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New physical therapy firm opens at Post Office Park

Date: 11/23/2009

By Courtney Llewellyn

Reminder Assistant Editor



WILBRAHAM -- In a time when many businesses are struggling, Performance Rehabilitation is thriving -- and expanding.

The rehabilitation firm, with locations in Springfield, West Springfield and East Longmeadow, opened another site in Post Office Park off Boston Road two months ago. The company's owners and therapists welcomed the community to visit the new location during an open house last Wednesday.

"We wanted to bring our core business out to the surrounding neighborhoods," Jacques Charles, Director of Marketing, said. "It's been really good here. We doubled our patient total from the first four weeks to the second four weeks."

The Wilbraham location offers hand and elbow rehabilitation, physical therapy, balance/vestibular rehabilitation and massage therapy.

Charles explained that all Performance Rehab locations have three disciplines, but what sets the Wilbraham site apart is its employment of certified hand specialists.

"Our vestibular program is unmatched by anyone else," he added.

Bob Crawford, a physical therapist who is also board certified in orthopaedics, said he loves working in a new setting -- and in the town he grew up in.

"It's a great setting," he said of the new location. "It's a very active business."

"It's a nice little community," Sabrina Cassella, an upper extremity specialist, added. "We're right across from the [All American] Gymnastic Academy, the YMCA and the senior center."

Cassella continued that Performance Rehab uses cutting edge protocols when it comes to the science of rehabilitation, including the Graston Technique.

According to its Web site, the "Graston Technique is an innovative, patented form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization that enables clinicians to effectively break down scar tissue and fascial restrictions. The technique utilizes specially designed stainless steel instruments to specifically detect and effectively treat areas exhibiting soft tissue fibrosis or chronic inflammation." Cassella believes Performance Rehab is the only firm in the area utilizing this technique.

Why expand the business now?

"There was a real need in this area for a comprehensive center," MaryLynn Jacobs, a partner in Performance Rehab, explained. "We saw a lot of patients from Wilbraham coming to our other locations."

"We love it here," partner Terry Ditmar added. Ditmar noted that the location is currently at about 60 percent of its maximum patient load.

Board of Selectmen Chair David Barry, who stopped by the open house, said it was great to see a new business in town.

"It offers a really valuable service," he commented. "It really is an asset to the town."

For more information, log on to www.performancerehab.org.