Hands On Physical Therapy
Toms River, Brick and Whiting/Manchester, NJ · physical therapy · serving Ocean County
In business since 2003. checked by us – handsonnj.com/locations, Nov 11 2026
Phone Toms River 732-736-7007 · Brick 732-746-3933 · Whiting/Manchester 732-849-5195 · Website handsonnj.com
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Hands On is a Garden State Circle partner; partnership funds this deeper record and its upkeep. It does not purchase inclusion in any guide or position within one.
What Hands On Does, and Where
Hands On Physical Therapy is a physical therapy practice in Ocean County, New Jersey. It has three clinics: Toms River, Brick and Whiting/Manchester. Its owner is Kenneth Pavlinec, PT, Cert MDT, a physical therapist. The first clinic opened in Lakewood in 2003.
checked by us – handsonnj.com, handsonnj.com/our-staff and handsonnj.com/locations, Nov 11 2026
Free pre-operative class
Hands On gives a free class of about 30 minutes to patients having a hip, knee or shoulder replacement. It is held three to four weeks before the surgery date, one patient at a time. It covers what to do now, the day of surgery, going home, and coming back to outpatient therapy. Hands On does not charge for it.
provided by the business – Nov 10 2026
The three clinics
| Toms River | 780 Route 37 West, Suite 210, Toms River, NJ 08755 Phone 732-736-7007 · Fax 732-736-7009 Opened 2003 in Lakewood, on Route 9. Moved to Toms River in 2008. Directions checked by us – handsonnj.com/locations, Google Maps, Yelp, Facebook and the HSS list, Nov 11 2026 |
| Brick | 224 Jack Martin Blvd, Unit E4, Brick, NJ 08724 Phone 732-746-3933 · Fax 732-746-3758 Opened 2005 at 400 New Hampshire Ave, Lakewood. Moved to Brick in 2014. Directions checked by us – handsonnj.com/locations, handsonnj.com/contact-us, Google Maps, Yelp and the HSS list, Nov 11 2026 |
| Whiting/Manchester | 60 Lacey Road, Whiting/Manchester, NJ 08759 Phone 732-849-5195 Opened October 2024. Hours: Mon 8 AM-8 PM, Tue 8 AM-5 PM, Wed 8 AM-8 PM, Thu 8 AM-8 PM, Fri 8 AM-2 PM. Closed Sat and Sun (Google Maps listing; the site prints no hours for this clinic). Directions checked by us – handsonnj.com/locations and Google Maps, Nov 11 2026 |
Toms River and Brick are listed in the HSS Rehabilitation Network (Hospital for Special Surgery). The site says Toms River joined in 2013 and Brick in 2014. Whiting/Manchester is not on the list.
checked by us – hss.edu Rehabilitation Network list and handsonnj.com, Nov 11 2026
What Hands On offers, and where
- Physical therapy and total joint rehab: Toms River, Brick and Whiting/Manchester.
checked by us – handsonnj.com/total-joint-rehab, Nov 11 2026 - McKenzie method (Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy): the site names four therapists as Cert MDT – Kenneth Pavlinec, Karen J. Schechter, Andrew Grando and Gregory O’Connor.
provided by the business – handsonnj.com/our-staff and handsonnj.com/services/mckenzie-specialist, read Nov 11 2026 - TMJ (jaw) treatment: Karen J. Schechter, at Brick.
provided by the business – Nov 10 2026 - Dry needling: Karen J. Schechter is certified through Intricate Art Spine and Body Solutions. The site’s dry needling page gives the Brick phone number.
checked by us – handsonnj.com/services/dry-needling and handsonnj.com/our-staff, Nov 11 2026 - Vertigo and dizziness: Gregory O’Connor holds a Vestibular Rehabilitation and Concussion certification from the American Institute of Balance (2022).
checked by us – handsonnj.com/our-staff, Nov 11 2026 - Pediatric physical therapy: Karen J. Schechter, at Brick.
checked by us – handsonnj.com/services/pediatric-specialist and handsonnj.com/locations, Nov 11 2026 - Manual lymphatic drainage and complete decongestive therapy (lymphedema): Christine Matecki.
checked by us – handsonnj.com/manual-lymphatic-drainage-complete-decongestive-therapy, Nov 11 2026 - Aquatic therapy: at the Toms River Fitness and Aquatic Center, 213 Route 37 East, Toms River, NJ 08753. The pool has six lanes, is 75 feet long and is kept at 82 degrees. Sessions run up to an hour; patients arrive 15 minutes early. The first evaluation is at a Hands On clinic.
checked by us – handsonnj.com/services/aquatic-therapy and trfitness.net, Nov 11 2026 - Who aquatic therapy is for, as Kenneth Pavlinec describes it: joints that will not tolerate loaded exercise, poor trunk control, people who cannot stand or walk for long, stenosis, very weak legs, weight, and some neurological, orthopaedic and paediatric cases. The patient is evaluated on land first, then sent to the pool.
provided by the business – Nov 10 2026 - Equipment: Total Gym, and an AlterG treadmill at each of the three clinics. Both reduce the load on the joints.
provided by the business – Nov 10 2026 - The gyms are open, so therapists can see everyone at once. Closed rooms are used where privacy is needed.
provided by the business – Nov 10 2026 - Also on the site’s list of services: Beyond Massage & Bodywork Center, Anodyne, and 1-on-1 personal training.
checked by us – handsonnj.com/services, Nov 11 2026
Towns served
The home page names Bayville, Beachwood, Lavallette, Lakewood, Jackson, Point Pleasant, Forked River, Silverton and Lakehurst, and says it serves all areas of Ocean County. The Locations page says Whiting is reachable from Toms River, Manchester, Forked River and Manahawkin.
checked by us – handsonnj.com and handsonnj.com/locations, Nov 11 2026
The People
Kenneth Pavlinec
PT, Cert MDT
Licence. Physical Therapist, 40QA00730700. Active on the New Jersey register, read Nov 11 2026.
Role. Owner. The site names him a chief PT at Toms River.
Clinic. Toms River
Training. Quinnipiac, 1997, Cum Laude
Certification. Certified MDT (McKenzie), 2001
Memberships. APTA
Karen J. Schechter
PT, Cert MDT
Licence. Physical Therapist, 40QA00472000. Active on the New Jersey register, read Nov 11 2026.
Clinic. Brick
Training. Daemen University, 1989
Certifications. Cert MDT. UMDNJ specialisation in orofacial and TMJ disorders. Dry needling, certified through Intricate Art Spine and Body Solutions.
Andrew Grando
PT, DPT, Cert MDT
Licence. Physical Therapist, 40QA01560400. Active on the New Jersey register, read Nov 11 2026.
Role. The site names him a chief PT at Toms River.
Clinics. Toms River and Whiting/Manchester
Training. Moravian College (biology and psychology). DPT, Rutgers, 2014.
Certification. Cert MDT (McKenzie), 2016
Gregory O’Connor
PT, DPT, MS, Cert MDT
Licence. Physical Therapist, 40QA01867400. Active on the New Jersey register, read Nov 11 2026.
Training. University of Delaware (athletic training). MS, East Stroudsburg University, 2016. DPT, Rutgers, 2019.
Certifications. Cert MDT, 2021. Vestibular Rehabilitation and Concussion certification, American Institute of Balance, 2022.
Taylor Pieroni
PT, DPT
Licence. Physical Therapist, 40QA02279400. