Fort Thomas Chiropractor
Welcome to the office of Dr Douglas Krift
Dr. Krift has been serving the Northern KY / Greater Cincinnati area and the community of Ft Thomas for 13 years.
Chiropractic care is a safe and natural way to relieve aches and pains as well as restore proper motion and function to the body. Dr. Douglas Krift has specialized training in using handheld instruments to deliver a low force and very specific adjustment to the spine or extremities, therefore there is no twisting popping or cracking associated with traditional chiropractic treatment.
Licensed massage therapy is also offered at our office by one of our 4 licensed therapists.
Dr. Krift’s office is located in Campbell County, KY in the beautiful city of Fort Thomas at 1467 S Ft Thomas Ave. Just 5 minutes from downtown Cincinnati, our office is very easy to get to and is less than a mile off of interstate 471.
We are welcoming new patients and accept most insurance plans, automobile accidents, worker’s compensation. If your insurance does not cover chiropractic or you prefer not to use it we offer affordable fees as well.
Schedule an appointment today, call 859-781-8700.
Reduce Inflammation Naturally
Reduce inflammation naturally by eating anti-inflammatory foods and a more alkaline diet. Also natural alternatives to NSAIDs
Do you ache all over? Do you feel like all of your joints hurt at the same time? Do you have difficulty recovering from even light amounts of exercise? Do you feel lethargic and run down and depressed? These are all signs of chronic inflammation throughout your body. This inflammation is caused by the body becoming acidic from the food and beverages that we consume. This is known as diet-induced inflammation. There are foods that are pro-inflammatory and foods that are anti-inflammatory. I will go over in brief how you can change your diet to reduce the inflammation in your body and start feeling good again. The main types of food that make our bodies more acidic and cause inflammation are processed foods, pre-packaged food, sugary foods, white flour products and grains (even whole grains) which include bread, pasta, cereal, pretzels and crackers. Other pro-inflammatory foods include vegetable oils and items made with them. Why do grains cause inflammation? Several reasons, gluten and lectin are proteins that are known to cause digestive system inflammation. Grains are acidic in nature and cause our bodies to become more acidic which leads to inflammation. Finally grains contain high amounts of omega-6 fatty acids which cause inflammation.
So in order to reduce the inflammation in our bodies and raise the pH (become less acidic) we need to eat more alkaline foods and less acidic foods. All fruits and vegetables especially raw or lightly cooked will help reduce inflammation because they are alkalizing and not acid forming. Raw nuts and seeds are also a good choice. Meat and dairy products are acid forming but if you follow the 80/20 rule you can consume meat and dairy. The 80/20 rule suggests taking in at least 80% of alkalizing foods and no more than 20% of neutral or acid forming foods. One great product to help achieve a more alkaline diet is Greens First; a great tasting drink that gives you the equivalent 15 servings of fruits and vegetables in one drink. There is a wealth of information available regarding eating properly to reduce inflammation and I can’t possibly cover it in this post so I highly encourage you to download and read the free eBook Alkalize Now eBook.
There are also natural alternatives to taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications to alleviate joint pain. If you find yourself taking ibuprofen on a daily basis you are exposing yourself to adverse side effects and you may want to consider the following information. White willow bark which contains the active ingredient salicin has been used for centuries as a natural remedy for aches and pain. For acute injury and associated inflammation proteolytic enzymes such as bromelain, trypsin and chymotrypsin are effective in facilitating the healing process. These are all naturally occurring enzymes. Chronic pain and inflammation can be managed with botanicals that have natural anti-inflammatory effects. These include ginger, turmeric, boswellia and rosemary. Natural anti-inflammatory products from Anabolic Laboratories are available at my office. For more information on the products click here
Douglas P. Krift, DC
Fort Thomas, KY
859-781-8700
Here’s The Scoop On Snow Shoveling
Winter is upon us and snow is probably right around the corner. Inevitably, every winter we see patients in the office that have injured their back shoveling snow. Some may consider shoveling a form of exercise – 15 minutes counts as moderate physical activity – but there is significant risk of an injury. Taking a few precautions while you are shoveling can help prevent unnecessary pain and suffering. Below are tips from National Safety Council.
- If you have a history of heart problems or are inactive, talk to your doctor – there is an increase in fatal heart attacks among shovelers
- Warm up and stretch before you get started
- Drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated
- Shovel only fresh snow – freshly fallen, powdery snow is easier to shovel than the wet, packed variety
- Push, don’t lift – it’s easier on your back and uses less energy than lifting
- Pick the right shovel for you and don’t pick up too much at once (use a small shovel, or fill only one-fourth or one-half of a large one)
- Lift with your legs bent, not your back, and keep your back straight (by bending and “sitting” into the movement, you’ll keep your spine upright and less stressed – your shoulders, torso and thighs can do the work for you)
- Dress in layers – if you work up a sweat, you’ll be able to remove some of those layers
- Wear a hat and gloves to protect your extremities, wrap on a scarf, and wear wool socks and waterproof boots to protect your body from cold temperatures
- If your body is telling you to stop, listen to it (stop if you feel pain or start seeing heart attack warning signs: chest pain; shoulder, neck or arm pain; dizziness, fainting, sweating or nausea; and/ or shortness of breath – get medical help immediately)
If you experience lower back pain, neck pain and or shoulder pain due to shoveling snow, remember we are here to help. Contact Dr. Krift at (859)781-8700 for your chiropractic evaluation.
