- Osteoporosis
- Arthritis
- Primary CareAt Risser, Dr. Criswell will use his expertise to treat a range of foot and ankle injuries, specializing in patients with sports injuries. He will also work with primary care providers, rheumatologists, pain specialists neurologists, physical and occupational therapists as well as surgeons and other specialists to optimize patient care before and after foot surgeries. He loves spending time with his growing family where they now live in Pasadena.
- Internal MedicineTypically a physiatrist has completed four years of medical school, a one year internship in either internal medicine or surgery, and a three year residency in Rehabilitation Medicine. At that point, they may choose to subspecialize by completing additional training in the form of a fellowship such as sports or pain medicine.
- Carpal Tunnel SyndromeDr. Mostofi devotes his practice to complex hand, wrist and elbow injuries. He has expertise in caring for common hand problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome as well as fractures, sports injuries, arthritis, and nerve problems in the hand, wrist and elbow. He holds staff privileges at the Huntington Outpatient Surgery Center, Huntington Memorial Hospital and Arcadia Methodist Hospital.
- Anxiety
- UltrasoundDr. Myers’ core passion and true satisfaction comes from treating pain and loss of function, the two symptoms he feels are the most devastating to a person’s daily life. As such he employs all non-surgical modalities to treat the full scope of spinal, musculoskeletal, peripheral joint and nerve disorders. He treats high functioning sports athletes to geriatric patients with degenerative arthritic conditions. He performs electrodiagnostic (EMG) evaluations, advanced minimally invasive fluoroscopy and ultrasound guided injections, spinal cord stimulation (neuromodulation) implants, osteopathic manipulative medicine and acupuncture.
- MRIMagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a valuable diagnostic study and a noninvasive, nonradioactive and pain-free method of evaluating the human body. It uses strong magnets and radio waves that are evaluated using computer technology to view three-dimensional images of the body. MRI can help pinpoint the cause of your pain and assist in choosing an appropriate treatment plan. Download our brochure to find out more.
- Radiology
- X-Rays
- Computed TomographySpinal fusion is a surgical procedure used to correct problems with the small bones of the spine (vertebrae). It is essentially a "welding" process. The basic idea is to fuse together the painful vertebrae so that they heal into a single, solid bone. Spine surgery is usually recommended only when your doctor can pinpoint the source of your pain. To do this, your doctor may use imaging tests, such as x-rays, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Here are some of the conditions that may require spinal fusion. Click on the links to learn more.
- SciaticaThe spine is a series of connected bones - vertebrae. Discs are cushioning tissues that hold vertebra together. As we age the center of these discs may lose water content making them less effective. This can cause a displacement of the disc center: a herniated disc. Most herniations occur in the lower two discs of the lumbar spine and can press on the spinal nerves causing pain, numbness, tingling or weakness of the leg - sciatica. Our brochure gives you the full story.
- Scoliosis SurgeryDr. Robert K.Gustafson joined the practice in the early 70's. He was one of the early pioneers in scoliosis surgery, performing Harrington Rod fusions on young patients with severe spinal curvatures. He was also active in resident teaching at the Orthopaedic Hospital in Los Angeles. Dr. Gustafson was a compassionate and caring physician. He served on many committees including Chief of Staff at St. Luke Hospital.
- WhiplashThe term whiplash might be confusing because it describes both a mechanism of injury and the symptoms caused by that injury. The most common symptom of whiplash is neck pain and the most common cause is a motor vehicle accident. In addition to neck pain, there may be pain in one or both arms, between the shoulder blades, the face and even the low back. Our brochure takes a closer look at whiplash.
- ArthroscopyFellowship-trained and specializing in Shoulder and Knee Complex Arthroscopy and Joint Replacement Surgery for over two decades, Dr. Gregory T. Heinen, M.D., leads his staff in their commitment of providing high-quality orthopaedic care in his childhood home, the San Gabriel Valley.
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Ankle SurgeryConstantly bearing our weight and subjected to every step we take, not to mention the sports we might play, it is little wonder that our ankles and feet often suffer as we get older. The foot has 26 bones, 33 joints and more than 100 ligaments which work together to keep you stable and moving, and if there is a problem with any of these, they can seriously affect your mobility. And whatever age you are, problems can occur.
