Join us on July 8th from 12:30-2PM for a new, informative seminar and demonstration on the benefits of using Arp-Wave neurotherapy to reduce or eliminate chronic pain!

Light refreshments will be served.

The 8 Great Benefits of Arp-Wave Neurotherapy
We offer patients a level of improvement to strength, mobility and chronic pain relief that is unmatched by any traditional rehabilitation procedure. ARPwaveUSA's Neuro Therapy offers almost immediate relief from chronic pain, better muscular performance and a return to the life that patients could only dream about prior to treatment.

• Reduce chronic pain faster
• Change your life for the better
• Faster recovery
• Decreased pain and improved outcomes
• Drug and Opioid-free
• Better muscular performance
• At-home treatment options

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Chronic back pain is a serious affliction that can greatly impact not only your physical health, but also other aspects of your life. It affects millions of Americans each year; and while there are numerous causes to each case, one thing is certain: lower back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide, according to the Global Burden of Disease. Far too many people turn to harmful painkillers for relief, unaware that there are sufficient, drug-free alternatives. Painkillers merely treat the symptoms — it doesn’t acknowledge the root of the problem. It’s important to recognize how common chronic back pain is in order to raise awareness about feasible, non-invasive and drug-free remedies such as chiropractic.

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• 31 million Americans are experiencing lower back pain at any given time.
  
  
• 80% of adults experience back pain at some point in their lives.
  
  
• Back pain is the #1 cause of job-related disability and the leading contributor of missed work days.
  
  
• The majority of back pain is considered ‘mechanical’ or ‘non-organic’, meaning it’s not caused by serious physical conditions.
  
  
• At least $50 billion is spent on back pain each year by Americans.
  
  
• Back pain indirectly costs an estimated $100 billion per year because of lost wages, productivity, legal and insurance expenses.
  
  
• About 54% of Americans with back pain report that they sit at a desk all day.
  
  
• 90% of cases are resolved within six weeks.
  
  
• Chronic back pain is when pain persists for more than 3 months.

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Fitness level: back pain is more common in those that don’t exercise very often. Constant exercise helps to strengthen the core muscles that support the spine. Even going for a walk every day will go a long way in maintaining spinal health.

Rapid weight gain: obesity and sudden weight gain can put a lot of stress on the spine and neck.

Smoking: smoking restricts oxygen flow to the spinal tissue.

Inactive lifestyle: desk jobs with uncomfortable seats or those with poor posture are more susceptible to back pain.

Genetic disorders: arthritis and other genetic disorders can be at play when it comes to back pain.

Bulging or ruptured disks: since these disks are protective cushions for the vertebrae, ruptured or bulging ones can cause nerve pain within the spine.

Improper lifting: always lift with your legs, not your back. Repetitive, strenuous and improper movement will put you at higher risk.

If you suffer from back pain, it could be temporary or it could be a more serious underlying issue. Either way, it's never a good idea to let these things fester and worsen, so schedule a free consultation to be sure. Petrak Family Chiropractic offers many variations of chiropractic care for any situation at any age.

​Working out and maintaining strength is critical for reducing back pain and stress. When back and abdominal muscles are weak they cannot support the back properly. Back strengthening exercises help reinforce supportive muscles around the spine that prevent straining and increase range of motion. If you’ve been hibernating all winter (or even longer) here are some tips to get back on the fitness train!

Slow And Steady Wins The Race
The worst thing you can possibly do is jump straight into an advanced workout routine. This is an easy way to cause injury and delay your overall goals even further. Keep it short and sweet — the key is being active on a regular schedule. You don’t need to be a super athlete each day, especially if you're recovering from an injury. Go for a light jog even just twice per week and ramp it up from there over time. Be sure to listen to your body - pain is an indicator that you are pushing yourself too hard.

Warm-Up And Cool-Down: Non-Negotiable
A proper warm-up prepares your body for the increase in activity in a natural and healthy way. Stretching is also a must - it keeps you limber and strengthens the muscles to facilitate healthy recovery and avoid serious injury, especially if you’ve been sedentary for a long time. Check out some of our previous posts on effective stretches.

