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.

 

 

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.

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.

Upper Back Pain

With all the attention neck and lower back pain get, it’s easy for upper back pain to be neglected. But although this condition is less common than pain elsewhere in the spinal column, it still affects large numbers of people. We’re dedicated to providing non-invasive, non-addictive pain relief at Kosak Chiropractic in Fairfield, so we want people to understand more about the causes of upper back pain and why chiropractic care is often the best approach.

Thoracic vertebrae are a bit better protected than those above and below them. There are twelve vertebrae in the thoracic region, and their mobility is limited by additional joints that connect to the ribs. Nonetheless, people can develop herniated discs, arthritis, or muscle irritation as a result of bad posture or nutrition. The upper back may also be damaged by traumatic injuries such as those sustained in a car crash. Women and older men are likelier to develop upper back pain, as are people whose jobs require them to lift things above their heads or sit for long periods.

Chiropractic adjustments can relieve stress on herniated discs and the surrounding soft tissues. We also offer massage therapy to soothe irritated muscles and reduce inflammation. Preventing a relapse of upper back pain will likely require a patient to engage in therapeutic exercises that will strengthen their back muscles, relieving pressure from the spinal column. We will also teach patients better posture to practice at the office or wherever they work, which will slow the progress of degenerative conditions and allow their joints and muscles to heal naturally.

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.

 

Introduction to Spondylolisthesis

One of the reasons that lower back pain is so common is that it can be caused by several conditions. Spondylolisthesis is a complicated word for describing a relatively simple concept: a vertebra that has slipped forward. At Kosak Chiropractic in Fairfield, we can diagnose spondylolisthesis and work with patients to relieve their pain in a non-addictive manner. But it’s important for patients to be aware of the possibility they have spondylolisthesis so they’ll know to take their pain and rehabilitation seriously.

Vertebrae are made up of a large flat body with an arch in back and facets for attaching to the other vertebrae above and below. Between the vertebrae bodies are spongy discs that act as shock absorbers. The facet joints contain cartilage and are lubricated by a fluid called synovium. As a person ages, their spinal discs tend to become dehydrated, and the lining of their facet joints may wear down and become inflamed. In this condition, it’s easier for a vertebra to slip out of place and compress nearby tissues, causing soreness. Although any vertebra could slip, the vertebrae of the lumbar region, or lower back, are the ones at greatest risk. When they’re out of place, they may compress the sciatic nerves, causing shooting pains or numbness down the legs.

We’ll use a combination of imaging and tactile tests to determine whether a patient is suffering from spondylolisthesis. It is common for more than one vertebrae to be displaced. Treatment options may include chiropractic adjustments to realign the joints and anti-inflammatory treatments such as electric muscle stimulation and therapeutic massages. Long-term bed rest is not usually recommended, since it would allow the back muscles to atrophy. Instead, we’ll advise the patient on therapeutic exercises that will allow the back muscles to take more pressure off the facet joints and spinal discs. The patient may also want to switch to impact-free aerobic exercise, such as swimming.

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 the Office

With so many people staying seated most of the time, it’s no wonder that back pain is so common. Maintaining any position for too long causes muscles and tendons to seize up, but office workers, especially, tend to sit in a way that puts excessive stress on their joints and soft tissues. At Kosak Chiropractic in Fairfield, we utilize a variety of complementary, non-invasive treatments to restore people to health. But to prevent back pain from returning, they need to know how to sit properly.

The best posture to hold when seated is one that allows most of your musculoskeletal system to remain aligned. When seated at a desk, you’ll want your chair to be at a level that allows your thighs to be perpendicular to the floor while your feet are flat on the ground. Your elbows should also be slightly elevated, allowing you to reach straight forward to your mouse and keyboard. Your computer monitors should be at eye-level when you are sitting straight, and you should sit as far back in your chair as you can, with your back resting on the back cushion. Above all, you want to avoid slouching forward or backward, and to not have anything in your back pockets.

But even the best posture is unhealthy when a person doesn’t move around enough. People should stretch every half hour and get out of their chairs to walk around at least every ninety minutes. Most people are advised to get in at least twenty minutes of aerobic exercise a day. Stretching out the hips and legs will help reduce strain on the lower back, as will increased core strength. If a person is currently suffering pain, we can help to diagnose their condition and provide treatments, including massage therapy for soft tissues and chiropractic adjustments.

