Titled “Injury Timeout: Sports Injury Prevention for the Student-Athlete,” the workshop will be hosted at Jersey Physical Therapy’s East Brunswick location (180 Tices Lane) on Monday, April 29 at 7:30 p.m. Moore and other physical therapists will be on hand to discuss ACL injury prevention as well as ways to thwart sprains, strains and lower-back pain commonly experienced by athletes.

Few of these injuries, Moore says, can be more costly to a student-athlete and his or her family than a torn ACL, which often leads to surgery and months of rehabilitation. According to Moore, most ACL tears are non-impact injuries, most commonly seen in sports like soccer and basketball.

“A kid tries to plant and change direction, and boom, the ACL goes out,” he said. “Their knee goes one way and their body goes the other.”

Through the years, Moore has worked with hundreds of athletes post-surgery whose ACL rehabilitation treatments have led to successful outcomes. But he’s quick to stress the importance of taking measures to prevent such injuries from ever happening in the first place. He suggests a multi-faceted approach:

• Stretching: The flexibility of hamstrings, quads and gluteal muscles is beneficial in preventing knee injuries.
• Strength: Having good muscle integrity, especially in the hips and thighs, “will put a person ahead of the game as far as prevention,” Moore said.
• Warm-Up: “The lack of warm-up often leads to injury,” Moore said. “If muscles are not getting sufficient blood flow, it can definitely play a role in muscles not reacting quick enough when an athlete pivots or cuts.”
• Balanced Exercise: “Athletes need a balance in training in terms of exercise,” Moore said. “If you concentrate on strength or endurance or flexibility while neglecting other components, you’re not creating stability. Cross training with authority, to a point, is the healthiest way to maintain fitness.

To learn more about ACL injury prevention or to RSVP a spot at “Injury Timeout: Sports Injury Prevention for the Student-Athlete,” email Marc Rubenstein at marcr@jerseypt.com or Sean Moore at seanm@jerseypt.com. Or, call Jersey PT’s East Brunswick location at 732-418-7033.

About Jersey Physical Therapy

Jersey Physical Therapy was founded in 2002 in Kendall Park by South Brunswick natives Marc Rubenstein, PT, DPT, OCS, and Geoffrey Hunt, BS, PT, OCS. The clinic expanded in 2006 with partner Sean Moore, PT, MPT, and the opening of a second office in Milltown/East Brunswick. Both practices – and a soon-to-be-announced third location – strive to deliver the highest quality in physical therapy services with a focus on evidence-based, one-on-one therapy. To learn more about their Be Positive campaign, visit: www.jerseypt.com/events/bepositivein2013.

Structure of the Cervical (Neck) Region

The cervical spine is made up of 7 vertebrae that extend from the skull to the base of the neck. Its primary function, to put it simply, is to support the head while allowing a wide range of movement in multiple directions. Various muscles contribute to both the stability and motion of the cervical spine. Some of these muscles attach only to the cervical segments but others attach from the shoulder girdle to the cervical segments.

The high demand placed on the cervical region to provide both stability and dynamic mobility make it a region of high complexity when compared to simpler joints of the body such as the elbow or knee. This high level of complexity also leads to frequent dysfunction in this region.

Causal Factors

As discussed above, the cervical area is made of a complex muscular system. Again, with complexity come more possibilities of dysfunction. Factors that can lead to dysfunction are listed below.

• Posture
• Workplace set up
• Poor exercise technique
• Poor sleeping position
• Flexibility deficits
• Joint stiffness

The list is numerous which is why neck pain is experienced by so many individuals. Hope is not lost, however, because a physical therapy evaluation takes all of these factors into account to come up with strategies to return you to your prior lifestyle.

Treatment Options

People suffering from neck pain symptoms often rely on medication for relief of their symptoms. Occasionally this approach works but more often than not the medication simply masks the underlying cause of pain and results in frequent return of symptoms. Physical therapy offers a more thorough approach that involves various treatment techniques aimed at addressing the underlying issues causing your pain. These techniques can include:

• Manual therapy (massage, mobilization and stretching)
• Postural education
• Stability training
• Body mechanics education
• Workplace set up instructions
• Strengthening exercises

If you or someone you know is currently experiencing neck pain, please feel free to contact either office and we can come up with a plan aimed at addressing your pain and limitations.

Two years ago, two-thirds of Edward’s femur was removed after he was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer. Following surgery, 14 rounds of chemo and more than a year of rehabilitation at Jersey Physical Therapy, Edward is out of his wheelchair and – most importantly – free of cancer.

His journey was literally taken one step at a time.

