Chiropractor: Dr. Josh J. Sonsiadek

05/19/2020

This Corgi is very efficient at “pawpation”

06/28/2017

Here is a "basic" drawing of what happens to the spinal mechanics when a 40 lb load is picked up off the ground. I bend down to pick up a 40 lb box. The compressive vector along with the shear vector create a load on the spine which is 10 times the weight of the object you are lifting. When you are sitting you create shear and compressive vectors much higher than this because the legs will not take on any force distribution. This is why you see people who sit all day with disc bulges and herniations even though they aren't lifting anything.

06/13/2017

This week I'm on a trend of biomechanical faults. One of the biggest biomechanical faults we see in patients is the Thoracic spine or ribcage fault. This is due to diminished amount of extension or transverse plane (rotation) dissociation with the pelvis, which tell us there is a lack of core stabilization and control.

This is observed in patients who spend a majority of their day seated behind a computer. There is too much flexion and not enough extension. These patients can't do a normal squat. You will see their chest and abs touch the thighs on the eccentric (lowering) portion of the squat, and their shoulders will not be able to go through flexion.
We have three images which exhibit thoracic and hip extension. These movements break up habituation patterns which are created by long periods of sitting or standing and bending forward.

06/12/2017

Performance spiral chains
What happens when we see aberrant ankle dorsiflexion faults?
1) during squats heels raise off the floor
2) weight shifts to balls of feet
3) the calcaneus everts and the ball of the foot swivels to cause the heel to deviate medially giving a the patient toes out position as depth of squat increases.
These issues are usually diagnosed as plantar fasciitis or problems with the arches of the foot. By the way, you have three arches and not just one arch of the foot.
There are multiple ways to address this.
1) adjust talus, navicular bone, and fibular head
2) unwind the fascial tissues of the foot, shin and calf
3) use RockTape to coerce the skin ligaments and fascial tissues
4) orthotics to continue stabilization

05/22/2017

I really need a spinal model that has psoas muscles. My artistic ability when drawing diagrams for patients is very weak at best. 😂😂😂

03/29/2017

The Arthrostim delivers multiple, low amplitude recoiling thrusts in rapid succession which allows for maximum comfort during the adjustment process. The impulse creates a supersaturation of target tissues with controlled displacement forces, which can be used in a variety of applications.
Patients in acute pain, children, seniors, or sensitive individuals can receive treatment and be appreciative of the light forces it applies while adjusting the joints. Modulated repetitive thrusts produced by this instrument is highly effective for working with very stiff, rigid, and larger individuals in order to loosen up tissues which may be challenging when using a hands on approach.
This instrument is used in a variety of clinical situations, which include pediatrics and professional sports teams.
The Arthrostim has a variety of attachment tips which can also be used to perform myofascial release, meridian therapy, trigger point therapy, and a variety of other techniques.
Although there is no substitute for human touch, the Arthrostim also delivers forces which can not be mimicked by hand. The instrument delivers an impulse rate of 12-14 impulses per second. The nervous system is very responsive to this frequency. The human hand can't possibly move this fast with this gentle a force.

How does this

03/28/2017

https://www.facebook.com/DrJoshsonsiadekDC/posts/10212103565213942

Acupuncture and Seasonal Allergies

02/08/2017

What we have here is the American Bald Eagle demonstrating the proper way of going through cervical rotation. Do not roll the neck while mobilizing it!
I photographed this eagle last week while he was performing his recommended exercises.

01/25/2017

What is an adjustment? Despite popular belief an adjustment is not "cracking" of the bones. The sound you hear is referred to as cavitation, which is the sound of nitrogen gas pressure inside the joint capsule being dissipated.
An adjustment is when the bone is used as a lever, and we impulse or thrust on that lever for neurological effects which helps to reduce muscular spasm.
When a joint misaligns, it is due to asymmetry of the soft tissues pulling on the vertebra. I want you to think of a tower which is kept upright by high tension cables. In order for that tower to stay centered and upright, the cables must pull with equal tensions on both sides. If the cables on the right pull with more tension than the left, the tower will tilt that direction. The same premise holds true with the spinal muscles. If the muscles pull with more tension on the right than the left, the spine will pull out of alignment. When we adjust, we use the bones as a lever to take advantage of the stretch reflex within the muscles attached to the bone, in much the same way the knee twitches when we tap it with a reflex hammer. We put impulse/thrust into the joint which stimulates the stretch reflex of the muscle, and this helps to decrease spasm in the muscle therefore helping the joint to re-establish its normal juxtaposition. There are several ways we can do this. We can use an instrument such as the arthrostim, or more traditionally we can adjust by hand. Don't mistake an adjustment being the same thing as a massage, they are two separate and distinct entities.

01/24/2017

Morning Stiffness After Waking Up
Could the shape of your spine and your mattress be reinforcing your lower back pain?
Individuals with a hyperlordotic spine, protruding glutes, or more body curves will tend to suffer from mattress-related back pain. In many of these cases, sleeping on your back will cause more back pain. The reason for this is that your body shape forces the spine to be suspended and unsupported like the middle of a bridge. The lumbar spine is forced into flexion as it flattens to the mattress, which in turn, causes pain and stiffness. In this case you would want a mattress that allows the buttocks/glutes to sink in. You could also choose a firm mattress, but place a high quality foam topper to create more support and cushion to your lower back.
Another common mistake we see is that many individuals will place a pillow under the knees, but this actually flattens the lumbar spine into the mattress. An alternative may be to sleep on your side and place a pillow between the knees to decrease strain on the hips. The use of something known as a dog bone or peanut pillow helps with this.
Lastly, if you continue to wake up with morning back stiffness, you need to avoid as much spinal flexion as possible. Avoid sitting down immediately after waking up. Going for a walk instead may be the key to decreasing this initial stiffness and pain. Once this has been established, there are exercises and treatments that can be performed to help continue to combat this chronic stiffness, but these can't be recommended for everyone, as low back pain in many cases is an individual experience with each cause of the pain being slightly different.
Individuals who suffer from stenosis or spondylolisthesis would not benefit from these, so it's important to speak to your managing healthcare professional about what is best for you.
These images are borrowed for educational purposes, but I don't know who to credit.

01/17/2017

Why everybody and their mom should stop drinking soda:
On the average there are approximately 40 grams of sugar per 12 oz can of soda (pop for midwesterners). That is pure glucose.
Diet soda is sweetened with artificial sweeteners. Without getting into the controversial topics associated with them, we need to understand all sodas, whether diet or regular, are essentially garbage.
Sodas, both diet and regular, contain phosphates. Phosphates can be detrimental to our bodies because they can leach essential substances and nutrients, such as calcium, out of our tissues.
Try to substitute water in for your soda beverages. There is much scientific research that demonstrates people who drink water a majority of the time may increase their metabolic rate by up to 30% for up to 90 minutes post consumption.