You’re not looking for temporary relief. You want to walk without thinking about it, sleep through the night, or get back to the gym without setbacks.
That’s what physical therapy should do. Not just reduce pain for a few days, but help you rebuild strength, balance, and confidence so the problem doesn’t keep coming back. Whether you’re recovering from surgery, dealing with chronic joint pain, or trying to prevent another fall, the goal is the same: get you functioning again on your terms.
Most people wait too long before seeing a physical therapist. They try rest, ice, over-the-counter pills, hoping it goes away. Sometimes it does. But when it doesn’t, you’re left weaker, stiffer, and more frustrated than when it started. Early intervention means faster recovery and fewer complications down the road.
Medcare Therapy Services has been helping people in Merrick and across Long Island regain mobility and independence through evidence-based treatment. We’re not a corporate chain with rotating staff. Our therapists know the community, understand the local population’s needs, and build long-term relationships with patients.
Merrick has a higher-than-average aging population, which means more people dealing with balance issues, stroke recovery, and post-surgical rehabilitation. We see those cases daily. Our team is trained in neurological rehabilitation, fall prevention, gait training, and therapeutic exercise programs designed specifically for older adults and anyone recovering from serious injury or surgery.
You’ll find us easy to reach, straightforward to work with, and focused on getting you results without the runaround.
First visit is an evaluation. Your physical therapist will ask about your pain, your limitations, and what you’re trying to get back to doing. They’ll assess your range of motion, strength, balance, and movement patterns to figure out what’s actually causing the problem.
From there, you get a treatment plan. Not a generic protocol, but a plan based on your specific condition and goals. That might include manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, resistance and strength training, balance training, or neuromuscular re-education depending on what you need.
Sessions are typically 45 to 60 minutes. You’ll work one-on-one with your therapist, not handed off to an aide. Frequency depends on your condition—some people come twice a week, others three times. You’ll also get exercises to do at home because recovery doesn’t just happen in the clinic.
Progress gets tracked. Your therapist adjusts the plan as you improve, adding difficulty or shifting focus as your body adapts. The goal is always to get you strong enough and stable enough that you don’t need us anymore.
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We handle a wide range of conditions. Post-surgery rehabilitation for joint replacements, rotator cuff repairs, spinal procedures. Stroke rehabilitation and neurological recovery for people relearning how to walk, balance, and use their limbs again. Injury rehabilitation for sports injuries, work-related strains, and accident recovery.
Fall prevention is a big focus in Merrick. With so many older adults in the area, we see the consequences of falls regularly—fractures, head injuries, loss of independence. Our balance and proprioceptive training programs help people regain stability and confidence before a fall happens.
We also offer occupational therapy and in-home physical therapy for patients who can’t easily travel to the clinic. That includes people recovering from major surgery, dealing with severe mobility limitations, or managing chronic conditions that make transportation difficult.
Joint pain treatment is another common need. Arthritis, tendonitis, bursitis—conditions that limit movement and make daily tasks painful. Therapeutic exercise and manual therapy can reduce inflammation, improve joint mechanics, and restore function without relying solely on medication or injections.
It depends on your condition and how long you’ve had it. Acute injuries—something that happened recently—usually respond faster. You might see improvement in two to four weeks with consistent treatment.
Chronic conditions take longer. If you’ve been dealing with pain or limited mobility for months or years, your body needs time to rebuild strength, retrain movement patterns, and adapt. That could mean eight to twelve weeks or more.
Consistency matters. Skipping sessions or not doing your home exercises will slow progress. Your physical therapist will give you a realistic timeline during your evaluation based on your specific situation.
Most insurance plans cover physical therapy, but coverage varies. Some plans require a referral from your doctor. Others let you see a physical therapist directly. You’ll need to check your specific plan’s benefits.
Medicare covers physical therapy with some limitations on the number of visits per year. Many Medicare Advantage plans offer additional coverage. If you’re on Medicaid, coverage is available but may require prior authorization.
We recommend calling your insurance company before your first visit to confirm your benefits. Ask about copays, deductibles, and whether there’s a visit limit. Our office can also help verify your coverage if you provide your insurance information ahead of time.
Physical therapy focuses on movement, strength, and mobility. It’s about getting you walking better, reducing pain, improving balance, and rebuilding function after injury or surgery. You’ll do exercises, stretches, and manual therapy aimed at restoring physical capability.
Occupational therapy focuses on daily living activities. It helps you relearn how to dress yourself, cook, bathe, or use your hands for fine motor tasks after a stroke, injury, or surgery. The goal is independence in everyday tasks.
There’s overlap. Some patients benefit from both. If you’ve had a stroke, you might need physical therapy for gait training and balance, plus occupational therapy to regain hand function and self-care skills. Your doctor or therapist can help determine what you need.
Yes. Fall prevention programs focus on improving balance, strengthening legs, and training your body to react quickly when you lose stability. Research shows that targeted balance and proprioceptive training can significantly reduce fall risk in older adults.
In Merrick, where a large portion of the population is over 60, falls are a leading cause of injury and hospitalization. Many falls happen because of weak legs, poor balance, or slow reaction time—all things that physical therapy can address.
A fall prevention program typically includes exercises that challenge your balance in safe, controlled ways. You’ll work on standing on one leg, walking on uneven surfaces, and recovering from a stumble. You’ll also strengthen the muscles that stabilize your hips, knees, and ankles. The goal is to make you steadier and more confident so you can move around your home and community without fear.
No. New York allows direct access to physical therapy, which means you can see a physical therapist without a doctor’s referral. You can call and schedule an evaluation on your own.
However, insurance is a different story. Some insurance plans require a referral or prescription from your doctor before they’ll cover physical therapy. Even though the state allows direct access, your insurance company might not pay without that referral.
If you’re unsure, check with your insurance provider first. If your plan requires a referral, you’ll need to see your doctor before scheduling. If it doesn’t, you can come straight to us and start treatment right away.
Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes that let you move easily. Athletic wear works well—shorts, sweatpants, t-shirts, tank tops. Avoid jeans or anything restrictive.
Your physical therapist needs to see and assess the area you’re having trouble with. If it’s your knee, wear shorts. If it’s your shoulder, wear a tank top or something with wide sleeves. You’ll be doing exercises and movements during your session, so dress like you’re going to the gym.
Bring supportive shoes if you’re working on gait training, balance, or lower body issues. Sneakers with good traction are ideal. If you’re dealing with a foot or ankle problem, your therapist may want to see you walk barefoot as well, so be prepared for that.
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