Interventional therapy for children has become as commonplace as a trip to the playground. More and more of today’s youth require services to assist with delays or challenges. Finding the right program for your child can significantly affect long-term progress. With its newly expanded space, The Therapy Gym, located at 205 West Englewood Avenue in Teaneck, offers clients a customized therapy program enabling each child to develop the necessary skills to function properly in his or her environment.
Dr. Elisheva Fuchs, owner of The Therapy Gym, was born and raised in Teaneck where she continues to live with her husband and four children. On the path to becoming an attorney, Dr. Fuchs redirected her vision and decided to pursue a career in physical therapy. “I really wanted to help people and had exposure to physical therapy as a child when I had a hand injury,” said Dr. Fuchs. “I went back to school to become a physical therapist and have been a pediatric therapist ever since.” A proud member of the community, Dr. Fuchs decided to open her practice in Teaneck eight years ago so she could offer a high-level service to Bergen County.
The Therapy Gym treats patients ages 0-21 with developmental delays, decreased mobility, gait deviations, strength, range of motion deficits, sensory integration disorder, speech language pathology or delays, and vestibular disorders. Each client is provided individualized therapeutic programs that will help him or her to reach their full potential.
With the increase in space, Dr. Fuchs has recently added new programming that includes infant massage as well as Zumbini classes. Similar to a mommy and me structured program, Zumbini offers newborns and young toddlers a chance to enjoy movement with their caregivers in a safe and open environment.
The Therapy Gym also offers an aquatic therapy program that is now available on Sundays and Fridays. According to Dr. Fuchs, pediatric aquatic therapy is a great alternative to land therapy, helping children meet strength, balance, coordination and walking goals. The buoyancy of the water reduces human body weight, allowing children to move in ways they simply can’t on land.
What sets The Therapy Gym apart from other programs in and around town is the comprehensive team approach they offer each client. “I bridge the gap between schools, doctors and therapists to ensure each client receives the services that will yield the best results,” explained Dr. Fuchs. A team approach allows all practitioners to collaborate and create the most beneficial program for each child, she added.
Dr. Fuchs is constantly researching new programs and techniques to help kids who come to The Therapy Gym. She is in the process of introducing a protocol to help children with gait abnormalities, including toe walking and in-toeing. Working together with an orthotist, clients suffering from gait disorders are being treated with a conservative approach that includes the use of strapping and orthotics. Dr. Fuchs believes this type of intervention can be a viable alternative to surgery.
On the occupational front, The Therapy Gym has introduced a handwriting program called Size Matters that assists children by presenting a big picture rather than just a font. This in turn enables children to see their writing as a whole rather than individual letters.
Occupational therapists at The Therapy Gym also specialize in eating therapy. Dr. Fuchs recently worked with a child who had extremely low muscle tone and couldn’t so much as hold a utensil. “This was a school-aged child forced to eat with his hands,” she explained. Dr. Fuchs selected a speech therapist to work on the case, evaluating the possibility that something happening in the child’s mouth was affecting his motor skills as well. In this case, as in many others at The Therapy Gym, the combined effort of occupational therapists and speech therapists allowed for the most efficient and successful outcome.
On a practical level, The Therapy Gym staffs a full-time insurance liaison who assists clients with all paperwork and submissions. They are an out-of-network facility but work diligently on behalf of clients to make sure they receive their benefits.
By Andrea Nissel
The Therapy Gym is an approved provider of PT, OT and speech therapy with the New Jersey state department of education. To find out more about The Therapy Gym, please visit www.thetherapygym.com� or call 201-357-0417.
