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.

 

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.

Spinal Compression Fractures

It’s no surprise that bones become more vulnerable to breaking with age. But what may come as a surprise is that compression fractures can result from weaknesses in the bones themselves. Small breaks in the front part of the vertebrae are often the reason for older people’s decreased height and stooped posture. At Kosak Chiropractic in Fairfield, we want to help our patients avoid the painful consequences of compression fractures, which is why we provide lifestyle medicine as well as pain relief.

When a person has osteopenia, their bones aren’t regrowing fast enough to replace the material that naturally breaks down. If their osteopenia has progressed into osteoporosis, their bones have lost enough material to have a honeycomb-like pattern of gaps. This makes them likelier to suffer small fractures from shocks or jostling as they go about their daily lives, and the accumulation of these fractures can result in the spinal column partially collapsing. Older women are especially at risk for osteoporosis, although it also occurs in men, and spinal fractures often go undiagnosed because their location makes them difficult to see with x-rays if the technicians aren’t specifically looking for them.

We can determine whether a patient should be treated for a compression fracture by doing a manual examination, along with imaging tests and ruling out other causes of pain. Treatment includes bracing while the spine heals and physical therapy to improve the strength of the muscles supporting the spine. We’ll also provide patients with nutritional counseling to improve their intake of calcium and Vitamin D, which will strengthen their bones and slow further bone loss to osteoporosis.

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.

 

Nutritional Counseling

At Kosak Chiropractic, located in Fairfield, CA, we believe that reaching your full potential is based solely on your body being in complete harmony. That’s why Dr. Michael Wilson offers Nutritional Counseling to our patients. This includes diet suggestions, weight loss plans, and in-depth dietary analysis. Finding the time to eat healthy may seem like a difficult task, but it doesn’t have to be. Contact us today.

 

Your body suffers anytime your health is lacking in one area or another. Practicing good nutrition keeps you healthy longer and lets you heal faster. At your appointment with Dr. Wilson, your likes, dislikes, and diet style are used to create your diet plan. This assures us that you'll be comfortable with it. Some flexibility is incorporated too. Your Fairfield chiropractor guides you towards these healthier choices. He may also recommend supplements and nutritional care.

 

When you experience body aches or chronic fatigue, your diet is often overlooked. But lacking certain vitamins and nutrients are a likely cause. Our nutritional counseling addresses these imbalances. What you eat affects your entire body, whether you realize it or not.

 

The first step is to put together a diet diary. Keep track of what you eat and when. Dr. Wilson can pinpoint what exactly is lacking and what you need less of. It’s important to discuss what your exact goals are for nutritional counseling. Weight loss, weight gain, and maintenance all require different courses of action.

 

Nutritional counseling at Kosak Chiropractic helps you achieve a higher quality of life. Don’t wait to contact our office in Fairfield, CA. To schedule your appointment with Dr. Michael Wilson, visit our website or call 707-426-1111.