Posted 6/23/2022

Kessler Rehabilitation Center is proud to announce the opening of a new center in Bloomfield, New Jersey.  Located at 29 Belleville Avenue, Unit 5, the center is conveniently located in the Bloomfield Crossing/Super Fresh Plaza.

The Bloomfield team offers sports and orthopedic physical therapy, as well as specialized services for those with work-related injuries, balance issues or in need of post-op care. Our unique Recovery and Reconditioning Program offers tailored treatment for post-COVID-19 deconditioning, weakness and immobility.

Our clinical experts are ready to help you get back to the activities you love. Kessler Rehabilitation Center offers extended hours with evening appointments available. No prescription is necessary* to schedule an appointment.

Kessler Rehabilitation Centers accept most insurance plans, offer flexible scheduling and virtual telerehab services for patients unable to visit.

For more information, or to request an appointment, click here, or please call (973) 866-5973 today.

*Restrictions may apply.

Posted 6/16/2022

Basketball is one of the most popular sports in America, especially among kids and young adults.

From March Madness to the NBA finals, people love watching and playing basketball.

The love for playing the game doesn’t come without the risk of injury, though.

Whether played recreationally or in an organized league, injuries happen, even with the pros.

2022 saw the beginning of the end of careers for several powerhouse players. Injury and overuse forced them off the court and into retirement.

Here we’ve ranked the five most common types in basketball:

Ankle sprains

Nearly half of all basketball-related injuries involve the ankle and foot. From “rolling” an ankle, to landing awkwardly, to getting stepped on, playing basketball leaves athletes open to injury.

A standard treatment for ankle injuries, specifically ankle sprains, often centers around a method remembered by the acronym RICE:

• Rest
• Ice
• Compression
• Elevation

Most injuries can be treated without a trip to the doctor’s office with this practice. But if you have the following symptoms, a trip to urgent care might be better:

• Pain directly on top of the outside bone of your foot
• Inability to walk a couple steps

Physical therapy could be helpful, too, depending on the severity of the sprain.

Typically, with the right rehab plan, an athlete can be back in their sport in two-to-six weeks.

Thigh bruises

Getting a knee to the thigh can be one of the worst pains for a basketball player.

Because of this, more athletes are wearing compression garments with thigh padding. If hit hard enough in the thigh by an opposing player, the muscle can tighten up and bruise.

Typically, an athlete can play through bruising. But some deep tissue massage by a licensed therapist is helpful to loosen up the muscle.

Treatments for a thigh bruise might include:

• Massage
• ICE: ice, compression and elevation

Knee injuries

If you watch or play basketball with any regularity, this one is not surprise.

The three biggies include:

• Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL): ACL injuries are the most talked about of the knee injuries. The ACL is one of the bands of ligaments connecting the thigh bone to the shin bone at the knee.
  
  Injury can range from a tiny tear to a significant tear. A bad tear, separating from the bone, generally requires surgery and months of physical therapy for return to play.
  
  Go in-depth with our article on three ways to prevent ACL injury.
• Meniscus: The meniscus is the little brother of the ACL. Every knee has two, and often they are injured along with the ACL.
  
  A meniscus is one of two rubber-like wedge-shaped cushions for each knee joint. Without them, the thigh bones would sit directly on top of the lower leg bones. Over time, this bone on bone condition causes pain as th bones rub together.
  
  Treatment for meniscus injuries depends on the level of injury. It can vary from ICE, which we talked about above, to surgery and physical therapy, to just physical therapy.
• Patella tendon: Patella tendonitis –  jumper’s knee – is a result of inflammation of the patella tendon which connects your kneecap to your shin bone.
  
  Jumper’s knee can often be healed with customized exercise guided by a physical therapist. Here, too, the RICE method, with emphasis on the “R”, is quite effective.

Jammed fingers

Jammed fingers are exceptionally common (and painful!). They often occur when the finger, fully extended, hits the ball “head on” without bending.

Ouch!

This kind of finger jam can lead to immediate pain then swelling.

Although uncomfortable, this injury isn’t considered serious.

Jammed fingers typically heal without medical intervention or the need for a trip to the emergency room.

Buddy taping (taping the finger to the finger next to it) and icing can help you heal in as little as a week.

