I went to Elite Advantage in March 2009 for information on the Fairway F.I.T. Program and an analysis of my golf swing. Needless to say, I wanted to improve and lower my handicap. Most importantly, I wanted more mobility as I had limitations: my age (62), spinal stenosis and a total hip replacement.
Dr. Jeff Sommer videotaped my swing and analyzed my strengths and weaknesses and prescribed a series of customized exercises for greater mobility, flexibility, strength and power. In July 2009 I developed acute lower back pain and could not swing a golf club. I went to Jeff for a series of physical therapy sessions; the pain was eliminated as I learned to strength the core muscles. I have continued with my exercises and as a golfer at Raritan Valley Country Club in 2009, I have achieved the following:
I broke 100 for the first time, lowered my handicap by 5 strokes, won 2 major tournaments, got a Hole In One and most importantly, received the Most Improved Award for the Ladies 18 Hole Group
I simply wanted to make a crack in the glass ceiling of golf and instead I smashed it thanks to Jeff, hard work and a few lessons.
Karen
Flemington, NJ
It is with great pleasure that I can recommend Dr. Jeffrey Sommer. After my hip replacement in October 2009, I went to Dr. Sommer for Physical Therapy. His office was immaculate and equipped with the latest State of the Art equipment.
Dr. Sommer is superbly trained, knowledgeable, and was certainly instrumental in my complete recovery.
Dr. Sommer has a delightful personality. He was gentle, encouraging, adn knew just the right exercises in working one on one to strengthen my muscles and improve my balance. I looked forward to going to P.T.
After only four weeks of PT, I no longer needed a walker or cane. I was able to walk, climb stairs and do everything I did before I needed the hip replacement without any pain. I am sure this was due to the PT I received from Dr. Sommer.
I was fortunate to find Dr. Sommer and know anyone who goes to him will agree.
Zella
Somerville, NJ
Always searching for ways to improve my golf game, last winter I decided to try the Titliest Performance Improvement program. Dr. Sommer , a local Physical Therapist, is certified in the program and I went to see him. During the initial consultation and beginning phases of the program, Dr. Sommer detected immediately that I was tentative in my swing and that one side of my body worked better than the other. I had to confess that I had two herniated discs and experienced lower back pain performing certain activities and was always uncomfortable after playing golf. I told him that I had completed physical therapy and had a series of exercises that I did three times a week and that it was part of the aging process and I would just have to live with it. He assured me that was not the case. In addition to the TPI program, I completed 12 therapy sessions strictly for my back discomfort and to improve my core. He was extremely knowledgeable, attentive, caring, patient and always there to tell me that I could "do just a little bit more". At the start of the golf season in the spring of 2009, I was playing with some friends and at the end of the round, one of the ladies turned to me and said, "Wow, what happened to you; you are really hitting a golf ball?." My reply was Dr. Sommer happened to me. Although the completion of the TPI and physical therapy helped me lower my handicap, win two tournaments and shoot the lowest golf score ever, my biggest win is not having back pain when I play. Thank you, Dr. Sommer.
Yes, I do my exercises faithfully and can't wait for winter to be gone and the 2010 golf season to start.
Bridgewater, NJ
Dear Jeff,
I consider myself to be somewhat of a connoisseur when it comes to physical therapy having seen so many over the last 30 years. The sevice that you provided met all of my expectations and far surpassed most of the therapy I had previously received.
Jeff, you were able to schedule to meet my demanding work schedule and homelife as parent to 3 children who all have places to go and people to see. The therapy I received provided the strengthening I needed to be able to walk without pain. After having aches and pains in my knees for the last 2 years from osteo-arthritis, aging, and my spinal cord injury I needed to attendt to being able to move without pain. At the age of 50, I feel better able to wak and with greater stability after working with you. What I gained in those 6 sessions allowed me freedom of movement and teh ability to not wince in pain at every curb and stair I encounter.
Ironically, my son, Eddie had a knee injury shortly after my discharge date. The orthopedist said here is a list of physical therapists...I wouldn't even consider anyone else! His lateral collateral ligament neede PT and within two months you had him running and jumping and doing all the things a ten year old athlete needs to do. Eddie enjoyed going to see you adn for him it always seemed like fun!
Thanks for being there and providing the right exercise adn atmosphere to make physical therapy for both of us a very positive experience.
Karen and Eddie
Bridgewater, NJ
I had the opportunity to work with Jeff at Elite Advantage as a result of a double hip replacement surgery. My experience at Elite was superb in all areas. Jeff's level of professionalism, knowledge and dedication proved to be great factors in my rehabilitation. I have no desire to "re-experience" my process, however, if I had to I would, without hesitation, return to Elite Advantage Physical Therapy."
Kelvin
Plainfield, NJ
As someone who never needed physical therapy before last year, I just figured that when an injury was healed, it was better. (I had already broken my hand once at the pinky and my wrist once. After the cast came off, everything was fine.) Last year, I managed to break my hip when I fell and landed on it. Three screws and 8 home therapy visits later, I was finally off the crutches. Jeff was my home therapist at the time. It takes a lot of hard work on the part of both the therapist and the patient to see improvement when recovering from an injury. I had the privilege of being his first patient when Elite Advantage opened on November 3, 2008. If I was honest, I would probably have to say that, in my mind, if I could walk well, then everything is fine. I have learned my lesson. Being healed is more than being able to walk well. It is also strengthening the leg, arm, whatever was injured. It is not just dealing with one little area where the injury is. It is a matter of looking at the whole picture and making sure that everything is equal on both sides so that the injury doesn't happen again. This is what Dr. Jeff accomplishes in PT. He looks at the whole picture and works with the body part as a whole rather than as a little piece of the puzzle. I promise that if you work really hard, and do the homework exercises (and yes, he gives homework), things will improve and the injury body part will be much stronger and better able to be used more normally, maybe even better than an individual normal. I have learned a lot from Jeff about balance (hoping to prevent another fall) strengthening, and even not being afraid to go that extra mile and once again do what I have always taken for granted, but was afraid to do again because of fear of falling and getting hurt again. Thanks, Jeff.
Martha
Piscataway, NJ
It's been one year and 3 months since breaking my hip. Since that time I have broken a wrist and rebruised the hip. I then had the screws removed in November of 2009. Each time Dr. Jeff was there for me - to work with me toward healing of the hip and strengthening of the muscles in the leg. It is now better than it has ever been. (I don't remember it being this good before I broke it. The same holds true for my wrist.) It took a lot of hard work and patience to reach that goal. Actually, I think my left leg was becoming stronger than my right one, so I started doing the same exercises with the right one so it wouldn't be left behind. I have made one promise to myself and to Dr. Jeff that I would not get hurt anymore and I intend to keep that promise (to the best of my ability). I am now looking forward to starting the Fairway FIT program with Jeff so that I can play golf safely in the spring (and stay out of trouble). By the way, therapy never ends when therapy sessions are over. The exercises are just as important when the therapy sessions are over. It is definitely true that if you don't use it, you lose it. And it doesn't take long for that to happen. Thanks again, and again, and again, and again Jeff.
I am writing to say thanks for the incredible service i got (and am getting) at your clinic. Unlike my other physical therapists who simply poked around a bit and gave me maybe one or two pointless exercises, you offer a diverse approach using many different techniques. I also really like your philosophy of improving core strength, and helping the whole body work together to resolve an injury. I've only been going a few weeks, but I already feel much relief. Also, I love the facility; they are modern, equipped, and are much more advanced and high-tech then any other one I've seen. I know that continuing with you, I'll be able to play football and wrestle again in no time.
