Northern Medical Center

Physical Therapy Expert in Middletown, NY

Physical Therapy Middletown

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Regain Mobility
and Strength

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Recover Faster with
Structural Therapies

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Relieve or Prevent
Physical Pain

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Improve Function and
Quality of Life

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The Basics of Physical Therapy

Physical Therapy Expert in Middletown, NY

“What a discovery! Quality physical therapy near me!”

Our local physical therapy clinic features experienced providers, who have developed a unique array of techniques that help clients correct and optimize their physical health. Our staff includes an integrated team of seasoned western medical doctors, Chinese traditional medicine (TCM) doctors, and physical therapists. As such, our providers draw from a large variety of physical therapy schools. We are thus able to offer a unique approach, and can work with you to select physical therapy techniques that help you thrive.
Schedule an Appointment

Understanding Physical Therapy Middletown NY​

What Does Physical Therapy Middletown NY​ Treat?

Physical therapy can treat a wide range of concerns. At Northern Medical Center, we focus on sports injuries, geriatric issues, orthopedic injuries, and mobility issues.

Sports are always accompanied by more or less risk of injury. If you are suffering from pulled muscles, runner’s knee, you may wish to join our physical therapy. Our professional physical therapy team can help you bounce back from an accident, heal chronic overuse pain and tenderness, identify underlying alignment and movement issues, and learn about other existing vulnerabilities that put you at risk for developing recurring injuries in the future.

We teach patients to identify specific movements and daily activities to correct these structural issues in joints, tendons, connective tissue, blood supply, and more. Through working with our team, you will be able to identify certain movements and daily activities which may make conditions worse—as well as those that are healthy for improving strength and flexibility. After a course of treatment, patients will fully understand their condition, be able to prevent similar problems, and to treat the problems if they recur in the future. Many patients tell us they have “become my own doctor now!”
We introduce you to the well-known McKenzie method therapy. McKenzie therapy is especially effective for treating lower back and neck pain—one of the most common complaints that patients voice—where other treatments fall short. The McKenzie approach diagnoses musculoskeletal alignment and repetitive misuse issues. Through a series of graded exercises, the McKenzie program readjusts these issues, alleviating pressure on the system.
Muscle mobilizing and manipulation has been in use in medicine since ancient times. It entails guiding the movement of joints and muscles in varying degrees, to help with patients’ healing when they find it difficult to move on their own. Through assisted manipulation, physical therapy progressively guides patients to greater amplitude and frequency of movement, allowing for the development of greater mobility and strength by carefully moving from passive movement to active resistance. Some manipulation may also involve applying a fast but low amplitude pressure near the end of one’s range of motion. This can produce the “crack” that is often observed in chiropractic treatments, as areas that were previously stiff become loosened.
All too often the issues you face in one part of the body can actually begin at another source. Poor posture, shifting weight in asymmetric ways on the body, and bad habits can all contribute to misalignment, which—over time—becomes difficult to notice and correct. For instance, proper alignment of the spine can help with so-called “referred pain”. While such pain seems localized to a certain place (for example, a hip), in fact the hidden source of pain may originate in nerve fibers in the back, which are broadcast to other areas. Fixing alignment issues can therefore go a long way to receiving inflammation, muscle tenderness, pains, numbness and other chronic symptoms.

