Ergonomics at a Home Office

A few months ago, we advised our patients on how to keep their backs comfortable while in the office. Since then, a lot more people have been working at home, where they may not have an ideal set-up. We’re taking precautions at Kosak Chiropractic in Fairfield to limit the spread of the coronavirus. But to prevent back pain relapses among people continuing to work from home, we thought it would be a good idea to say a bit more about how to set up a workstation.

Ideally, a computer screen should be at eye-level, with the keyboard and mouse easily reachable by holding the arms straight outward. Unfortunately, this is often not possible with laptops. People should still try to avoid looking downward by elevating the laptop, and may need to look into getting a wireless keyboard. People should keep their feet flat on the floor while typing and try to make sure they’re not resting their wrists on anything that might compress their undersides, which would put them at risk for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

If you don’t have an ergonomic office chair, you’ll need to practice the same protocols you do when sitting in a car for a long trip. Try to support your lower back with a cylindrical cushion or rolled up towel if your chair isn’t giving you back support when you sit up, and make sure you have sufficient padding. You’ll need to stretch every half hour and make sure you’re getting up and moving around at least every ninety minutes. Lastly, make sure you’re listening to your body. If something hurts, don’t assume you’ll get used to it in time; change your workstation so you don’t have to stay in that position.

Kosak Chiropractic is located at 1252 Travis Blvd., Suite G, Fairfield, CA, 94533. To schedule an appointment, visit Kosak Chiropractic online or call 707-426-1111.

How to Save Your Back While Driving

Your body is subjected to a lot of force in a moving car, especially behind the wheel as the driver. Without proper care and prevention, you may suffer from joint pain and long-term health issues. At Kosak Chiropractor in Fairfield, CA, Dr. Michael Wilson is passionate about preventative care, especially when it comes to the bad posture and body aches that come from driving. Here are a few tips and tricks to use the next time you’re on the road. 

 

Adjust Your Seat

One of the first steps to preventing bad posture while driving is adjusting your seat. Start by fixing your seat height, making sure you can see the road and dashboard. At the same time, your seat height should not strain your back or neck when bending down or turning towards the side. For shorter drivers, a cushion for more comfort and to reach the steering wheel is recommended. Keep your right foot relaxed on the pedals, with the heel touching the floor. Use the balls of your feet to press the accelerator or brake pedals. Unless using the clutch, the left foot should remain in the footrest. 

 

Adjust Your Steering Wheel

Your hands around the steering wheel should be in the 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock position. Bring the steering wheel towards you, taking care it doesn’t block any important information on your car’s dashboard. Your Fairfield, CA chiropractor also recommends keeping your arms relaxed and elbows rested on the seat’s armrests.

 

Use the Mirror Trick

A simple technique that encourages good posture is the old mirror trick. In a sitting position at the driver’s seat, adjust your rear and side mirrors. This way you’re forced to sit up straight whenever you have to use them as you drive, resulting in terrific posture!

 

Take Breaks

If you’re driving a road trip, incorporate short stops along your route to stretch. A 15-minute break will do wonders to relax your muscles, increase blood flow, and reduce numbness in the lower limbs. 

 

Kosak Chiropractic is located at 1252 Travis Blvd., Suite G, Fairfield, CA, 94533. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Michael Wilson, visit Kosak Chiropractic online or call 707-426-1111.

 

How Chiropractic Care Benefits Bicyclists

According to People For Bikes, about 47.88 million Americans participated in bicycle riding in 2018. Cycling, a popular sport, and leisure activity is only growing with thousands of riders today. At Kosak Chiropractic in Fairfield, CA, many of Dr. Michael Wilson’s patients are avid bicyclists. Here are five ways bicyclists benefit from chiropractic care.

 

Correct Posture

A biker’s position places more pressure on your neck and back. Your trusted Fairfield, CA chiropractor evaluates your spine for misalignment and damage. Through a variety of spinal manipulations, we will correct your posture and provide different tips and tricks to maintain good spinal health the next time you get on a bicycle.

