Orthostrength Physical Therapy — Local services in Cranford

Prior to working with Earl at Orthostrength I was dealing with glute pain on and off for 3 years. I tried everything to make my pain go away. I tried other physical therapists, I tried chiropractors, I tried deep tissue massage, I tried acupuncture, I tried decreasing the weight for squat/deadlift, I even tried taking a break from powerlifting all together, but the pain inevitably always came back. I could never figure out how to make the pain go away. I would have a really good week with no pain, but then do everything the exact same the following week and be in a tremendous amount of pain. It seemed like there was no rhyme or reason to what triggered my right glute. This challenge made me feel discouraged. I felt like I couldn't make any progress especially with my deadlift. It was incredible frustrating knowing how much better I would be if I wasn't dealing with inconsistent pain. As soon as I thought I was making progress one week, the next week I was right back to square one.

Since working with Earl I gained a lot more confidence in my squat and deadlift. In the past I was never able to walk into a deadlift session with confidence because I didn't know if it was going to be a good session or bad session. In the past 3 years of dealing with this issue Ive never felt so healthy when I lift. I cant remember the last time I walked into a deadlift session excited and not worrying if I would be in pain.

Every session Earl has a structured plan for me and adjusts based on how I'm feeling and how I'm improving. During our sessions we work with dry needling, mobility and strengthening exercises. My pain has significantly decreased since working with Orthostrength. Not only does he have a plan for me when I come in, but has a plan for the entire week with home exercise programs. I really like how he creates a personal plan just for you. He doesn't give you a cookie cutter program, he creates a plan based on your injury and your specific needs.

If you've been dealing with any sort of injury or pain I HIGHLY recommend working with Orthostrength. I have worked with many people over the years and I only vouch for the absolute best. My experience with Earl has been nothing short of positive. He is super professional and takes pride in his work. He is someone who genuinely cares about you and solving your problems. Additionally, the staff at Resurgence is amazing. Every time I walk in I am always greeted with a warm welcome. The environment is always so supportive and uplifting. This place is...

Working with Earl at Orthostrength was the turning point of my recovery from a fully torn Achilles tendon one year ago. Life seemed and felt bleak after what was my first major injury, and being in a cast for six weeks really took a toll on me physically and mentally. My leg muscles had atrophied beyond recognition, and I was barely able to put weight on that leg.

Earl was warm and friendly from the start, making me feel comfortable in a new environment in a foreign situation to me, and was confident that he would get me back to where I was prior to my injury. He fully and clearly explained his plan for my recovery, and gave me an estimated timeline based on his vast experience. He made a long journey ahead seem much less daunting.

Starting with extremely manageable exercises, Earl was able to get me to see tangible progress after each and every session. We started with exercises that I could do while seated, and quickly progressed to various kinds of squats and lunges. Earl gave me homework to do between sessions, which were detailed instructions of what exercises to do, how many sets and reps, and proper form. That was instrumental in my recovery, and gave me the confidence I needed with every session. The weeks flew by, and he got me to be well ahead of schedule in my recovery, and soon enough I was hopping on my surgically repaired tendon and launching off of it. Earl was incredibly encouraging during the sessions, and he was able to adapt quickly whenever he noticed I was struggling with any of the exercises. He constantly asked for my input, and took any I provided to heart, adjusting according to my capabilities at the time.

I had to pause the sessions before my full recovery due to scheduling on my end, but Earl gave me additional exercises and tips to do while I was away, and checked in often to ensure I was still progressing, even if we weren’t able to meet in person. A few months later, with his continued help, I have been feeling just about back to where I was before my injury, and am doing basically everything I was able to do previously.

The level of care that Earl and Orthostrength shown was unparalleled in my experience, and on top of his great expertise, he provided fantastic company during the sessions, which were intense yet enjoyable. I'm so grateful to have been recommended to Earl, and I would highly recommend Orthostrength to anyone who is going through any stage of a...

This belated review is a long time coming, but one I’m proud to leave:

Dr. Earl is one of 2 healthcare professionals I recommend to anyone I know who’s feeling pain that isn’t going away. (One of my friends just drove all the way from Jersey City to see him about an on-again, off-again issue related to running; another one just went back to see him about a recurring joint thing.)

When I first saw Earl 2~3 years ago, I’d been feeling an occasional uncomfortable sensation behind my left kneecap. That lingering pain would come and go, seemingly in relation to my then-unstructured running or other exercise.

During our appointment he walked me through a thorough physical therapist evaluation, patiently answering my questions along the way. At the end of it he told me he didn’t find any structural damage: to me that meant I probably didn’t need surgery!! And that I could likely see real improvements myself by following a progressive routine of resistance training, which is something I know he’s able to assist with or refer out for depending on the situation.

So after that, I ended up trying a handful of things in the trial-and-error approach of someone who’s willing to spend time to save some money. Thanks to Earl’s evaluation coupled with useful resources from a program I found, I eventually strengthened my knees to the point where in September 2022 I was able to happily barrel down ski slopes as fast as my legs could take me, to finish my 2nd ever Spartan Ultra 50k obstacle course race in Killington, VT, with a new personal best in time too.

I’d describe Earl as a down-to-earth professional who actually hopes for his clients to recover as fast as they can. I appreciate that he hopes against human nature that his clients can also learn to be proactive, and that they each have the power to help their bodies move beyond their injuries. He’s also physically active himself, which while not a prerequisite for professionals is something I wish was more prevalent haha.

I wish more people knew something that took me a while to learn: living in pain is NOT normal; and you don’t have to do it!!

While no one can guarantee fixing any or every issue, when it comes to musculoskeletal stuff I would—and have—bet on Doc Earl.

Highly recommended, go feel for yourself. Just remember to do his homework or...