CIO Bulletin

Excel Physical Therapy – New Jersey's Premier Orthopedic Physical Therapy Provider

The biggest impact of orthopedic surgery is reduced mobility. It is why doctors keep surgery as the final frontier and then too only recommend it if it improves the quality of the patient’s life. Thankfully, with advancements in science, the recovery period after orthopedic surgery has reduced and made the operation itself more efficient. This is when orthopedic physical therapy can be life-changing. A skilled physical therapist (PT) can get you back on track with your daily activities after surgery, an injury, accident, or illness. An orthopedic PT works to integrate all your other bodily systems — especially your neurological and cardiovascular systems — with your musculoskeletal system to treat your injury or condition appropriately. An orthopedic PT specializes in diagnosing and treating conditions and injuries that affect any part of your musculoskeletal system. Depending on your condition, your therapist will use a variety of therapeutic modalities, assistive devices, and manual therapies to repair damage, reduce pain, and restore your physical abilities.

Excel Physical Therapy is New Jersey's orthopedic physical therapy provider. The firm provides an all-encompassing premier level of care coupled with their clinical skills, rigorous selection process of staff physical therapists, and strong administrative support staff. Excel has established a name and reputation for providing not only the leading trends in orthopedic rehabilitative care, but also an overall enhanced patient therapeutic experience. The dedication and skill of their staff is what has enabled the firm to continue to be a trusted and respected provider of physical therapy throughout New Jersey for more than 30 years.

Leveraging Life-Saving Physical Therapy Services

Pre-Operative Physical Therapy (Prehab): By improving your strength and mobility prior to surgery, you can actually expedite your recovery and improve your long-term outcome. Additionally, since you’ll already be working with your physical therapist, you can get your questions answered ahead of time, understand the rehab process ahead of you, and develop a customized recovery plan. At Excel Physical Therapy, each patient’s prehab program is tailored to their own unique needs. Being proactive with your health often pays off in the long term. If you’re preparing for an orthopedic surgery, contact your local EXCEL office or request an appointment online to find out how you can maximize your chances for a successful recovery by beginning a Prehab program today.

Post-Operative Physical Therapy: If you’re undergoing orthopedic surgery, you and your surgeon have likely discussed your upcoming physical therapy needs. Post-surgical physical therapy not only helps minimize the development of scar tissue around the surgical site, but also helps patients heal faster and get back to their normal activities more quickly. At Excel Physical Therapy, they have more than 30 years of experience providing post-op physical therapy to patients who have undergone total joint replacements or orthopedic surgeries related to knee, shoulder, hip, arm, feet, ankle, and hand injuries. After a comprehensive initial evaluation, Excel’s physical therapists will create an individualized recovery plan designed to optimize your recovery. Immediately following surgery, your clinician will focus on reducing your initial pain and swelling. Next, your therapist will guide you through a series of tailored exercises meant to restore strength, help you regain range of motion, and increase your stamina and endurance.

Spine Specialty Program: Back pain is one of the most common reasons that people seek medical attention or miss days at work or school. Ranging in intensity from a dull ache to sharp, debilitating agony, upper, middle or lower back pain may result from an acute injury or may have become chronic over time. The spine is a complex anatomical structure made up of joints, soft tissue, spinal cord, and hundreds of nerves. With such intricate anatomy involved, it’s no wonder that back pain can result from so many different injuries and conditions. Members of Excel Physical Therapy’s Spine Specialty Program have advanced training in the treatment of cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine impairments. Many of Excel's specialists have additional certifications in the McKenzie method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Treatment and manual therapy techniques.

Excel’s spine specialists dedicate themselves to a rigorous track of continuing education, including becoming certified in the McKenzie method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Treatment and as Spinal Manual Therapists. The McKenzie Method is a way of assessing mechanical issues in the back and spine by analyzing the body’s reaction to certain positions and movements, rather than relying on diagnostic testing or invasive treatments. Patients are empowered to manage their own symptoms and prevent recurrent issues.

Injury Prevention: By studying the way a patient’s body moves, EXCEL’s physical therapists can identify body imbalances, movement dysfunction, and other risk factors that may predispose the individual to injury or stop them from reaching peak performance. Addressing and correcting these issues through a combination of strength, balance, and gait training can help patients achieve precise, efficient movements—thereby preventing later injuries. Excel Physical Therapy has a long history of working closely with high school, college, and professional sports teams throughout New Jersey and New York to prevent and treat injuries incurred during recreational or competitive athletics. Since 1990, Excel Physical Therapy has specialized in caring for athletes ranging from high school to professional teams. Whether playing college ball, competing in triathlons, or simply jogging around your neighborhood, a little prevention goes a long way toward avoiding injuries down the road. After all, one injury can take you out of the game for a whole season.

Balance Training & Fall Prevention: More than one in three Americans ages 65 and older fall each and every year, with 20-30 percent suffering moderate or severe injuries. In fact, falls are the leading cause of both fatal and non-fatal injuries for older Americans. While you may think of physical therapy as rehabilitation-focused, physical therapists also play a key role in preventing injuries before they happen. For older individuals looking to maintain an active, injury-free lifestyle, balance and stability are crucial. Physical therapists can help to improve physical capabilities, while also advising patients on how to eliminate hazards from their home environment. At Excel Physical Therapy, they are committed to caring for patients throughout every stage of their life.

Excel Physical Therapy | Leadership

Gary Flink, PT, MSPT is a co-founder and the Chief Executive officer of Excel Physical Therapy. He is one of the two owners and directors of Excel Physical Therapy. He graduated from the University of Delaware with a Bachelor's degree in 1986. He went on to attend physical therapy school at Long Island University, where he earned a second Bachelor's degree, as well as a Master's degree in Physical Therapy and graduated with the highest honors Summa Cum Laude in 1989.

Matt Gibble, PT is a co-founder and President of Excel Physical Therapy. He is one of the two owners and directors of Excel Physical Therapy. After receiving his Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy from Arcadia University in 1986, he went on to work at a sports medicine facility in New York City. There he was involved for three years with the New York Knicks, where he provided their long-term physical therapy, as well as their pre-season and pre-signing orthopedic evaluations.