But if pain or swelling persists, a consult with your doctor or a physical therapist can determine if there’s something else in play.

Concussion

Concussions make up about 15% of all sport-related injuries, not just basketball.

A concussion is a brain injury that occurs with a physical impact to the head or neck, like whiplash.

Most sports-related concussions can be managed by either an athletic trainer individual or in tandem with a physical therapist. Athletic trainers may also work in combination with a doctor and other health care professionals.

In basketball, a few examples of when concussion can occur:

• An athlete hits their head on the hard gym floor
• Head-to-head contact between two players
• Head-to-elbow contact
• Head-to-shoulder contact
• Any collision involving the head

When concussion is diagnosed, the athlete is unable to return to play for a period of time. This can be a 5- or 7-day waiting period, or until the treating health professional gives approval.

Concussion recovery can go slowly if symptoms linger. When this occurs, supervision by the health care provider is key for successful healing.

Working with a licensed physical therapist can help with the recovery of nearly all of these injuries.

Think you may have one of these, or another type of sports injury? Click the blue Request An Appointment button to find a physical therapy center near you.

We offer complimentary consultations so you can get back on the court.

By: Wyneisha Mason, MAT, ATC. ‘Neisha is an athletic trainer with RUSH Physical Therapy in Chicago, Illinois.

RUSH and Kessler Rehabilitation Center are part of the Select Medical Outpatient Division family of brands.

Posted 5/19/2022

Running can be a real rush – a bit euphoric, even!

The health benefits of a good run – long-distance or short runs – do the heart and mind good. That rush – a “runner’s high” – can give you a boost in mood and sense of accomplishment

For race runners, nothing beats that “mission accomplished” feeling after putting in the work and crossing the finish line.

If you run for health or sport, race running might seem like a lofty goal or dream. You can see the finish line banner in your head but then…

POOF!

It’s gone.

But with the right planning and commitment, it’s totally doable!

Our work with runners of all athletic levels gives us a competitive edge in helping keep them safe and running. We can help you, too.

It starts with some basic but important need-to-knows.

In this article we break them down into a series of four S’s of safe marathon training:

• Stress injury prevention
• Standards of progress
• Strength training
• Shoe (yes, shoes!)

If you’ve been thinking about pushing to a next level and running your first half-marathon, read on!

Stress injuries that can stop you in your tracks

Injuries to feet, ankles and legs are common for runners.

If you run on a regular basis, it’s likely you’ll have an injury at some point.

The most common are repetitive stress injuries (RSIs). They’re also called repetitive overuse injuries or repetitive strain injuries.

80% of running injuries are overuse, repetitive stress injuries.

~ PubMed Central (PMC), Injuries in Runners; A Systematic Review on Risk Factors and Sex Differences

These happen with movement that’s repeated over and over.

Think about the act of running and your feet hitting the ground.

The constant slap-slapping of shoes on pavement or other hard surfaces. Muscles pulling on bone to propel you forward. All of this works together to make our bones and tendons stronger.

Now add to that any increases in your running distance as you train. This pushes your body past the point of comfort; each bit more adding more stress to tendons and bones. The intensity stimulates collagen growth – the protein that helps joints flex and absorb impact.

But add too much stress and the body can’t adapt quickly enough. The force of running and the extra miles is too much for the bones, tendons and joints and you can end up with micro-fractures or tears.

RSIs include other injuries too, some higher in the Ouch! factor than others. But any of them can all take a runner off course.

Not surprisingly, the knees, legs and feet take the top positions for injury to body parts from running.

Looking at the injuries themselves, RSIs include:

• Sprains - overstretched ligament with pain, swelling or bruising
• Stress fractures - hairline cracks in bone with bruising or tenderness
• Shin splints - pain in front of inner part of lower leg near shin bone
• Plantar fasciitis - pain under heel or bottom of foot
• Achilles tendinitis - inflammation of the tendon connecting calf muscle to heel

These injuries can take weeks of rest to heal, bringing your training runs to a screeching halt.

So slow your training down a bit. Giving yourself a few more weeks to train before adding to your weekly mileage can be the difference to successfully reaching your goal.

Let’s talk about how to do that.

Stress injury prevention that keeps you in running shape

Let’s look at a study.

Okay, maybe a study doesn’t sound fun…

But stick with us here.

