Richard Bernstein, DO, brings his extensive experience as an osteopathic physician to Santa Cruz Osteopathic in Capitola, California. He has been deeply committed and involved in the healthcare field for over 30 years.
He started his career as a massage therapist, yoga instructor, and a Holistic Health Educator and Consultant. After suffering severe injuries from a cycling accident in 1979, he came under the care of an osteopathic physician who helped him heal from his injuries and introduced him to the field of osteopathic medicine.
Upon completing medical school, Dr. Bernstein specialized in the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation. In 1995, Dr. Bernstein partnered with Watsonville Hospital to create the Wellness and Rehabilitation Center, the first hospital-based Complementary Alternative Medicine Clinic on the Central Coast of California. With this effort, he brought together a team of Santa Cruz County’s finest clinicians under one roof. Throughout his tenure, he developed a close working relationship with a large network of Western and Traditional healthcare providers in an effort to offer his patients the finest and broadest spectrum of diagnostic evaluation and care available for the treatment of a wide variety of musculoskeletal and neuromuscular disorders.
Dr. Bernstein and the team at Santa Cruz Osteopathic can help patients with a variety of conditions, including back pain, neck pain, joint pain, muscle pain, degenerative disc disease, and sports injuries. An initial consultation with Dr. Bernstein and the team typically lasts one hour. During an initial visit, he will perform a thorough history and examination as well as review any prior medical records and diagnostic studies. Treatment during your first visit or upon subsequent visits may include Osteopathic Manual Medicine (OMM), SpineMED® spinal decompression therapy, regenerative medicine, laser therapy, therapeutic exercises, and others if needed.
Call the office today to find out how Dr. Bernstein and the team at Santa Cruz Osteopathic can get you on the path to healing.