Kessler Rehabilitation Center

Kessler Rehabilitation Center Kessler Rehabilitation Center is New Jersey’s premier provider of outpatient physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy Expert Care.

Individualized Treatment. Exceptional Outcomes. That defines the "Patient Experience" at Kessler Rehabilitation Center. With more than 65 years of experience in delivering the highest level of quality care, Kessler Rehabilitation Center is the leading provider of outpatient physical & occupational therapy services in New Jersey. All of our centers are accredited by the Joint Commission - an indepe

ndent organization that ensures the highest standards of safety and quality care are met by healthcare providers. To make your rehabilitation experience the best it can be, we offer the convenience of flexible scheduling, including early morning or evening appointments, at our more than 100 centers. We also accept most insurances, including Medicare. Our experienced rehabilitation specialists have one goal: to help patients gain the strength, skills and strategies to resume doing what they enjoy most at home, at work, or on the playing field.

08/05/2026

Fiona Hu has been through quite a cancer journey, eight years of work to swallow and eat normally followed by jaw reconstruction that included transplanting a leg bone to her jaw.

In 2018, Fiona began chemotherapy and radiation for squamous cell carcinoma and received the majority of her nutrients and water via a feeding tube.

In October 2020, she went to speech therapy to determine whether swallow therapy could refine her function, improve her ability to eat and drink without pain and increase her overall food intake to reduce reliance on her feeding tube. When that wrapped up in November 2021, she saw Dr. Michael Stubblefield for pain management. Once it was effectively managed, she was able to eat and drink normally, which led to the removal of her feeding tube.

Fiona returned to speech therapy last November after undergoing reconstructive surgery of her jaw -- her jawbone was removed and replaced with the fibula from her lower leg -- in September. In this video, she is seen working with Speech-Language Pathologist Steven LaBarbera, a ReVital Cancer Rehabilitation specialist.

Fiona’s story and successes highlight the importance of speech therapy at any stage of one’s cancer journey, whether before, during or after treatment, in order to have clinicians assist in the most effective methods to increase speech and swallow functions and return patients to their daily activities.

Physical Therapists Gary LaTour and Mary LaPalme, along with Speech-Language Pathologist Trish Halloran recently assiste...
07/05/2026

Physical Therapists Gary LaTour and Mary LaPalme, along with Speech-Language Pathologist Trish Halloran recently assisted walkers at the Parkinson's Unity Walk in Central Park.

The goal of the Unity Walk has always been to bring a unified Parkinson's disease community together around a shared goal, which is to cure Parkinson's.

Since the event's inception in 1994, it has fundraised over $30 million for Parkinson's programs and research.

Across our network of specialty hospitals and outpatient rehabilitation centers, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) pla...
07/05/2026

Across our network of specialty hospitals and outpatient rehabilitation centers, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) play a major part in helping patients achieve their recovery goals.

Within our hospitals, SLPs focus on dysphagia (swallowing difficulties) and cognitive communication therapy to assist patients who have communication challenges following a neurological condition like stroke or brain injury. In our outpatient locations, SLPs offer adult and pediatric speech and language therapy care to help patients regain function, develop skills and improve communication.

This month, we’ll be highlighting the significance of speech therapy within our continuum of care.

Several Kessler Rehabilitation Center members and their families were proud to participate in the MS Walk in Seaside Hei...
06/05/2026

Several Kessler Rehabilitation Center members and their families were proud to participate in the MS Walk in Seaside Heights. As a group, they fundraised over $1,200 for the National MS Society!

These proceeds will go to groundbreaking research as well as resources and programs for people affected by multiple sclerosis.

Parents want their student-athletes to be safe. They also don’t want to spend a fortune on every sport. So, does spendin...
04/05/2026

Parents want their student-athletes to be safe. They also don’t want to spend a fortune on every sport. So, does spending on more gear make athletes safer?

Perhaps the best way to reduce injury risk is better training and technique. But there are a few safety items that may be worth the investment.

Read our latest blog to find out what actually makes a difference. Link in comments.

