One Hollow Lane, Suite 214  |  Lake Success, NY  11042

info@longislandbalance.com
+1 (516) 482-0100
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Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Common FAQs

Please reach out to our office for any additional info. A representative will get back to you as soon as possible.
Why Select Long Island BALANCE Physical Therapy

We make and keep timely appointments in a professionally appointed office. We offer flexible office hours and we are available seven days weekly in the event of urgent care needs. We participate in a wide variety of health insurance plans, as listed elsewhere, which can cover most or all of the cost of services. Our office staff is always available to assist you. Our location is fully handicapped accessible and we are easily accessible by automobile, bus or LIRR service. Ample free indoor covered outdoor parking is available.

Unlike many other rehabilitation offices, Long Island BALANCE RECOVERY is an independently owned and operated physical therapy practice, dedicated to providing high quality Physical Therapy care to its patients. We are neither physician nor corporately owned. You will receive physical therapy care designed by a well-credentialed Doctor of Physical Therapy, NYS licensed to practice since 1980, rendered according to contemporary standards of care that are endorsed by the American Physical Therapy Association. Our patients need and can expect from OrthoBalancePT, a one-on-one experience with a seasoned and expertly skilled practitioner, assisted by caring support staff.

Your referring physician and PCP will receive detailed written and/or verbal information on your care; data and results from your physical evaluation, planned therapeutic treatment and rationale, in addition to ongoing progress communication as needed.

We use a combination of treatment devices (we call them modalities), skilled manual orthopaedic techniques or procedures [“hands on” therapy] and therapeutic exercise in order to reduce inflammation and relieve or eliminate pain, improve joint mobility and to increase functional muscle strength, thereby restoring the bodies’ optimal mechanical function. Combining the “science of healing and the art of caring” our goal is to help you return to work, return to play or leisure activity and generally regain your lifestyle.You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.

Physical therapy is a form of medical treatment that is designed to relieve pain, increase function of the joints and return you to your normal activities. It is based on the scientific principles of tissue management and exercise prescription. Physical therapists perform a comprehensive analysis of movement and dysfunction, identifying structural or soft tissue pathologies/impairments and muscular imbalances or inefficiencies contributing to your presenting problem.

All physical therapists practicing in New York State have successfully passed a NYS licensing examination, after obtaining a post graduate Master’s and/or Doctorate degree in physical therapy from and accredited education program. They undergo intensive study of human anatomy and pathophysiology, biomechanics and corrective therapeutic exercise. Their education is steeped in neuromusculoskeletal, cardiopulmonary and general medical disorders and undergo clinical training in the administration of physical treatment modalities and procedures, corrective exercise and manual manipulative therapeutics. Physical therapists are required to undergo continuing education in order to remain current with the latest medical developments, treatment techniques and patient care options. 

Physical therapy is designed to cure, improve or manage many nerve, musculoteninous or bone disorders. Neurological disorders such as Stroke, Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis and other movement disorders are well served by physical therapy. Orthopaedic (muscle, bone, joint) disorders, injuries and surgical cases are very amenable to physical therapy treatments and procedures; in fact, physical therapy is usually a standard initial or follow up treatment in many of these cases. Generally, cases of arthritis and structural or neurological mobility disorders are managed well with physical therapy.

Because they require exercise prescription and skilled manual procedures, many other classifications of physical disorders are well managed by physical therapists, such as:

  • Balance impairment and dizziness
  • TemporoMandibular
  • Dysfunction (TMD or TMJ)
  • Pelvic Floor Muscular
  • Dysfucntion (PFMD)
  • Cardiorespiratory Disorders

Probably. Your abilities can be limited due to various causes, which can significantly impact your quality of life. Diagnoses that PT can help significantly include surgery or an injury, stroke or traumatic brain injuries, neurological diseases, and arthritis – situations which can all limit your ability to generate optimal motion.

Our facility is open Monday through Friday, and by appointment on Saturdays.

See office hours posted at the bottom of the page.

A typical physical therapy session lasts 45 minutes to one hour; however, the appointments vary for each patient. If longer time is required, you will be advised.
Your session will run best when you are wearing comfortable clothing that does not restrict movement. If vigorous exercise is planned, requiring athletic wear, you will be advised ahead of time.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that results in a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder that may affect many tissues and organs, but principally attacks flexible (synovial) joints. It can be a disabling and painful condition, which can lead to substantial loss of functioning and mobility if not adequately treated.