We use them because the research helps us be better care providers. Research finds new ways to treat and prevent injury. That means we can better support your training or treat your condition or injury.

So…

A study of risk factors of lower extremity running injuries (van Gent et al.) estimated that 60% of running injuries were attributed to preventable training mistakes. In half these cases, the mistake was excessive mileage.

Breaking that down a bit and it’s all about your training.

That may have you asking, How should I progress my mileage?

Standard of progress for safely increasing you running distance

There’s a rule for how to increase your running distance (we like rules!).

The 10% rule is the most cited standard to progress running distance.

It allows for increasing distance at a rate that gives your body time to adapt to the added stress.

Runners can do this two ways:

• Increase weekly mileage
• Increase total minutes by 10% week over week

Here’s how it looks.

Week 1: Distance - Run three 3-mile runs (a total of 9 miles). Week 2 run two 3-mile runs and one 4-mile run (a total of 10 miles).

Easy. Right:

Here’s an example using minutes.

Week 1: Time - Start with run/walk interval training. Run 20 minutes out of a 30-minute workout. Week 2 increase to 22 out of the 30 minutes.

That said, we work with runners individually. We want to learn about their experience and where they are in their running program and training.

It’s a partnership we build with you to reach your ideal parameters for getting to your distance goals. That includes injury prevention.

While it may not be as simple as applying the 10% rule to all runners, it’s a good place to start for an experienced runner.

We’ve created this chart for training with your sports medicine specialist or physical therapist. Click to download a copy of the training chart.

10-Week Half Marathon Training Program:

This 10-week schedule roughly follows the 10% rule. It’s a good plan for the runner who can already run a 5k distance at the start of training.

Scheduling rest days in your training gives your bones, muscles and tendons time to recover.

How should I focus my strength training?

Runners only have one foot on the ground at any time. That means you are constantly having to balance on one leg.

This is important for how the ankles and hips work while running. These body parts need to make quick adjustments to maintain balance and have both legs share the shift in your weight evenly.

Your training plan will benefit from working with your therapist’s single-leg balance and strengthening exercises in your workouts.

Examples include: 

• Single-leg heel raises
• Single-leg squats
• Lunges
• Single-leg bridges
• Single-leg Romanian deadlifts

If the shoe fits

You’ve heard the phrase. But for the runner, the wrong size and fit can start all sorts of problems.

The running community has lots to say about footwear, and which type is best for preventing injury.

Some advocate for shoes with cushion and support. Others for barefoot running.

There’s research on both.

One study had Marines in basic training wear different shoes based on the arches of their feet. Each arch type – low, medium, high – got a different type of shoe.

The results, when compared to a control group who wore only one type of shoe, regardless of their arch type, showed no difference in injury between the groups. Now, if you like research, like we do, check out the full article on the Marine Corps shoe study.

The concept of barefoot running is based on the theory that, well…barefoot is best. The jury is still out on this one.

There’s also the argument that wearing shoes changes the way we run. Barefoot enthusiasts say that the human foot evolved to handle the forces of running without the need for the support of shoes.

But running on hard surfaces, like concrete or asphalt, barefoot may cause a higher amount of stress fractures.

With either choice, the best option is to choose what’s right for your run – what feels best to you and what keeps you safe.

If choosing a shoe, go a half size bigger than your walking or dress shoe. This will give room for your midfoot and toes to spread out as you push off. There’s also room if your feet swell a bit on longer runs.

Running shoes should be replaced every 300-500 miles or every six months to a year based on how much they are used.

Fun Tip!

Write the date on the inside tongue of your new shoes to track how long you’ve used them.

You might consider a gait analysis when you’re looking to buy running shoes. This can identify any movement patterns or bad running habits that could result in injury. You can schedule an analysis from one of our outpatient physical therapy centers or a local running store.

There you have it!

Four steps to build a training plan that helps you avoid injury, build up your strength and distance, choose your shoes and get out there and run toward race day.

Article research courtesy of Jasmine Fisk, P.T., DPT

Treating hand, wrist, arm, elbow and shoulder injuries in athletes

Posted 4/29/2022

When you've got an injured athlete, what's your move to get them back in the game?

For some sports organizations, athletic trainers and team doctors are on deck to treat most sports injuries. But there's a variety of health professionals who help players get their pitch, swing or throw back.