Soft tissue massage, deep tissue massage, fascia manipulation, & active release

Depending on clients’ needs, our experienced staff may also supplement treatment with soft and deep tissue massage as it benefits each unique case. Soft tissue massage is more superficial, but can help to encourage blood circulation and limber muscles, tissues, and tendons so that they are ready to be worked. Likewise, soft tissue massage assists with easing tension following a … challenging workout. Soft tissue massage can promote relaxation, preventing injury related to tension, as well as release endorphins that naturally help to reduce pain. Meanwhile, deep tissue massage may be more effective at reducing adhesions—the “knots” that build up, due to small tears or scarring in our muscle fibers. When we injure ourselves, collagen attempts to fix the injury, however it is “sticky”, and tends to clump and pull on muscles or muscle lining, called fascia. Despite the pain they can cause, such issues may not be identifiable with diagnostic imaging tools such as X-ray or ultrasound, maying them difficult to diagnose and treat. Many chronic pain issues result from adhesions, and an effective therapist can help you to find and break them up so that your muscles and fascia can function smoothly again, with better range of motion. By breaking down adhesions, deep tissue massage is also very helpful to reduce inflammation, promote better blood flow, encouraging the body’s natural healing process. In some cases, it is also beneficial to realign your fascia, following stress or injury. You can think of fascia as a smooth casing, which is attached to the muscles. When this casing is out of alignment, it irritates the muscles and leads to discomfort and pain. An experienced provider is able to gently guide your fascia back into alignment. An additional soft-tissue technique that we are able to offer is called active release. In this form of therapy, we identify adhesions and apply pressure to help you break them up as you move the affected area. When properly executed, this technique is an effective way to restore natural range of motion.

Other TCM Services

Additional Tools

In addition to our comprehensive physical therapy techniques, we also work with the below list of effective technologies that can help fast-forward your progress.

  • Ultrasound - introduces heat, which helps decrease pain, increase flexibility, promote circulation, and catalyze healing
  • Electrical Stimulation - an especially helpful tool when decreased mobility and stiffness limits patients’ ability to perform physical therapy
  • Far-Infrared Therapies - promotes healing and regeneration in the human body

Other TCM Services

Holistic Physical Therapy

In addition to a western medical approach, we also have the capability to address injury using time-tested traditional healing methodologies, steeped in ancient natural wisdom from Chinese Traditional Medicine (TCM).
These techniques treat the body as an integrated system, and work by addressing overall imbalances in the body to reduce chronic health issues that make inflammation and injury more likely, pain more unbearable, and recovery more difficult. TCM is able to influence the nervous, endocrine and immune systems, putting your body in a state that is ideal for breaking up hard-to-eliminate conditions that impede progress with physical therapy.

Holistic physical therapy includes the following methos:

  • Acupuncture
  • Acupressure Massage
  • Magnetic Therapy

Meet Our Physical Therapist

David ( Xiaoming Gao)

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David ( Xiaoming Gao)

  • Experiences
David has been working as a physical therapist for 25 years.
He combines structural level of Mckenzie approach and energy level of Chinese manual therapy and modalities such as magnetic energy, ultrasound and infrared energy to help clients correct and optimize their physical health.
David also co-treat with Chinese traditional medicine doctors for conditions such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease and joints disorders.
  • Languages
English and Chinese ( Mandarin and Cantonese )
  • Chinese manual therapy (Tuina and Acupressure)
Studied and practiced Chinese manual therapy in Hengyang Chinese Medicine Hospital in Hunan, China 1991-1992.
  • Physical Therapy
Graduated from PT program in Tennessee State University in 1997.
  • Continuing Education
The Mckenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy ( MDT ). Globally recognized as a leading treatment for back, neck and extremities disorders.
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What Our Patients say Middletown NY​

