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Physical Therapy

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Geriatric Physical Therapy

Geriatrics and Elderly Care

As people age and become less mobile, they may experience difficulties or symptoms. This often leads them to see a physical therapist who specializes in treating older adults. This type of physical therapist is known as a geriatric physical therapist or a physical therapist for older adults.

What is geriatric physical therapy?

A geriatric physical therapist specializes in caring for frail older adults and patients of advanced age who are dealing with complex health issues. They also assist patients who have conditions such as dementia, Parkinson’s disease, COPD, a hip fracture, or who have suffered a stroke.

Older adults with general symptoms such as postural problems, an altered gait, or an increased risk of falling are also eligible for geriatric physical therapy or a physical therapist specializing in geriatrics.

After completing their physical therapy training, geriatric physical therapists have gone on to earn an additional master’s degree that focuses on the assessment and treatment of older adults. Geriatric physical therapists have completed additional training to provide specialized physical therapy care to older adults.

 

Geriatric physical therapists and physical therapists specializing in geriatrics are both trained not only to alleviate the patient’s symptoms but also to assess the extent to which their home environment affects those symptoms. This enables patients to live at home longer. They primarily work with patients on exercises designed to help them regain mobility and independence or cope with a loss thereof. The therapy often consists of practicing and training the (daily) activities that cause problems. The geriatric physical therapist also makes regular home visits, because treating and training older adults in their own living environment is crucial for maintaining independence.

 

Geriatric physical therapists and physical therapists specializing in care for the elderly also advise and support family members and any informal caregivers regarding the condition, prognosis, treatment, daily activities, and assistive devices.

Are you looking for a physical therapist in Hoofddorp who specializes in conditions affecting older adults?

 

Our specialists are here to help you move safely again. 

Doris Matlock

  • General Physical Therapist
  • BIG No.: 69937333304
  • Floriande, Drie Meren, and Overbos

Lenka Kerstens

  • Geriatric Physical Therapist, M.S., specializing in Peripheral Arterial Disease, MS, and Parkinson’s Disease
  • BIG No.: 49918483404
  • Three Lakes
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Merel van Nimwegen

  • Merel van Nimwegen is a pediatric physical therapist. She specializes in treating children with headaches, sensory processing issues, and psychosomatic symptoms. Since 2025, Merel has been working on Fridays at the Paramedical Headache Treatment Center to treat children under the age of 14 who suffer from headaches. She also works in Heemstede: www.kinderfysio-heemstede.nl.
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Linda Pronk

  • Physical therapist specializing in the treatment of jaw pain, headaches, and dizziness. She also specializes in edema therapy and psychosomatic physical therapy.
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Veronique Huisman

  • A manual therapist specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with headaches. She has specialized in dry needling as a complementary treatment for neck and head pain. She also specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of shoulder pain.
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Tim Jongejans

  • Manual therapist specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with headaches. He is also pursuing a degree in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Sciences at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
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Jasper Flick

  • A manual therapist specializing in the treatment of various types of dizziness, including the most common: BPPV. He also treats patients with headaches, spine-related issues, and sports injuries.
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Dr. René Castien

  • Manual therapist, senior researcher at VU University Amsterdam, and consultant at the Paramedical Headache Treatment Center. He earned his Ph.D. from the Faculty of Medicine at VU University Amsterdam for his research on the effectiveness of manual therapy for tension headaches. René oversees and coordinates the collaboration between VU University Amsterdam and the Paramedical Headache Treatment Center on scientific research into headaches.
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Laura de Kam

  • Manual therapist specializing in the treatment of various types of dizziness, including the most common: BPPV. She also treats patients with neck pain, with or without headaches.
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Lotte the Fockert

  • A manual therapist specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with headaches. She specializes in dry needling of the neck, jaw, and cervical muscles to complement the treatment of headaches and orofacial complaints. She also treats patients with shoulder pain.
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Andreas Amons

  • Manual therapist specializing in the treatment of patients with headache symptoms. In the Department of General Practice at Amsterdam UMC, he is conducting doctoral research on the effectiveness of manual therapy for migraine.