 

Relieve Joint Pain
Cycling places a strain on your joints, especially around the hip and knee areas. Using treatments like exercise and massage therapies, we loosen stiff muscles and strengthen your joints. 

 

Treat Injuries
Like any sport, biking has its fair share of accidents. At Kosak Chiropractic, Dr. Wilson is skilled in treating common bike injuries. This includes impact injuries, tendonitis, head and spine trauma, ruptured discs, and much more. 

 

Manage Shoulder & Neck Pain

One of the most common ailments bikers face is shoulder and neck pain. Hunching over your handlebars while trekking over long trails increases the tension on your spine. At Kosak Chiropractic, we recommend spinal manipulations, acupuncture, or massage depending on the level of injury. 

 

Preventative Care

Even if you don’t suffer from injuries or biking-induced pain, we strongly encourage riders to visit our Fairfield, CA office today. We believe prevention is the best medicine for overall health. Our care improves mobility, flexibility, and strength, so you can enjoy bicycling free of pain and illnesses!

 

Kosak Chiropractic is located at 1252 Travis Blvd., Suite G, Fairfield, CA, 94533. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Michael Wilson, visit Kosak Chiropractic online or call 707-426-1111.

 

 

H-Wave Therapy

At Kosak Chiropractic, we believe in the best chiropractic care for our patients. This is why we employ the latest state-of-the-art technology known as H-Wave therapy to relieve pain. To learn more about how H-Wave therapy speeds your recovery, schedule an appointment with Dr. Michael Wilson of Kosak Chiropractic in Fairfield, CA today!

 

What is H-Wave Therapy?

H-Wave therapy is a type of electrical stimulation therapy. At Kosak Chiropractic in Fairfield, CA, Dr. Wilson uses this treatment method to relieve chronic and injury pain, restore function, and speed recovery of his patients.

 

Why is H-Wave Therapy Beneficial?

Unlike other electrical nerve stimulation therapies, H-Wave therapy doesn’t just relieve symptoms and pain. This electro-therapeutic treatment is designed for long-term wellness and health. It rehabilitates dysfunctional areas of the body by improving circulation and enhancing the movement of fluids to facilitate proper lymphatic drainage. Patients reap this treatment’s many benefits all while avoiding the addictive side effects of medications and any severe reactions.

 

How Does H-Wave Therapy Work?

Your trusted Fairfield, CA will apply mild frequencies of sound waves into the inflamed tissues of the body. Depending on the type of injury you have, we will apply one of two stimulation levels: high-frequency or ultra-low frequency to promote safe and effective healing. An average session with H-Wave therapy will last from 30-60 minutes, so book your appointment today!

 

Kosak Chiropractic is located at 1252 Travis Blvd., Suite G, Fairfield, CA, 94533. To schedule an appointment, visit Kosak Chiropractic online or call 707-426-1111.

 

 

Hip Labral Tears

Do you feel pain in one of your hips when you’ve been standing, sitting, or moving for a long time? Does it feel stiff or like it gets caught? If so, there may be a problem with the joint’s cartilage. At Kosak Chiropractic in Fairfield, we’re more than just a clinic for back pain. Our experts in musculoskeletal health use non-addictive, non-invasive treatments for all sorts of joint problems. This week, we’re discussing a type of hip injury known as a labral tear.

A labrum is a seal of cartilage that locks the ball of the femoral head into the socket of the pelvis. (There’s one connecting the arm to the shoulder, too.) The labrum also provides cushioning, and if it tears, a person is at risk for developing arthritis or a bone spur in the future. Although the labrum can be damaged by an acute injury, it can also wear down due to repetitive motions, particularly in people who had an abnormal ball and socket connection to begin with. People who play sports that stress the hip muscles, such as soccer and hockey, are at greater risk for developing hip labral tears.

Hip labrum tears don’t always have symptoms, but they may be accompanied by other injuries. An x-ray will help us to determine if there’s something wrong with the bones of the joint that would require a chiropractic adjustment. Otherwise, patients will likely be prescribed physical therapy to improve their hip’s range of motion and stretch out their muscles. We can also use electric muscle stimulation and therapeutic massages to reduce inflammation and shorten workout recovery time.