I feel the need to post a review about the amazing care and treatment I received from Dr. David Gao at the Northern Medical Center in Middletown NY. I was referred to Dr. Gao by a family member who had been treated by him with great success. First, let me say I was very impressed when I initially entered the building. It was spacious, clean as a whistle and had a peaceful, calming atmosphere. The staff were all so gracious and sincerely caring. On my first visit the doctor was able to identify the cause of my severe pain without having to take any x-rays or MRI. He began his treatment the same day. Within a matter of 6 visits, he had completely healed my condition WITHOUT prescribing any medication!! I haven’t had any pain since! Thank you so much Dr. Gao! I highly recommend Northern Medical Center!
5/5
Donna Crane
Northern Medical Center has exceeded all my health expectations:
The physical therapy has relieved my headaches. I believe my headaches were the result of Long COVID but after four visits I was cured. David Gao, physical therapist, took the time to explain the actual source of my pain at the right side of my neck and cured the pain with acupressure techniques. I was taught the exercises to continue as needed any time that pain may return. I am quite pleased with the Physical Therapy at Northern Medical Center and would recommend it to my friends or anyone who may be in search of reliable therapy for pain.
5/5
Albert Prado
I am truly grateful for all of them and they have so much knowledge and intuition about the human body. They also take the time to explain what is going on in your own body to make you aware and more self sufficient to deal with pain and sickness. Within 7 weeks my pain was gone without medication or surgery. If you are someone who is suffering or feel like you aren’t getting the answers you seek, or the doctors just aren’t listening please go to Northern Medical Center. I promise it will be the last doctor, physical therapist, or pediatric doctor you will ever need to see. Thank you Dr. Gao and all the staff at Northern Medical Center for not only changing my life but also my friends and relatives.
5/5
Emily Prado
Northern Medical Center

Schedule an Appointment

At this time, all visits are by appointment only.

When calling to schedule an appointment, please have the following information ready:

  • Patient’s full name (including middle initial)
  • Date of birth
  • Current address and phone number
  • Current insurance information
  • Purpose of the appointment

It is important to let the Patient Service Representative know all the concerns you would like addressed during your appointment so we can schedule the appropriate amount of time to care for your needs.

Please call the front desk at (845) 800-5118 to reschedule the appointment.

If your schedule changes, please call us to cancel the appointment at least 24 hours prior to your appointment time. This will allow us to give another patient the opportunity to be seen.

If you miss an appointment, you will be marked as a no show and we reserve the right to charge a $25.00 no show fee.

Yes, you can make an appointment later the same day.

Yes, we accept Medicare , Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, MVP, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield,  and others. For more information, please call 845-800-5118.

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Have Some Questions?

Frequently Asked Questions about Physical Therapy

A physical exam is a routine health assessment, or “check-up” , to make sure your body is in optimum shape, as well as to preventatively screen any potential small problems before they become larger issues. We encourage clients to get their annual physical exam with a Northern Medical provider, to make sure that you are staying on top of your health. Additionally, many employers and agencies like US Immigration or the Department of Transportation may also require a physical, to make sure you are fit and healthy for work.

Physical exams are preformed by your personal care provider (PCP), who may be a doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant. Your PCP is like your “general” or “quarterback”: they work to coordinate your care team, and will go the distance to make sure that testing, health planning, and services make sense and are custom-tailored for you!

At Northern Medical, we believe that a good provider-patient relationship is essential for good medical care. The physical exam is a great chance to allow us to get to know you better by asking any questions that may have been lingering in your mind about your health, or discussing any differences or concerns you may have developed since your last check-up. In your case, you are the expert on your life, and our job is to learn from you!
Your physical therapist will use different techniques to help decrease your pain and discomfort, and improve your body’s motion, strength, and conditioning. Different modalities, such as heat, ice, ultrasound, or electrical stimulation may be used to target the source of your discomfort.
Our physical therapy programs also utilizes manual techniques, such as deep tissue work and massage, to decrease your pain and help improve range of motion. We are also proud to offer patient education, including an individualized home exercise routine for long-term maintenance and care of your condition.

During your first visit to our Middletown location, your physical therapist will evaluate your condition and assess your overall function. Depending on your concerns, he or she may evaluate your movement, range of motion, flexibility, balance, pain, and conditioning. After the evaluation, your physical therapist will develop a personalized treatment program specifically designed to get you back to health as quickly and safely as possible.

Discover the Power of
Integrative Care

Northern Medical Center - Middletown NY

  • (845) 800-5118
  • 14 Jason Place, Suite 201 Middletown, N.Y. 10940
  • Mon - Sat: 9am - 6pm EST

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