Stay warm and be safe this winter season!
Dr. Douglas Krift
1467 S Fort Thomas Ave
Ft. Thomas, KY 41075
(859) 781-8700
Conservative treatment for Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar Fasciitis – the most common cause of foot pain
Do you suffer from pain in the bottom of your foot?
A condition known as plantar fasciitis comes from Latin planta meaning “sole of the foot” and fascia meaning “band” which refers to the band of muscles and tendons on the bottom of the foot, and finally itis, meaning inflammation. When you put it all together plantar fasciitis means Inflammation of the muscles and tendons on the bottom of the foot.
Plantar fasciitis can affect only one foot or both feet. Common symptoms and complaints include: heel pain, arch pain, pain when first stepping out of bed in the morning or getting up from sitting. Plantar fasciitis can be the result of a sprain or strain injury to the muscles, tendons or ligaments on the bottom of the foot. The sprain may have happened years ago and now the weakened ligaments are giving way to stress on the arch causing overstretching of the plantar fascia resulting in irritation. If this irritation remains, it can lead to another condition known as a heel spur. A heel spur is a secondary result of too much tension on the plantar fascia where it attaches to the calcaneus bone of the foot. Your body sends calcium to the area to reinforce the muscle attachment at the heel and a heel spur forms. Heel spurs can be totally asymptomatic (meaning you will not feel them) if you remove the irritation and relieve the tension on the plantar fascia.
The arches of the foot function as shock absorbers in diminishing the impact of each heel and foot strike during walking or running. Plantar soft tissue is subject to chronic or repetative injury from long periods of standing, walking or running, especially in shoes or boots without adequate arch support. Plantar fasciitis can also be the result of acute injuries. Jumping from a high platform such as a loading dock, back of a truck or scaffolding can create an enormous amount of stress on the plantar tissues and arches that support them. Sports such as basketball also place lots of stress on the arches of the foot.
There are 26 bones that make up each foot. If these bones that make up the arches that support the plantar fascia are out of alignment or the arch has “dropped” then a common result is plantar fasciitis. It has been my expericence that a significant number of patients with plantar fasciitis will respond well to a correction of the misalignment with a chiropractic adjustment using an instrument to deliver a fast and very specific trust. Following the realignment proper taping of the arch using standard athletic tape will keep the arch in place and is kept on for at least 24 hours. This may have to be repeated several times over a 2-4 week period.
There are times when the arch just won’t keep its proper alignment. This may the result of flat feet or pes planus, this is usually congential condition. It may also be the result of high arches without proper arch support in the shoes. Finally injuries that have overstretched the facia will not allow the arches to stay place. These conditions most alway require custom fit arch supports known as orthotics. These are “casted” in the office using a foam casitng kit in which an impression of the foot is made – in the proper aligment and usually following an adjustment/realignment. The kit is then sent to a laboratory and custom fit orhtotics are fabricated. These orthics are then worn in the shoes to maintain proper support and reduces pressure on the plantar fascia which results in correction of the plantar fasciitis.
To schedule an appointment for evaluation of your foot pain contact Dr. Krift’s office at 859-781-8700.
Douglas P. Krift, D.C.
1467 S Ft Thomas Ave
Ft. Thomas, KY 41001
Immunizations, exemptions and Kentucky law
(Scroll to the bottom for downloadable forms)
Childhood immunizations, exemptions and Kentucky law
The risks verses benefits of childhood immunization has become more and more of a hot topic of debate in recent years. The choice of having your child or children vaccinated or not should be an educated one. I am writing this article to present some simple facts and to provide resources, which are sometimes hard to find, to parents or guardians of school aged children. The immunizations, exemptions and laws you will read about also pertain to daycare, pre-school as well as elementary and secondary schools. In this article I will use the terms vaccination and immunization interchangeably.
I recently read a statistic that came from the American Journal of Perinatology. It reports that over a 5 year period from 2001 to 2005 there was an increase in vaccinations of infants (within hours of birth) from 7.4% to 87.8%. According to the article nearly 94% of infants are being vaccinated within the first 24 hours. After reading that somewhat shocking statistic I decided to find out where these immunization recommendations come from. I found that the recommended immunization schedules come from The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices which is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These recommendations are then disseminated to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) whose members are the ones that usually give the vaccinations. The immunization schedules are available on the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/default.htm I highly recommend that you check this link out. You will see what vaccines are given and at what ages they are recommended.
According to the CDC there are 35 doses of recommended vaccines against some 16 different diseases given from birth to age six which includes an annual influenza vaccination. This does not include 3 more vaccinations for high risk groups and there are more vaccines recommended for ages 7-18. The state of Kentucky has a regulated schedule of vaccines derived from the CDC that can be found at: http://www.lrc.ky.gov/kar/902/002/060.htm. Click on the summary of KY immunizations below for and easier to read “cheat sheet”.
