In Physicality, Not Pharmacology
Nestled inconspicuously in a 20,000-square-foot building off a main drag in Garden City lies the less and less secret rehab facility known as Professional Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy.
One of 10 such operations in the New York metro/Long Island area, the venue hosts nationally renowned professional and college athletes who are battling their way back to health and the athletic field. And should you need world-class facilities and heralded, licensed practitioners in the arts of rehabilitation and performance training, you too can take full advantage of this first-class rehabbing. Opened five years ago by Tim Mauro (MS, PC) in conjunction with his former bosses, now his partners, Professional Orthopedic is scheduled to work with some 25,000 patients in 2010. Included on the lengthy list of accomplished stars who partially, or totally, have rehabilitated here are names like Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran of the NY Mets; John Lannan, opening day pitcher of the Washington Senators; Marcus Colston of the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints; and just about every injured New York Islander, including franchise goalie Rick DiPietro. “If someone is coming back from surgery, we are the preferred facility to speed their recovery,” says Mauro. “Once we get them up to snuff health-wise, our expertise in enhancing flexibility and mobility comes quickly to the fore. While we treat all types of orthopedic-related conditions, we do focus on sports, with surgical and non-surgical patients.” One of the more interesting current rehab patients is Carlos Del Gardo, former all-star first baseman for the New York Mets and the Florida Marlins. He was operated on by a surgical team in Vail, Colorado, then recommended to Professional, where he can be found habitually rebuilding his way back to another shot at the majors. “The scope of Professional’s operation continues to broaden in our communities,” says Mauro. “The bulk of our patients come from three basic sources: word of mouth; referrals from doctors, surgeons and professional teams; and referrals from pleased patients. We are known to be somewhat less rigorous on orthodox weight training and more concentrated on diverse methods, pushing flexibility and mobility. Additionally, we are becoming further involved through a marketing effort with local colleges and high schools, such as in the Bellmore and Manhasset school districts.” Mauro is a classic success story of hard work, determination and a goal-oriented vision. Born in Brooklyn before his family migrated to Oceanside, he is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and received a masters in physical therapy at Long Island University. After obtaining a New York State license, Mauro went to work for Professional. When the owner-operators opted to open the new Garden City complex in 2005, they offered Tim a partnership and the rest, as they say, is history. The Garden City Professional location employs some 400 people. Its hands-on clinical staff includes licensed physical therapists, PT assistants, NATA-certified athletic trainers and NSCA-certified strength and conditioning specialists. Pinpointed services include hand therapy, ergonomics and innovative approaches to treating spinal disorders, including the McKenzie technique. Other areas tied to the Professional experience include an innovative golf training program and a unique “throwing evaluation test.” During the summer, dedicated athletes from the pros and colleges, along with some high schools, regularly work out in pre-season conditioning sessions. While its reputation remains solidly ensconced in combining rehab and performance training to speed the athlete from surgical table to playing field, Professional has also made its complex easy for non- or neo-professional athletes seeking the advantages of a world-class facility in their backyard. The vision pioneered by an original group of five (Adam Elberg, Rob Panariello, George Papadapoulos, Tim Stump and Tony D’Angelo), plus the recent addition of Tim Mauro promises a future Goliath in physical rehabilitation in the metropolitan area. When Mauro goes home to wife Laura and youngsters Nicholas, 10, and Erin, 6, he can relax, safe in the knowledge that his patients have improved since their previous sessions. Who says so? The NHL’s New York Islanders; NBA’s Chicago Bulls; NFL’s St. Louis Rams; MLB’s New York Mets; Universities of Delaware, Virginia and Kansas; Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater; NFL Junior Player Development; New York Applecore Junior Ice Hockey; St. Mary’s High School; Bayside High School; Flushing High School; Saint Francis Preparatory High School; Mamaroneck High School; Archbishop Stepinac High School, etc., etc., etc… www.professionalpt.com
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