Did you know that occupational therapists play key roles in athletic injury treatment? With all the throwing, lobbing, pitching and twisting that comes with playing sports, the need for therapy is big.

Upper extremity injuries in athletes are common, sidelining them from play. As many as one in four injuries are to the hand or wrist.

Occupational therapists (OTs) specialize in these types of injuries and more. Their goal is to help the athlete recover and safely return to play.

How occupational therapists help athletes

Occupational therapists (OTs) work with all kinds of individuals to overcome physical setbacks from illness or injury. For athletes, this is key for a return to play after injury.

Just as athletes are unique in their play with their sport, injuries are unique to them. For example, athletic injuries can occur in all ages, from Little Leaguers to Silver Sneakers. Treating a specific type of injury, like a broken arm, will be different for a patient who's 7 and another who's 70.

An OT's role is to assess the impact of injury and the limitations it causes.

Therapy is then based on the skills the individual needs to recover to overcome those limitations.

OTs are specialists in assessing the impact of injury on many parts of the body's framework such as:

• Bones
• Muscles
• Tendons
• Ligaments
• Nerves

The level of an injury can vary from acute to chronic.

For example, an acute injury is sudden, like breaking a wrist.

A chronic injury is one that happens over time, like tendonitis of the wrist. Tendonitis builds up after long periods of overuse, doing the same movements over and over, like serving a tennis ball.

Whatever the injury, OTs are highly-skilled in treating a variety of injuries.

For the weekend warrior or a pro athlete, your path to recovery from a sports injury will be unique. And just like the role you play on the court, the track or the field, you'll play a major league role in your healing process.

Here's some inside baseball on what that will look like.

Expect your doctor and OT to talk with you about your goals for recovery. This is key for planning your way back to play and any restrictions you'll need to follow.

Your local physical therapy center will be your home base for therapy sessions. This is to ensure your safety during treatment.

Your therapist will guide you in proper movement and the use of any equipment to make sure you are doing each exercise right. This helps improve your range of motion and stay on track for healing.

Your therapy may include strength training with resistance bands or weights to improve dexterity and build strength.

If your therapy includes doing exercise at home between scheduled appointments, you may benefit from having your OT take a look at your personal equipment and how you use it. They can spot if it's appropriate for your use and goals for healing. They can also see if you're using it right and, if not, help you to correct it.

Each step of your treatment is planned to help you heal from the injury and get back to your goals.

Brace yourself for orthotic devices

For serious injury or bad breaks that take you out of play, your OT may want to restrict the motion or movement of your injury to help with healing.

The terms – splint, brace, wrap or cast – are pretty common, so, it's likely you've heard them before. In medical terms, though, you might hear your therapist refer to them as an orthotic device or orthosis.

The bottom line, whatever the device looks like, is that it will be fairly rigid or stiff to keep a joint or broken bone in place as it heals.

Orthotics can be made and fitted for:

• Fingers
• Wrist/hand
• Elbow
• Shoulder

For a less serious level of injury, there are a host of orthoses we can provide to support and protect to keep you in the game, no matter your game!

These upper extremity orthoses can be fit for thumb, fingers, hand, wrist, forearm and shoulder.

These are custom-fitted and made onsite at our center so you can leave your appointment with what you need.

Your therapist will ensure it fits right for comfort, support and protection.

At the ‘core’ of your injury

Your core is a complex series of muscles extending far beyond your abs. So if you’re thinking “six-pack” or “washboard” abs, think bigger!

The core is made up of 20-plus muscles at the center of the body. It includes major and minor muscles of the stomach, hips and low back. They all work in tandem, making the core part of nearly every movement we make.

Having a strong core (diaphragm, abs, glute and pelvic muscles) and good dynamic balance plays a large part in athletic activities. Weakness in either of these areas may be flagged by your therapist for you to get a movement screen assessment.

The core helps:

• Stabilize movement
• Transfer force from one extremity to another
• Initiate movement

If your core strength is weak, the strength and coordination of your upper extremity isn't at full potential.

Occupational therapists who work with patients on upper extremity recovery consider the whole body during treatment. Your OT will work on improving core strength as well as leg and hip strength as it applies to your sport.