Kentucky state law (KRS 214.034) requires all parents, guardians, and other persons having care, custody, or control of any child to have the child immunized against at least nine different diseases listed in the statute. Kentucky law (KRS 158.035) also states that in order to enroll your child in any public or private elementary or secondary school they must be immunized and a certificate of proof of these immunizations from a medical physician, osteopathic physician, physicians assistant, advanced practice registered nurse, pharmacist or local health department administrator must be presented.
These laws also allow for exemptions from these vaccinations for medical or religious reasons (KRS 214.036). If you make the choice not to vaccinate your child or children then you will need to have your family physician, pediatrician, nurse practitioner, pharmacist or local health department administrator sign either the religious exemption form or the medical exemption form. The religious exemption form must be accompanied by a signed, notarized affidavit stating you are opposed for personal religious reasons. Just present these signed documents to your child’s school or daycare and they can not be questioned. I have had no problems whatsoever.
My personal experience with trying to find all of the information needed to exempt my children from vaccinations was difficult. I have provided all of the information you need regarding Kentucky immunization laws and exemptions. I implore you to educate yourself on the risks and benefits of vaccinations which is beyond the scope of this article. There is plenty of information out there. All of the documents necessary for exemption are below in PDF form.
For Kentucky Laws click on the KRS links in the above article
Religious Exemption Certificate
KY Vaccination Religious Exemption Affidavit
Summary of KY Immunization requirements
If you found this post helpful please leave a comment below
Dr. Douglas Krift
Nutrition for Degenerative Arthritis
Osteoarthritis or what I like to call “wear and tear” arthritis is a result of abnormal wear on the joints of the body. This abnormal wear may be the result of an old accident or injury. That old football injury you suffered back in high school or car accident you had 10 years ago may now be beginning to show up in the form of arthritis as you are getting older. Osteoarthritis mainly affects the weight-bearing joints of the body like the knees, hips, and spine. One of the most common signs or symptoms of osteoarthritis (also known as degenerative joint disease or DJD) is pain and stiffness in the morning that gets better throughout the day. As you get older and especially if you have ever had a joint injury the cartilage and tissues surrounding the joints lose their ability to produce the lubricating fluids that keep the joints moving and you end up with stiff and achy joints.
Eating the rights foods and using nutritional supplements can help ease the pain of arthritis. If you give your body the proper nutrients that it needs for joint health you will enjoy a better quality of life. One of the main nutritional supplements for healthy joints is Glucosamine, glucosamine is a naturally occurring substance in our bodies, however if there has been a joint injury, the cells that produce it have been damaged. Therefore it is important to supplement with glucosamine, the generally accepted therapeutic dose if 1500mg/day. Chondroitin is another joint supplement that usually comes from extracts of shark cartilage or bovine cartilage, this supplement helps repair damaged joint tissues. Trace minerals Manganese, Zinc and Copper are also important for joint health. Antioxidants such as vitamin C and phytonutrients found in fruits and vegetables are beneficial as well.
To have joints that are less achy, focus on eating less processed foods such as breads and pasta and eat more fruits and vegetables (preferably raw or lightly cooked). These fruits and vegetables naturally contain many vitamins and minerals, like vitamin C, manganese, zinc and copper mentioned above. You may need to supplement with Glucosamine and chondroitin.
For more information on osteoarthritis and nutritional supplements contact our office.
Douglas P. Krift, D.C.
1467 S Ft Thomas, Ave
Ft Thomas, KY 41075
859-781-8700
Dr Krift is a chiropractor in Fort Thomas located in northern, KY. His office offers a variety of nutritional supplements as well and chiropractic adjustments to maintain proper joint health.
Activator Doctor in Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati area
Activator Adjusting Instrument
Dr. Douglas Krift is advanced proficiency rated in the Activator Methods Chiropractic Technique. This rating requires annual continuing education to maintain proficiency in the Activator Technique. He has been advanced proficiency rated since 1997. There are very few Activator chiropractors in Northern Kentucky and the Greater Cincinnati area. Dr Krift’s office is conveniently located in Fort Thomas, KY less than a mile off interstate 471 and just minutes from downtown Cincinnati.
The Activator Method utilizes a hand held instrument to make adjustments to the spine and or extremity joints to restore proper alignment, movement and function. For more information on the Activator Methods visit http://www.activator.com/
Hip, Knee and Foot Pain Relief
Many people are surprised to learn that chiropractic care is often beneficial for individuals suffering from hip, knee or foot pain. The pain may be coming directly from the hip joint, knee joint, the ankle or foot itself. The pain can be referred from the lower back or another joint in the lower extremity. The joints of the the hip, knee and feet can become locked up or misaligned also known as subluxated. When joint function is impaired inflammation can occur and loss of range of motion is likely. When this occurs these joints usually need to be adjusted to restore proper joint motion and function. Dr. Krift is trained in utilizing special tools to correct these fixated or misaligned joints. One of these tools or instruments is called the Activator and another automated instrument is known as the Impulse. Dr. Krift can relieve many hip, knee and foot problems using gentle, low force chiropractic techniques. Call for an appointment today 859-781-8700.
