Services — Health Associates Medical Group

services we offer

AcOUSTIC WAVE THERAPY (RADIAL AND FOCUSED DEVICES used individually and in combination)

Acoustic (sound wave) therapy to tissue in either a radial (maximum strength of sound wave is surface of skin) or focused (maximum strength of sound wave is deeper in tissue dependent on tip used) form has been successfully used to treat acute and chronic pain conditions from overuse or injury (ex. Achilles tendinitis, Bicep tendinitis, Fractures (slow heeling), Frozen Shoulder and Rotator Cuff Pain, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Golfer or Tennis Elbow, Heel Pain, Hip Bursiitis, Low Back Pain, Neuropathy of Feet, Plantar fasciitis, Scar/Wound Healing (slow), Rotator Cuff Pain, Shin Splints, Trapezius pain, etc.) as well as chronic conditions such has ED (Erectile Dysfunction), Prostate Problems (frequent, incomplete urination, excessive night time urination, prostatitis), chronic pelvic pain syndrome and Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy.

(BENEFITS AND MECHANISMS OF FOCUSED AND RADIAL EXTRACORPOREAL SHOCK WAVE THERAPY)

Acoustic waves are delivered by the radial device OrthoPulse Ultra 100 and/or the focused device (Duolith SDI) create an acoustic pressure wave (shock wave) that stimulates tissue regeneration (cell proliferation), angiogenesis (new blood vessels form from pre-existing vessels), nerve regeneration, anti-inflammation and increased membrane permeability increasing macromolecular uptake into cells. All these biological reactions promote the body healing itself. Sessions are weekly or twice per week and conditions begin to improve over a 3-6 week period though immediate pain relief can occur.

Bio-identical Hormones

Low hormone levels are best replaced using naturally occurring hormones, not synthetic hormones. It is best to replace all the hormones that are deficient, for example both estrogen and progesterone in women. Some women also need DHEA and testosterone. These hormones are available in creams, gels, patches, oral formulations, injections, and hormone pellets. Estradiol and testosterone pellets are an alternative when other methods prove unsatisfactory. The pellets are placed under the skin and deliver a constant amount of hormone for 3-4 months. Thyroid hormones include T3 and T4. Some people on thyroid replacement feel better taking both T3 and T4, and not just T4 (e.g. L-thyroxine).

BLOOD TYPE DIET MANAGEMENT

James D'Adamo, in the 1960's, wrote a book entitled "One's Man Food Is Another Man's Poison" beginning the quest to find how our genetic code, specifically our blood type, influences what foods are ideal for us.
His son, Peter D'Adamo, continued the quest for Blood Type Diet Management and eventually released the book "Eat Right For Your Type" and later, "Live Right For Your Type". In addition, he educates us the implications of a person’s SECRETOR STATUS, whether or not the individual has the blood type material in the saliva.

This information, when applied to a person’s diet and in a person’s life, is extremely helpful in reducing inflammation and restoring healthy bodily functions. The secretor status is of major importance. Non Secretors (22%) are very difficult to help when they do not follow food selection recommendations properly. Chronic issues such as headaches, insomnia, and arthritis and most importantly, intestinal health is very positively impacted by Blood Type Diet Management and selecting the correct foods for your type.
Once the person is eating according to their blood type, then other modalities like homeopathic remedies, IV vitamin infusions, acupuncture, etc. will all have a more positive impact.

For more information about Blood Type Diet Management, contact Dr. Michael Kwiker, D.O. in our office.

Chelation Therapy

Chelation therapy is a chemical process in which a synthetic solution-EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid)-is injected into the bloodstream to remove heavy metals and/or minerals from the body. Chelation means "to grab" or "to bind." When EDTA is injected into the veins, it "grabs" heavy metals and minerals such as lead, mercury, copper, iron, arsenic, aluminum, and calcium and removes them from the body. In our practice, we also use Chelation as a safe and effective approach in the treatment of Vascular Disease and related disorders.

Click here to learn more.

