Body Hack Physical Therapy, located at 10-42 Jackson Ave. in Long Island City (Courtesy of Body Hack)
Nov. 9, 2021 Sponsored Article
A Long Island City physical therapy practice that opened during the pandemic has earned a loyal clientele base thanks to the dedication of its staff.
Body Hack Physical Therapy, located at 10-42 Jackson Ave., prioritizes the patient experience and works with patients to develop a care plan to ensure their needs are met.
The clinic, founded by physical therapist Carlos Zorrilla and pharmacist Anthony Varikos in December, offers a variety of “humanized” therapy services including orthopedic, sport and pain management therapy.
The practice provides treatment to both help patients recover from injuries, prevent future injuries and improve their overall fitness. Zorrilla’s goal is to not only help patients heal but to also educate them so that they don’t relapse and reinjure themselves.
“One of the most common things in physical therapy is people wind up getting injured shortly after,” Varikos said.
Patient treatment areas at Body Hack Physical Therapy (Courtesy of Body Hack)
The Body Hack clinic offers pre- and post-operative rehab, chronic and acute muscle skeletal injury rehab, neuromuscular therapy, posture reeducation, sports injury rehab, kinesio taping, patient injury risk management education, a Fibromyalgia program, laser therapy and more.
Patients range from young athletes to laborers injured on the job—to seniors. The practice accepts Medicare and workers’ compensation.
Body Hack is developing a “high-performance division,” where it teaches athletes how to best utilize their muscles to perform better for the specific sport they play. The clinic has a growing clientele of soccer players from local football clubs.
Zorrilla also specializes in treating neuromuscular and in neurodegenerative diseases.
Varikos said he and Zorrilla felt Long Island City was the perfect neighborhood to open the practice together. Varikos grew up nearby and liked that is close to Manhattan and easily accessible by subway.
“It’s a good location. It’s close to the city,” he said. “We’re right off the tunnel and a block away from the train.”
Patient care room at Body Hack Physical Therapy (Courtesy of Body Hack)
Varikos also paid special attention to the interior design and atmosphere of the clinic when creating Body Hack.
“It’s not your normal physical therapy clinic that you walk into, that’s generic with the white walls and the ceiling tiles,” Varikos said.
Features like hardwood floors, numerous plants, a reclaimed wood wall and aromas create a spa-like atmosphere where patients can feel relaxed.
“Part of healing is mental,” Varikos said. “If you walk into an environment that’s conducive to relaxing, it triggers the healing process [from the start].”
He and Zorrilla also made the facility COVID-safe, having opened Body Hack in the middle of the pandemic.
The front desk at Body Hack Physical Therapy (Courtesy of Body Hack)
The clinic has glass partitions separating patient areas and HEPA filtration in the workout area which is limited to four people max. Patients must also get their temperature checked at the door and wear a mask regardless of their vaccination status.
Body Hack stands out from other physical therapy practices thanks to its focus on fostering client relationships and providing the best customized care, Varikos said.
The clinic doesn’t charge cancellation fees and helps uninsured patients and those with high deductibles work out a cash payment plan.
Fitness area at Body Hack Physical Therapy (Courtesy of Body Hack)
Patients spend the majority of their sessions one-on-one with Zorrilla at Body Hack, as opposed to many other practices where an aide works with patients for most of their appointment. Zorrilla also tailors each care plan to the individual patient’s needs.
“What sets us apart is our vision,” Varikos said. “[While] most physical therapy places get you in and out of the door in a short period of time, we have the therapist spending the majority of the time with the client.”
Zorrilla also adjusts his patients’ ongoing therapy plan based on their progress during sessions.
“It’s a dynamic process. It’s not ‘listen, this is your therapy, come for 12 weeks, and then have a nice day,'” Varikos said of his business partner. “[Zorrilla’s] constantly adjusting the program based on how he feels each individual client can respond — and he’ll keep in contact with them afterward.”
The Body Hack team aims to foster lifetime relationships with clients.
“We work with our clients,” Varikos said. “We want them—at the end of the day—to have a great experience, a good recovery, and develop a lifetime friendship or partnership because, throughout life, you’re always gonna need some type of therapy.”
Body Hack Physical Therapy is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
New and returning patients can schedule an appointment online at Body Hack’s website or by calling the clinic at 718-433-9909 or by emailing info@bodyhackpt.com.
