Being homebound is not a requirement to receive at-home physical therapy care. In fact, preventive measures can be taken to help avoid in-home pitfalls, according to the licensed and board-certified specialists at Advance Spine and Pain Physical Therapy.
“We provide treatment at home for the same conditions, and in the same manner you’d expect, as we do in the clinic,” said lead physical therapist Rita Amin, DPT, OSC, Cert. MDT. “This is perfect for the elderly, but also for those who have a difficult time getting out, like parents with young children.”
These services are available to the general public in Mercer in Middlesex counties and are covered by insurance. Those interested don’t need to be right out of a hospital or rehabilitation center. Advance Spine and Pain Physical Therapy specialists can help with home safety inspections to evaluate for falls; assistance with stairs, ramps, hills, or uneven surfaces; and determining whether assistive devices such as walkers, canes, raised toilet seats, and shower chairs are needed.
Some of the more common reasons for a home visit are arthritis; stenosis, a narrowing of the space in the joints of the low back or neck usually caused by arthritis; Parkinson’s disease, gait or balance difficulty; and post-surgical physical therapy for knee and hip replacements. Many non-elderly patients are typically treated for disc issues in the back or neck.
“Stenosis is difficult to treat because you can’t change the associated arthritis,” Dr. Amin explained. “So we work around the deficits you see around the low back like strength, leg flexibility, and then core strength through Pilates exercises. You have a ‘back brace’ built into your body. We show you how to strengthen the muscles to make it work for you.”
Dr. Amin specializes in spine conditions, particularly disc issues. She is a licensed physical therapist; holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physical therapy from Northeastern University in Boston and a doctorate in physical therapy from Boston University; is a certified orthopedic specialist recognized by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties and a member of the American Physical Therapy Association; is a certified McKenzie spine practitioner; and is a certified Pilates instructor. She has more than 10 years of clinical experience and has been published many times.
“The McKenzie certification specifically helps me treat herniated discs,” Dr. Amin said. “I can fully apply the technique including manual treatments when necessary to abolish pain all together. My Pilates certification means I can show patients the best way to work on their core strength so the disc issue doesn’t return.”
Back pain doesn’t automatically mean surgery. Dr. Amin is one of several physical therapists at Advance Spine & Pain Physical Therapy, which accepts all insurances. And in New Jersey, 30 days of physical therapy care is covered; after that, a prescription from a physician would be needed. But it’s not needed to get started on the journey to better health.
Advance Spine and Pain Physical Therapy, 222 East State Street, Suite 12, Trenton. 609-695-8100, contact@asappt.com, or www.asappt.com. See ad, page 19.
