Physical Therapy Not Just for Grown-Ups!

If the thought of a physical therapy office conjures up images of baby boomers with bad postures and arthritis working with bands and balls, you’re not alone, but your thoughts may not be accurate. Sure, physical therapy, when done professionally, is used to manage recurring ailments and help prevent permanent damage in the aged, but everyone, including athletes, children, and even babies can benefit from a consistent physical therapy routine to regain full strength and movement.

We asked Dr. Phillip Kim, owner of Premier Health Center in Hackensack, NJ what new patients should expect from a first visit. “We’re here to help you shed your pain and get you back on your feet,” says Dr. Kim. “There will be the typical paperwork and physical exams, but this is a great time for patients and therapists to get to know each other.” Premier Health Center has multiple physical therapists on staff who take pride with their one-on-one care that focuses on manual skilled intervention rather than a generic exercise program.

So what can a patient actually expect from a typical session? Most physical therapy uses a combination of techniques to relieve pain and boost coordination, strength, endurance, flexibility, and range of motion, and may include bikes, treadmills, upper body ergometers, and strength machines, as well as bands and balls mentioned above. In addition, a physical therapist may treat affected areas with heat, cold, electrical stimulation, ultrasound, massage, aquatic therapy, and laser. Sometimes, physical therapists will give their patients exercises to do at home, in addition to the treatments performed in the office. This is done to help a person heal better, faster, and safely.

Physical therapy sessions typically last 30–60 minutes, from one to several times a week, depending on why a person is receiving therapy. As a patient makes progress, their visits may change in length and frequency.

Premier Health Center works with people of all ages from children to seniors. “There are no typical patients,” says Dr. Kim. “our goal, whether it is a student athlete with a repaired ACL or an elderly person recovering from a double hip replacement, is to help them get back to living a productive and pain-free life.”

Dr. Kim offers this advice:
1) Stick to your plan to make the most of your healing
2) ask questions so you understand why your body heals the way it does
3) enjoy your successes, no matter how long or slow your progress may be

Premier Health Center is located at 277 Prospect Avenue, Suite LG, Hackensack, NJ 07601. Ph: (201) 968-0303 www.premierhealthnj.com They work with most insurances, including Medicare.