“When I first came to physical therapy, I couldn’t have really walked without someone being right next to me while I was on my crutches,” Edward said. During surgery, most of his cancerous femur was replaced by a metallic rod. “By the last treatment (about a year later), I needed no crutches, no cane … nothing.”

According to physical therapist (and co-founder) of Jersey Physical Therapy, Marc Rubenstein, physical therapy played a vital role in more than building strength, flexibility, comfort and improving function in Edward’s right leg. It also served to maintain Edward’s strength and stamina through his final chemo treatments – a common benefit physical therapy offers patients of all ages and various types of cancer.

“We’ve helped a number of patients with cancer restore strength and functionality,” Rubenstein said. “There’s a large population that can benefit from these physical therapy treatments, and perhaps it’s underutilized.”

In Edward’s case, physical therapy also offered him a sense of empowerment.

“That’s really how I felt,” he said. “There were so many complications with surgery and chemo treatments, but with physical therapy, I could have at least some control over my health.”

Edward said his initial prognosis suggested he’d do little more than walk following surgery. But today, he’s climbing trees again, an activity he says “gives me a whole new perspective on things.”

Coincidentally, Edward’s journey from patient to survivor is one that has offered a fresh perspective to those around him, including the Jersey Physical Therapy staff members who worked with him for more than a year to restore a sense of normalcy in his life. Jersey Physical Therapy had already been long-time supporter of the Hugs for Brady Foundation, a local group that helps children (and their families) who are dealing with childhood cancer.

Edward was recently honored as a survivor at this year’s Hugs for Brady Foundation winter gala, an event at which his father, Paul, was asked to speak. Paul took the occasion to offer some sobering facts about pediatric cancer:

• One in 320 kids will be diagnosed with cancer, with 40 kids diagnosed each day. Of these 40 children, seven will not survive the battle.
• Just 3 percent of all funds raised for cancer research goes toward the research of childhood cancer.

To learn more about the Hugs for Brady Foundation, visit www.hugsforbrady.org.

About Jersey Physical Therapy

Jersey Physical Therapy was founded in 2002 in Kendall Park by South Brunswick natives Marc Rubenstein, PT, DPT, OCS, and Geoffrey Hunt, BS, PT, OCS. The clinic expanded in 2006 with partner Sean Moore, PT, MPT, and the opening of a second office in Milltown/East Brunswick. Both practices – and a soon-to-be-announced third location – strive to deliver the highest quality in physical therapy services with a focus on evidence-based, one-on-one therapy. To learn more about their Be Positive campaign, visit: www.jerseypt.com/events/bepositivein2013.

Falls are the leading cause of disability in the elderly and occur in 1 in 3 older adults every year.  Many of these falls result in hip fractures. There are many causes of these falls with loss of balance being a primary factor.   Also, factors in the home such as throw rugs and poor lighting, (as well as many other factors), can lead to falls.   The Jersey PT staff will discuss all of the factors that lead to falls and provide a FREE balance screening for those in attendance.

For more information call Jersey Physical Therapy in Kendall Park at 732-297-0032 or Anne Marie at Charleston Place at 732-951-1700.

Most importantly – stay educated! It’s important to know and understand the causes and risk factors of low back pain.   The lower back is subject to a lot of mechanical stress and strain, making it highly prevalent and at times, debilitating.   Low back pain can be the result of herniated discs, muscle or ligament strains, spinal fractures, arthritis, scoliosis, or osteoporosis.  Although these are all very common disorders, low back pain may develop even without a specific cause.

Low back pain is multifactorial. Some potential risk factors include (but not limited to): genetics, age, prior back pain history, obesity, depression, smoking, and occupation.  Low back pain also has a high re-occurrence rate – 60% within the first year, and 85% within a lifetime.

What better way to avoid low back pain symptoms than to prevent it from happening in the first place…

Here are some ways to prevent low back pain:

• Participate in physical exercise. Blow off some steam and burn off some calories! Work on increasing your strength and endurance to allow your body to function better.  Make sure to stretch before starting your workout!
• Use proper body mechanics. Lift with your legs, not with your back! When lifting heavy weight from a lower surface, be sure to bend the knees and keep your back straight.
• Practice good posture. Always make sure you’re sitting upright and standing up tall!  You may need to modify your work or home environments to ensure your getting enough postural support.
• Maintain a healthy body weight. It’ll put less strain on your back.
• Don’t smoke. Smoking reduces blood flow through your spine and can eventually lead to degenerative disorders
• Stock up on some Vitamin D. Keep your bones strong!

