Natural Pain Relief for Mexican Americans in El Paso

ChiroMed—Integrated Medicine Holistic Healthcare in El Paso, TX—helps many people in the local Mexican and Mexican-American community address common musculoskeletal mobility issues. These problems include high rates of knee arthritis, chronic low back pain, and work-related injuries to the shoulders, wrists, and legs. At ChiroMed, the team uses a holistic, patient-centered approach to provide non-invasive care that addresses root causes, relieves pain, and improves movement for better daily life.

Many Mexican and Mexican American adults face these mobility challenges due to physically demanding jobs in agriculture, construction, meatpacking, and other fields common in the region. Obesity, which puts extra stress on joints, also plays a role. Older adults often experience more limitations, and women in these communities tend to have higher risks for disability in everyday tasks like walking, dressing, or household work.

Key Musculoskeletal Issues Seen in These Populations

Research highlights several common conditions that affect movement and quality of life.

• Chronic low back pain ranks as a leading cause of disability in Mexico and among Mexican Americans.
• Knee osteoarthritis causes pain, stiffness, and trouble with walking or standing.
• Shoulder issues, such as rotator cuff injuries, and elbow conditions, such as epicondylitis (tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow), frequently result from repetitive, heavy work.
• Wrist and leg injuries often result from forceful lifting, awkward postures, or long hours on the job.

In Mexico, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) were the top reason for years lived with disability from 1990 to 2021, with rates rising 57.3% over that time. Low back pain alone accounted for a high proportion of disability in 2021 (Martínez-López et al., 2024). Global Burden of Disease data shows sharp increases in MSD prevalence, new cases, and disability in Mexico between 1990 and 2019, linked to heavy physical jobs and high body mass index (Martínez-Valle et al., 2023).

Arthritis, mainly osteoarthritis, affects 20-25% of Mexican adults aged 40 and older, raising hospital risks by 23% overall and up to 48% when it limits daily activities (University of Texas Medical Branch, 2025).

In the U.S., Latino workers in meatpacking and farming report widespread pain. Most meatpacking workers experience upper back, arm, and wrist issues, with over 90% of workers in similar roles affected (Rowland et al., 2021). Immigrant Latino farmworkers and non-farmworkers show high rates of rotator cuff syndrome (19-23%), epicondylitis (19-22%), and low back pain (14-21%), with added lower leg problems impacting mobility (Cartwright et al., 2015).

Obesity worsens joint stress, especially in the knees, and Hispanic adults with arthritis often report more activity limits than non-Hispanic whites, with 44% facing restrictions in daily tasks (Arthritis Foundation, n.d.). Older Mexican American adults with pain also face higher risks of frailty, leading to weakness and slower movement (National Institutes of Health, n.d.).

Why These Problems Are Common in El Paso and Surrounding Areas

El Paso’s large Mexican-American population often works in jobs that demand physical effort.

• Farming and agriculture involve bending, lifting, and repetitive motions that strain the back, shoulders, and knees.
• Construction and meatpacking add risks from heavy loads and fast-paced work.
• These roles can lead to pushing through pain without enough rest or early treatment.

Limited access to care, language barriers, and insurance issues can let small problems become chronic. At ChiroMed, the team understands these community factors and offers culturally sensitive services in a welcoming environment.

How ChiroMed Helps with Musculoskeletal Mobility Issues

ChiroMed—Integrated Medicine Holistic Healthcare, led by Dr. Alexander Jimenez, DC, APRN, FNP-BC, combines chiropractic care, nurse practitioner expertise, rehabilitation, nutrition, and other holistic methods to treat the whole person. The clinic focuses on natural, evidence-based protocols to restore health without heavy reliance on surgery or medications.

Dr. Jimenez and the team specialize in:

• Chiropractic adjustments ease back and neck pain, improve spinal alignment, and reduce nerve pressure.
• Functional rehabilitation programs that build strength, flexibility, posture, and mobility through targeted exercises.
• Pain management for chronic conditions like arthritis, sciatica, low back pain, and work injuries using non-invasive techniques such as spinal decompression, acupuncture, and electro-acupuncture.
• Integrative approaches that include nutrition counseling, supplements for joint support and inflammation reduction, and lifestyle guidance to address obesity and metabolic factors.
• Personalized plans for injury recovery from auto accidents, sports, or occupational strains, helping patients return to work and daily activities.

The practice serves patients of all ages in El Paso, with a strong emphasis on neuromusculoskeletal health, chronic pain relief, and preventive wellness. By blending chiropractic, functional medicine, and advanced nursing care, ChiroMed helps patients achieve better movement, less pain, and improved vitality (ChiroMed, n.d.; Jimenez, n.d.).

Many patients benefit from this multidisciplinary model, which tailors care to individual needs and cultural backgrounds. Early intervention, combined with education on posture, weight management, and safe work habits, can prevent the worsening of these issues.

In El Paso, where many face these mobility challenges, ChiroMed provides accessible, holistic support to help Mexican and Mexican American individuals live more active, pain-free lives.

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References

Arthritis Foundation. (n.d.). Hispanic/Latino wellness guide. https://www.arthritis.org/getmedia/1ad1c86d-79ac-4f82-ba93-9942dd7da93a/Hispanic-Wellness-Guide-VF.pdf

Cartwright, M. S., Walker, F. O., Blocker, J. N., Schulz, M. R., Arcury, T. A., Grzywacz, J. G., Trejo, M. A., & Quandt, S. A. (2015). Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among immigrant Latino farmworkers and non-farmworkers in North Carolina. Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health, 70(1), 29–36. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4452452/

ChiroMed. (n.d.). ChiroMed – Integrated Medicine Holistic Healthcare. https://chiromed.com/

Jimenez, A. (n.d.). Injury specialists. https://dralexjimenez.com/

Martínez-López, D., et al. (2024). Analysis of musculoskeletal disorders-associated disability in Mexico from 1990 to 2021. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38386887/

Martínez-Valle, A., et al. (2023). Trends in the disease burden of musculoskeletal disorders in Mexico from 1990-2019. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37775642/

National Institutes of Health. (n.d.). Older Mexican American adults experiencing pain are at risk of developing frailty. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/older-mexican-american-adults-experiencing-pain-are-risk-developing-frailty

Rowland, S. A., Ramos, A. K., Carvajal-Suarez, M., Trinidad, N., Johnson-Beller, R., Struwe, L., Quintero, S. A., & Pozehl, B. (2021). Musculoskeletal pain and cardiovascular risk in Hispanic/Latino meatpacking workers. Workplace Health & Safety, 69(8), 363–371. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/21650799211016908

University of Texas Medical Branch. (2025, May 12). Arthritis hospitalization risk in Mexico: UTMB study. https://www.utmb.edu/spph/about-us/news/article/news/2025/05/12/arthritis-hospitalization-risk-mexico-utmb-study