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.

 

Spinal Spurs

Spinal spurs are a common problem. These abnormal growths of bone tissue in the vertebrae are a frequent occurrence as people age, and if they’re positioned badly, they can contribute to joint inflammation and compressed nerve roots. But although spurs can fuel vicious cycles of inflammation and abnormal bone development, they don’t usually require surgical treatment. At Kosak Chiropractic in Fairfield, we provide pain relief that is minimally invasive and will position the body to function better in the future.

 Bone spurs develop at locations of inflammation. When a person has osteoarthritis, the cartilage that cushions the joints connecting the vertebrae wears away. As a result, the spinal joints become inflamed by rubbing against each other, and spurs develop that limit their mobility. Spurs can also develop when the discs between vertebrae are damaged. As the disc becomes less able to cushion the vertebrae and their connecting soft tissues, the soft tissues are subjected to additional wear and become inflamed. This allows spurs to develop at the point where the ligaments connect to bone.

Spurs can be identified through imaging tests such as x-rays. We’ll also ask patients to undergo range-of-motion tests so we can determine if there’s nerve blockage or muscle fatigue. Treatments focus on reducing inflammation and restoring range-of-motion. We’ll use chiropractic adjustments to relieve pressure on the spinal joints and electric muscle stimulation and ultrasound to loosen muscles and ligaments. We can also employ massage therapy to push old blood out of inflamed areas and allow nutrient-rich fresh blood in. Lastly, therapeutic exercises will keep the back muscles strong, providing better support to overburdened spinal joints.

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.

 

Beat Back Pain by Strengthening Your Core

At Kosak Chiropractic in Fairfield, CA, we find that the majority of our patients with back pain lack core stability. A weak core can increase the risk of disc bulges and nerve damage. There are numerous exercises that can be done, even in the comfort of your own home with little to no equipment needed, to steadily build your core, relieve back pain, and ultimately prevent future back pain.

Some core-building exercises include:

- Plank

- Clamshell

- Bird Dog

- Glute Bridge Single-Leg Progression

- Pelvic Tilt/Glute Bridge

- Side Plank

- Tabletop Leg Press

- Superman

- Dead Bug

- Cat Stretches

- Reverse/Forward Lunge

These exercises can also help with balance, function, stability, and limit the chances of getting seriously injured. Your Fairfield chiropractors want to inform patients with new knowledge about their back pain and how they can treat it with an at-home regimen on days when they do not come into the office. However, it is important to remember that if any of these exercises increase pain, numbness, or weakness, you should immediately stop doing them and speak to your chiropractor.

Do you have any questions or concerns? We are happy to help. Kosak Chiropractic is located on 1252 Travis Blvd., Suite G, in Fairfield, CA 94533. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please visit kosakchiropractic.com or call us at 707-426-1111.

 

Shoes for a Healthy Posture

Have you ever felt sore in your legs and lower back after wearing an uncomfortable pair of shoes for a long time? That’s an unfortunately common experience, and at Kosak Chiropractic in Fairfield, we want our patients to know how to avoid it. Just as wearing the wrong shoes can throw your pelvis and back out of alignment, wearing the right ones can provide you with crucial support, so this holiday shopping season, we want you to know how to shop for shoes that are good for you.

In the past, flip flops, sandals, and dress shoes often did not support the bottom and side of the arch of the foot. That’s starting to change as more companies manufacture shoes that support the wearer’s gait, but the best shoes are still those with ankle support and traction. Shoes used for running will ideally be breathable and have cushioning in the ankle, but be lightweight. They will likely need to be replaced after a few months if used on a daily basis.

The foot spreads out slightly over the course of the day, so people shopping in the evening might get a more accurate fit. They should be sure to wear socks similar to the ones they’ll wear with the shoe and they’ll want to get both feet measured, since their feet may not be exactly the same size. If a shoe still feels too tight after being worn for ten minutes, it may not be a good fit. If a patient feels sore after getting shoes and has more questions about their gait, we can assess whether their back, knees, and pelvis are well-aligned.

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.