Kosak Chiropractic is located at 1252 Travis Blvd., Suite G, Fairfield, CA, 94533. To schedule an appointment, visit Kosak Chiropractic online or call 707-426-1111.

 

Causes of a Stiff Back

Lower back pain is one of the most common health ailments. It has several causes, and most people are at risk for at least a few of them. However, the most common causes of back stiffness can be treated with minimal invasiveness and without the use of dangerous medications. At Kosak Chiropractic in Fairfield, we’re dedicated to providing holistic treatments and lifestyle counseling that will prevent the return of back stiffness, so let’s take a closer look at how it can be prevented.

Usually, lower back stiffness can be traced to overuse of some muscles, putting excessive pressure on the structures of the spine. But the muscles in question aren’t always in the back. When the hamstrings or hip flexors are tight, they’ll pull on the lower spine, putting it out of alignment with the pelvis and potentially triggering inflammation. The same can occur with the ligaments in that area. Certain positions also make inefficient use of the lower back’s muscle and ligament support, such as when a person sits hunched forward or slouching backwards. If a person isn’t warming up before exercising, they’re especially likely to strain their supporting muscles through acute injuries or long term wear. Prolonged inflammation and excess pressure could wear down the cartilage cushioning the joints between their vertebrae, leading to more stiffness.

Chiropractic adjustments can realign joints, reducing the pressure on nearby tissues and preventing erosion of cartilage. But to remain healthy, a patient will need to engage in core strengthening and flexibility exercises. Core strengthening will provide the lower back with more support, and flexibility training will lengthen the hip muscles so they don’t pull as much on the spine. Maintaining better posture will also help to prevent tightness in the lower back as well as the neck.

Kosak Chiropractic is located at 1252 Travis Blvd., Suite G, Fairfield, CA, 94533. To schedule an appointment, visit Kosak Chiropractic online or call 707-426-1111.

 

Golf Injuries

If you’re looking for a way to exercise while physically distancing, golf isn’t a bad option. Besides allowing you to stretch your limbs, it exposes you to plenty of sunlight, which will allow you to build stronger bones. But golf can take a toll on your back if you’re not careful, and at Kosak Chiropractic in Fairfield, we’ve seen a lot of golfers suffer from lower back pain. Although we provide holistic, non-addictive treatments to enable a speedy recovery, we want our patients to know how to prevent wear and tear to their musculoskeletal system.

Swinging a golf club subjects the torso and hips to strong forces. The spine is rotating quickly on a tilt, and the lumbar region, or lower back, doesn’t have as much internal stability as other parts of the spinal column. Ideally, the hips and shoulders should be rotating with the spine to create a fluid motion, but if not, the muscles and ligaments attaching to it may be strained. In worse cases, a spinal disc may rupture, or a fracture in the facet joints may allow a vertebra to become unstable. Disc injuries tend to occur more in older athletes, while facet joint injuries tend to happen more often to younger people.

Anytime a person exercises, it’s important to warm up first by doing dynamic stretches. It’s a good idea for new golfers to seek professional training, but one basic pointer is that they should bend with their hips and knees instead of their lower backs. If a golfer suffers an injury that is still causing problems after a day of rest and icing, we can provide a diagnostic and determine whether they would benefit from treatments including chiropractic adjustments, electric muscle stimulation, therapeutic massages, and ultrasound. We’ll also recommend therapeutic exercises that will improve core strength and the flexibility of the hips and shoulders.

Kosak Chiropractic is located at 1252 Travis Blvd., Suite G, Fairfield, CA, 94533. To schedule an appointment, visit Kosak Chiropractic online or call 707-426-1111.

 

Recurring Foot Cramps

As experts in caring for the musculoskeletal system, we at Kosak Chiropractic in Fairfield often help patients to recover from recurring muscle cramps. Our methods are safe and non-invasive, but as a practice devoted to maintaining wellness, we want our patients to understand how to avoid the causes of cramps, as well. In the summer, people are especially prone to developing foot cramps, and if these go unaddressed, they could throw off the balance of the whole body.

