Professional Care PT. Occupational Therapy

Professional Care PT. Occupational Therapy

N E W S L E T T E R

Patient Success Spotlight • Meet Our Occupational Therapist and Certified Hand Therapist, Amanda Paracat • Professional Care PT Celebrates 11 Years in Business • Supporting Our Pat-Med Baseball Team SERVICE SPOTLIGHT: OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY APRIL IS NATIONAL OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY MONTH

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Procare Occupational Therapy & Physical Therapy, PLLC Celebrates One Year!

EAST PATCHOGUE • 191 PATCHOGUE YAPHANK ROAD • EAST PATCHOGUE, NY 11772 • P : 631.775.0971 RIVERHEAD • 806 EAST MAIN ST • RIVERHEAD, NY 11901 •P : 631. 591.0838

SERV I CE SPOT L I GHT: OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Do you notice your muscles feeling painful or achy throughout the day? Are you recovering from a recent injury or surgical procedure? Are you living with a chronic condition that causes constant discomfort? Whatever the case may be, occupational therapy can help improve your health. If you are experiencing discomfort, contact Professional Care Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation today for more information. WHAT CONDITIONS ARE TREATED BY AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST VS. A PHYSICAL THERAPIST? Whether you’re receiving physical therapy treatments, occupational therapy treatments, or a combination of both, the natural, conservative care of a PT clinic is one of the most effective ways to treat pain and injury. In fact, according to the American Physical Therapy Association, conservative treatments have worked even better than surgical treatments for the correction of certain conditions, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Physical therapy treatments and occupational therapy treatments cover a wide range of conditions, and sometimes they even overlap. However, physical therapy is used to treat orthopedic, neurological, and autoimmune deficiencies, while occupational typically focuses solely around orthopedics. At Professional Care Physical Therapy, some common conditions we treat with PT include: • Arthritis • Fibromyalgia • Surgical procedures (both before and after)

Occupational therapy tends to focus more closely on hand, elbow, and wrist pain relief. Some common conditions we treat with OT, through our specialized hand therapy services, include: • Carpal tunnel syndrome • Arthritis • Burns • Nerve injuries • Fractures • Tendinitis • Chronic conditions • Stroke HOW DO I KNOW IF I SHOULD SEE AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST? Occupational therapy is more than just addressing an injury. Our dedicated therapists focus on the functional needs of each patient by implementing certain exercises and activities that promote physical and psychological well-being. The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) also states that in addition to dealing with an individual’s physical well-being, occupational therapy practitioners address psychological, social, and environmental factors that may hinder an individual’s functioning in different ways. For example, occupational therapy for a young patient may include using a special tool to make cupcakes at home. If an adaptation to a utensil needs to be fashioned, an occupational therapist will do it. This unique approach makes occupational therapy a vital part of health care for patients. People feel better emotionally when they can comfortably engage in their hobbies and everyday activities. If you or someone you know could benefit from occupational therapy, call Professional Care PT East Patchogue at 631.775.0971 to schedule your consultation today!

• Balance and gait disorders • Chronic conditions and pain throughout the body

• Injuries, sustained from sports, work, or motor vehicle accidents

CELEBRAT I NG 11 YEARS !

“Community” means everything to us at Professional Care PT. We have been blessed with the love and support from not only our patients but from our committed, hard-working staff who share in the same vision of excellent patient care and because of that, we continue to grow. As we have grown, we have been able to provide our patients with additional rehabilitation services such as Occupational Therapy, Certified Hand Therapy, Fitness Training, and Athletic Performance, all to help keep our patients, active and healthy which is what really matters!

Professional Care Physical Therapy Celebrates ELEVEN YEARS in business, serving the members of our amazing community of Patchogue-Medford, Riverhead and the surrounding towns!

PATIENT SUCCESS SPOTLIGHT

“Dr. Ippolito is a personable, kind and caring physician who always wants to get to the bottom of your condition. He goes above and beyond and treats his patient’s individual needs based upon their symptoms not just what science indicates it could be. I have seen many physicians throughout my life while battling my arthritis condition, and I was never referred to occupational therapy. Dr. Ippolito listened to me and referred me directly to Amanda Paracat of ProCare Occupational Therapy & Physical Therapy, knowing the success his other patients have had with her. I can honestly say that my therapy treatments with Amanda have been life-changing and my day-to-day routines have improved dramatically, all thanks to Amanda and Dr. Ippolito!”

Like many, Catherine Morahan has suffered arthritis in her hands for a very long time. Unfortunately, Catherine has been dealingwith her painful condition for most of her life, beginning in her teenage years. Over time, her condition worsened, and Catherine’s fingers became more swollen, painful and one of them becoming completely frozen, rendering it un-useful. She sought help from various physicians who tried different methods of care, including prescription medications which at times provided relief, but did not provide the successful mobility that she needed. Surprisingly, Catherine was never prescribed occupational therapy rehabilitation for her condition, until she began her care with Stony Brook Rheumatologist, Dr. John Ippolito.

Knowing that some of his patients have had success with their occupational therapy treatments, Dr. Ippolito suggested that Catherine visit ProCare’s Occupational Therapist and Certified Hand Therapist, Mrs. Amanda Paracat. After Catherine’s evaluation, she was provided with a customized plan of care to not only help relieve her pain but to provide flexibility, mobility and overall better quality of life. Because of her hard work and determination towards her rehabilitation and her willingness to re-learn how to properly use her hands, we are happy to say that Catherine’s day-to-day activities are no longer limited by her condition.