 

Facet Joint Disorders

One of the reasons back pain is so common is that it has many different causes. Our spinal columns are complex systems, and there are several points where wear or breakage can cause widespread discomfort. We utilize a wide range of safe, holistic treatments at Kosak Chiropractic in Fairfield to ensure that our patients heal properly, but first, we need to be able to identify the cause of their problem. When a person has intermittent bouts of back pain that radiate to nearby limbs, they may have a facet joint disorder.

In the backs of the vertebrae are bony arches through which the spinal cord runs. Attached to these arches are protuberances that connect to the protuberances of the vertebrae above and below, forming facet joints. The facet joints allow the spinal column a bit of tortion and bend, but they mostly keep the vertebrae in place. When they are damaged, whether through wear and tear or an injury, it is likelier that a vertebra will become displaced and that inflammation will develop around the joint.

Facet joint disorders rarely affect the spinal nerves. Pain may radiate through the muscles to the upper leg or arm, but rarely further. However, the symptoms of facet joint damage otherwise appear similar to herniated discs, which is why we’ll need to perform manual and imaging diagnostics. Treatments for facet joint disorder include spinal adjustments, massage therapy, electric muscle stimulation, and therapeutic ultrasound. We may also recommend that a patient engage in therapeutic exercises that will strengthen their back muscles, relieving pressure from the facet joints.

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.

 

Safety while Raking

Yardwork is a great way to exercise and get much-needed sunlight. But like all exercise, it has to be done in a way that minimizes the risk of joint and soft tissue damage. We at Kosak Chiropractic in Fairfield are happy to assist people who have suffered a strain while raking, but we also want to ensure our patients are staying safe. Therefore, we thought we’d pass along some raking tips from the American Chiropractic Association.

You’ll want to use a rake that is long enough that you won’t need to bend down while using it, but that is lightweight. Dress in clothes that are warm, but breathable, and that allow you to move freely. Tie back your hair and remove dangling jewelry. You’ll need shoes that are supportive and have slip-resistant soles. To cut down on how much weight you’ll be lifting, try to only rake when the leaves are dry.

Prior to raking, do a five-minute warm-up of dynamic stretches, just as you would before any work-out. As you rake, stand in a scissor position, with one foot forward and one back. Switch which hand is higher on the rake about every five minutes, and as you lift the leaves, squat down or bend at your hips, not your waist. Test whether you’re able to easily lift the leaf bag before it’s filled to the brim. When you’re done raking, do a five-minute cooldown that also incorporates stretches. And remember, if you have any doubt about whether it’s safe for you to do yardwork, feel free to call us.

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.

 

 

Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS)

Nowadays there are many different treatments help alleviate aches, pains, and injuries of the body. One such treatment is called Electrical Muscle Stimulation. EMS involves special technology to help reduce pain, swelling, and recovery time. We at Kosak Chiropractic are committed to offering our patients different treatments and technologies to help them feel their best, which is why we are proud to offer EMS in the Fairfield area. 

EMS works great for muscle spasms, soft tissue injuries, and athletes who are looking for a quicker workout recovery time. EMS is popularly used on the back and neck muscles, and has been successful in relieving acute and chronic pain. EMS is a simple treatment that only takes a few minutes to perform. Electrodes are placed on the affected area and an electrical current is transmitted into the soft tissue or muscle. The strength of the current depends on the type of injury, its location, and how deep the therapy is going to be. The muscles experience small but quick contractions, which may make the patient feel a prickly or tingling sensation.

EMS is a great option for patients suffering from:

- Arthritis

- Nerve inflammation

- Cancer-related pain

- Dysphagia

- Fibromyalgia

- Muscle injury from trauma

- Back pain

- Spinal cord injury

- Stroke recovery

- Muscle injury from disease

- Urinary incontinence

- Poor muscle strength

- Surgery recovery

Kosak Chiropractic is located on 1252 Travis Blvd., Suite G, in Fairfield, CA 94533. To find out if EMS is right for you or to schedule an appointment, please visit kosakchiropractic.com or call us at 707-426-1111.

 

Introduction to Scoliosis

One of the most infamous kinds of spinal misalignments is scoliosis. This term describes a sideways curve in the spine, usually in the upper back. Although most people know of scoliosis primarily from its most extreme cases, it’s not that rare. With the noninvasive treatments at Kosak Chiropractic in Fairfield, we can help patients to manage whatever discomfort they may experience and get realigned.

