About Us - Hands On Physical Therapy

About Our Treatment Center

Hands on Physical Therapy of Babylon and Massapequa are conveniently located in Nassau County and Suffolk County of Long Island.

We specialize in the treatment of chronic pain conditions including low back pain, neck pain, fibromyalgia, headaches, and TMJ. We primarily use a technique known as myofascial release (MFR). MFR has been effective for many conditions, even after traditional physical therapy, medication, or surgery have failed to produce the desired results.

Myofascial Release (MFR)

MFR is a safe, and highly effective technique for eliminating pain, restoring range of motion, and improving quality of life, even when all else has failed. It is now being found that fascial restrictions are the underlying cause of much of the symptoms that people suffer with. The current medical tests such as MRI's and X-Rays do not show fascial restrictions, but what they do show are the results of the fascial restrictions (ie. disc bulges, spinal stenosis, arthritis, etc., etc.). It is simply not enough to just treat symptoms, or the effect of the fascial restrictions. Only MFR addresses the true cause of the problem. Pain medication, although necessary at times, does nothing to release the "straight jacket" of pressure that fascial restrictions can exert upon pain sensitive structures such as nerves.
A skilled Myofascial Release therapist applies gentle, but firm, sustained pressure into areas of the body that have become restricted. It has been found that holding the appropriate amount of pressure for some time allows the tight and restricted muscles and fascia to soften and lengthen. This allows pressure to be taken off of nerves, joints to open, and for the body to return to proper alignment.
MFR is very different from massage. Although massage does have some value, it is also very limited because it does not engage the barrier of the restriction for the required amount of time for the tissue to get a complete release. It is only with sustained pressure into a fascial restriction, that the tissue undergoes permanent change.

Why Choose Us

Physical Therapy for the treatment of Chronic Pain

Specializing in back pain, neck pain, headaches, TMJ, and fibromyalgia Covered by most insurance plans (including Medicare)

STILL IN PAIN? Have you tried physical therapy, chiropractic, medications, and/or surgery without much success? IS SOMETHING BEING MISSED

What is fascia?

Fascia is a three dimensional fibrous tissue that extends from head to toe without interruption. The fascia surrounds every nerve, muscle, bone, blood vessel, organ and cell in the body. The fascia is one continuous membrane and affects every system in your body. It is, in essence, a web of fibers, much like a spider web, where a restriction in one part can cause a profound effect on any other part. Each part of the body is connected to the next like yarn in a sweater. In a normal and healthy state, fascia is mobile and flexible, free to move. When you experience pain and trauma, the fascia loses its ability to move, creating tension in the body. The tension in turn creates more pain and restrictions.

What affects the fascia?

Trauma effects the fascia by creating restriction in the system and can come in many forms.

Physical injury such as surgery, muscle injuries, repetitive stress, postural effects, scars, inflammation, inflammatory processes are among the many things that can cause restrictions in the fascia.

Emotional trauma that has occurred throughout our lives also are a cause for restrictions. Our body literally keeps the score of our experiences and our cells have memories of all that has happened in our story. These traumas live in our bodies and are a contributing factor to ongoing pain and dysfunction. Releasing the restrictions releases the trauma and frees the body to move and function in an optimal balanced way.

How do restrictions effect the body?

Myofascial restrictions produce tensile pressure of about 2000 pounds per square inch, resulting in pain that does not show up on standard test like x-ray or MRI. This type of tensile stress is equivalent to two horses standing on your foot. This puts pressure on all the internal structures of the body, nerves, muscles, organs and limits the ability of these structures to move freely and function.

What is Myofascial Release?

Myofascial Release is a gentle, manual therapy technique that has a profound effect on the deep connective tissues (fascia) of the body. The release is initiated by sustained pressure on the fascial system through very specific hands-on techniques. Through this pressure the fascia releases, blood flow increases, and the restrictions in the body are freed. The treatment is highly effective because it treats the body as a whole. Through careful postural analysis as well as feeling for restrictions, the therapist is able to identify the problem areas and then treat them. The treatment involves re -balancing the body to allow it to return to optimal position, thereby allowing the body to heal itself.

I am a primary care physician in the area and have always heard good things from patients about Hands On Physical Therapy. When I started having pains myself, I decided to give them a try. I had ...

- Anthony Cipolla, M.D.

“I had been to traditional physical therapy for my frozen shoulder in the past. At the other PT place I had attended, they were cranking on my arm, causing me severe pain. I was pleasantly surprised when I ...

- Michael Coyle

“I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Migraine Headaches, and Herniated Discs in my neck and lower back among other “labels”. I suffered with these conditions for 16 years! I had tried many ...

- Sheryl Catanese, L.M.T.

Long Island Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Healing Group

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Our Therapists

Paul Arena, M.S., P.T.

Pierre Uybarreta, M.S., P.T.

Anthony Davis P.T.