Just as warming up is important, so is cooling down. You will likely experience DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) on your fitness journey. This is completely normal and warming up/cooling down will help mitigate this from happening.

Don’t Lose Motivation
Set realistic goals for yourself. Start with small, easily attainable goals to keep yourself feeling accomplished and motivated. Motivation can wane if you start to feel discouraged or lazy. Take your gym bag to work and go straight to the gym instead of stopping by home. Make working out a part of your daily routine. The first few weeks will be difficult but once it becomes habit you will enjoy going even more.

Make Sure You’re Good-To-Go Before Starting
Ultimately, your chiropractor is the best resource you have when it comes to injury recovery. When it comes to my patients, I expedite the recovery process and constantly monitor and consult with them to make sure they’re properly prepared to continue the activities they love.

​Consult with your chiropractor to find out if you’re ready to get back into a rigorous workout routine, or get in touch today for an initial appointment!

There are many myths and misconceptions surrounding chiropractic care. This is most likely due to ignorance about how chiropractic actually works, the methods that are utilized, and a lack of knowledge about the schooling that chiropractors actually go through in order to be able to practice. Here I'll address some of the 3 most common misconceptions that I hear.

Myth 1: Chiropractors Only Treat Back Pain
This simply isn't true. A chiropractor takes many similar courses to traditional medical students: anatomy, neurology, pathology, and biochemistry. They know more about the human body than just the spine, but through their practice, they acknowledge that significance that spinal strength can play in overall wellbeing. The spine is connected to the nervous system, so if there are pinched nerves or other issues, symptoms can surface elsewhere in the body. Here are just a few common conditions that can be neutralized by comprehensive chiropractic care:

• Back pain
• Neck pain
• Disc Problems
• Headaches and migraines
• Sports injuries
• Whiplash and collision injuries
• Sciatica
• Fibromyalgia
• Scoliosis
• Knee and ankle pain

Myth 2: Chiropractors Aren't As Educated As Physicians
As I stated above, not only do chiropractors take similar university courses when compared to traditional medical students, but they also are licensed and qualified graduates to serve as health care providers in the United States and several other countries. Chiropractic school is rigorous and at the completion of the D.C. degree, students must then pass a four-part national board exam to obtain their licenses. From there, chiropractors continue to attend regular seminars on latest research and techniques.

​Myth 3: Chiropractic Costs A Lot Of Money
Actually, the majority of health insurance plans will cover chiropractic care expenses. Regardless, in my practice we will sit down with you to go over all of the exact costs, examine your health benefits, and work with your insurance provider regarding the details of your coverage. You will be aware of every cost, at all times and any out-of-pocket cost will be discussed prior to treatment. We want our patients to be completely comfortable, and part of that means complete transparency when it comes to costs.

It's the new year, yet again. That means that new year's resolutions to stay healthy, lose weight, etc are at an all-time high. There's a reason gyms and fitness studios see the most traffic in January. People tell themselves that they want to live healthier lifestyles, which is great, but their motivation and commitment tends to slowly fizzle out during the course of the year. In fact, a study from 2012 showed that nearly 2/3 of American adults make fitness-related new year's resolutions, but 73% of them give up before meeting their goal, many before even 6 weeks' time.

While this sounds disheartening, part of the problem lies in overzealous goal setting, which in turn makes fitness feel unattainable. Realistic goal setting and measuring progress in smaller increments is one of the keys to success. Here are some easy ways to get started on living a healthier lifestyle in 2019 and beyond.

Get A New Morning Routine

Living a healthy lifestyle is exactly that: a lifestyle. It's not starving yourself on a juice cleanse or participating in a fad diet only to return to old habits. It's fundamentally changing how you go about your day -- and it all starts in the morning. Are you the type of person that hits your snooze alarm 4 times before rolling out of bed, showering, dressing and leaving for work at the last minute? Yeah, that's pretty common -- and it needs to stop. One of the best ways to stay on-track with a healthy lifestyle is to start your day correctly.

