Intensive Physical Rehabilitation Boot Camp Provides Hope and Strength at JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute

New ReCharge program provides intensive therapies to increase strength, mobility and independence for people living with Parkinson’s, MS, COPD, traumatic brain injuries and amputation

Robert Burgos, a 60-year-old father-of-three and business owner in Nutley, New Jersey, contracted COVID in 2020, well before vaccines were available. He became sick enough to require ventilation at a local hospital.

He ultimately went into a coma and experienced a stroke, leaving his left side mostly paralyzed.

Things turned for the better when he enrolled in ReCharge, a new inpatient program at JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute that provides intensive therapies and medical interventions to increase strength, mobility and independence for people living with serious, complex medical conditions. Burgos’ personal goals were to build his strength and improve his ability to function independently.

To focus on stroke rehabilitation, physicians began Botox injections to reduce overactivity in the muscles affected by spasticity and make his affected limbs less stiff. He also underwent neuromuscular electrical stimulation.

Burgos participated in multiple therapies, including physical, occupational and speech. He received therapy with the Zero G, a track system and harness that provides body-weight support as patients practice walking and balancing.

“I’ve been to other places, but this is another level. The staff is incredible. It’s beyond expertise,” Burgos said. He likened the program to a winning baseball team: “You have the best pitcher, the right catcher. The right coach. All the pieces of the puzzle come together here in one place.”

After two weeks in ReCharge, Burgos left feeling stronger and more confident getting around. His speech and strength improved, as did his ability to do more things on his own.

“Robert got stronger. It was a positive experience. There was intense therapy on a daily basis,” his wife, LuAnn Burgos, said. “We would highly recommend the ‘ReCharge’ program to anyone living with a serious condition like my husband. You can actually see that his muscles are stronger.”

Talya K. Fleming, M.D., Medical Director of the JFK Johnson Stroke Recovery Program, said outpatient therapy has great value for patients recovering from stroke as well as those living with complex conditions. The two-week ReCharge “boot camp” serves individuals with Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, stroke, spinal cord injury, COPD, traumatic brain injury, amputation, chronic heart failure, encephalopathy, transplant and other illnesses and injuries.

“If patients are declining, and especially if they are at risk of falling, the intensity of the ReCharge program can make an enormous difference in their lives,” Dr. Fleming said. “We want to keep people home and out of the hospital. And we want people to live as independently and as well as they possibly can.”

A skilled, multidisciplinary team, along with physician specialists and 24-hour nursing care, provides rigorous therapies, medication evaluation and innovative approaches. Patients must be able to tolerate three hours of therapy each day, which could include physical, occupational, cognitive and other therapies. Patients may also meet with nutritionists, social workers and case managers.

The program is tailored for each patient. People with COPD, for instance, will receive pulmonary rehabilitation and people with amputations will receive prosthetic and orthotic management.

“We focus on getting our ReCharge patients stronger, steadier and more independent,” said Sara Cuccurullo, M.D., Medical Director of JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute. “Our goal is to make their lives at home better, keep them out of the hospital and improve their overall function and quality of life.”

After patients complete the program, they return to the care of their physician. Most insurance companies, including Medicare, cover ReCharge. The ReCharge program will apply for insurance coverage for patients and handle the paperwork.

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