A foot cramp, or charley horse, occurs when a muscle in the foot contracts and won’t release. Some foot muscles travel up the calf, and it’s possible for a constriction to be related to something elsewhere in the lower limb. If the cramp occurs while the patient is lying down, they are advised to put weight on the affected foot by pressing it against the floor. If the cramp occurred while they were active, they can gently stretch their leg out while massaging their calf and pulling their toes toward their face. A heating pad may also be helpful, but should only be applied for fifteen minutes at a time.

People should always stretch before exercising. If you frequently get foot cramps while playing sports, you may need to review whether your warm-ups are adequately increasing blood flow to your lower limbs. If your foot cramps occur at night, the problem may be that your shoes are too tight. Dehydration also plays a role in muscle cramps, which is why they happen more in the summer. If stretching, better footwear, and hydration aren’t enough to stop the cramps from coming back, we may examine the patient for signs of a nerve compression in their hip or lower back. A chiropractic adjustment or therapeutic massage may help to relieve pressure from the peripheral nerves. As providers of lifestyle medicine counseling, we may also advise patients to increase their intake of potassium, calcium, and magnesium.

Kosak Chiropractic is located at 1252 Travis Blvd., Suite G, Fairfield, CA, 94533. To schedule an appointment, visit Kosak Chiropractic online or call 707-426-1111.

 

Leg Pain and Back Problems

As a chiropractic office, Kosak Chiropractic in Fairfield offers holistic treatments for problems in the musculoskeletal system. The nerves to the rest of our bodies emerge from the spine, and many muscles in the lower body connect to the pelvis or lower back. Since leg pain and back pain are often intertwined, let’s take a look at how they may play into each other and how we treat them.

The nerves to the legs emerge from the lumbar region of the spine, or lower back. They pass through the muscles of the pelvis, and compression in these nerves could cause a shooting pain, tingling, or numbness. The compression could occur at the point where they emerge from the spine as a result of a herniated disc, a bone spur, or the dislocation of a vertebra. There might also be swelling in the piriformis muscle, which links the lower back to the leg, in the sacroiliac joints, which connect the pelvis to the base of the spine, or in the bursae that lubricate each hip. Swelling and constriction in the leg muscles might also cause them to pull on the hips or lower back.

These are not the only causes of leg pain, but they are among the most common and the most responsive to noninvasive treatment. We work to reduce inflammation and set joints back in the right place by performing gentle, manual adjustments. These adjustments can release pressure on compressed nerves and allow the body to continue its natural healing process. We may also perform massage therapy and electric muscle stimulation to relax tight lower back muscles and allow blood to flow in and out more easily.

Kosak Chiropractic is located at 1252 Travis Blvd., Suite G, Fairfield, CA, 94533. To schedule an appointment, visit Kosak Chiropractic online or call 707-426-1111.

Cervicogenic Headaches

If you frequently suffer from headaches, the problem may be in your neck. As experts in musculoskeletal care, we at Kosak Chiropractic are happy to assist people suffering from blockages in the cervical spine. But many people are unaware of how this may be able to relieve pain ranging from their lower jaw to the top of their head, which is why we wanted to explain what cervicogenic headaches are and how chiropractic can combat them.

Sensation in our faces comes from the trigeminal nerve. It emerges from the cervical spine, or neck region, and branches off to the eyes and forehead, maxilla, and mandible. If there is a compression in the cervical spine, pain may be referred to the trigeminal nerve and we would call it "cervicogenic." Compression could be due to swollen muscles, a herniated disc, or dislocated facet joints, among the more common reasons, and is often the result of whiplash. Pain may also radiate to a shoulder or arm, but will usually be limited to one side of the body.

