B10
December 19, 2013
Rancho Santa Fe Review
SPOTLIGHT on LOCAL BUSINESS
MedCare Specialty Clinics offers comprehensive services BY KRISTINA HOUCK Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It affects 27 million American adults, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For some elderly patients, the prospect of going under anesthesia for an extended period of time and having total knee replacement surgery can be scary, said Richard Manchester, co-founder and chief operating officer of MedCare Specialty Clinics. But by combining components of treatments available, the Carlsbad-based clinic can delay knee replacement options for up to four years, he added. “The degeneration of your joint impacts your mobility and your enjoyment of daily life. Pain is not fun,” Manchester said. “We’re unique because we have a multi-disciplinary approach within the same facility.” MedCare Specialty Clinics is a practice group of board certified medical doctors and licensed physical therapists focused on providing specialized treatments for osteoarthritis of the knee, shoulder and other joints, degenerative joint disease, peripheral neuropathy, fibromyalgia, chronic headache, and other pain conditions. For example, MedCare Specialty Clinics offers a six-toeight-week program to decrease pain and increase mobility in osteoarthritis patients. The program’s first step is joint fluid therapy. Using a live motion x-ray imaging device called fluoroscopy, hyaluronic acid is injected in the joint. The solution bonds with the natural joint fluid to help lubricate the joint and restore normal function. Along with a series of injections, physical therapy helps patients regain muscle strength. For knee patients, off-loading bracing using the clinic’s BioniCare Knee System may also be recommended. The clinic’s osteoarthritis program has a 94 percent success rate in decreasing or eliminating joint pain and increas-
The doctors at MedCare Specialty Clinics (L to R): Dr. Carl Noback, Dr. Bob Uslander, Dr. Monika Gupta, Dr. Renjit Sundharadas and Dr. Neil Halim. Courtesy photos ing mobility without surgery, Manchester said. “Instead of people going to the doctor to get a shot or a pill, we have put together a comprehensive approach of addressing pain aggressively, so that they can go forward and enjoy the mobility that they had to do the things they want to do,” Manchester said. Like the osteoarthritis program, the clinic offers other programs of care that involves both medical procedures and physical therapy regimens. Opened in 2012, MedCare Specialty Clinics is located at 1281 Carlsbad Village Drive in Carlsbad. To schedule a free assessment or make an appointment, call 760-585-7720 or visit medcaresc.com for more information. Note: Business spotlights are developed through this newspaper’s advertising department in support of our advertisers.
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Physical therapy assistant William Byrne works with a patient on the Zero-G anti-gravity treadmill, which allows patients to protect healing injuries without sacrificing strength and cardiovascular training.