Steven Kraft, D.C.

Spondylolisthesis, or a slipped vertebra (as opposed to a slipped disk or herniated disk), describes when one vertebra slips or slides forwards on the vertebra below, which can occur for a number of reasons including getting older (“degenerative spondylolisthesis”) or trauma (from a fracture in the back of the vertebra called the “pars interarticularis”). Additionally, [..]

Everyone, well at least almost everyone, has had headaches from time to time, and we all know how miserable they can make us feel. In fact, at some point in time, 9 out of 10 Americans suffer from headaches that range between mild and dull to throbbing, intense, and debilitating, sometimes to the point of [..]

Healthcare providers tend to agree that in non-emergency situations, patients with conditions like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) should try non-surgical treatments before consulting with a surgeon. The “PRICE” concept, that is Protect, Rest, Ice, Compress, & Elevate can be applied to most injuries, including CTS, especially in the acute/inflammatory stage. However, many of these principles [..]

Is there a connection between fibromyalgia (FM) and sleep disturbance? Let’s take a look! FM is a condition that causes widespread pain and stiffness in muscles and joints. Patients with FM often experience chronic daytime fatigue and some type of sleep problems like getting to sleep, staying asleep, and/or feeling restored in the morning upon [..]

There are four main arteries that bring blood to the brain: two in the front of the neck called the carotid arteries and two in the back of the neck called the vertebral arteries. The carotid arteries supply the front and middle portions of the brain with blood while the vertebral arteries join together to [..]

Chiropractic is the most widely accepted and most frequently used type of "alternative" healthcare in the United States. This is largely due to the fact that it works, and because of that, there has been a steady increase in acceptance by the public, third-party payers, and the Federal government. Since the mid-1990s, a number of [..]

Whiplash, or “Whiplash Associated Disorders” (WAD), results from a sudden jarring motion, often from a car crash that occurs too fast for someone to voluntarily “brace” themselves. This is because the whole “whiplash cycle” is over within 300msec, and we cannot contract a muscle faster than 700-800 msec. Other injury factors include: the type and [..]

Whiplash, or “Whiplash Associated Disorders” (WAD), results from a sudden jarring motion, often from a car crash that occurs too fast for someone to voluntarily “brace” themselves. This is because the whole “whiplash cycle” is over within 300msec, and we cannot contract a muscle faster than 700-800 msec. Other injury factors include: the type and [..]

We in the healthcare management world are all biased. If a patient with neck and arm pain presents to chiropractic clinic, the doctor of chiropractic will usually recommend a non-surgical trial of care as long as “red flags” don’t exist (that is, “bad” things like bowel/bladder weakness, rapidly worsening symptoms, and a few others). Frequently, [..]

Did you know that 50-72% of women have low back pain (LBP) and/or pelvic pain during their pregnancy but only 32% do something about it? Let’s look closer! Pregnancy-related low back pain (PLBP) can be a highly debilitating syndrome that accounts for the most common cause of sick leave for pregnant women. In 2004, Americans [..]

If tingling/numbness primarily affects your thumb, index, third, and ring fingers, it very well could be carpal tunnel syndrome, or CTS. Chances are you’ve probably had this condition for months or even longer but it’s been more of a nuisance than a “major problem” and therefore, you probably haven’t “bothered” having it checked out. Let’s [..]

Folks suffering with fibromyalgia (FM) commonly complain that certain foods can make their symptoms worse. How common is this? One study reported 42% of FM patients found that certain foods worsened their symptoms! Because FM affects each person differently, there is no ONE FM diet or, “…one size fits all” when it comes to eating [..]