The process involves an inflammatory response of the capsule around the joints (synovium) secondary to swelling (turgescence) of synovial cells, excess synovial fluid, and the development of fibrous tissue (pannus) in the synovium. The pathology of the disease process often leads to the destruction of articular cartilage and ankylosis (fusion) of the joints. RA can also produce diffuse inflammation in the lungs, the membrane around the heart (pericardium), the membranes of the lung (pleura), and white of the eye (sclera), and also nodular lesions, most common in subcutaneous tissue.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis in the U.S. Approximately 27 million adults have reported being diagnosed with OA by their doctor. While the cause of OA is unknown, it occurs when cartilage in joints breaks down over time. Often called “wear and tear” arthritis, OA is most commonly found in the knees, hips, hands, or spine, though it can occur in any joint.

Quick facts about OA:

  • One in 2 people in the U.S. will experience some form of OA in their lifetime.
  • OA is much more common in women than men.
  • OA accounts for more than 50% of arthritis cases in the U.S. (nearly 27 million of the 46 million adults who have reported doctor-diagnosed arthritis).
The absence of a broken hip doesn’t necessarily mean that the consequences of the fall are going to be less severe. In fact, many of the elderly who fall experience injuries serious enough to change their life forever. These elderly gradually become unable to function normally and move around independently. They lose the ability to climb stairs, dress, rise from a chair or bed, cut toenails, walk, and so on. In a study published in the journal Age and Aging by researchers of Vrije University Medical Center, in The Netherlands, functioning decline was observed in more than 35 percent of elderly who had fallen at least once in the previous year. Approximately 15 percent also developed difficulties with walking, cycling, gardening, and doing housework.
Many of the falls that occur in the elderly result in bruises, head trauma and fractures-mostly of the hips, spine, arms, ankles and legs. Hip injuries are of particular concern. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeon reports that 25 percent of those with a hip injury die within one year, whereas 50 percent lose the ability to walk. Another 25 percent need to be admitted to a nursing home, because they are unable to perform daily activities like dressing, eating, bathing and toileting. Note that the likelihood of experiencing a hip injury after a fall increases dramatically with age; to such extent that elderly aged 85 or older are up to 15 times more likely to have one than those aged 60 to 65.

Elderly people are more likely to fall if they have one or more of the following risk factors:

  • being on certain medications, such as laxatives, diuretics, antidepressants or sedatives
  • suffering from conditions that affect balance, such as Parkinson’s disease, arthritis, multiple sclerosis and stroke, or that cause sudden drops in blood pressure, like hypotension
  • having medical problems that result in the need to get up from bed at night or rushing, like insomnia and incontinence
  • using a walking aid, like a cane or walker
  • suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia

Other falls risk factors include insufficient vision, poor hearing, foot problems and wearing inadequate shoes and environmental hazards such as clutter, scattered rugs, loose carpets and wet or slippery floors.

Older adults can stay independent and reduce their chances of falling. They can:

  • Exercise regularly. It is important that the exercises focus on increasing leg strength and improving balance, and that they get more challenging over time. Tai Chi programs are especially good.
  • Ask their doctor or pharmacist to review their medicines—both prescription and over-the counter—to identify medicines that may cause side effects or interactions such as dizziness or drowsiness.
  • Have their eyes checked by an eye doctor at least once a year and update their eyeglasses to maximize their vision. Consider getting a pair with single vision distance lenses for some activities such as walking outside.
  • Make their homes safer by reducing tripping hazards, adding grab bars inside and outside the tub or shower and next to the toilet, adding railings on both sides of stairways, and improving the lighting in their homes.

To lower their hip fracture risk, older adults can:

  • Get adequate calcium and vitamin D—from food and/or from supplements.
  • Do weight bearing exercise.
  • Get screened and, if needed, treated for osteoporosis.
  • People age 75 and older who fall are four to five times more likely than those age 65 to 74 to be admitted to a long-term care facility for a year or longer.
  • Rates of fall-related fractures among older women are more than twice those for men.
  • Over 95% of hip fractures are caused by falls.15 In 2010, there were 258,000 hip fractures and the rate for women was almost twice the rate for men.
  • White women have significantly higher hip fracture rates than black women.
  • The death rates from falls among older men and women have risen sharply over the past decade.
  • In 2010, about 21,700 older adults died from unintentional fall injuries.
  • Men are more likely than women to die from a fall. After taking age into account, the fall death rate in 2010 was 40% higher for men than for women.
  • Older whites are 2.4 times more likely to die from falls as their black counterparts.
  • Rates also differ by ethnicity. Older non-Hispanics have higher fatal fall rates than Hispanics.
  • Twenty to thirty percent of people who fall suffer moderate to severe injuries such as lacerations, hip fractures, or head traumas. These injuries can make it hard to get around or live independently, and increase the risk of early death.
  • Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
  • In 2000, 46% of fatal falls among older adults were due to TBI.
  • Most fractures among older adults are caused by falls. The most common are fractures of the spine, hip, forearm, leg, ankle, pelvis, upper arm, and hand.
  • One out of three older adults (those aged 65 or older) falls each year1 but less than half talk to their healthcare providers about it.
  • Among older adults, falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries.
  • In 2010, 2.3 million nonfatal fall injuries among older adults were treated in emergency departments and more than 662,000 of these patients were hospitalized.
  • In 2010, the direct medical costs of falls, adjusted for inflation, was $30 billion.
The bad news is that there is no medicine which can make the balance system work normally. Your doctor may be able to give you medicines to ease the dizziness and nausea, but these will not cure the problem. Sometimes the dizziness will clear up over a month or two. If this does not happen, then it is likely that your medical doctor will recommend balance re training therapy to help reduce and control the problem before considering unlikely surgical options.

