By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News
Four Points residents in need of physical or occupational therapy have a new option since Endeavor Rehab Center opened a few weeks ago.
Grandview Hills resident Emily Fontana opened Endeavor Rehab Center with her business partner Enrique Hazel. The pair opened their initial location in Austin near I-35 and U.S. 290 seven years ago and chose Four Points for their second location at 6911 RM 620, Ste. B-201 in Four Points Parke behind Walgreens.
“I just felt this is such an underserved area for therapy and people are having to drive everywhere,” Fontana said. “Particularly after surgery, you really need somewhere close to home to go to therapy or you’re not going to go.”
L-R: Devanshi Patel, licensed physical therapist , Emily Fontana, registered occupational therapist, and Amy Sanders, registered occupational therapist and licensed massage therapist, are all Four Points residents and are now accepting patients at Endeavor Rehab Center, located in Four Points Parke behind Walgreens.
Occupational therapy
Fontana, who has been practicing for 20 years, describes Endeavor Rehab Center as an independent “mom and pop” clinic that offers personalized care by seasoned therapists. Fontana is a registered occupational therapist, as well as a certified hand therapist and a certified “Handwriting Without Tears” expert.
“I’m available to do evaluations on children to help the child with their handwriting skills or to look underneath to make sure there’s nothing developmentally or psycho-socially going on,” Fontana said.
Because they are an independent clinic and have less billing and overhead costs, they cost about 30 percent less than a hospital or a doctor-owned therapy clinic, she said. They accept most insurance and are open on weekdays, including early mornings and through lunchtime.
Fontana will treat patients at the new Four Points location along with Devanshi Patel, a licensed physical therapist and ergonomic evaluation specialist; and Amy Sanders, a registered occupational therapist and licensed massage therapist who is certified in cranial sacral therapy.
Physical therapy
Patel, a Steiner Ranch resident, has been practicing in Austin for 15 years and specializes in back and neck pain.
“I really focus on the root cause of what the problem is, not just the pain they’re having,” she said. “I want to focus on what’s causing that back issue in the first place and help them rectify that so we don’t lead to more injury and surgery down the road.
That is where she thinks her experience in chronic pain is helpful.
“Usually back pain or neck pain results from a multi-system issue, not just a specific body area,” Patel said.
She stresses the importance of seeing a therapist while still in the preventative stage, to address potential issues before they become more serious.
“Back pain is the number one cause of missed work in the United States,” Patel said. “It’s much easier for anyone if we can catch them in the prevention stage. And it’s usually fewer visits and less time. I want to see you if you know you’re in a risk group before you injure yourself.”
Massage therapy
Sanders, who also lives in Steiner Ranch, has been practicing massage therapy for 20 years. She practices techniques known as myofascial release and cranial sacral therapy. Clients do not need a doctor’s prescription for massage therapy services, though if they do receive a prescription the service will typically be covered by insurance. Sanders said these specialized massage techniques are beneficial for those who suffer from pain patterns throughout the body.
“These techniques provide a whole body approach to pain relief, which address both acute and chronic pain patterns,” Sanders said. “It addresses the connective tissue restrictions within the body through gentle sustained pressure.”
Fontana said that while people need a prescription to receive therapy, the therapists at Endeavor can screen patients without a prescription to let them know what their next course of action should be.
“If they do need a prescription, they can tell their doctor where they want to go,” she said. “If it’s close to where they live and work, there’s a better chance of compliance and hence, better outcome.”
Endeavor Rehab Center has more information at www.endeavorrehab.com.