The Path to Natural Recovery from Injuries & Pain

Total Recovery Physical Therapy

By Christine S. Maxwell

At Total Recovery Physical Therapy in Little Falls, Dr. Jack Zuckerman PT, DPT, owner, and his multispecialty team of physical therapists, acupuncturists, occupational therapists, and chiropractors work together to ensure the maximum recovery of their patients from injuries and pain.

Dr. Zuckerman states, “we approach our treatments using the new model of physical therapy, which is commonly used by “physiotherapists” in European countries.” The new model incorporates manual therapy which heavily relies on hands-on techniques. Some of the manual therapy techniques have been adapted from osteopathic doctors. These hands on treatments are used to manipulate soft tissues to get the muscles, joints, and tendons moving. When ligaments and nerves are moving frequently with poor movement patterns or poor posture, these areas can become “stuck.” Manual therapy loosens and lubricates these areas to get them moving again. Using the new physical therapy treatment model, the practitioners pride themselves on up to 90 percent of full recovery in their patients’ condition without unnecessary medications, injections, or surgeries.

In New Jersey, physical therapists have direct access to patients. With “direct access,” physical therapists can see patients without doctor referrals. Dr. Zuckerman goes on to explain that physical therapists receive the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree through continuous study and training throughout their professional career. They can diagnose and write an individual “plan of care” for each patient. “Our focus is to get the patient back to full functional capacity as quickly and efficiently as possible,” says Dr. Zuckerman.

The physical therapists develop an individualized treatment plan for each patient depending on their unique needs. Dr. Zuckerman states “at the crux of the treatment is specific corrective exercises, neuromuscular education or muscle memory to connect the body to the brain so that patients can move the way it was intended to move prior to the poor habits it developed over time.” In addition to muscle memory, the PTs introduce functional exercise that enables patients to integrate specific exercises to movements into daily life, recreation, and sport.

In combination with the new treatment model, the practitioners utilize cutting edge treatment modalities to accelerate the healing process. Deep tissue laser therapy and radial pressure wave (shockwave) therapy promote healing by restarting and then expediting the body’s natural healing methods.

Dr. Zuckerman summarizes their mission: “We want to be the number one multi-specialty clinic that provides people a way of getting better naturally, effectively and efficiently.”