The power of occupational therapy

Getting back to a well-loved sport or activity is important to anyone who's sidelined by injury.

It doesn't matter if you’re competing at an elite level or just want to retain an active lifestyle to get the benefits of occupational therapy. Our OTs know how to create a rehabilitation plan to meet your goals.

Our occupational and hand therapists can help you:

• Avoid injury
• Perform better
• Recover from injuries quickly and safely

We're here for you. Our proven therapies, along with compassionate care, offer the best outcome for your injury.

Take a look at all the sports medicine and injury prevention services we offer. Then click on any of our pages' blue Request an appointment buttons and come see us!

How the ravages of history launched two profound professions

Posted 4/20/2022

When a doctor recommends occupational therapy (OT), rather than physical therapy (PT), many people don't at first realize there are two kinds of therapies.

It might also not be understood that there's a difference between them, or why a doctor prescribes one over the other.

As therapists, we get this question a lot.

For sure, there's a difference between the therapies and how they're used in healing and recovery. And the story is more interesting than you might imagine…

A short history of modern therapy

Movement and manual therapies can be traced back to ancient Asia, Greece and Rome. Those early practices included massage and hydrotherapy (water therapy).

Fast-forward to modern-day therapy which began in 18th century Sweden with the practice of orthopedics — the medical focus on bones and muscles.

A bit later, Hanrik Ling, developed the Swedish Gymnastic System (also known as the Swedish Movement Cure). His motivation? Having experienced the benefit of improved body movement through his practice of fencing.

At its core, Ling's system emphasized physical conditioning for its ability to improve health and body function. It combined lesser intensive floor-style of gymnastics with manual therapy. Ling's approach brought wide acceptance of his methods.

In 1813, the Swedish government appointed Ling to start the Royal Central Institute of Gymnastics (RCIG).

Ling's system became wider spread as graduates of the RCIG adopted its four core components:

• physical education
• fencing
• massage, physical therapy, physiotherapy
• dance performance

One more fast-forward to the 1920s. The polio epidemic was raging in the United States, especially among children.

During the epidemic, two schools of thought emerged.

One used the practice of immobilizing the limbs of patients believing limb movement and stretching would impair muscle recovery and cause more deformity.

A second practice re-introduced the Roman practice of hydrotherapy. Here therapists used exercise in heated pools to improve a patient's muscle recovery and movement.

Polio paralysis spurred working with patients to improve balance and regain muscle strength. The benefit of warm water was helpful as well as buoyancy – water supports body weight and reduces stress on the joints.

The practice – active polio therapy – helped grow a population of physical therapy (PT) specialists who became instrumental in treating polio paralysis.

These early PTs developed methods for assessing and strengthening muscles – methods still used today.

This piece of history gave the push to establishing the profession of physical therapy in the U.S.

Turning now to the topic of occupational therapy (OT), its history doesn't stretch back as far as those of physical therapy.

But its roots in America began to grown in the late 1800s. This happened primarily as a way to help individuals with mental illness by engaging them in meaningful tasks. Examples include gardening, painting and arts and crafts creation.

The U.S. military also began recognizing the importance of mental health services for wounded and traumatized soldiers to help them resume daily living.

This marked an entry for OT services in the treatment of individuals with mental and physical needs.

Three movements of thought were significant in the development of OT:

1. The consensus that mental health patients should be treated and not put in asylums or prisons.
2. The reemergence of the value of manual occupation and vocational skills over mass production.
3. The rise of thought that working with your hands to produce items of value can be beneficial to a person’s overall health.

During this time, mental health asylums changed to reflect these new ideas. They were ideas of humane rehabilitation and included craft and recreational activities to help patients return to society through their contributions.

These ideas were foundational for developing OT.

About 1915, a social worker named Eleanor Clark Slagle started the first formal OT education program at John Hopkins University in Baltimore.

Dubbed the "mother of occupational therapy" she trained more than 4,000 therapists and promoted OT within the medical community.

While PT and OT therapies were in their infancy on the two sides of the Atlantic, it was America's entry into the Great War in 1917 where they came together.

To summarize some of the above timeframes, it's worth a look at how it happened.

World War I and its transformation of therapy

World War I transformed medicine and contributed to the development of today's scope of medical care. 

The total number of military and civilian casualties in World War I was about 40 million.. and about 23 million wounded military personnel.

