Furnace Brook Physical Therapy

Community Programs

In addition to general orthopedic and sports injuries we treat, Furnace Brook Therapy also offers specialized programs:

	Aqua Therapy	Raise the Roof

	High-Risk Fall	Throwing Home

	Lymphedema Program	Woman's Program

Lymphedema Program

Furnace Brook Physical Therapy is excited to announce the launching of their new lymphedema program offered by Kristen Ross, DPT. Kristen is a certified manual lymphatic drainage and complete decongestive therapy specialist and graduate from Klose Training and Consulting, LLC. This program specializes in the management of lymphedema of the upper extremities, most commonly caused as a result of breast cancer and its treatment. Lymphedema management includes education about diagnosis, skin care and risk reduction strategies, exercise as indicated, manual lymphatic drainage (a massage technique to reroute fluid to functional lymph nodes) and compression therapy. Compression may include bandaging, night packs, sleeves or a compression bra.

High-Risk Fall

Our High-Risk Fall program, offered by Erin Botelho, PT, OCS, evaluates elderly patients who may be at risk to fall. As our population ages, the risk of falling increases and fall related injuries can be debilitating. She identifies and implements strategies to help reduce the risk of falling through strength, balance, and functional training which may include assisted devices.

Woman's Program

Our Women's Program, by Kate Werda, DPT, OCS offers a women's health clinic at our Quincy office. This program specializes in treatment of various pelvic floor dysfunctions. These diagnoses may include pelvic pain, incontinence, pelvic floor weakness, and issues related to post-partum complaints.

Raise the Roof

Raise the Roof was created in 2003 at Furnace Brook Physical Therapy to combat the causes which leave female athletes 5 times more likely to sustain a catastrophic knee injury than their male counterparts. Raise the Roof incorporates balance training, plyometric jumping, flexibility and weight lifting of specific muscle groups, and is ideal for any female athlete who participates in a sport that may include stop/starts, pivoting and jumping. Past participants have experienced a 1-3.5" increase in their jump height following the training.

The program was developed after research demonstrated that male athletes have significantly stronger hamstring muscles in relation to their quads, and recruit these muscles 3 times the level of females during deceleration activities, such as landing from a jump. Further studies have demonstrated that after jump-type training, females showed increased hamstring strength and activation, as well as decreased dangerous forces about the knee as these muscles worked during observed sports activities.

The training program includes 18 training sessions over a 6 week period, during which each participant is coached by our licensed staff in a constructive manner in order to optimize athletic performance.

Because of the repetitive jumping, each candidate's medical history is reviewed by a staff therapist to ensure that there are no pre-existing orthopedic conditions which might be aggravated during the program. As this is a preseason conditioning program, our goal is to have the athlete begin 7 weeks prior to the start of practices, so that a week of rest from the training occurs.

The cost of the training is $249.00 which includes a T-shirt and a training booklet. Discounts are available for team participation. Please contact Jay Bernasconi, DPT, OCS at 617-770-4167 x12 for information on the next Raise the Roof session.

Throwing Home

Throwing Home is a preseason conditioning program for the throwing athlete, with an emphasis on baseball pitchers. Developed by Chris Fiander, PT, CSCS, a former staff therapist and certified strength and conditioning specialist at Furnace Brook Physical Therapy, this 6 week program includes 18 sessions incorporating full body strengthening with a focus on strengthening the rotator cuff, trunk stabilizers and legs through sport-specific motions.

The premise for this program is the result of the research of Dr. James Andrews, Dr. Frank Jobe; Kevin Wilk, PT; and Glenn Flesig, Ph.D, Biomechanics; all nationally recognized experts in the field of sports medicine who share significant experience in treating, rehabilitating and training professional baseball players for various shoulder and elbow pathologies. Their research indicates that injury prevention can occur by developing the appropriate muscles in conjunction with the appropriate throwing mechanics. Furnace Brook Physical Therapy utilizes a regulation-length pitching area to aid in this analysis.

Because this is a pre-season conditioning program, an athlete will benefit from training all of the sport specific musculature immediately prior to the initiation of baseball season. As such, we recommend that athletes have prior experience before engaging in Throwing Home.

Throwing Home is offered 3 times a week and typically runs from January - March, at a cost of $285. The cost includes an instructional packet for the athlete to keep, so that they may utilize the exercise routine in successive seasons. Please contact Jay Bernasconi, DPT, OCS at 617-770-41607 x12 for information on the next Throwing Home session.