Rising Stars Pediatric Physical Therapy

09/03/2025

Good morning, families and friends! As the owner of Rising Stars Pediatric Therapy i want to wish all our amazing kids a happy and exciting first day of the school year! September is the perfect time to ensure your child has the skills they need to thrive in the classroom and beyond. At our clinic, we offer expert physical and occupational therapy to support your child’s development, helping them build strength, coordination, and confidence. Let’s make this school year their best yet! Contact us to learn how we can help. Happy back-to-school!
therapy 📚✏️

08/28/2025

Struggling to afford pediatric occupational or physical therapy

We're here to help by accepting insurance, which can sometimes mean no out-of-pocket costs, depending on your plan! Find the perfect therapist for your child and book an appointment today!

08/24/2025

Happy to announce that we offer Occupational Therapy Services and we are In-Network provider with Aetna.

08/24/2025

Happy to announce that our Occupational Therapy Services are now In-Network with Aetna. Please call to schedule your evaluation.

08/07/2025

Back-to-School Success with Pediatric Occupational Therapy!

Parents, let’s get your child ready to conquer the school year! Our pediatric occupational therapy services are designed to empower kids to excel in the classroom and beyond. We specialize in helping children overcome challenges like:

Handwriting struggles: Improving fine motor skills for clearer, more confident writing.

Self-care challenges: Supporting independence in tasks like dressing, eating, or grooming.

Difficulty concentrating: Building focus and attention for better learning and engagement.

Sensory processing issues: Helping kids who may feel overwhelmed by sounds, textures, or movement, or who seek extra sensory input.
Our therapist works to regulate responses to sensory stimuli, making busy school environments like classrooms, cafeterias, or playgrounds more manageable. This can include addressing sensitivity to loud noises, discomfort with certain textures (e.g., clothing or art supplies), or difficulty with balance and coordination.

With personalized strategies, we help your child navigate sensory challenges and thrive in their daily routines. Contact us today for a consultation and give your child the confidence to shine this school year!

08/06/2025

5 red flags indicating a child may need to see a pediatric occupational therapist, based on common developmental and functional concerns:

***Difficulty with Fine Motor Skills: If a child struggles with tasks like holding a pencil, using scissors, buttoning clothes, or manipulating small objects (e.g., stacking blocks), it may signal delays in fine motor coordination or dexterity, which OTs specialize in addressing.
***Sensory Processing Issues: Children who are overly sensitive to sounds, textures, or touch (e.g., avoiding certain fabrics or becoming distressed in noisy environments) or seek excessive sensory input (e.g., constant spinning or crashing into objects) may have sensory processing challenges that an OT can evaluate and treat.
***Challenges with Self-Care Tasks: If a child cannot perform age-appropriate daily activities like dressing, feeding themselves, or brushing their teeth independently, this may indicate deficits in motor planning or adaptive skills, areas where OTs provide targeted interventions.
***Poor Hand-Eye Coordination: Difficulty with activities like catching a ball, drawing, or copying shapes could point to visual-motor integration issues, which OTs address through specialized exercises to improve coordination and processing.
***Behavioral or Social Struggles Related to Task Engagement: If a child has frequent meltdowns, avoids tasks requiring focus (e.g., puzzles or crafts), or struggles to follow multi-step instructions, this may reflect difficulties with self-regulation or executive functioning, which OTs can support through structured therapy.

If your child has any of these signs, give us a call to schedule your evaluation.

06/18/2025

Today we celebrate a bittersweet milestone- our amazing little boy has officially graduated from physical therapy. Watching his growth, strength and determination has been such a joy. Though we’ll miss his smiles and giggles in the clinic, we’re so proud of how far he has come.

05/05/2025

As a pediatric physical therapist, I'm dedicated to your child's healthy development. I'm sharing this simple gross motor skills screening checklist for children aged 3–8 years. It’s designed to help parents spot potential delays in physical activities like running, jumping, or balancing. If you notice your child struggling with these skills, this tool can guide you on whether to consult a physical therapist. Take a moment to review the checklist below and reach out with any concerns—your child’s growth and confidence matter!

04/27/2025

03/24/2025

Boosting Gross Motor Skills with a Sensory Ball Pit!

A sensory ball pit isn’t just fun—it’s a powerful tool for developing gross motor skills in physical therapy! By crawling, reaching, throwing, and balancing, kids strengthen their muscles, improve coordination, and enhance body awareness. The gentle resistance of the balls provides tactile and proprioceptive input, supporting sensory integration and motor planning. Whether it’s for therapy or play, a ball pit helps build confidence and movement skills in an engaging, safe environment!

03/05/2025

We’re excited to welcome Dr. Inna Blakeman, DPM -a skilled pediatric podiatrist, to our practice! With a special focus on treating ingrown nails, toe walking, flat feet, and sports injuries in children, Dr. Blakeman brings extensive experience and a compassionate approach to pediatric foot care. Whether your child is experiencing discomfort or needs preventative care, Dr. Blakeman is here to provide expert treatment to help your child stay active and healthy.

02/27/2025

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Inna Blakeman, DPM has joined our practice. Dr. Blakeman brings extensive experience and a commitment to providing high- quality care to the patients.

If your child has :
Flat feet
In-toe and out-toe walking
Ingrowing nails
Heel pain
Ankle sprains
Fractures
Toe walking
Athlete’s feet
Sports and dance injuries
Call us at 973 486 4404 to schedule your appointment!!!!

Dr. Inna Blakeman is currently practicing in Manhattan. She is on staff in Fifth Ave Surgery and Gramercy Surgery centers. Her previous appointments include attending at Weill Cornell Lower Manhattan Hospital, where she was a Director of a podiatry clinic.
Dr. Blakeman earned her DPM degree from NYCPM and completed surgical residency at New York Community Hospital.
She continues to train residents, attend professional conferences and give lectures to colleagues and community members.

Dr. Blakeman’s philosophy: “As medical care has become more and more impersonal, I offer a remarkably different philosophy. I spend lots of time with my patients listening to them, answering their questions, carefully diagnosing their condition and explaining any procedures in a way they understand. Over the years, I have found that this, combined with my orthopedic training and experience, leads to a better longer lasting result. Since 1992 I have been providing one service and only one service - care for your feet and ankles. That's it. Because I'm so specialized I am able to take care of just about any foot or ankle problem your children may have, including flat feet, toe walking, ingrown toenails, heel pain, sports injuries, orthotics, etc. Early correction and prevention are the keys to healthy feet. My goal is not just to relieve your child's foot pain - it is to make sure it doesn't return.