Although dizziness is not usually a sign of a dangerous illness, it is very unpleasant and frightening and can cause other symptoms; nausea, tiredness and difficulty concentrating. If your balance system is not working normally, you may become dizzy when making quick or unusual movements, such as reaching up or looking behind you. You may also become dizzy when you are moved (e.g. in cars or lifts), or when you are in a situation with a lot of moving lights, objects or people (e.g. in busy traffic).

People who are dizzy often avoid physical activity and quick movements, and this can lead to other health problems such as a stiff neck, headaches, and general decline in fitness. People suffering from dizziness or imbalance sometimes avoid vital activities, such as working, travelling or going out alone. You need to have good balance as you get older, to reduce the risk of falling and injuring yourself.

The balance system can be affected by many different medical problems, and so it is important to see your medical doctor to check which part of the balance system is not working normally. If your symptoms are caused by the balance organ in your ear, your doctor may tell you that you have vertigo, or vestibular imbalance. This can result from a mild virus or ear infection, or sometimes just wear and tear on the balance organ. Sometimes your doctor will not be able to discover why the dizziness started, but balance retraining can still help to speed recovery even when the cause for the dizziness is not known.
The balance system relies on three different senses. Your eyes tell you where you are and where you are going. Your joint position sensors in your body tell you where you are and how you are moving. And the balance, or vestibular organ in your inner ear senses when and how your head moves. Your brain acts like a computer, combining signals from these three senses to give you a stable picture of the world and control your head, body and eye movements. If any part of this balance system is giving out unusual or faulty information then you may feel dizzy, disoriented or unsteady.
Each patient’s diagnosis is different, so together with your referring physician, your therapist will develop a plan of care that is right for you. Your plan of care and number of visits will be determined during your first visit, based on clinical findings.
We are required to collect insurance deductibles, copayments and other non-covered charges. We accept cash, check, debit card, and credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Debit Cards). We are happy to discuss payment plan options, as well.
Yes, in most cases it does. Our office will be happy to assist in contacting your insurance company and determining your coverage based on your individual policy. A list of insurances in which we participate is provided. For more information, please do not hesitate to contact our office.

There are a few things you can do to help yourself.

First of all, please KEEP and be on time for your scheduled appointments. We try our best to run on time and we don’t like to keep our patients waiting, but sometimes, as in all medical situations, we may be delayed by a medical problem. We ask for your patience. Keeping your scheduled appointments is very important. It is just like the dosage of a medication; when not taken properly it will not be effective. Missed appointments stop progress. If you cannot keep a scheduled appointment, please call ahead to cancel so that we can use the canceled space for another patient.

Second, please follow recovery instructions and do your exercises as prescribed by the physical therapist. We make every effort to select the fewest and simplest effective exercises so that the programs are easy to accomplish – but they are of little value if you don’t do them regularly. They help promote recovery and prevent recurrence of the problem.

  • A prescription for physical therapy from your referring physician, dentist, ARNP, or PA
  • Insurance information; primary and secondary (we will take a copy of your card)
  • Photo ID
  • For No Fault [automobile accident] or worker’s compensation claims, please bring any contact names, phone numbers and claim number.
Most people come to us for pain relief, so our aim is to make you feel better as we guide and promote your healing. As your functional strength and mobility are restored your pain levels often fluctuate. This is a normal response to therapy treatment. Good communication with your therapist will help minimize any discomfort.

A thorough medical history will be taken and a problem oriented physical evaluation will be performed.

A complete discussion about your problem and rationale for your treatment options.

Depending on the nature of your case, treatment may be started immediately, or upon subsequent sessions.

A typical physical therapy session lasts 45 minutes to one hour; however, the appointments vary for each patient.

Long Island’s only dedicated balance recovery center.

How can we help you?