Detoxification

We live in a toxic world. Toxins include heavy metals, PCB's, dioxins, pesticides, mold toxins, and plastics. We are exposed by drinking tap water, eating food which is not organic, and by eating fish high in mercury. The first rule of treatment is avoid exposure to toxins as much as possible. The second rule is remove the toxins safely. Ways to remove toxins include taking intestinal binders (e.g. charcoal, chlorella, citrus pectin, etc.), doing chelation therapy (e.g. EDTA, DMSA, etc), taking certain vitamins and supplements that promote liver and kidney clearance of toxins (e.g. phosphatidyl choline, glutathione precursors, etc.), promoting sweating (e.g. far infrared sauna) and elimination diets (page 2) and modified fasting with the Inflamx product or the Fasting Mimicking Diet Prolon.

ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION (HEART - ED REVERSAL PROGRAM) - ACOUSTIC WAVE THERAPY (FOCUSED & RADIAL SHOCK WAVE THERAPY) - DIET - EXERCISE - NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS - MEDICATION

Fifty of men have some degree of erectile dysfunction (ED) (1, 2, 3). Between 40 and 70 years of age ED risk increases by 10% per decade starting with 40% of men at age 40 having ED and 70% by age 70. (1, 2)

The causes of ED are:

·         Vasculogenic (clogged and poor functioning pelvic and penile arteries)
·         Neurogenic (nerve damage, neuropathy, neurologic disease)
·         Psychogenic (mental state, anxiety, depression, relationship issues)
·         Hormonal (low testosterone)
·         Drug-induced (anti-depressants, anti-hypertensives, chemotherapy, hormone blockers, alcohol & recreational drugs)
·         Anatomical/structural (damage to the area from medical treatment or trauma) (3, 4)

Lifestyle change if done consistently can result in improved erections but it usually takes months. That makes it hard for many men to stay motivated. (5)

We are using a non-invasive treatment that can improve erections in the right patient in 6 to 12 session once or twice weekly with minimal discomfort, if any.

The technology uses focused acoustic waves (acoustic/sound) directly to the penis to stimulate growth factors that make new blood vessels regenerate tissue, thereby increasing blood flow and improving erections. (6, 7, 8) The device used is the Duolith SD1 focused shock wave device from Storz Medical. The treatment takes about 30 minutes.

The beauty of using acoustic wave therapy is if you combine it with lifestyle changes you can improve your erections, overall health, and longevity at the same time. It is truly a “Win Win” for you and your partner’s quality of life and health. (9, 10)

Kirk Hamilton, our physician’s assistant of 36 years, has a passion for men’s health and Lifestyle Medicine. He has been treating men for 25 years with lifestyle, medications and hormones and will be administering this pressure (acoustic/sound) wave therapy which lasts 15-20 minutes per session.

If you are interested in discussing this therapeutic approach to ED, call Kirk at 916-489-4400 to set-up an introductory “No-Charge”15 minute appointment by phone or in person. Kirk is available every morning from 8-9 and an appointment can be made then. Or, if you can’t call then just leave your name and number with the front office staff and Kirk will get back to you shortly. This 15 minute appointment is to see if you are a good candidate for acoustic (sound) wave therapy and/or medical and lifestyle approaches to treating ED. Kirk will look at your chart if you are a patient, take a quick medical, diet and lifestyle history to determine if you are a good candidate and to estimate how many treatment sessions you might need.

Recommended Treatments and Costs

New or Established Patient 60-90 min to do a medical history and physical exam and recommend appropriate testing (Call 916-489-4400 for our base office visit costs). Base laboratory testing if paid in cash is $150-200. If a patient has a PPO insurance or is Medicare the lab work can be billed to that insurance.

Recommended for most patients 10 weekly 20-30 minute session for the acoustic (sound) wave therapy at $200 per session paid at the time of service (there is no prepayment for a series of treatments). Maintenance programs are the same fees for the office visits and treatment.