Taking action by making the right choices could lead you down a path to a pain-free and healthier lifestyle.   However, if you have been experiencing low back pain and haven’t sought out medical advice yet, it may be time to do so.  Catching early signs and symptoms and working with the right health care professional can certainly decrease the level of disability you may experience in the future.  If you have any questions or concerns regarding back pain,  JPT is here to help!

1. Only lift small, light, manageable loads at a time – it is even better to not lift the snow at all – pushing it with a curved shovel is mush easier.  In order to do this you need to shovel while it is snowing so you only push a few inches at a time. Don’t wait until the snow reaches larger amounts of accumulation.
2. Make many small piles as opposed to one big pile – this will prevent you from lifting the snow too high which is more physically demanding – throw the snow in front of you as apposed to throwing it over your shoulder or behind you which is much harder and the twisting motion is not good for your body.
3. Bend at the knees when you lift the snow, instead of bending forward at the waist.  Keep your feet spread apart for improved balance and stability.
4. Breathe normally and don’t hold your breathe – inhale when you pick the snow up and exhale when you dump it.
5. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated – avoid caffeinated drinks or energy drinks that will increase your heart rate.
6. Take frequent rest periods and do the difficult areas first.
7. Invest in a light weight plastic shovel.
8. Wear layers of clothing so you can adjust to the cold and your body warming during shoveling.  Wear footwear with good tread to prevent slipping.
9. If you are elderly, a smoker, have a history of heart disease, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol- consult with your doctor before snow shoveling.
10. Use your resources and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you are unsure about your ability to shovel snow.

• Need outpatient physical therapy but are having difficulty arranging for transportation?
• Feel uncomfortable in an open gym environment to receive your therapy?
• Need an orthopedic approach to your home care sessions?  More hands-on stretching and manual therapy?

Our house calls program is the ideal solution for anyone facing any one of these dilemmas. Patients with Medicare B are eligible for our House Calls program and we also offer affordable rates for private pay patients. This program offers one of our highly qualified therapists to treat you in the comfort of your own home at a time which is convenient for you. We treat a range of diagnoses including gait, balance issues, post hospital deconditioning, orthopedic issues, and many more. One of the advantages of our house calls program is our therapists can communicate with patients in various languages such as Spanish, Hindi, Urdu, and Gujarati. Our priority is always our patients and their health, along with their well-being. Our areas of coverage include: South Brunswick, North Brunswick, Princeton, Somerset, Franklin Park, Plainsboro and Monroe. If you feel you or your loved one would benefit from the above program, please contact us at (732) 297-0032.

Early in 2012, owner Geoffrey Hunt, PT, OCS and Mustafa Turan, BS, (a recent Rutgers graduate who is now enrolled in the Masters of Public Health Program), were both certified in the nationally recognized Sportsmetrics Program.   This is an ACL prevention program that is based out of Cincinnati.  Sean Moore, PT, MPT, owner of the East Brunswick location, is also a certified Sportsmetrics instructor.  We are excited to implement this program with local teams and athletes.  Call 732-297-0032 to speak to Sean, Geoff or Mustafa about this exciting and important program.

In October, we welcomed Dr. Sheena Nanvati to the Jersey PT team.  A native of South Brunswick, Sheena received her doctorate from Drexel University in Philadelphia in 2012.   We’re looking forward to great things from Sheena!

The end of 2012 brought the welcoming of another Jersey PT baby!  Claudia Huntanar has been a PTA at both offices in South and East Brunswick for three years.   On December 9^th, she and her husband Mitchell welcomed their son Christian to the world.  He was 20 inches and 7.3 oz at birth.  Both mom and baby are doing great!

We would also like to congratulate Danny Eichner, ATC who recently became licensed as an athletic trainer.   Danny works as a physical therapy aide in both offices.

Finally, we are excited to announce that we have started the build out for our third office in Plainsboro Town Center.  The office plans to open in Spring 2013 and we are excited to become a part of the Princeton/Plainsboro healthcare community.

In 2013, Jersey Physical Therapy is committed to offering services and solutions that will not only help you recover from injury and illness, but help prevent you from getting injured or ill in the first place.

This January, we are rolling out the JerseyPlus Wellness Screen which consists of a FREE 20-minute screening by a licensed physical therapist who will look at you with one thing in mind – wellness.

Designed by the Jersey Physical Therapy team with the adult body in mind, the 2013 JerseyPlus Wellness Screen will help you and your loved ones start the year off on a positive foot, and for FREE!

Consisting of a core balance and exercise prescription assessment, the JerseyPlus Wellness Screen will assess your risk of injury while providing evidence-based exercise recommendations for all ages.

Space is limited, so call today at (732) 297-0032 to schedule your appointment in either our Kendall Park or East Brunswick locations.