Clinicians Kristina Platoff, Chris Kerscher, Carlo Balquera, DJ Zullo, Abby Muller and Ron Arzt were proud to provide ca...
04/05/2026

Clinicians Kristina Platoff, Chris Kerscher, Carlo Balquera, DJ Zullo, Abby Muller and Ron Arzt were proud to provide care and education at the Steps for Hope 5K/Two-Mile Run in Brick.

The event brought runners, walkers, families and local businesses together to support JAR of Hope and spread awareness on Duchenne muscular dystrophy. One of our current patients, Kevin Ball, ran the race and placed eighth overall! He even stopped by our table to celebrate his accomplishment.

28/04/2026

From walking with a limp to running and jumping pain-free.

Over the last few months, 9-year-old Elianna has shown what true resilience looks like. Living with juvenile idiopathic arthritis hasn't been easy, but through physical therapy with Patrick Castro and Neal Driz, with her own determination and courage added, she's made amazing progress at our Elmora Avenue center in Elizabeth.

Today, she's moving freely, confidently and without pain!

27/04/2026

Jason Varughese has been putting in work at our Pennington center!

After being diagnosed with Sever's disease, a common heel growth plate injury that affects active kids, Jason was dealing with heel pain that limited his ability to run, cut and jump — all essential to enjoy his favorite activities such as soccer and the martial arts.

Instead of sitting on the sidelines, Jason committed to his physical therapy plan and worked with Physical Therapist and Center Manager Nicole Cleffi. Jason steadily rebuilt his strength and tolerance to impact.

Today, he's back on the soccer field and in martial arts training without pain or limitations.

Keep crushing it, Jason. Your hard work is paying off.

There is a phrase commonly used among motorcyclists as a stark reminder to be vigilant: There are two types of riders: t...
25/04/2026

There is a phrase commonly used among motorcyclists as a stark reminder to be vigilant: There are two types of riders: those that have crashed and those that will crash.

While this isn’t true in every instance, it was for Chad Hemric, an avid dirt-bike rider and cyclist who twice injured his rotator cuff in falls. Having been through surgery and physical therapy previously, Chad had an idea of what to expect.

With a goal of getting back to dirt-bike racing, he scheduled an appointment with Physical Therapist Hannah Leffew. Hannah previously helped him return to riding.

“This was the second PT for the same shoulder,” he shared. "So, we worked to gain strength since the rotator cuff isn’t functional anymore.”

Chad credits Hannah for her exceptional encouragement, both physically and mentally. He received positive instruction, the reasoning behind it and engaging variations to the exercises. Each session helped restore his range of motion and strength. He is still on his way to recovery, given the permanency of the injury, but has already registered for his next race.

24/04/2026

“When I first came to physical therapy,” Joshua Aguirre, a young martial arts competitor, said, “my body felt like it was in complete shutdown.”

Joshua has spent more than nine years moving with the precision required by Taekwondo and sport karate. It shaped his daily life, carrying him through national and international competitions.

His long-term goal? Representing his country at the highest level one day. He was moving in the right direction until a hip strain and alignment issue interrupted that rhythm. Stretching hurt, kicking triggered a sharp pinch, training stopped and even everyday movement felt unfamiliar.

A referral to physical therapy was the kickoff to his recovery. At his first sessions with Physical Therapist Scott Cook, Joshua couldn’t move the way he was accustomed to. His legs resisted deep stretches and he kicked low to avoid pain.

Scott focused on small, controlled efforts that helped with Joshua’s alignment, stability and understanding of how the injury affected his mechanics. Knowing why each exercise mattered kept him engaged.

By the second week, his hard, methodical work showed results. Consistent sessions led to deeper stretches without the same discomfort. His kicks climbed back to shoulder height, a clear marker that his body was responding to the demands placed on it. Each milestone reached restored his trust in what his body could handle.

“It felt weird not working out,” he shared, “or even just moving my body in a way I’m used to.”

Those changes, however, helped replace frustration with momentum. Joshua kicked over his head again – something that had seemed impossible early on. Today, he’s easing back into training with a better understanding of his body and its limits. His ambitions remain ahead of him, shaped now by patience, consistency and the ongoing work of staying healthy.

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