Your score on the enclosed men’s sexual health questionnaire (IIEF-5/SHIMS) will be very helpful in determining your treatment plan and following your progress. Take Questionnaire Here Tips for Making Your Pulsed Acoustic Wave Treatment for ED More Effective

We at Health Associates thank you for allowing us to serve you since December 1985. Any questions please call Kirk Hamilton PA-C at 916-489-4400 between 8-9 a.m. PST.

extracorporeal pulse activation technology (epat) - “REGENERATIVE MEDICINE REDEFINED” for musculoskeletal conditions

Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Technology (EPAT) is the most advanced non-invasive technology platform utilizing acoustic energy based on unique sets of acoustic pressure waves designed for a broad range of musculoskeletal, foot and pain management uses and applications. Patients who suffer from acute and chronic musculoskeletal pain now have access to innovative, non-invasive treatments. CuraMedix Ortho Pulse 100 Ultra device in our office is a modern and proven treatment solution. As an alternative to traditional treatment methods including surgery and steroid injections, EPAT improves the regenerative potential, rather than further damaging an area that has degenerated because of poor blood flow, tissue injury, overuse or weakness. When performed by a qualified healthcare professional, EPAT treats the root cause of your pain or injury, improves blood flow, thus improving your mobility and quality of life with minimal risks or side effects. This proprietary technology is based on a unique set of pressure waves that stimulate the metabolism, enhance blood circulation and accelerate the healing process. Damaged tissue gradually regenerates and eventually heals.

This non-invasive office/clinic based procedure represents a breakthrough treatment option for a broad range of musculoskeletal conditions.

What Disorders Can Be Treated?
Generally, acute or chronic musculoskeletal pain/or pain that significantly impairs mobility or quality of life.

Areas include:
- Neck
- Shoulder, Periarticular Shoulder
- Back Pain, Upper Back
- Chest
- Upper extremity, Forearm Muscles
- Elbow
- Lower extremity (Anterior Shin Pain)
- Hip/Thigh (Thigh Abductors)
- Shortened Thigh Muscles
- Knee
- Calf Muscle Shortening
- Foot Pain (Plantar Fasciitis/Heel Pain, Posterior Heel Pain, Plantar Foot Muscles)
- Ankle
- Myofascial trigger points

What is the duration of the treatments and how many treatments will you need?
Treatment sessions take 10-15 minutes depending on the disorder and body part to be treated.
Generally 3 treatment sessions are necessary at weekly intervals. Sometimes 1 or 2 extra treatment sessions are needed.
There is frequently a numbing effect for 1-3 days then the pain may return getting less and less intense after each visit with
the regenerative and healing process continue for 6-8 weeks after the treatment.

For more information go to these links regarding EPAT or radial pressure wave therapy

EPAT Patient Video
EPAT Patient Brochure

Call Kirk Hamilton PA-C at our office 8-9 a.m. Monday-Friday 916-489-4400 for any questions or make an appointment today. It is a simple, quick and effective therapy.

Nutritional & Diet Counseling

Proper diet is fundamental to health & wellness. Our practitioners will take the time to learn your current lifestyle, diet and health concerns and make dietary recommendations to help you achieve optimal health. We believe that food can be a very powerful medicine when used properly and can be used to treat many lifestyle related disease processes such as Diabetes, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure & Inflammation but the diet needs to be individualized for each person.

Our practitioners are knowledgeable in many different diets including:

Blood Type Diet
Whole Food Plant Based Diet
Basic Elimination Diet (BED)

Homeopathy

Homeopathy, or Homeopathic Medicine, is the practice of medicine that embraces a holistic, natural approach to the treatment of the sick. Homeopathy is holistic because it treats the person as a whole, rather than focusing on a diseased part or a labeled sickness. Homeopathy is natural because its remedies are produced according to the U.S. FDA-recognized Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States from natural sources, whether vegetable, mineral, or animal in nature.

The word Homeopathy, which comes from the Greek, through Latin into English, literally means “like disease”. This means that the medicine given is like the disease that the person is expressing, in his totality, not like a specific disease category or medical diagnosis.

For more information about Homeopathy or Homeopathic Medicine, contact Dr. Michael Kwiker, D.O. in our office.

Intravenous Nutritional Therapy

IV nutritional therapy can provide enormous health benefits and lead to increased energy, enhanced immune support, and a better overall sense of well being. Intravenous (IV) Nutritional Therapy is safe, well tolerated and poses minimal if any negative side effects and often can provide enormous health benefits. Intravenous (IV) nutritional therapy is a method of delivering vitamins, minerals and other vital nutrients to the body directly into the bloodstream. A small butterfly needle is temporarily placed into a vein, and the nutrients can be administered slowly over a period of time that is dependent upon the nutrients that are used.