– Wikipedia

With the staggering number of wounded worldwide, orthopedics and therapists rapidly advanced to meet the need.

The course of thought was that society had a moral responsibility to help these soldiers return to a normal and purposeful life. Thus, medical specialties developed to fill this need.

The U.S. military hired a small group of women, calling them "reconstruction aides." In their roles they provided treatment by teaching occupation skills to the wounded. 

The initial 18 aides were trained in the latest European physiotherapy practices at the time. Aides were chosen from civilian women and women from the newly established profession of OT.

Both therapy groups expanded rapidly to help the soldiers with recovery.

Of the original 18 Aides, 16 went on to form the American Women's Physical Therapeutic Association. This later became the American Physical Therapy Association with McMillan as president.

– The U.S. World War One Centennial Commission.

The work of these aides brought the military to begin seeing disability in terms of capability in function, and not as limitation.

Their successes were many, helping wounded soldiers learn to walk again and freely move about in their environments.

These early therapists gave training in the use of arm prosthetics, adapted home and work spaces and taught crafts and vocational skills for mental diversion and future employment.

The convergence of today's therapies and practitioners

After WWI, occupational and physical therapy continued to advance.

And with their evolutions came recognition for the benefits they each provided.

But sometimes there was division in which to prescribe: occupational therapy vs physical therapy.

What became clear over time, with advances in the professions, is the benefit to individuals when providing therapies in tandem.

Today's occupational and physical therapists work together in the shared goal of improving an individual’s function through movement.

As individual medical treatments, the therapies, when used together, can have profound results.

Because of this they are recognized as separate but symbiotic professions.

Similarities include:

Working in a variety of settings

• Schools
• Outpatient rehabilitation centers
• Home health agencies
• Hospitals
• Nursing homes

Training in key disciplines

• Science
• Anatomy
• Kinesiology

Using similar therapy techniques

• Soft tissue mobilization
• Functional activities
• Strengthening
• Stretching
• Pain relief

Opposites attract, even in medicine

Even with similarities between the two professions, there are also key differences.

Physical therapy focuses on improving movement, flexibility and mobility. This includes improving physical motion required for a task.

Physical therapy has a unique approach to mobility – movement and muscle balance. It uses prescribed treatment techniques to maximize function, capacity and performance.

PTs work with patients before and after surgery to build strength and kick-start healing. Therapy uses movement to reduce pain, recover from an injury and promote balance to reduce the risk of falls.

The occupational therapy profession has a different focus.

That focus is on functional ability – the ability of an individual to do activities, work and tasks that are normally performed in everyday living and occupation.

That focus gives occupational therapy its name.

Occupation is defined as an activity that is meaningful and purposeful to the individual. It can include basic activities such as dressing, bathing or fixing a meal.

It can also include specific activities which are unique to the individual.

For example, you may be a high school teacher, home gardener, pianist or an electrician. Each occupation requires a unique set of activities. If those activities are compromised by illness or injury, OTs can help.

Your therapist will assess your current function and how to improve your ability to perform a task or modify it to help you complete it.

Now that you know more about the differences between OT and PT, should you need therapy you'll be able to spot the differences in what your therapist recommends.

Of course, it all depends on your condition, your needs, and personal goals.

But thanks to a long history of the disciplines, and more than a century of experience since WWI, PTs and OTs are specialists in your care.

Our job is to help get you back to enjoying the activities that matter to you.

If you or someone in your family might benefit from our therapies, request an appointment with us. We're here to help.

Posted 2/25/2022

How to stay in play and on the court

What is pickleball? And why are people raving about it?

Pickleball is an improvisation of badminton and ping-pong. The game is played on a court using a softball-sized, hard-plastic ball with holes – like a wiffle ball – and paddles similar to table-tennis paddles.

Conceived in 1965 as a game that families could play together, pickleball grew in popularity. By 1972, a corporation was founded for the sport.

While there is debate around the origin of its name, there is none about how fun, fast, competitive and entertaining the game is.

With a smaller court size than its cousin sport of tennis, it’s an ideal way to stay active and fit for just about anyone.

And pickleball has taken the country by storm.