Although whiplash is the most common cause of cervicogenic headaches, people who work with their heads down, such as hair stylists and craftsmen, and people who have bad posture while typing also risk straining their neck muscles. We’ll use manual examinations, range of motion tests, and imaging scans to determine whether a headache could be cervicogenic. If it is, we may employ chiropractic adjustments of the neck, which use gentle, controlled force to stretch the neck muscles and correct the position of the joints. We will also recommend therapeutic exercises that will strengthen the neck muscles to better support the spine and become less vulnerable to fraying.

Kosak Chiropractic is located at 1252 Travis Blvd., Suite G, Fairfield, CA, 94533. To schedule an appointment, visit Kosak Chiropractic online or call 707-426-1111.

Back Pain in Teen Athletes

Although teenagers don’t suffer from back pain at as high a rate as adults, they’re not immune to it. There are several health conditions that could predispose a teenager to developing back problems, and the teenage years are when athletes usually begin to incur a risk of overuse injuries. At Kosak Chiropractic in Fairfield, we’re happy to help teens learn about wellness and what they can do to exercise safely and recover effectively.

Usually, when teenagers suffer back pain due to overuse injuries, the damage is limited to their muscles. In such cases, they may want to apply ice for fifteen minute intervals immediately after the injury and gradually work their way back to normal activity. If pain is recurring, we can provide electric muscle stimulation and cold laser therapy. But without a professional diagnosis, it may be difficult to tell the difference between muscle sprain and a dislocation of the spinal column. These could include spondylolisthesis, in which one of the vertebrae slip forward past the others, a fracture in the facet joints, or, less common in adolescents, a herniated disc.

Chiropractic adjustments can be helpful while recovering from a spinal injury, but we also offer lifestyle counseling, including physical therapy and nutrition. Teenage girls, in particular, are vulnerable to osteoporosis, and need both regular calcium and strong core muscles to prevent back injuries. Scoliosis is also more common in girls, and teenagers need to be examined for it at regular appointments. They may be able to reduce its severity through physical therapy and bracing.

Kosak Chiropractic is located at 1252 Travis Blvd., Suite G, Fairfield, CA, 94533. To schedule an appointment, visit Kosak Chiropractic online or call 707-426-1111.

Exercises for Healthy Hips

Keeping your muscles strong and flexible is essential for keeping your skeleton in alignment. Whether you’re recovering from an injury or just trying to stay healthy, it's a good idea to be stretching regularly. At Kosak Chiropractic in Fairfield, we help patients to devise individualized therapeutic regimens that fit their needs and are safe for them. But there are a few strategies for maintaining strong hips that work for most people, so let’s explore the basics.

We need to be cautious about forms of exercise such as jumping that subject the joints to repeated impacts. While in recovery from an injury, it’s often better to start slowly with range-of-motion exercises, such as hip circles. This means standing on one leg and slowly rotating the other in the air. Another exercise is the knee-to-chest stretch, in which a person lies on their back with their legs straight, and lifts one knee toward their chest and holds it before switching to the other leg. Side leg raises, in which a person lies on their side and lifts their leg while keeping it extended, are also a good way of strengthening the glutes.

As a person recovers, they’ll be able to do more complicated stretches and higher-stress exercises, such as lunges. The keys to avoiding overuse injuries are to ramp up intensity slowly and to maintain a varied work-out routine. Strong core and hip muscles will allow runners and other athletes to better withstand the jostling their joints are subjected to when their feet strike the ground or they have to change direction suddenly. We can also help athletes to recover faster by providing electric muscle stimulation, which increases blood flow by contracting the muscles, and by adjusting dislocated joints that may be putting extra strain on the hip and lower back muscles.

Kosak Chiropractic is located at 1252 Travis Blvd., Suite G, Fairfield, CA, 94533. To schedule an appointment, visit Kosak Chiropractic online or call 707-426-1111.

Hip Bursitis

When there’s a problem in the biomechanics of their hip, a person is at greater risk of developing bursitis. This kind of inflammation could cause them further pain and make it difficult to move their leg. At Kosak Chiropractic in Fairfield, we provide a variety of treatments to reduce inflammation and correct biomechanical problems, and are happy to help patients determine whether bursitis could be behind their discomfort.