Sometimes, scoliosis can be traced to a deformity outside the spine, such as muscle damage or one leg being shorter than the other. Degenerative conditions in elderly people can lead to breakdowns in the spinal column. But usually, scoliosis is seen in teenagers experiencing a growth spurt and no cause can be definitively established. Although it can happen to boys and girls, it tends to get worse in girls without intervention. Having the shoulders and hips out of alignment puts stress on the back’s soft tissues, which can cause them to become sore, but the patient often doesn’t feel anything during the condition’s early development.

One of the reasons pediatricians want children to have annual check-ups is so they can look for signs of developing scoliosis. Bracing is sometimes recommended as a preventive or corrective measure. We can provide safe pain management solutions, including spinal adjustments, therapeutic massages, and electric muscle stimulation. We can also help patients to manage other conditions resulting from scoliosis, such as neck or hip pain.

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.

 

Backpack Safety

Now that kids are going back to school, many of them have resumed wearing backpacks. Unfortunately, this means that many of them are also now at risk for developing back and shoulder pain. Since backpack usage is also common among adults, we at Kosak Chiropractic in Fairfield thought this would be an especially good time to address how to wear backpacks safely.

With two straps and the ability to distribute weight evenly across the chest, backpacks are a much better option than shoulder bags or handbags. But the straps need to be wide and padded, and the chest strap needs to be used. The straps should all be snug enough to keep the backpack positioned in the center of the upper back, not hanging down to the lumbar region. If the wearer feels pins or numbness in their arms and shoulders, the straps are too tight.

One of the biggest dangers of backpacks is that they will be overloaded. They should never weigh more than fifteen percent of the user’s bodyweight. The easiest way to avoid going above this limit is to only wear backpacks that are small. People should also avoid getting backpacks that have wheels or pull-out handles unless they will really be using those features on a frequent basis. Children will have to plan their schedules to give themselves enough time to visit their lockers and swap out books every few periods. If this is your child’s first year traveling between classes, ask them if they are doing this and whether they are experiencing any back problems.

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.

 

Introduction to Osteoarthritis

Joint inflammation, or arthritis, can have all sorts of causes. But the most common, and one of the most common causes of pain and missed workdays in the United States, is osteoarthritis. This disease is often misunderstood to be a normal part of aging, but at Kosak Chiropractic in Fairfield, we can help patients to manage or prevent it, allowing them to live free of pain.

Within joints is a slippery substance called cartilage that cushions and lubricates bones. Cartilage is made up of protein called collagen. When the body’s wear on cartilage outpaces its ability to produce new collagen, the cartilage will become deformed and eroded. As cartilage recedes, the bones develop spurs, grind against each other, and flake off. All of these can trigger inflammation, which will put pressure on the surrounding tissues, causing a dull, throbbing pain, and further impede movement.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition. It will be worse when the joints are bearing an excess amount of weight and being used repetitively, and it is likelier to develop in joints that have recovered from a previous injury. We can realign joints and relieve pressure on cartilage by performing adjustments. Therapeutic massages can reduce inflammation and promote the circulation of fresh, nutrient rich blood. We can also use interferential current therapy to loosen up stiff joints, increasing their range of motion during therapeutic exercise.

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.

 

Tailbone Injuries

Have you ever heard of a bruised tailbone? It’s rare for the tailbone to truly be cracked, but the soft tissues surrounding it can certainly be injured. At Kosak Chiropractic in Fairfield, we use noninvasive, non-addictive treatments to relieve pain and put the body in the best position possible to heal itself. Let’s take a closer look at why pain would occur in this area.

The tailbone, scientifically known as the coccyx, is made up of several fused vertebrae that hang below the sacrum, the part of the spine that connects to the hips. The coccyx helps to anchor the large muscles and ligaments in the pelvis. When they get inflamed and become painful, a patient is said to be suffering from “coccydynia.” Their deep location normally prevents them from being harmed, but injuries can happen during childbirth, as well as activities such as horseback riding and cycling.

Coccydynia will often be at its worst when a person is seated. We can provide patients with ring-shaped pillows or chiropractic wedges to sit on, which will keep weight off their tailbone. We can also make adjustments to displaced joints. Other possibilities include inflammation reduction through electric muscle stimulation and therapeutic exercise to ensure that the muscles responsible for moving the legs and stabilizing the lower back remain supple during the patient’s recovery.

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.