Celebrate National Physical Therapy Month

Celebrate National Physical Therapy Month

Have you struggled with pain? Are you dealing with an injury affecting your ability to do your usual routine? Our highly skilled physical therapists can guide you back to health and back to doing what you love! 

Whether you have recently had surgery or are recovering from a new injury, physical therapy at Professional Care Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation can help.

October is National Physical Therapy Month! Professional Care wants to make sure that you have a reliable source to help you resolve whatever physical condition you face. Our physical therapists are highly trained and experienced in treating musculoskeletal disorders. We understand how important it is to get to the root of the problem and provide solutions that work. 

Our team of physical therapists is devoted to helping our patients recover from injuries and pain that are interfering with everyday activities and making life way harder than it should be. 

Request an appointment with Professional Care today, so we can help you get back to the life you deserve!

Why Should I Choose Physical Therapy?

There are several reasons to choose physical therapy over costly surgeries and medications. Physical therapy has been shown to not only help resolve pain and improve function, but it is also effective at enhancing your overall health and well-being. 

One of the most significant benefits of physical therapy is that it can uncover the underlying reasons for your injuries and/or pain. Some of the impairments your physical therapist can help you correct include:

  • Loss of motion
  • Weakness
  • Poor posture and faulty movement patterns
  • Gait abnormalities
  • Loss of balance
  • Coordination deficits
  • Neurological impairment
  • Unhealthy lifestyle behaviors (i.e., poor sleep habits, improper nutrition, lack of exercise, etc.)

4 Benefits of Physical Therapy 

A physical therapist can educate you about ways to move safer, use your energy more efficiently, reduce the risk of re-injury, and enhance the overall effects of your care. The benefits of physical therapy treatments include easing pain, reducing spasms, increasing circulation, and promoting healing.

  1. Physical therapy can help improve your joint range of motion and overall mobility: Our ability to move depends on how individual joints move and how the body’s joints move in concert with one another. Increasing joint range of motion and mobility of the connective tissues around your joints (including the tendons, muscles, fascia, and joint capsules) will help your joints feel better and move better.  This will also help you improve overall functional mobility and activity tolerance, essential for work, leisure, and simple daily functions. 
  2. Physical therapy can help strengthen weaknesses and compensation patterns: Through injury or surgery, muscles become weak and impact your ability to move and function normally.  For some, an old injury or abnormal movement pattern has led to weakness due to compensations. Physical therapists are skilled at assessing the whole body, identifying weaknesses, and teaching how to restore strength and function. 
  3. Physical therapy can improve your overall health and well-being: When you see a physical therapist for pain and injuries, you will receive rehabilitation benefits to resolve the condition and a total body approach to health. Physical therapists are movement experts and trained to help you move/exercise more, no matter your limitations or restrictions. More activity equals improved health!
  4. Physical therapy can help you reduce the risk of injury: By implementing a holistic approach, we can improve and restore your function and prevent injuries. This may include all components of typical physical therapy and include gait modifications and coordination exercises to stimulate the nervous system and help ensure your mechanics are ideal to avoid an injury.

Call Us Today To Request An Appointment

The mission of our physical therapy clinic is to use compassion, encouragement, and motivation in the treatment of our patients and clients. We provide outstanding and personalized skills as movement and rehabilitation physical therapists through exceedingly high customer service and results!

Our goal is to positively impact people’s lives and improve their quality of life. Your therapy will be centered around helping you get back to doing the things you love without pain. We understand that no two pain conditions are alike, and no two treatment plans should be either. 

Contact Professional Care Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation today to learn more about National Physical Therapy Month and the benefits of physical therapy. 

If you’re struggling with a painful condition or experiencing a physical limitation, our therapists will work with you to ensure your success!

Expert Insights: Dr. Harary of Orthopedic Associates of Long Island Discusses Tenex

We recently had the pleasure of hosting Dr. Harary of Orthopedic Associates of Long Island (OALI) at our Islip location, where he provided a thorough and informative overview of Tenex, a minimally invasive procedure that uses ultrasonic energy to break down and remove chronic scar tissue and damaged tendon tissue. His expertise and insights helped educate our therapists on this innovative treatment option, allowing us to further enhance the quality of care and services we provide to our patients.

Dr. Harary specializes in the non-operative treatment of musculoskeletal conditions in both pediatric and adult patients, with a special interest in osteoarthritis, fractures, acute injuries, and concussions. He has specialty training in the treatment and prevention of injuries and offers a wide range of non-operative treatment options, including medical and injection therapies. His collaborative approach to care, working closely with athletes, families, coaches, athletic trainers, physical therapists, primary care providers, and surgical specialists, helps ensure the best possible outcomes for his patients.

Continuing education opportunities like this are invaluable in keeping our team informed about the latest advancements in treatment so we can continue delivering the highest level of care.

Thank you again, Dr. Harary, for sharing your knowledge and helping us better serve our patients and community!

Welcome Dr. Edward “Eddie” Mannone, PT, DPT, to our Islip team!

