Kessler Rehabilitation Center

Annette Volpe has been running consistently for several years, and last year she qualified for the 2024 NYC Marathon by participating in the 9+1. Over the past 4 months, she began developing right knee pain intermittently while training for the marathon, feeling a constant ache with activity. The pain began to affect her physical training as well as her mental confidence regarding the marathon. Annette was treated by physical therapists Shelly Sanganee and Matt Hoe at our Hoboken center.

Here is what Annette had to say about her experience:

“I came to Kessler Rehabilitation Center in mid-September, at which point Shelly quickly and impressively identified some weak muscles contributing to my knee pain. Within 3 weeks of therapy, my pain had diminished significantly. Within a month, I was running up to 10 miles without any pain whatsoever. Last week, I completed my first ever 20 mile run confidently thanks to all of the work the team at Kessler put in!

Both Shelly and Matt made me feel very comfortable with them, and I felt like they were rooting for me the whole time. The majority of my sessions were with Shelly, and she was my #1 fan as well as an outstanding physical therapist. She had an overwhelmingly positive and supportive attitude, in addition to being extremely knowledgeable regarding my treatment.

I am beyond grateful to the whole team at Kessler in Hoboken. I know that my physical therapy greatly contributed to my physical ability and mental confidence to participate in my first ever marathon this weekend - the NYC Marathon!”

Shelly shared this insight on Annette’s customized treatment plan:

“We developed at specific treatment pain tailored just for Annette based on the impairments we identified on her first visit, and we educated her on a comprehensive home exercise program. In addition to her exercise program, we performed manual techniques such as Instrumented Soft Tissue Mobilization and Dynamic Cupping to help improve her function and eliminate her pain. We are definitely Annette’s #1 fan, and we wish her all the best at running the NYC Marathon this weekend!”

Discover the Kessler difference. Over 100 convenient locations. No Rx is needed. To learn more, please contact us at 866-33-REHAB or go to https://bit.ly/3CD91HE

Every Halloween, we get to see how wide Kessler Rehabilitation Center's reach is. Many of our centers throughout the state took time to show off their spirit. Check out the gallery below to see some spooky and fun costumes. Thanks to our team members for joining in. We hope everyone has a fun and safe Halloween! 🎃👻

We believe it is important to raise awareness about breast cancer, the need for treatment and the importance of early detection.

That’s why our teams have been supporting and celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness Month with multiple events throughout October.

Ten years ago, Barb Jordan tore her meniscus and had it repaired; however, her knee was never the same. After years of being unable to bend or extend her knee fully, she decided enough was enough and chose to get a knee replacement.

After surgery, Barb needed support to finish her recovery. That's when she found Physical Therapist Shelli Herink and Physical Therapist Assistant Paige Ryan.

"The first day I walked into physical therapy, I just got that look and Shelli said, 'you are going to need a lot of work,'" Barb said.

When she started physical therapy, Barb had a walker and could barely get her knee to move. While it wasn't quick or easy progress, Barb was determined to get back on her bike without worries. She kept listening to Shelli and Paige, pushing herself through the hard moments to get over the hump.

"Shelli and Paige were a huge part of my recovery," Barb said. "I truly believe if I didn't have them, there is no way my knee extension would be zero [degrees]!"

While she found our center out of convenience, Barb said she quickly realized that we are the place for physical therapy and will refer to anyone looking for our services.

Thank you, Barb. We're honored to have helped you get back to your life.

"It's hard to find pelvic floor P.T. and I found a real gem with Aviva Becker at Kessler (Clifton). Not only is she extremely knowledgeable, but kind, patient and makes you feel super comfortable, which is paramount when you're 9 months pregnant!"

Those kind words are from patient Megan Milano, who recently came to our Clifton center for physical therapy. We are proud to have Aviva on our team providing top-notch care!

Understanding a breast cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming. Our latest blog post discusses the five most common breast cancer symptoms, when doctors say women should get mammograms and how treatment can impact your body. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so brush up on these essential facts and support those on their journey.

Living beyond breast cancer If breast cancer treatment has left you with long-term or late-onset side effects, rehabilitation can help you manage them.

Martha Bowman had no idea if her body would be able to fully recover from cancer treatments. She was unable to carry out any of her daily activities without pain. Then, she found us and our ReVital Cancer Rehabilitation program.

“[They] helped me in my cancer recovery in ways I didn’t know I needed and I didn’t know were possible,” Martha said. “Nikki has helped me return to normal activities almost pain-free.”

Physical Therapist and ReVital Rehabilitation Program Director Nikki Langstaff focused Martha’s treatment on the activities she had lost from her cancer treatment, including trail hiking and playing the violin.

“Her innovation in the practice of physical therapy knows no bounds. Not only did she address my more normal activities, such as trail building/maintenance and hiking, but she also helped me with my new body mechanics in relation to playing the violin,” Martha said. “Despite not being a player herself, she used her powers of observation and knowledge about the human body to help me get back to playing - better than before!”

We are pleased to hear that you are back to doing what matters most, Martha. Thank you for choosing us on your rehabilitation journey.

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The ReVital Cancer Rehabilitation team at Kessler Rehabilitation Center was honored to participate in this year’s Light the Night walk, hosted by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. In support of those impacted by cancer and their loved ones, this event offers hope instead of helplessness, connection instead of loneliness and life-saving research and support at every step.
We’re proud to work with a team so passionate about helping those impacted by cancer in every way they can. Thank you for all you do!

