Noah Wasserman, who has a doctorate in physical therapy, knows a thing or two about leading a healthy and active lifestyle. A physical therapist for over 18 years, he is also a certified strength and conditioning specialist who enjoys long-distance running—he has two marathon medals to show for it—basketball, soccer and tennis.
Best of all, he has just opened up Wasserman Orthopedic and Sports Rehab, an outpatient orthopedic physical therapy clinic in the heart of Englewood, where he will be administering his unique brand of exceptional, expert care while also offering customized health and wellness programs for his clients.
As someone who always liked helping others stay fit and active, whether through sports or simple activities of daily living (ADL), Wasserman felt the time was right to start his own practice. His timing could not have been better, as Englewood Hospital and Englewood Orthopedic Associates recently made the decision to shutter their outpatient rehabilitation departments.
Staying up-to-date through continuing education courses and the latest peer-reviewed physical therapy journals, Wasserman is a firm believer in evidence-based intervention, which includes hands-on treatment and a therapeutic exercise approach.
In addition to working with patients to treat joint and muscle pains, joint replacement and other surgical cases, Wasserman is offering both pre-rehabilitation and post-rehabilitation.
For patients who are prescribed a pre-surgical plan, Wasserman carefully crafts a strength and conditioning program tailored just for them, in preparation for their surgery. One recent patient suffered a torn Achilles tendon while playing pickleball. He was scheduled for surgery the following week and would be in a cast for another four weeks. He was concerned about the lack of activity over those five weeks before he would be ready for formal PT rehab, so Wasserman initiated a pre-surgical strength and conditioning program to help keep him active and avoid extensive muscle atrophy. He did extremely well with that program, and is now working through the regular rehab protocol and is doing great. Following the completion of a formal post-surgical rehab regimen, Wasserman will then design a “post-rehab” program for his patients so that they can continue working on strength training and conditioning that will allow them to enjoy higher-level activities.
“My general philosophy is that it is important to listen to the patient because every case is unique, and I strongly encourage my patients to listen to their bodies.” Wasserman emphatically cautions against the “No pain, no gain” philosophy, which often leads to trouble. “Physical therapy should not be a painful experience. It should be enjoyable and viewed as one step closer to achieving a healthy goal.” He always gives his patients a home exercise program as well so that they can take ownership of their rehabilitation process in between sessions.
For his patients who are eager to resume higher-level athletic activity, Wasserman creates a “Return to Sports” program. It’s designed “to fine-tune the last 10-15% of the recovery process to help a person get back on the court or field using his strength and conditioning certification along with PT,” he said.
Wasserman Orthopedic and Sports Rehab features 1,000 square feet of brand new, state-of-the-art equipment, including top-of-the-line cardio machines, the latest in resistance training and even an Astroturf section designed to inspire patients to feel they are getting closer to returning to “the field.”
With a lot of talk centering on resistance training, Wasseman explains why it is such an important part of the rehabilitation process. “You can only go so far with elastic bands. Physiologically, you need significant resistance training for muscle growth—which is called hypertrophy—to counteract the atrophy that results due to inactivity and that is where the machines come into play.” Doing multiple repetitions at 75% of “1 rep max”—the maximum weight you can lift one time—allows a person to attain muscle hypertrophy, which is essential in recovery and maintenance.
Wasserman’s health and wellness programs are perfect for individuals who want to get into better physical shape but just don’t know where to begin. He strongly believes in the importance of being in tune with your body; if something is hurting you, it is your body’s way of sending a message that you are being too aggressive in your workout. Often, injury can occur when individuals embark on a new exercise regimen and overdo it, don’t do the activities correctly or take on something for which their bodies are not adequately prepared. Wasserman will create a safe routine that will help avoid injury.
With these individualized programs, clients come into Wasserman Orthopedic and Sports Rehab one to two times a week for a set number of weeks, where they work on a cardio/muscular resistance program, as well as an exercise regimen to continue doing at home. “The ultimate goal is for people to feel more confident and less intimidated with exercise so that they can do it on their own, whether at home, or at the gym.”
Wasserman also stresses the importance of cross training for all ages. From kids who prefer to focus on one sport for all four seasons to adults who may have a particular passion or affinity for another type of activity like running or tennis, cross training is absolutely essential to help avoid injury and aid in recovery. “The purpose of cross-training is to add more than one type of workout and/or sport into an exercise regimen,” he said. “Performing the same physical activity year-round overtaxes the body and doesn’t allow the body to fully recover. Athletes should change sports every season, and the general population should change up their cardio/resistance programs every few months too.”
To those athletes who are injured, Wasserman has some sage advice for them: “Tom Brady, Kobe Bryant, Jamal Murray and Kevin Durant all suffered serious injuries and eventually returned to a very high level of performance after going through their rehab programs. So focus on your rehab program and you’ll get back on the court/field soon too.”
Wasserman Orthopedic and Sports Rehab accepts Medicare and most commercial insurance plans. To learn more visit www.wassermanorthorehab.com or call (201)371-3271. You can also email Noah Wasserman at [email protected]
