Categories
Updates

Update 9/1/23

September 1st, 2023

Dear Valued Clients,

After six and a half years of successful practice, Opt-2-Heal Physical Therapy will be closing its operations at 3 Stephenville Pkwy, Edison, NJ 08820 on September 15th, 2023. We will no longer be taking new patients as of this date, and all patients will be discharged by the 15th of September.

I would like to thank you for your continued loyalty and support to our staff and therapists over the past few years. I hope that our practice has helped you achieve your health related goals and improved the quality of your daily life. It has certainly been an honor and privilege for me, as a therapist, to receive your trust and encouragement which has been most valuable. I plan to move forward to further pursue my educational and clinical goals. 

All patient records shall be maintained for at least seven years from the date of the last entry. Please feel free to call us at (908)-293-8636 or email requests to ritu@opt-2-heal.com should you have any questions or concerns.

Thank you again for your dedication to our practice and we wish you all the best in health and wellness moving forward.

 Sincerely,

Ritudeep Basra, PT, OCS, MDT

LIC# 40QA0722300

Categories
Tips from the Therapist

Tips to Manage Your Vertigo

According to a recent survey, vertigo disrupts the daily activities of nearly 80% of those who experience it.

It is not simply a headache or a migraine — vertigo is a sensation of circular motion of self or surroundings; you may experience unsteadiness and loss of balance caused by the movement of crystals in an organ in your ear called the vestibular labyrinth. These crystals are responsible for your sense of gravity, and if they become dislocated in the canal, you can experience mild to severe dizziness, nausea, and even vomiting.

Our therapist is a certified vestibular specialist. We’d like to share these tips with you to help you keep your vertigo at bay until you are able to seek medical attention. If you experience vertigo regularly and would like to begin treatment, call us to schedule an appointment at (908)-293-8636. We are also happy to answer any questions you may have.

TIP #1: Avoid sleeping on the side that is responsible for your dizziness.

See if you can determine which side of your head is causing the issue. If you choose to sleep on your side, choose the side that is NOT symptomatic.

TIP #2: Pile 2-3 pillows under your head when sleeping

Keep your head and neck raised over night by sleeping on two or three pillows. This will prevent your neck from going into extension, which can exacerbate your symptoms.

*note: you can also sleep flat on your back
TIP #3: Do not stand up immediately when getting out of bed

When you first wake up in the morning, sit on the side of your bed for a few moments to regain your balance instead of standing immediately. Change of body position prompts the movement of crystals which makes your symptoms worse temporarily.

TIP #4: Do not lift your head up when drinking

Rather than tilting your head up to drink a glass of water, use a straw instead. The goal is to limit movement of your head in order to prevent dizziness.

TIP #5: Use your entire body to turn when walking

When walking, be sure to move your entire body when you turning. Moving just your head could prompt dizziness.

Categories
Tips from the Therapist

Back/Neck pain? Watch your sitting posture

The temptation to slouch is hard to resist when you’re working an 8-hour day from home. Here are some tips from our expert therapist on how to correct your posture and save yourself from some serious back pain!

The right way to sit:

Sit upright with your back against the chair and keep your hips, knees, and ankles at a 90° angle. Keep your shoulders relaxed but not drooping. Don’t twist! Make sure your screen is directly in front of you so that you don’t have to turn to see it.

from Techsmartest
  • Roll up a bath towel into a firm log shape and place it in the small of your back. This will help maintain your back’s natural curve and prevent you from slouching. You can of course use a lumbar roll if you have one.
from OPTP McKenzie
  • Keep your screen at eye-level. You should not have to look down or up in order to see it. If you are using a laptop while sitting on a couch for example, place a pillow on your lap and your computer on top of it so that it is raised to eye level.
from Total Balance Physio
  • Move your station towards you rather than leaning forward in order to see it better. The goal is to maintain that upright position, so don’t be afraid to move your laptop a bit closer if you need to!
from Inspire Uplift

Some exercises you can do to reverse bad posture:

  • Chin tucks/extensions
    • Roll your shoulder back. Tuck your chin inwards and slowly push your head in towards your neck. Then tilt your head back and extend.
from Back Authority
  • Shoulder blade squeezes
    • Roll your shoulders back and squeeze them together as though you are trying to hold a pencil between your shoulder blades.
from Park Sports Physical Therapy

Happy sitting!

*Click images for sources

Categories
Updates

5/18 Update

Good news…

Opt-2-Heal has (partially and cautiously) reopened as of Monday, May 11! Don’t worry, our clinic is taking as many precautions as necessary to ensure the safety of our patients and staff. Here’s what we are doing:

  • Our therapist is equipped with PPE (ie. mask, gloves, gown, face shield)
  • We are wiping surfaces before and after each patient visit
  • Our landlord has installed an air purification system in the building


If you’d like to schedule an appointment, here’s what you need to know:

  • Masks and gloves are *required*
  • You will need to bring your own twin sheet to minimize direct contact with our equipment

If you have any questions, comment below or call us at (908)-293-8636.

Stay safe and healthy!

Categories
Patient Testimonials

How Opt-2-Heal Helped Suneetha Thota Get Back on Track

EDISON, N.J., Jan 19 – In March 2018, an unforeseeable accident caused Suneetha Thota’s life to take a turn for the worse. 

As she was trying to place a glass bottle on her kitchen countertop, the bottle hit the edge of the counter and shattered into her right palm, damaging her hand to a state that would cause her intense pain for weeks. 

“It injured my right palm in three places and I even got some stitches,” Suneetha said. “I couldn’t use my right hand at all.” 

Suneetha felt continuous pain in her palm and wrist, and it began to spread throughout her entire arm, her shoulder, and eventually her neck. 

“It was very painful,” she reflects. “I couldn’t even do day-to-day chores.” 

This injury inhibited Suneetha’s ability to function on a day-to-day basis. All of a sudden, she was no longer able to perform tasks as simple as making a cup of coffee or sweeping the floor. 

Life was no longer as comfortable as it had been, and Suneetha had no choice but to seek help.

Three months later, Suneetha was referred to Ritu by her primary care physician, who knew that physical therapy would be her best option for recovery. 

She visited Opt-2-Heal for 45-minute treatment sessions twice a week, and saw noticeable results about two to three weeks into the treatment. 

Suneetha’s treatment plan included manual joint mobilizations in the neck and shoulder, muscle releases, and postural training. She tried aqua therapy for about a month at a JFK facility, but returned to physical therapy realizing that Opt-2-Heal’s method was much more practical for her. 

Suneetha says that her sessions with Ritu were especially beneficial because they revealed problems that were kindling in other parts of her body that she was unaware of. Ritu was not only able to improve the mobility of her hand, but she was also able to tackle issues in her hip that were causing other problems for her. 

It was because of this that Suneetha returned to Opt-2-Heal after her initial discharge for her palm, and continues to see Ritu on a regular basis to improve her hip. 

Now, Suneetha is more than capable of performing those daily tasks that she was unable to do prior to her treatment, and is developing a business she recently pioneered with her niece. 

Suneetha expresses her gratitude to Ritu for helping her put her life back in order. 

“I definitely, 100% recommend physical therapy with Ritu. She’s the best!” she said.

Suneetha still feels some lingering pain in her wrist now and then, but she says it is not nearly as intense or continuous as it once was. 

“It’s like a new life,” she muses.