Start by:

• Waking up a little earlier. I know, it's hard. But you'll get used to it and you'll be better for it.
  
  
• Hydrating upon waking. Your body is dehydrated after sleeping. Quickly drink a glass of water as soon as you wake up and it will get rid of that groggy feeling immediately.
  
  
• Stretch. This doesn't mean do an hour of yoga every morning. Some simple, 5-minute daily stretches, as outlined in my previous post, will do. It will get your blood flowing, preserve your range of motion, and improve posture.
  
  
• Eat a small breakfast. Many people find it hard to eat in the morning, but having a small but healthy meal, such as a bowl of steel-cut oats, a piece of fruit, or some yogurt and granola, will really make a difference in boosting your energy and brain power throughout the day. It will also curb your appetite, minimizing the urge to snack later on.
  
  
• Take vitamins. Whether it's a one-a-day multivitamin or doctor-recommended vitamins for deficiencies, be sure to take them regularly.

Set Realistic Exercise Goals

Here lies the problem for the majority of aspiring fitness junkies. They may get a free trial at a gym, go for a week or two, and then become discouraged or intimidated despite enjoying their time. Don't go into it thinking you'll wake up at 4:00AM every day to workout for 2 hours before work. That's not realistic, you probably won't live up to that high bar (in the beginning, at least), and you'll begin to feel discouraged. Here are a few tips to keep things realistic:
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• Limit your workouts. Limit yourself to intense workouts 3 times per week and light ones more frequently. This means lifting weights 3 times, but perhaps walking or light jogging for 30 mins every day. Keep in mind that if you've been out of the workout game for a while, YOU WILL BE SORE. The day after your workout you'll be sore, but 2 days after you'll be even more sore. Don't quit, those are your muscles telling you you're on the right track. Just be sure not to overexert/injure yourself.
  
  

• Don't get discouraged. Results will take a while to notice, but just stick with it. You'll feel better overall and once exercise is part of your routine, it won't feel like a burden. Additionally, the gym will be crowded, especially during peak times and for the first couple of months each year. Don't let this stop you. Ask one of the workers what the peak times are and see if you can work your schedule around it. If going to a gym isn't an option, you can always do cardio outside, and do some light resistance training and stretches at home.

Visit A Chiropractor
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Regular visits for chiropractic care will help to keep you limber, increase your range of motion, and improve muscle recovery after your workouts. Chiropractic will help to keep you on track in your quest for fitness by helping to avoid injury and by providing supplemental assistance and motivation. Additionally, your chiropractor can give you overall health advice. For instance, one of my specialties is chiropractic for athletes. I make recommendations and perform treatments that are meant to bring athletes to peak physical condition so they can more effectively tackle their workout regimens. I also aid in injury recovery that may occur during extreme physical exertion.

If you're ready to get on the road to a healthier you, give me a call to schedule a consultation. Results may take a while -- the sooner you get started, the better!

It’s that time of year again. As the weather gets colder and the snow gently falls, it’s easy to be lulled into tranquility by the peacefulness that comes with winter. Unless, of course, you slip on the ice. An unfortunate byproduct that comes with these freezing Midwestern temperatures is frozen, hazardous patches of ice scattered throughout the streets and sidewalks. The last thing you need as you walk out of your house on your way to work in the morning is to slip and create a surprise snow angel in your driveway. But it still happens. In 2014 alone, there were over 42,000 workplace injuries due to falling on ice. That’s just in the workplace; who knows how many falls happen at home that never get reported or treated.

