trauma with severe pain
Unexplained weight loss with severe pain
Severe night pain that does not ease
In injury-focused integrative care, Dr. Jimenez commonly emphasizes:
Early evaluation to reduce chronicity risk
Movement-based rehab rather than passive care alone
Objective tracking (ROM, strength, function)
Team-based coordination (NP + chiropractic + rehab + referrals)
Patient education so people understand what the plan is and why it works
These themes align with integrative musculoskeletal care content and clinical education published through his platforms. (Jimenez, 2026, https://dralexjimenez.com/; Jimenez, 2026, https://www.linkedin.com/in/dralexjimenez/)
Common mobility problems in Mexican and Mexican American communities—like knee osteoarthritis, chronic low back pain, rotator cuff injury, and epicondylitis—are strongly shaped by job demands, aging, obesity/metabolic stress, and access barriers to conservative rehab care. (Clark et al., 2024, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38386887/; NIH, 2019, https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/older-mexican-american-adults-experiencing-pain-are-risk-developing-frailty)
A personal injury–focused integrative model can help by delivering:
Clear diagnosis and safety screening
Coordinated NP + chiropractic + functional rehab care
Measurable progress tracking
Work-focused recovery strategies
Culturally respectful communication
Documentation that supports a complete, organized recovery story
(BMC, 2023, https://www.bmc.org/news/new-study-finds-racial-and-ethnic-disparities-persist-access-chiropractic-care-and-physical)
Arthritis in the Hispanic Community: A Wellness Guide. (n.d.). Arthritis Foundation. https://www.arthritis.org/getmedia/1ad1c86d-79ac-4f82-ba93-9942dd7da93a/Hispanic-Wellness-Guide-VF.pdf
Helping Hispanic/Latino home health patients manage pain. (2003). Home Healthcare Nurse (Duggleby, W.). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12637823/
Musculoskeletal disorders-associated disability in Mexico from 1990 to 2021. (2024). [PubMed Abstract] (Clark, P., et al.). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38386887/
Older Mexican American adults experiencing pain are at risk of developing frailty. (2019). National Institutes of Health (NIH) News Release. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/older-mexican-american-adults-experiencing-pain-are-risk-developing-frailty
Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among Latino manual workers. (2014). BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders (Mora, D. C., et al.). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4452452/
Study finds racial and ethnic disparities persist in access to chiropractic care and physical rehabilitation for adults with low back pain. (2023). Boston Medical Center (BMC) News. https://www.bmc.org/news/new-study-finds-racial-and-ethnic-disparities-persist-access-chiropractic-care-and-physical
Challenges and complexities of managing low back pain in Mexico. (2020). [PubMed Abstract] (Staufert, M. F. A., et al.). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32816643/
Arthritis raises hospitalization risk in Mexico (UTMB study news release). (2025, May 12). University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). https://www.utmb.edu/spph/about-us/news/article/news/2025/05/12/arthritis-hospitalization-risk-mexico-utmb-study
Musculoskeletal injury, functional disability, and health-related quality of life in aging Mexican immigrant farmworkers. (2016). UC Berkeley Health Impact Assessment (HIA) Resource. https://hia.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/article_musculoskeletal-inhury-functionala-disability-and-health-related-quality-of-life-in-aging-mexican-immigrant-farmworkers.pdf
Pain and work exposure patterns in meatpacking workers. (2021). SAGE Journals Article. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/21650799211016908
Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) Category. (2026). ChiroMed. https://chiromed.com/category/advanced-practice-registered-nurses-aprn/
Dr. Alexander Jimenez: Clinical Education and Integrative Injury Care. (2026). https://dralexjimenez.com/
Dr. Alexander Jimenez LinkedIn Profile. (2026). https://www.linkedin.com/in/dralexjimenez/