About Our Physical Therapy Group

North Jersey Physical Therapy Group is dedicated to providing individuals with the highest quality of rehabilitation services. Our clinic is committed to assisting patients in achieving their maximum level of physical function and providing comprehensive, evidence based physical therapy. To achieve such quality of care and to ensure optimal functional outcomes, our team is committed to working and communicating together to meet each patient’s individual needs.

To our patients, we commit to providing the most effective, clinically superior physical therapy. The measure of success will be found in the trust we build and in the individualized care we provide to our patients. At North Jersey Physical Therapy Group, we are dedicated to leading the way to optimal physical health.

Our Physical Therapists

Cara Santers, P.T.

As a dedicated physical therapist with over 20 years of clinical experience, Cara Santers offers each patient caring, individualized care. She is a graduate of Quinnipiac College in Hamden, CT with a bachelor of science in Physical Therapy. Over the years, Cara has worked with a variety of patient populations from the professional athlete to the aging population. She has attended numerous continuing education courses with a specific emphasis in manual interventions of the extremities and spine.

Prior to joining NJPTG, Cara was the Manager of Outpatient Rehabilitation Services at St. Joseph's Hospital in Paterson, NJ where she used her leadership and managerial skills to ensure the utmost quality of care.

As a former competitive international gymnast, her forte lies in developing sport specific training to maximize performance at all levels.

Christian Delacruz, PT, DPT

Christian completed the PT Dual Degree Program from Seton Hall University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. His previous clinical experiences with St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center, Kessler, and ActiveCare Physical Therapy result in a combination of professional skills in orthopedic, neurological, post-surgical and geriatric conditions. Also, his background as an athlete and specialty in sports medicine enable him to create rehabilitation programs to better prepare athletes and individuals for their return to sports and exercise. He has also provided seminars for local youth football and baseball teams on injury prevention. In the future, Christian plans on pursuing certifications in Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, working out, participating in mud runs, and traveling.

Fred Knight PT, DPT

Fred Knight's commitment to excellence as a physical therapist is a combination of professionalism and a hands-on approach to patient care. Dr. Knight earned Bachelor's degrees in Biology and completed his Master's degree in Physical Therapy at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in 2000. He completed his Doctoral in Physical Therapy in 2006 at UMDNJ.

Fred's clinical experiences included pediatrics at Cerebral Palsy Center in Monmouth County, hospital outpatient rehabilitation at Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia, and Sports Rehabilitation Center for the University of Florida Sports Medicine. At the University of Florida, he worked with physical therapy and sports medicine rehabilitation with the college basketball and baseball teams. Fred has been working in outpatient orthopedic PT settings in New Jersey since 2000 and continues to take continuing education courses to further advance his passion in manual and sports and orthopedic related sports injuries. In addition, Fred specializes in treatment of various vestibular dysfunctions and balance conditions, such as Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), Labyrinthitis, and Vestibular Neuritis. He is also a certified instructor for Body Balance for Performance Golf Program and has worked with PGA Q-school level golfers.

Why Choose North Jersey Physical Therapy Group?

We know that choosing a physical therapy practice in New Jersey can be difficult, and we appreciate your interest in our practice. At our office, you can trust in the knowledge, experience, and professionalism of our team. Our goal is to make your experience with us as positive, helpful, and informative as possible.

Do you have a question about our practice? Use our contact form or call (973) 720-1110 to schedule an appointment with a physical therapist. North Jersey Physical Therapy Group provides extended hours for your convenience.

There are many reasons why people choose North Jersey Physical Therapy Group for their orthopedic and physical concerns. Some of the benefits of choosing our practice include:

  • Comprehensive Care: At North Jersey Physical Therapy Group, we are fully-equipped with the latest technology to effectively treat any Physical Therapy need. Our team of therapists, are trained in diverse specialties in order to provide our patients with a complete range of medical perspectives.
  • Exceptional Service: Patient satisfaction is extremely important to our practice. When you visit our office, you are treated with the dignity, respect, and professionalism you deserve. Our knowledgeable staff is dedicated to providing you with accurate information about your procedure and communicating effectively so you are well-informed.
  • Innovation and Technology: North Jersey Physical Therapy Group offers only those treatments and technologies that have undergone rigorous testing and research are have an established history of safety and effectiveness. Our clinical research involvement and commitment to ongoing education ensure that we remain abreast of the most recent findings in the field of physical therapy.

We look forward to serving you!

Our Facility

We use state-of-the-art equipment to provide top-of-the-line physical therapy.

Patient Form

In order to save time at your appointment, please print and complete the forms below.

Conditions Treated

Spine Rehabilitation

Spinal rehabilitation includes developing muscular strength, improving flexibility, and increasing endurance. Spinal rehabilitation may be necessary after a sports-related injury, accident, or just as a result of the natural aging process. Our physical therapists will also provide exercises to do at home in order to reduce or eliminate spinal pain.

Post-Surgical Physical Therapy

Surgery doesn’t end at the recovery room – in order to maximize the efficacy of the procedure, physical therapy is necessary for several weeks. Post-operative physical therapy will prevent many complications, increase range of motion, and help strengthen the muscles around the new joints. Our physical therapists will also prescribe a home exercise program. Patients who have had the following procedures should seek post-operative physical therapy:

  • Hip replacement surgery
  • Shoulder replacement surgery
  • Knee replacement surgery
  • Rotator Cuff Surgery

Arthritis

Physical therapy can substantially reduce pain caused by arthritis. Physical therapy can improve movement and increase strength, making daily life easier and more enjoyable. It may hurt to move arthritic joints, but staying still will only make them worse: carefully chosen physical therapy exercises can reduce joint stiffness and slow the progression of arthritis. Our physical therapists will help you modify your daily routine to minimize pain, and will also provide exercises you can do on your own to increase your flexibility and range of motion.