The first pickleball tournament was held in 1976 in Washington State. And while not what’s called an overnight sensation, the explosive growth of the game in the years since has led to pickleball courts popping up everywhere, and the formation of amateur and professional leagues.

There’s even a professional pickleball tour.

When injury puts you in a pickle

With the rise in popularity of pickleball, physical therapists throughout the country are seeing an increase in injuries that are similar to those found in other racquet sports.

New pickleball players sustain approximately 50% of injuries during their first year of play.

The most common pickleball injuries include:

• Pickleball elbow
• Ankle sprains
• Knee sprains
• Shoulder sprains
• Achilles tendonitis
• Wrist fractures
• Concussions from falls

In the case of older players, many are predisposed to injury, often due to prior injury, limited flexibility and range of motion and deterioration of balance, or have recurrent injuries.

So if you are looking to start playing the game … or stay in the game … keep these prevention tips in mind to reduce your risk and avoid injury:

Warm up — Pickleball is a fast-paced game, and the excitement starts right away. So it's important that you warm up before you get on the court. Try a light 5-minute jog, a slow walk with high knees or some side shuffles to loosen up.

Stretch — As part of your warm-up, make sure to stretch. Shoulder stretches, calf stretches, hamstring/quad stretches and wrist and neck stretches are all important to incorporate into your routine.

Choose proper footwear — Pickleball requires moving side to side and back and forth. Choose a good fitting athletic shoe for this type of movement.

Pivot — Similar to tennis and other racquet sports, you will be executing groundstrokes, volleys and serves. Remember to pivot your hips and shoulders as you face the approaching ball.

If you are injured, stop playing!

Don’t try to tough it out, especially if it is a head injury.

Contact a physical therapist to help you heal and recover before you return to play.

Pickleball is as fun as it sounds, and you’ll want to play for years to come.

If you’re in a pickle with pain or injury of any sort, click now to request an appointment to find one of our centers near you.

NovaCare and Kessler Rehabilitation Center are part of the Select Medical Outpatient Division family of brands.

Select Medical is proud to be the official physical therapy partner of the PPA Tour.

Posted on 2/21/2022

We’re excited to be growing again – this time, in the beautiful community of New Milford, NJ. Our new center is conveniently located in the Brookchester Shopping Center at 830 River Road in New Milford.

Kessler is proud to offer the following care with extended hours and evening appointments available:

• Physical therapy
• Sports medicine
• Neck and back pain
• Post-op care
• Cancer rehab
• Pediatrics
• Scoliosis treatment (Schroth method)

No prescription is necessary* to schedule an appointment. Kessler Rehabilitation Centers accept most insurance plans, offer flexible scheduling and virtual telerehab services for patients unable to visit.

For more information, or to request an appointment, please click here or call (201) 987-5103 today.

*Restrictions may apply.

Posted 2/15/2022

If you clicked to read this, it’s likely because you or someone you know has long COVID. Or maybe you’re now hearing people talk about long-lasting symptoms of COVID-19.

With research now being published, millions of people having a COVID diagnosis will experience “long” COVID – post-COVID syndrome or long-haul COVID, earning some who experience it the nickname of “long hauler.”

Putting aside that bit of levity, long COVID is no joke.

So if you are struggling to read this because you’re dealing with “COVID brain fog,” you may be thinking, How did I get so unlucky?

It’s a fair question to ask.

But in reality, long COVID is more common than most think.

According to Penn State College of Medicine researchers, more than half of the 236 million people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 worldwide since December 2019 will experience post-COVID symptoms.

Months after recovering from COVID-19, millions of people are still suffering one or more debilitating symptoms like:

• Brain fog
• Difficulty breathing
• Muscle weakness
• Fatigue
• Joint pain
• Dizziness and more

If you or a loved one is suffering, don’t give up. There is hope and help.

Physical therapy is medicine for long COVID

Professional physical therapists, like me, understand what you are going through. Indeed, if you have long COVID, physical therapy can help.

Yes, physical therapy.

As physical therapists, we are specialists who are trained in identifying the clinical symptoms and effects of long COVID. For example, the profound fatigue you’re feeling? Reminiscent of chronic fatigue syndrome, it’s a post-acute leftover of the viral COVID infection, and we can help.

That joint pain? We’re trained also to understand musculoskeletal conditions that can be causing your pain. We can assess the pain and determine the appropriate treatment for it.