A bursa is a cushioning sac of fluid surrounded by a membrane made of a tissue called synovium. Bursae secrete lubricant, and they may be found in several parts of the body including the front and side of the hips. The bursae on the sides of the hips are the ones that get injured more often. Known as the trochanteric bursae, one is located on the outward-facing side of the top of each thighbone. They may suffer acute injuries or become inflamed due to stress put on them by overly tight connective fascia and tendons, although degeneration of those tissues could be painful even without inflaming the bursae.

Pain from hip bursitis is usually worse when a person has been at rest, and it may interfere with them moving their leg past the midpoint of their body. The pain may also radiate from the side of the hip to the lower back or thigh. We’ll determine whether a patient is suffering from biomechanical problems along their lower limbs that might be throwing off the alignment of their pelvic joints and contributing to excessive pressure on the bursae. Treatment options include joint adjustments, stretching and physical therapy to improve the flexibility of the hip tendons and ligaments, and therapeutic ultrasound to improve blood flow.

Kosak Chiropractic is located at 1252 Travis Blvd., Suite G, Fairfield, CA, 94533. To schedule an appointment, visit Kosak Chiropractic online or call 707-426-1111.

Process of Disc Degeneration

A herniated disc can be a big problem. Besides being sore, it may cause pain or numbness to radiate to other parts of your body and contribute to further dysfunction in your spinal column. But there is a difference between a disc that becomes herniated due to an injury and degenerative disc disease. At Kosak Chiropractic in Fairfield, we provide holistic, low-risk treatment for both, but we want to focus this week on the importance of managing disc degeneration.

The spinal discs are shock absorbers and supply much of the spine’s height. They are interspersed between the bodies of the articulated vertebrae, with the exception of the top two vertebrae. Spinal discs consist of an inner ring of gel called the nucleus pulposus and an outer ring of fibrous material, called the annulus fibrosus. One of the common problems with aging is that the nucleus pulposus loses water, causing it to become less springy and putting the annulus fibrosus at greater risk of developing small tears. As the annulus fibrosus degenerates, it becomes deformed, creating a risk that the disc will bulge outward and compress nearby tissues. It also releases proteins that trigger inflammation, restricting the patient’s movement.

A herniated disc can cause a throbbing ache, and if it’s compressing a nerve root, the patient may also feel a shooting pain along that nerve. In those cases, we can provide chiropractic adjustments to put the discs and vertebrae back in the right place and use therapeutic massage to reduce inflammation. It’s not clear why the nucleus pulposus loses water with age, but musculoskeletal maintenance can help keep pressure off the spinal discs. Therapeutic exercises will keep the back muscles strong and flexible, and our nutritional counseling will help patients maintain a healthy weight.

Kosak Chiropractic is located at 1252 Travis Blvd., Suite G, Fairfield, CA, 94533. To schedule an appointment, visit Kosak Chiropractic online or call 707-426-1111.

Hyperkyphosis

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle will help you to avoid back pain later in life. You’ve doubtlessly noticed that some people hunch forward more as they age. This is called hyperkyphosis, and although we can treat people with sore backs at Kosak Chiropractic in Fairfield, we wanted to explain a bit about how it develops, and how we can work with patients to prevent it.

Hyperkyphosis is usually associated with osteoporosis. Our bones are living tissue, and are constantly breaking down and rebuilding. But when a person doesn’t get enough minerals to rebuild their bones, they are said to have osteoporosis, and their vertebrae start to deteriorate. When the vertebrae's structure has become less dense, a condition called osteopenia, they are at greater risk of incurring tiny compression fractures from ordinary activities. If a person accumulates a lot of tiny fractures, the vertebrae could begin collapsing, causing the person to stoop forward.

Usually, compression fractures occur in the body of the vertebrae. As part of our preventive care, we offer lifestyle medicine, such as diets and supplements that will help a person get enough calcium and Vitamin D to maintain their bone density. But we also recommend core-strengthening exercises, which will reduce the burden on vertebral bodies. Swimming and yoga are popular ways of building up core muscles that don’t subject the spine to impacts. Maintaining better posture while standing and seated can also reduce strain on the back muscles.