Dr. Edward “Eddie” Mannone, PT, DPT, grew up in Oceanside, New York, and graduated from Oceanside High School. During his high school years, he was a three-sport varsity athlete, competing in football, lacrosse, and winter track. Through his athletic experiences, Eddie developed a strong appreciation for injury recovery and rehabilitation, which ultimately inspired his career in physical therapy.

Dr. Mannone earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology, with a minor in Psychology, from Stevenson University in 2023. While at Stevenson, he continued his athletic career as a member of the football team and served on the team’s Leadership Council throughout all four years of his collegiate career.

He then pursued his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at Widener University, graduating in May 2026. During his time in Widener’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program, Dr. Mannone gained valuable clinical and community-based experience through the Chester Community Pro Bono Clinic, where he provided care to uninsured and underinsured populations. He also served as a member of the university’s Strength and Conditioning staff for all three years of the program.

Dr. Mannone further developed his clinical expertise through a variety of clinical rotations, including outpatient orthopedic rehabilitation at Neumann University Athletic Training Room, Drayer Physical Therapy, outpatient pediatric rehabilitation at St. Luke’s Physical Therapy, and Professional Physical Therapy. These diverse experiences provided him with a strong foundation in treating patients across a wide range of ages, conditions, and activity levels.

Outside of the clinic, Dr. Mannone enjoys weightlifting, golfing, hunting, fishing, and exploring national parks through hiking. He is also a lifelong supporter of the New York Jets and the New York Rangers.

We’re thrilled to have Eddie bring his energy, experience, and athlete‑focused mindset to our patient community!

No Referral? No Problem!

Did you know we can see you for Occupational &
Physical Therapy with or without a referral from a doctor?
Call us today for more information!

Last month, we had the pleasure of attending the 2nd Annual Pain Management Symposium, hosted by the Long Island Health & Wellness Society at The Piermont in Babylon, NY.

It was an evening filled with collaboration, education, and meaningful conversations, bringing together more than 200 healthcare professionals and industry leaders from across Long Island. We were honored to be part of such a well-attended event dedicated to advancing patient care and sharing expertise.

A special congratulations to our very own Dr. George Ciresi, who served as a guest panelist, sharing his knowledge and insights alongside other distinguished professionals in the field.

Thank you to the Long Island Health & Wellness Society for hosting a wonderful event and fostering opportunities for connection and continued learning within the healthcare community.

In January of 2026, Samantha “Sami” Drake was involved in a serious head-on collision when another driver experienced a medical emergency and crossed into her lane on Woodside Avenue, in Medford. The accident resulted in multiple fractures to Sami’s right ankle, including injuries affecting the outside of the ankle, the area near the ball of her foot, and the Achilles region. In addition, her right distal radius was fractured in approximately nine places and dislocated. The trauma team acted swiftly to stabilize her injuries before orthopedic surgeon Dr. Eric Baranek of NYU Advanced Orthopedics performed surgery to repair the damage.

What followed was a long and challenging recovery. Because the injuries affected her dominant arm and leg, Sami had to relearn many everyday tasks and rely heavily on the support of her family. She was unable to work, drive, or participate in CrossFit, activities that had been important parts of her daily life.

Sami completed her rehabilitation at Professional Care where she worked closely with Occupational Therapist and Certified Hand Therapist Rachel Masullo. Through dedicated therapy, perseverance, and the support of her care team and family, she steadily regained strength and function.

Nearly eight months later, Sami has returned to driving, was cleared to return to work, and has begun easing back into CrossFit while continuing to rebuild strength and mobility. Although her recovery journey continues, she views every milestone as a reminder of the power of patience, determination, and support.

Today, Sami Drake’s story serves as an inspiring example of resilience, showing that recovery is not simply about returning to where you were before, but about recognizing how far you have come and embracing the possibilities ahead.

“It has truly been a pleasure working with Sami and witnessing the incredible progress she has made since beginning occupational therapy with us in January. When Sami first came to us following her right wrist fracture, she was experiencing significant pain and was unable to independently complete many of her everyday activities. She relied on her family for assistance with basic tasks, which understandably had a profound impact on her sense of independence and personal identity. However, from day one, Sami demonstrated an extraordinary amount of determination and resilience, continually pushing herself despite the challenges she faced.

After many months of dedicated and intensive occupational therapy, Sami was able to regain her strength, mobility, and confidence and has since returned to the activities that bring her joy, including CrossFit, teaching, driving, and so much more. Her recovery is a true reflection of the hard work and perseverance she demonstrated throughout her rehabilitation.

Her surgeon, Dr. Eric Baranek with NYU Langone Advanced Orthopedic Associates of Long Island, did an exceptional job with her surgery and truly set her up for a successful recovery. Additionally, working closely with PA Jessica Gibson was seamless, as she provided us with clear guidance on how she wanted us to approach Sami’s recovery for optimal healing.

I am incredibly proud of Sami and all that she has accomplished. Her journey has been inspiring, and it has been an honor to be a part of her recovery. I wish her nothing but continued success and happiness in everything ahead.”

– Rachel Masullo, MS, OTR-L, ProCare Occupational Therapy