It was an honor to share our expertise with abc's Good Morning America this week.

Check out the article where ReVital Cancer Rehabilitation Director of Research Kelley Wood discussed the important role we play in helping patients regain strength and manage lymphedema after their breast cancer diagnosis. The article focuses on the latest study that shows the benefits of strength training under the guidance of specially-trained cancer rehabilitation therapists.

Our team continues to follow and contribute to the latest research in cancer rehabilitation to help more patients get back to what matters most.

Breast cancer survivors now encouraged to embrace strength training, lift weights Kim Landrum never imagined she would regain her strength after her breast cancer diagnosis.

Our ReVital Cancer Rehabilitation therapists have been making a huge impact in the New Jersey area this Breast Cancer Awareness Month. At this year’s Lewin Fund Walk for Women’s Cancers, they showed passionate dedication to helping those impacted by breast cancer get the information they need to live well beyond their diagnosis.

We’re proud to work with teams that inspire us to continue helping those affected by cancer get back to what matters most. Way to go, team!

Think of all those people out there suffering from low back pain who have no idea it could be linked to pelvic floor dysfunction. Pelvic health physical therapy could be the answer they've been looking for.

Pelvic floor disorders can impact the muscles, organs and tissues in the lower abdomen, pelvis and lower back. Consider our CoreVia Pelvic Health therapists as the top-tier in knowledge and experience, providing specialized care so patients can get back to their lives.

“Why did I wait so long [and] never think to ask about it earlier? There is a way to improve the quality of life without constantly needing medication!” That’s the advice Mary Seals would give her past self if she could go back in time.

Mary was experiencing debilitating pelvic pain that impacted her whole body and life. Her doctor recommended our CoreVia Pelvic Health program, where Mary met Allie Bowen, certified pelvic health physical therapist.

Allie conducted a comprehensive assessment of Mary’s condition. Together, they developed a customized treatment plan that included:
- Pelvic floor exercises to strengthen the muscles and improve control.
- Manual therapy techniques to relieve muscle tension and enhance mobility.
- Posture and body mechanics training to reduce strain and support healing.
- Education on lifestyle modifications to help manage symptoms and prevent flare-ups.

With Allie’s expert guidance, Mary began to see incredible improvements. “I cannot recommend pelvic physical therapy enough,” Mary said. “I actually have some relief from pain, and a much better understanding of everything. I’m in a much better place than when I began.”

Thanks to physical therapy, Mary says she can now enjoy intimacy without fear and has alleviated the near-constant debilitating pelvic pain that impacted her entire body. “I feel like I am not relying on aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen all of the time,” she said. “I wish I had known about this sooner!”

Thank you for your inspiring words, Mary. We are so happy to have been part of your healing journey and to help you regain your quality of life.

Susan Jackson is a doting grandmother and travel enthusiast. But she noticed as the years went by she wasn’t as strong as she used to be, and recently, Susan began having trouble playing with her grandchildren without experiencing urinary leakage. So, her doctor recommended she see a pelvic health physical therapist.

Susan started working with Physical Therapist Lauren Cordova. Lauren is a CoreVia Pelvic Health therapist with advanced clinical knowledge and specialized skills that enable her to assess and treat symptoms related to pelvic health conditions.

When Susan began, her pelvic floor was heavy and weak, but she quickly started noticing results. “As I started routinely doing the exercises Lauren taught me, I could feel myself getting stronger every day,” Susan said.

After three months of working with Lauren, Susan has reported no more urinary leaking and much better core strength. "I feel stronger in my 60s than ever before," she said. “I’m excited to play with my grandchildren without it hurting me.”

According to the Mayo Clinic, an estimated 75% of women over 65 experience urinary leakage. If you are like Susan and thousands of other women, our CoreVia Pelvic Health therapists are here to help.

Thank you for trusting us with your care, Susan.

During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Regional Director and former ReVital patient Gwen Fulco is advocating for people to get their screenings!

"Because of ReVital I can prioritize my health aspirations and share my experience with fellow survivors in hopes to provide strength, support, and hope to them as they endure their own journey." - Gwen Fulco, former ReVital patient and Kessler Regional Director.

On Saturday, September 28th, ReVital therapists from multiple Kessler Rehabilitation Centers gathered to honor and support those affected by blood cancers, at LLS Light the Night in Verona, NJ. Nicole Romaine, Demetria Petris, Gay Violeta, Aarti Deshpande and Alina Hedaya were honored to be part of this meaningful event, and to connect with the local community of survivors, family members, supporters and other healthcare providers.

Do you even need physical therapy if you're not in pain? Just because your pain may have subsided does not mean you're "fixed." Read our latest blog post to learn about the main reasons people need physical therapy (that they might not even be aware of). Plus, discover the five major problems that can occur if you avoid or delay treatment.

When to Start and Why to Stick with Physical Therapy In the fast-paced world of injury recovery, physical therapy often emerges as one of the most important steps in reclaiming your mobility and strength.

It was great to be with everyone at Eatontown Day! Physical therapists Mathew Kiernan and Chris Wyckoff met many familiar faces of former patients while educating the community on rehabilitation, sports rehab, healthy lifestyle modifications, injuries and direct access. Way to go, team!