I work in an outpatient physical therapy center and help treat patients with long COVID. Our parent company Select Medical collaborated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on an important clinical study regarding the long-term impact of COVID-19.

The study validates our Recovery and Reconditioning program which focuses on specific deficits in patients recovering from COVID-19 and other debilitating illnesses and conditions.

Our Recovery and Reconditioning program helps, specifically, with:

• Fatigue
• Labored breathing
• Weakness
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Joint and muscle pain

Our program was developed in partnership with leading physicians, infectious disease specialists, physical and occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists to help those impacted to heal, gain strength and return to an active, full lifestyle.

We hear all the time that people suffering with long COVID don’t feel heard. Feel misunderstood. Feel like giving up.

If that sounds like you, then trust me, we understand.

We are proud to offer the Recovery and Reconditioning program to you, your loved ones and/or friends – anyone who may be dealing with lingering effects of having COVID-19.

Together, we will address your specific post-COVID symptoms and create an individualized treatment plan for your road to recovery. During care, you will learn ways to pace yourself throughout the day and move your body so that you don’t tire so quickly.

As part of your treatment, we will track your vital signs and symptoms to ensure your safety and progress. We will be there every step of the way back to a healthier you.

You deserve a medical professional who understands you. If you’re tired of feeling alone in your recovery from long COVID, let a physical therapist help.

Schedule a consultation with a physical therapist trained in treating long COVID. Click the blue Contact Us button below to request an appointment at a center near you today.

By: Corey Malone, P.T., DPT, OCS. Corey is physical therapist, center director and Recovery and Reconditioning program champion with KORT in Kentucky.

KORT and Kessler Rehabilitation Center are part of the Select Medical Outpatient Division family of brands.

Posted on 2/7/2022

Kessler Rehabilitation Center is proud to again welcome patients to its Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey location.

Located at 62 Broadway, it offers sports and orthopedic physical therapy, as well as specialized services for those with work-related injuries, balance issues or in need of post-op care. Our unique Recovery and Reconditioning Program offers tailored treatment for post-COVID-19 deconditioning, weakness and immobility.

Kessler Rehabilitation Center offers extended hours with evening appointments available. No prescription is necessary* to schedule an appointment.

“We are excited to reopen in the Woodcliff Lake community and offer high-quality physical therapy that helps build strength, improve flexibility and increase mobility,” said Daniel Rovny, regional director.

“All Kessler centers follow strict Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, including screening protocols, social distancing and masking requirements to keep patients and employees safe.”

Kessler Rehabilitation Centers accept most insurance plans, offer flexible scheduling and virtual telerehab services for patients unable to visit.

For more information, or to request an appointment, please click here or call (551) 249-0930 today.

*Restrictions may apply.

Posted on 12/21/2021

Kessler Rehabilitation Center today announced the opening of its 100th outpatient therapy center, located at 178 Route 35 South in Eatontown, New Jersey. The new center offers specialized services to individuals with sports, back or work-related injuries, orthopedic conditions and balance issues. The center is conveniently located next to Starbucks at the intersection of Route 35 and Route 36.

“Our growth is recognition of how our physical therapists help keep communities safe, guiding patients through the toughest moments with compassion,” said Rich Romano, Kessler’s vice president of business development. “We’re especially proud to open our 100th center in the vibrant Eatontown community.”

This will be the second Kessler Rehabilitation Center to serve Eatontown.  The first, located at 234 Industrial Way West, Suite 205, offers hand therapy.

“Our entire team is focused on providing the highest level of care and services that promote healing and recovery,” said Christopher Wyckoff, P.T., DPT, MBS, center manager. “We’re excited to continue to help keep the Eatontown community healthy by offering sports medicine, orthopedic physical therapy and much more.”

The team at the new center will also offer personalized blood flow restriction (BFR) training and our unique Recovery and Reconditioning Program for patients recovering from COVID-19 symptoms.

Kessler Rehabilitation Center offers extended hours with evening appointments available. No prescription is necessary* to schedule an appointment.

Kessler Rehabilitation Centers accept most insurance plans, offer flexible scheduling and virtual telerehab services for patients unable to visit.

For more information, or to request an appointment, please click here or call 866-33-REHAB today.

*Restrictions may apply.