- Joint ReplacementDr. Laster joined Risser in the year 2000 and has practiced as a board certified orthopaedic surgeon since that time. His interests include trauma and the disorders of the hip and knee. He specializes in total joint replacement including computer navigated surgery as well as total hip arthroplasty through the anterior approach. He has staff privileges at the Huntington Outpatient Surgery Center, Huntington Memorial Hospital and Arcadia Methodist Hospital. He is a member of the California Orthopaedic Association, the Western Orthopaedic Association, Los Angeles County Medical Association and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Dr. Laster grew up in Palo Alto, California as the youngest of eight children. He has been involved in the Pasadena region of AYSO and is currently in his fourth year as a head coach. Dr. Laster and his wife, live with their two children in Pasadena and enjoy being involved in the Pasadena and Altadena communities.
- Hand SurgeryHand surgery is the field of medicine that deals with problems of the hand, wrist, and forearm. Hand surgeons care for these problems with and without surgery. They are specially trained to operate when necessary. Many hand surgeons are also experts in diagnosing and caring for shoulder and elbow problems
- Vascular SurgeryDr. Amir Mostofi attended high school in Bakersfield, California and spent time volunteering in several hospitals. This was when he knew he wanted to pursue a career in medicine. As a pre-medical student at UCLA he graduated Magna Cum Laude and with departmental honors in physiological sciences. Dr. Mostofi then moved to Chicago to attend the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. He graduated at the top of his medical school class graduating with Alpha Omega Alpha Honors. He spent the next several years in Connecticut for his orthopaedic surgery training at the University of Connecticut. Over the years, Dr. Mostofi has contributed to several books and peer-review publications. He spent his last year of training at Brown University, specializing in hand, upper extremity, and micro-vascular surgery. Training under the direction of Dr. Edward Akelman and Arnold Peter Weiss, two world renowned leaders in hand surgery, Dr. Mostofi has gained tremendous expertise in complex hand disorders. He has finally returned home to Southern California, and we are very proud to have him with us at Risser.
- ArthroscopyDr. Northrop is a board certified, sports medicine fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon. He graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in economics. After working in healthcare consulting for 5 years, Dr. Northrop returned to medical school, obtaining his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. He completed a surgical internship at UC San Francisco and subsequently completed his orthopaedic residency at Stanford University. After finishing his residency, Dr. Northrop obtained additional training in sports medicine and arthroscopy at the West Coast Sports Medicine Foundation.
- Hip ReplacementDr. Swapnil Shah is an Orthopaedic Surgeon with extensive training in orthopaedic trauma, acute injury and complications. His areas of expertise include surgery of complex fractures of the extremities and the pelvis, nonunion, malunion/deformity and infection of the bone. His skill set extends beyond trauma, as Dr. Shah is highly proficient in hip replacement through the anterior approach which spares tissues and speeds recovery.
- Knee Replacement
- Knee ArthroscopyA graduate of Yale Medical School, Dr. Heinen obtained his Orthopaedic training at USC and his Fellowship Specialty Training in Shoulder and Knee Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine at SCOI. Dr. Heinen is Board-Certified in both Orthopaedic Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. He has been the team doctor for University of California, Riverside; California State University, San Bernardino; California Baptist University, and Loyola High School. Committed to ongoing education, Dr. Heinen taught nationally as an Associate Master Instructor in Shoulder Arthroscopy and was the Medical Director for the California Baptist University Athletic Training Education Program. He frequently educates upcoming health-care providers locally.
- Sports MedicinePhysiatrists are specialists in the nonoperative treatment of a wide array of disorders affecting the musculoskeletal system. They are highly skilled in sports medicine, spine medicine, and general orthopaedic conditions. These can include...
- Occupational TherapyBecause every patient is unique, our treatment plans are always individually tailored. Your plan may include referral to physical or occupational therapy, bracing, orthotics, or medication. Sometimes, the above treatments are not enough, and your physiatrist may recommend state-of-the-art spine or peripheral joint injections. These are usually performed under fluoroscopy, which enables your physiatrist to obtain "live" X-ray images during a procedure. If a surgical referral becomes necessary, your physiatrist will refer you to one of our surgeons for further care.
- Neck Pain
- Back Pain
- Geriatrics
- Orthotics and Prosthetic Therapy
- Achilles Tendonitis
- Ankle SprainOur foot and ankle injury specialist Dr Criswell can treat a wide range of foot and ankle problems, including...
- Hammertoes