The American Back Center is actually part of the Rosenthal Clinic, S.C., which was founded Allyne Rosenthal, D.C. in 1983.

Throughout her career, Dr. Rosenthal has always searched for answers to the health care problems troubling her patients. For some time she had been frustrated by not always being able to help patients with severe lower back pain caused by herniated and degenerated lumbar discs.

Late in 1992, Dr. Rosenthal learned about a new treatment for lumbar disc conditions. It was called “vertebral axial decompression,” or VAX-D, and it offered an exciting new approach to these conditions. A clinical study on VAX-D had been published in a peer-reviewed medical journal, and it demonstrated that VAX-D could address the underlying cause of pain caused by disc conditions

This research and a meeting with several physicians who had worked with VAX-D provided sufficient evidence for Dr. Rosenthal and, early in 1993, she brought VAX-D to Chicago and created the American Back Center, designed to treat herniated or bulging or ruptured lumbar discs, degenerative disc disease, arthritis of the spine, and facet syndrome – and to provide a clear and effective alternative to surgery. Within a few months, Gregory I. Shenk, MD, a neuro-radiologist, also joined the clinic staff, and a team was formed to diagnose, supervise and treat VAX-D patients. From the beginning, patient after patient experienced tremendous relief.

Early in 2000, Dr. Rosenthal added physical therapy to the clinic in order to provide an even wider range of non-surgical treatment protocols to patients. Trained in both the evaluation and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries, staff physical therapists use a combination of hands-on techniques, an extensive array of therapeutic exercises, and specific physiotherapy “modalities” such ultrasound, electric muscle stimulation. These have made the difference in successfully treating many difficult cases.

Currently, the staff of the American Back Center includes Dr. Rosenthal; Carlos Reynes, MD; Kristin Argo, DC; Shefali Shah, MPT; Cynthia Caldarella, DC; two physical therapist assistants, and at least three certified VAX-D technicians.

Two features make the American Back Center unique. The first is experience, a crucial factor in the diagnosis and treatment of severe low back pain. The other is our team approach. Each patient’s case is reviewed by our interdisciplinary healthcare team. Both of these features allow us to individualize each patient’s treatment program, and get the best possible results for each patient.

Since its beginnings in early 1993, the American Back Center has consulted with over 5,000 patients and has provided VAX-D, supplemented by physical therapy and, when called for, chiropractic treatments to over 2000 patients.

What has evolved over the years is a clear and strong purpose – to provide the very best in care to its patients and, thus, the American Back Center shares the same purpose as the larger Rosenthal Clinic of which it is a significant and important part:

To enhance the quality of life of our patients
and our community by providing the care,
tools, and knowledge needed to achieve
and maintain optimal health.