Connecticut Physical Therapy Specialists Opens in Granby

David Bostic, the owner of the newly opened Connecticut Physical Therapy Specialists in Granby, does more than treat knee strains, rotator cuff injuries, carpel tunnel syndrome, plantar fasciitis or other maladies through physical exercises.

Indeed, the way that Bostic sees it, just 10 percent of his practice is based on actual “physical” work of mobilizing or stretching to restore a client back to health.

The vast majority  - some 80 percent - of what Bostic says he does is educate clients so they understand why their symptoms persist, and how to mitigate them. (The other 10 percent for clients is doing or not doing what he tells them.)

Take, for example, a client standard rotator cuff syndrome.

Bostic said that while he treats the underlying issue, the trick is to also educate the client that there is a postural syndrome that leads to wear and tear in the joints and muscles that leads to the rotator cuff injury. It is in that preventive, educational approach that clients see the most favorable outcomes, Bostic said.

To be sure, the 1,900-square-foot-space, which opened March 1, has its share of equipment to facilitate exercises.

There are, among other things, treatment tables, mirrors, parallel bars, balance training apparatus, pulleys, a cycle and a set up for incline push ups.

In addition to individual care, there’s a station for industrial rehabilitation/occupational rehabilitation for workers injured on the job to teach them how to properly lift, push, pull, climb, carry and reach.

CT-PTS employer services also include: onsite ergonomic analysis, pre-employment physical ability tests, and a personal injury prevention exercise (PIPE) program.

A room to treat spinal issues is offset from the main floor.

But it’s Bostic’s three-pronged “evidence informed” approach, which he discussed prior to an Open House at his business at 9 Mill Pond Road on Saturday, that facilitates the best outcomes.

First, he takes into account the values, beliefs and the capabilities a client has with respect to his or her body and pain management.

Second, Bostic uses his clinical experience as an orthopedic manual physical therapist, which is a sub-specialty of orthopedics. Bostic is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists. There are just seven such fellows in the state, according to Bostic.

And third, he uses the available science. “Some exams and interventions are more effective than others to meet the clients needs,” Bostic said, though he added that he would rather see a patient “sooner rather than later, because studies have shown that the sooner someone starts therapy, the shorter the recovery time.”

It’s an approach that Bostic, a Windsor resident, has developed over the last 30 years as working as a physical therapist, most recently at a large area employer, before striking out on his own - though he’s always had his own small side practice for most of his professional career.

Bostic chose Granby to open his business because he has clients from all over the area, including Windsor, Avon, Simsbury, Windsor Locks, East Granby, Granby and Bloomfield.

“Geographically, it makes sense,” he said. “It’s very exciting.”

So far, it’s gone extremely well, Bostic said, noting that local businesses have already reached out to him and that he has a strong working relationship already with the neighboring , which opened in November 2011.

“I’m looking forward to networking with more local businesses,” he said.

He’s also looking to employ two local people part time - about 20 hours a week each - for reception and bookkeeping work.

Bostic also has the “Giveback Jack” program, which he named after a rabbit sculpture that sits on the receptionists desk. Simply put, if a referral brings back a card given to him or her from a current client, Bostic adds a gold dollar coin to a jar on the desk by the rabbit. Once the jar is full, Bostic will donate it’s contents to a local Granby charity.

Connecticut Physical Therapy Specialists, accepts most insurance. Its hours of operation are Mondays and Wednesdays 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Fridays 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.; and Saturdays 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.  The facility is located one mile south of Rte. 10/202 at 9 Mill Pond Road in Granby.

For more information, call David Bostic at 860-413-9969, or email ctpts@me.com.