Back Pain and Low Back Pain (LBP)

You don’t have to live with back pain – and surgery isn’t your only option! Physical therapy can help alleviate many painful conditions causing back pain and low back pain. Our physical therapists will guide you through exercises to increase flexibility and strength, and educate you on how to maintain a healthy spine.

Conditions that can cause back pain include:

  • Bulging Discs
  • Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)
  • Herniated Discs
  • Sciatica
  • Scoliosis
  • Sacroiliac Pain
  • Radiculitis
  • Piriformis Syndrome

Headaches & Neck Pain

Taking medication isn’t always a long-term solution for headaches and neck pain – especially tension headaches, cluster headaches, or migraines. Often, neck pain and headaches are caused by issues in the muscles and joints such as tension, disc pathology, stiff joints, bad posture, or tight muscles. Our physical therapists will perform an evaluation to ascertain the likely cause of neck pain and headaches, and then treat the root cause and educate you on how to avoid them in the future.

Shoulder, Elbow, Wrist, and Hand Pain

There are many different causes for shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand pain. It could be an injury from repetitive motion or overuse, or it could be one of the conditions listed below. Physical therapy is often a great conservative therapy to try before progressing to surgical solutions. Our physical therapists will determine the cause of your pain and prescribe a treatment plan to manage your symptoms. Shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand conditions that can often often be treated with physical therapy include:

  • Overuse Injuries
  • Repetitive Motion Injuries
  • Tendinitis
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Golfer’s Elbow
  • Rotator Cuff Tears
  • Tennis Elbow
  • Impingement Syndrome

Hip, Knee, Ankle, and Foot Pain

Hip, knee, ankle, and foot pain can be caused by a wide variety of conditions, including overuse and repetitive motion injuries. Before attempting surgery, physical therapy is a goo option to try. Our physical therapists will provide a treatment plan to help lessen your symptoms. Hip, knee, ankle, and foot conditions that can be managed with physical therapy include:

  • Iliotibial Band Syndrome
  • Chondromalacia patella
  • Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
  • Plantar Fasciitis
  • Overuse Injuries
  • Repetitive Motion Injuries
  • Tendinitis

Immune System Disorders, Fibromyalgia, and Chronic Pain

Although there is no cure for immune system disorders, physical therapy can certainly help manage the associated pain. Our physical therapists will not only help you in our practice, but can also prescribe exercises and lifestyle changes you can make at home to reduce your pain. Conditions we can help treat include:

  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Guillain Barres Syndrome (GBS)
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Chronic Pain

Joint Pain, Stiffness, and Laxity

Physical therapy is a great way to increase mobility, strength, and flexibility, as well as to reduce pain caused by joint stiffness. Movement is key to reducing painful symptoms of conditions such as bursitis and osteoarthritis. Our physical therapists will help increase your flexibility and strength with exercises in our physical therapy practice, and they will also provide exercises you can do at home to increase the long-term effects. Conditions that cause joint pain that may be alleviated by physical therapy include:

  • Bursitis
  • Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD)
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Osteoporosis

Fractures, Sprains, Strains, and Subluxations

The treatment for a fracture, sprain, strain, or subluxation doesn’t end after the injury has been addressed- in fact, that’s only when the recovery begins. When a limb is immobilized, muscles lose their strength and joints lose flexibility. It’s important to begin physical therapy to regain strength and mobility in areas surrounding the injury – otherwise, you may never fully recover.

Lymphedema

Lymphedema is a medical condition in which damaged or abnormal vessels or nodes affect lymphatic flow, causing ongoing swelling, pain, weakness, and decreased range of motion. Our physical therapists will focus on lymphatic drainage, compression bandages, and therapeutic exercises, as well as patient education for skin care and body mechanics. With our physical therapy program for lymphedema, you can expect an increased range of motion, improved flexibility, increased strength, reduced swelling, and decreased pain.

Myofascial Pain

Chronic pain can be caused by myofascial pain syndrome, in which connective tissue known as fascia becomes tight or is damaged. Physical therapy is often the best treatment for myofascial pain, and includes deep stretching and massage. Many common conditions can be managed with physical therapy for myofascial release:

  • TMJ (Temporomandibular disorders)
  • Migraines
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome

Muscle Weakness

Often after an injury or prolonged illness, patients will experience muscle atrophy. Sometimes, it is severe enough to hinder daily life. Physical therapy is prescribed for patients who have trouble with everyday activities, and has been proven to provide immense improvements in quality of life.

Nerve Disorders

Physical therapy can often be an effective non-surgical option for nerve disorders and injuries. Our physical therapy treatment will specifically focus on muscle groups surrounding areas experiencing pain, myofascial release, and connective tissue mobilization. Nerve disorders that can often be managed with physical therapy include:

  • Neuralgia
  • Neuritis
  • Pudendal Nerve Compression
  • Peripheral Nerve Entrapments
  • Parkinson’s Disease
  • Thoracic Outlet Syndrome