When you slip and fall (whether on ice or not), your body is susceptible to serious injury. If you experience an unexpected impact without bracing yourself, especially on the spine, it can cause serious subluxations, or misalignments, that lead to pinched nerves, vertebrae dislocation, and/or other issues. Ironically, your first reaction to slipping on ice would probably be to put ice on the injured area. And while that definitely helps with inflammation and may relieve some pain temporarily, it doesn’t help to correct the root of the problem. The spine is connected with the nervous system, so problems within them can cause significant, sometimes debilitating, conditions. I have extensive experience with treating injuries of all kinds. My individualized approach will:

• Improve muscle soreness and stiffness
  
  
• Increase mobility and range of motion
  
  
• Lessen pain from hernia
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• Promote physical strength
  
  

If pain persists for more than a day or two after the injury, it’s important to see a chiropractor. In fact, it never hurts to get even minor injuries checked out, just to be safe.

Winter is notorious for causing an increase in accidental fall injuries. Take extra precaution this season by adequately salting your driveway, sidewalk and porch — but most of all, don’t rush. Take your time and watch your step when you’re not on your own property. You can’t always count on others to be as responsible as yourself.

​But if you do wind up taking an unexpected winter tumble, schedule a consultation. There could be subtle injuries to your spine that you may not notice now, but will become worse over time. It’s better to be safe than sorry and nip those injuries in the bud before they become serious.

In my practice of family-oriented chiropractic care, I’m able to treat a variety of issues in people of any age. From back and neck pain to headaches and migraines, chiropractic methods help to neutralize pain and fix subluxations (aka misalignments) in the spine. But what many people may not know is that chiropractic care can also assist in orthotic treatment to fix posture problems, foot and ankle pain, and issues with walking.

What is orthotics?

Orthotics is a medical method of correcting the bone and muscular structures of feet, ankles and legs using braces and other external support devices. It’s used to treat a variety of afflictions such as:

• Plantar Fasciitis
  
  
• Arthritis
  
  
• Lower back pain
  
  
• Hip pain
  
  
• Flat feet
  
  
• Shin splints
  
  
• Knee pain
  
  
• Ankle pain
  
  
• Bunions

There are two main types of orthotics: accommodative orthotics and functional orthotics. Accommodative orthotics are made of softer materials just to provide extra cushioning and support for the injured area. Functional orthotics, however, are much stronger materials that are used for skeletal and muscular correction through long-term placement.

What is gait?

Gait is just another word for stride, or the way in which someone walks, but it is one of the major components of orthotics as a treatment method. The reason analyzing it is so important is because a number of gait abnormalities are caused by particular medical conditions. For example, Parkinsonian gait describes the posture and walk of somebody that suffers from Parkinson’s disease or other condition(s) that cause Parkinson’s-like symptoms such as chronic drug use.

How to analyze gait
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One important part of analyzing the gait cycle in my practice is the heel strike to toe off. When I watch someone walk, I pay close attention to how their heel strikes the ground and then how their foot rolls to push off the big toe. Some may find it surprising that there are a lot of moving parts in between these two seemingly insignificant motions. The next step is that I look at their knees to see how they are moving during the gait cycle, especially if they have a knee valgus (knock-kneed) or knee varus (bow legged). Finally, I check the hips for rotation. Hip rotation will also play a big factor into how much pressure is being put on each leg. All of these play a big role in determining how that gait cycle is doing. Quality analysis means you really have to look at the entire chain (foot, ankle, knee and hip) to put the puzzle together.

By analyzing your gait, we are able to make more precise conclusions about any underlying conditions you may suffer from, which greatly affects your treatment regimen. We are able to analyze the way you (literally) go about daily life. Having improper gait means that your weight distribution is off and is probably exacerbating issues in the spine that stem from poor posture. By having a comprehensive gait analysis, I am more accurately able to assess any underlying issues to help improve your life on a day-to-day basis.

​My practice also has the technology to do on-site creation of orthotics and perform your full gait analysis. Patients have been amazed at the difference they see when properly fitted with well-made orthotics. It also helps athletes train their movements properly in order to avoid injury and future wear and tear on the body. If you’re ready for your custom orthotics and gait analysis, schedule a consultation today.