Kosak Chiropractic is located at 1252 Travis Blvd., Suite G, Fairfield, CA, 94533. To schedule an appointment, visit Kosak Chiropractic online or call 707-426-1111.

Shoulder Pain and Pinched Nerves

The spinal column is of crucial importance to the rest of the body. That’s why if you experience pain in your shoulder or arm, you shouldn’t be too surprised if the problem is in your neck. At Kosak Chiropractic in Fairfield, we’re experienced treatment providers to people suffering from pinched nerves. We offer several non-addictive, minimally invasive therapies, but to understand why they work, let’s take a closer look at how the shoulder and neck are connected.

 

Several nerves emerge from the spinal cord in the neck, which is also known as the cervical region. They bundle together in the shoulder and split off again into separate sections of the shoulder region, arm, and hand. If a nerve is compressed where it emerges, which is called cervical radiculopathy, a person may feel a lacerating pain along its length, or they may feel a throbbing pain that comes and goes. A pinched might also feel numb or tingly, but pain caused by pinching in the neck would usually only happen on one side of the body.

 

Imaging tests will help us to determine whether there is a blockage in the neck. We will also ask the patient to demonstrate how far they can bend their neck and which movements cause them pain. The problem could be caused by a disc that has degenerated or been torn, causing inflammation or for its gel to push against a nerve. Inflammation could also be caused by osteoarthritis, in which the cartilage between joints erodes and the bones rub each other. We can treat these problems by performing chiropractic adjustments, which will restore the discs and vertebrae to their right position. We can also teach the patient therapeutic stretches that will loosen the neck muscles, making them less prone to inflammation.

Kosak Chiropractic is located at 1252 Travis Blvd., Suite G, Fairfield, CA, 94533. To schedule an appointment, visit Kosak Chiropractic online or call 707-426-1111.

Common Whiplash Treatments

Whiplash is a common kind of neck injury. It can take many forms, but it is often painful, and the pain may radiate. We offer several safe, complementary therapies for whiplash at Kosak Chiropractic in Fairfield, and are available for our patients during the coronavirus outbreak. But we need you to understand why if you may have suffered whiplash, you need to take it seriously.

 

You may have heard whiplash referred to as cervical acceleration-deceleration syndrome. That is because it is characterized by the microtears the soft tissues of the neck incur when a person’s head is whipped back and forth, as frequently happens during car crashes. Small tears in the muscles, ligaments, and spinal discs will cause the tissues to become inflamed and stiffen, limiting the neck’s movement. The pain may be throbbing, or it may feel like pins and needles and come and go. It may also travel along the neck muscles into the shoulders or up to the head.

 

We will diagnose the extent of a person’s whiplash injury through imaging and range-of-motion tests. Resting injured muscles too much risks that they will further deteriorate, which is why we will use the information we learn during the diagnosis to prescribe gentle stretching exercises, instead. We may also reduce stiffness by gently adjusting the neck and administering therapeutic massages. Whiplash symptoms may take a while to develop, but they respond better to treatment when caught early. If you’ve been in a vehicular crash or similar accident, schedule an appointment with us right away.

Kosak Chiropractic is located at 1252 Travis Blvd., Suite G, Fairfield, CA, 94533. To schedule an appointment, visit Kosak Chiropractic online or call 707-426-1111.

Stiff Neck Muscles

Neck pain is scary. If you feel your neck muscles gradually becoming more fatigued, you may wonder whether you’ll be able to go about your normal activities, or whether you’re going to be in too much pain to move. Fortunately, help is available. At Kosak Chiropractic, we provide fast, non-invasive treatments for a variety of musculoskeletal problems, including those in the neck. But we also want patients to know how to avoid relapses, so let’s take a closer look at neck stiffness.