-Catherine M.

STAFF SPOTL I GHT

Amanda Paracat , MS, OTR/L, CHT, Co-founder ProCare Occupational Therapy & Physical Therapy

Amanda attended The University of Scranton where she received her Bachelors Degree in Health Sciences. She also completed her Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy at the University of Scranton in 2014. Amanda has always had an interest in working in hand therapy and feels that individuals all over the world communicate with others and their environment through the use of their hands. Throughout her schooling she enjoyed making splints and was intrigued by the extensive anatomy involved in hand therapy and decided to pursue her interest as a hand therapist at Signature Hand

Therapy, and at Glen Cove Hospital: an affiliate of Northwell Health. She completed her advanced specialization in 2018 and became a Certified Hand Therapist. As a therapist, Amanda focuses on returning her clients to their previous level of functioning and works with her clients to regain the skills they need to participate in every day tasks including work, leisure, and play activities. Amanda is also a RYT500 hour certified yoga instructor and has a keen interest in maintaining a healthy and balanced lifestyle in the mind, body, and spirit.

N E W S L E T T E R

ProfessionalCarePT.com

HAND THERAPY: WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

Hand therapy is a form of occupational therapy. While the title only specifies hands, this form of therapy focuses on the upper extremity as a whole, which also includes the wrist, forearm, elbow, arm, and shoulder. Hand therapists will treat injuries and ailments that affect the upper extremity and work toward returning the affected area to its highest level of function. At ProCare Occupational Therapy & Physical Therapy, PLLC, our patients are our first priority andwe are happy to announce that our occupational therapist, Amanda Paracat, is also a Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) who will be able to aid you in the recovery and rehabilitation of any upper extremity injury you may experience. Through her advanced training and skill set, Amanda is able to offer custom splinting in-house, making it more convenient for our patients’ recovery. If you are suffering from pain in the upper extremity, or if you have been livingwith a chronic condition that has been affecting the upper extremity, don’t hesitate to call us today! We will schedule an appointment for you and figure out the best steps for your treatment plan. BUT HOW EXACTLY DOES IT WORK? A hand therapist typically uses manual techniques to manipulate the affected area, in order to release tension, swelling, and pain. Through the

use of massage and hands-on treatments, patients can find significant improvement - sometimes after just one session! In some cases, additional techniques, such as ice and heat therapies, ultrasound, or electrical stimulation may also be used as part of your treatment plan, in order to enhance the healing process. Perhaps one of the biggest roles of a hand therapist, however, is prescribing targeted stretches and exercises. These will be dependent upon your diagnosis and will focus on improving your range of motion, strength, and overall function, so you can safely and comfortably perform your daily activities once again. A large part of hand therapy is helping patients regain their independence in day-to-day tasks and improving their quality of life. GET BACK ON TRACK TODAY Whether you are looking for relief, looking to prevent an injury, or simply looking to improve your physical function, occupational therapy is here for you. Your occupational therapist will work closely with you, in order to help you reach your goals. If you’re ready to get started on the path toward improved health, contact our office today!

SUPPORTING OUR BASEBALL TEAM!

Spring is here and the staff at Professional Care Physical Therapy is happy to be working once again with the student- athletes of the Patchogue-Medford JV and Varsity Baseball teams. Alarmingly, more than 25%of MLB pitchers in 2019 have undergone Tommy John surgery at some point in time and it’s important for us at ProCare to be proactive in helping ur student-athletes prevent an injury, rather than treat it later-on. ProCare’s pre-season Strength, Conditioning and Injury Prevention Program, utilizes the latest research and technology and is designed to identify athletes who may have an unknown or undiagnosed existing injury, identify

have an unknown or undiagnosed existing injury, identify athletes who are at a higher risk of injury, as well as to help athletes enhance their athletic performance in a safe and supervised environment. Prior to the onset of the program each year, our licensed Physical Therapists and Athletic Trainers, spend time studying the most recent academic research available in preparation for formulating the program for the athletes. This program has been provided to the student-athletes of Pat-Med for the past several seasons, and we love that the parents, coaches and the players look forward to it each year, just as much as we do! athletes who are at a higher risk of injury, as well as to help athletes enhance their athletic performance in a safe and supervised environment. Prior to the onset of the program each year, our licensed Physical Therapists and Athletic Trainers spend time studying the most recent academic research available in preparation for formulating the program for the athletes. This program has been provided to the student-athletes of Pat-Med for the past sev ral seasons, and we love that he parents, co ch s a d the players look forw rd to it each year, just as much as we do!

Spring is right around the corner and the staff at Professional Care Physical Therapy is happy to be working once again with the student-athletes of the Patchogue- Medford JV and Varsity Baseball teams. Alarmingly, more than 25% of MLB pitchers in 2019 have undergone Tommy John surgery at some point in time and it’s important for us at ProCare to be proactive in helping our student-athletes prevent an injury, rather than treat it later-on. ProCare’s pre-season Strength, Conditioning and Injury Prevention Program, utilizes the latest research and technology and is designed to identify athletes who may

A R E Y O U L E T T I N G Y O U R PA I N H O L D Y O U B A C K ? C A L L T O S C H E D U L E Y O U R A P P O I N T M E N T T O D A Y !