Forefront Therapy
Physical Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Hypermobility
POTS / Dysautonomia
Chronic Pain
TMJ / Orofacial
Pelvic Floor
About
Dr. Jessica K Wood, OTD, OTR/L, BCP is Co-Owner of Forefront Therapy and Co-Founder of Forefront Community Therapy. As the Director of Pediatric Service, she has found the love and calling to serve the children and families with hypermobility and sensory integration dysfunction. Jessica is a Doctor of Occupational Therapy with Bachelor and Master degrees from Saint Louis University, and her Doctoral degree at Mount Mary University with study focused on sensory integration therapy. She is a AOTA Board Certified Specialist in Pediatrics. She has a breadth of knowledge in her field including work at University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital in the NICU, PICU, SICU, neurological units, orthopedic units, and burn units. Jessica served as an Assistant Professor in the Occupational Therapy Program at the University of Southern Indiana for 8 years. She is currently conducting pediatric research on sensory integration, presents at state/national conferences, and has multiple publications in peer-reviewed medical literature.
EDS Healthcare in New York
The NYIT EDS/Hypermobility Treatment Center operates in Old Westbury and Central Islip, offering specialized rehabilitation and treatment. Mount Sinai South Nassau Chiari EDS Center in Oceanside focuses on EDS with Chiari malformation. Weill Cornell provides pain management expertise. New York Medicaid covers genetic testing with prior authorization. Wait times at major programs can be 6 months or longer.
Both EDS Centers of Excellence are on Long Island, leaving upstate New York significantly underserved. Patients in Buffalo, Syracuse, Rochester, and the Adirondacks face drives of 4-6+ hours to reach these programs. Wait times of 6 months or more are common. Rural upstate access is very limited, and telehealth is important for follow-up care.
Finding Physical Therapy for EDS
When choosing a PT for EDS, ask whether they have experience with hypermobility and use stabilization-first protocols rather than standard stretching routines.