Any muscle can stiffen when it’s strained and kept in the same position for too long. The neck contains several complex muscles, but the ones likeliest to suffer from wear and tear are the levator scapulae. These muscles, one on each side, connect the backs of the upper cervical vertebrae to the back of the shoulder and are responsible for moving both. They are at particular risk for wear when a person hunches forward in front of a computer or while looking at a mobile device. They can also be overused by repetitive motions, such as swimmers turning their heads to the side with each stroke, or by a person sleeping on their front, forcing their head back and sideways.

Sometimes, neck pain is caused by a herniated disc compressing a neck muscle. Our office can assist patients with herniated discs by providing chiropractic adjustments, but for people who are simply suffering strain, we can provide therapeutic massages. We will also teach neck stretches that will restore the flexibility of the levator scapulae and other muscles. Lastly, we help patients to identify areas in which they can adjust their lifestyle to keep better posture. Remember, keep your monitor at eye level and raise your phone instead of bending your neck.

Kosak Chiropractic is located at 1252 Travis Blvd., Suite G, Fairfield, CA, 94533. To schedule an appointment, visit Kosak Chiropractic online or call 707-426-1111.

Osteoarthritic Hip Pain

Kosak Chiropractic in Fairfield treats aches and pains by taking a holistic perspective on health. If a patient is suffering from hip pain, it won’t just be their hip that’s affected, but also their lower back and legs. But by the same token, improvement in hip function can improve overall health, and we offer several non-addictive, complementary treatments for strengthening hips affected by osteoarthritis.

When a person has osteoarthritis, the cartilage that cushions the bones in their joints is eroding. This causes the bones to rub together, triggering inflammation and the growth of bony spurs. Wear and tear is a factor in osteoarthritis, and as the cartilage on the ball of the femur gets worn down, grinding between the femur and socket of the hip changes the hip’s mechanics. The muscles and ligaments surrounding the hip joint are complex, allowing the leg to move in all directions, and as they experience more friction, they become strained. The hip will often stiffen, leading to deterioration of the muscles between the leg and lower back.

Hip pain will often be worse when a person has been lying down or seated for a long time. Although it is tempting to rest for long periods, inactivity will cause further atrophy of the hip muscles. Instead, they need to be strengthened and made more flexible through therapeutic exercise. We can help by prescribing personalized work-out routines as well as providing anti-inflammatory treatments such as therapeutic massages and electric muscle stimulation. We also advise patients on better posture to reduce stress on their pelvic joints, and perform chiropractic adjustments on lower back vertebrae that are under stress due to tight muscles.

Kosak Chiropractic is located at 1252 Travis Blvd., Suite G, Fairfield, CA, 94533. To schedule an appointment, visit Kosak Chiropractic online or call 707-426-1111.

Lower Back Pain in Runners

Although it is to our long-term benefit to exercise regularly, lower back pain is a common problem among runners. Many athletes, professionals as well as amateurs, experience soreness in their lower backs and hips immediately after work-outs. Over time, they may be at risk for wearing down their muscles, spinal discs, or cartilage. At Kosak Chiropractic in Fairfield, we want to ensure all our patients are able to maintain a healthy lifestyle, which is why we wanted to discuss preventive care for runners.

We have several deep muscles in our core and hips that help to stabilize our spines. When they’re strong, they restrict torque and lateral sway, and put more force into our strides. But our core muscles aren’t just the ones we see from the outside. The deep muscles linking our lower spines, pelvis, and femurs can easily become tight if we’re sitting all day, and the condition of our surface abdominal muscle doesn’t necessarily reflect the strength of the ones beneath it. 

If you experience radiating pain, you should come to our office to be treated for a pinched nerve. But if you are trying to reduce post-workout aches, you may want to try more hip stretches and core strengthening. Bridges, side-lying leg raises, and side planks are exercises that target the hip muscles connecting to the lower back. You should also try to make sure you’re getting in a twenty minute walk each day, if you work in an office setting, and making sure you warm up and cool down adequately during each work-out. If you’re unsure whether exercising is safe for you, we can help you devise a personalized work-out plan.

Kosak Chiropractic is located at 1252 Travis Blvd., Suite G, Fairfield, CA, 94533. To schedule an appointment, visit Kosak Chiropractic online or call 707-426-1111.