By Jessica Oates
Husband-wife duo bring physical therapy, nutrition and Pilates under one roof
Joseph and Olivia Caruso always dreamed of opening their own business. In February 2011, they made that dream a reality.
Both husband and wife are passionate about health and wellness. Their business, Caruso Physical Therapy and Nutrition, LLC, allows them to practice their specialties under the same roof. Dr. Joseph Caruso is a physical therapist. Olivia Caruso is a nutritionist and dietitian.
In addition to offering three distinct services at one location—physical therapy, nutrition and Pilates—the clinic offers one-on-one attention to maximize the effectiveness of each session.
While a typical physical therapy session may involve four to six patients, one doctor and a few assistants, the Carusos believe patients improve quicker when the whole session is focused on the patient’s individual needs. That’s why, slowly but surely, the couple began dropping insurance companies that mandate how many patients should be treated at a time.
Dr. Joseph Caruso sees about 60 patients a week, without any assistants present. He is enthusiastic about his work, especially seeing his patients down the road of recovery.
“When you do the math, it makes more sense to schedule a single, one-on-one session with me than it does to share 3–4 classes per week with other patients who may have very different areas of focus,” he said. “Not only do patients get better much more quickly, they usually end up spending less money on treatment.”
Caruso holds a doctorate and master’s in physical therapy from Neumann University. He received his bachelor’s in kinesiology, with a minor in nutrition, from West Chester University, and is also a certified myoskeletal therapist under Erik Dalton. He is a National Strength and Conditioning Association certified strength and conditioning specialist, and has been a certified personal trainer since 2000.
Olivia Caruso, a nutritionist and registered dietician, gives patients the option of coming to her for individual nutritional and weight management advice or for group weight loss programs. Olivia’s dedication to healthy eating began when she was a junior in high school and she was diagnosed with hypoglycemia. After receiving professional advice on how to adjust her diet to cope with the condition, she knew what kind of career she wanted to build for herself.
Olivia is certified by the American Dietetic Association, and is a licensed dietitian/nutritionist in Pennsylvania. She earned a bachelor’s in health science, with a minor in biology, from the University of Hartford. She completed a dietetic internship and earned her master’s degree in nutritional education from Immaculata University with honors. A member of the American Dietetic Association and a certified adult management dietitian, Olivia has worked with a variety of patient types, including pre- and post-natal women, infants and children.
“I can’t express how important health-conscious eating is,” Olivia Caruso said. “A very basic but essential piece of advice is to work vegetables into your diet as much as possible, along with lean proteins. You only get one body and one life on this earth. Healthy eating and a positive attitude go such a long way.”
If anyone can attest to the benefits of healthy eating and staying positive, the Carusoes can. In October 2006, doctors discovered a large but benign tumor on Joseph Caruso’s brain. They tried to remove all of it, but were unsuccessful, and the tumor grew back stronger. Caruso spent six months away from a physical therapy job to relearn basic skills, like walking, talking and reading.
Eventually, the two married and began to focus their energies on opening their own business. In November 2010, doctors discovered a new tumor on Caruso’s brain. Three months later, in February 2011, the Carusoes opened Caruso Physical Therapy and Nutrition. At the time, Caruso had a prognosis of just 18 months.
“But here we are, still fighting,” Olivia said.
This fall, doctors once again detected a malignant growth in Caruso’s brain. The couple remains positive and continues to practice the healthful lifestyle they preach to their clients.
True to that mission, they recently added Pilates reformer classes taught by certified instructor Andria Angelico. Pilates reformer classes are performed on a reformer, or carriage, which rolls forward and backward on wheels within a bed-like frame. Springs are used to attach the carriage to the end of the reformer, providing varying levels of resistance as the practitioner controls carriage movement. This versatile piece of equipment allows the one to exercise in a variety of positions, such as sitting, standing, kneeling, lying on the back, side, or stomach, perched on the footbar or shoulder blocks, or even upside down.
“The reformer enables you to target powerhouse muscles and focus on improving balance, flexibility, muscular endurance, coordination, strength, and muscle length,” Caruso said. “We are proud to offer it at the clinic.”
The Carusoes also look forward to celebrating the three year anniversary of their business this February.
“My favorite part is being able to run the business my own way, treating patients one on one,” Caruso said. “I just like to help, and I try to make a personal connection with each of my patients so that I can provide them with better therapy.”
Caruso insists that his illness hasn’t put any limitations on his work or on the business. His hard work and determination have made him successful.
“Everyone comes in for physical therapy because they have discomfort,” he said. “People usually expect the doctor to be healthy, but most people in town know about my battle. We’re both on a journey to get well, but my number one focus is on helping my patients.”
Caruso Physical Therapy and Nutrition is located at 1278 Yardville-Allentown Road, Suite 3, Allentown. Phone: (609) 738-3143. Web: carusoptrd.com.
,
