Q&A with a Physical Therapist

We caught up with Mount Sinai’s Alexander Ruvinsky, PT, MSPT (he’s always moving!) to learn more about getting physical therapy (PT) right at the health center.

With over 25 years of experience working across a broad spectrum of non-surgical and surgical diagnoses, Alex can treat symptoms and find the root cause that is driving the injury and help prevent it from recurring. Knowing what your health center’s PT offers you could avoid unnecessary appointments, referrals, and imaging. Take a look at our Q&A with Alex.

What are the most common conditions, and causes, for which you see patients at the health center? 

 

Alex: The most common conditions we see for PT at the health center are neck and lower back pain, as well as knee and shoulder pain. Most commonly, these injuries stem from prolonged and inefficient sitting postures at the computer, running injuries (who’s training for the NYC marathon?) and over training. PTs will work with you to not only alleviate your pain, but also show you how to move and support your body correctly to avoid injury. 

What does “therapy” at the health center look like?  What should someone expect on the first visit? 

 

Alex: Physical therapy at the health center is one-on-one. When you come to PT for your first visit, we have an hour to do a comprehensive evaluation, develop a tailored plan of care, and then begin treatment and start you with a home exercise program. Our initial evaluation includes a thorough history, postural assessment, strength, and mobility assessment as well as gait and balance assessment. 

Do PTs offer preventive care to avoid pain or injuries? 

 

Alex : An integral part of PT is patient education. We strive to give you the tools and knowledge to rehab your current condition but also how best to prevent recurrent episodes. This can include proper warm up/cool down prior to exercise/sport, ergonomic and postural education to minimize repetitive stress and at-home maintenance exercise programs that can be incorporated into your exercise regimen. 

Is PT time-consuming? Can a PT tailor a plan that fits my schedule? 

 

Alex: I often ask my patients what a realistic time frame they can commit to PT both in office and home exercises. For some patients anything more than a 10–15-minute routine is unrealistic. In that case, I try to incorporate desk stretches/exercises into the workday to alleviate pain and stress.

What’s something most people don’t know, or have a misconception, about Physical Therapy?

 

 

 

 

Alex: Some people who have long standing injuries or arthritis come into PT with low expectations or think surgery is the only option. While we cannot change the underlying structure, often we can improve strength, mobility, and function enough to achieve our goals and avoid or postpone surgical intervention.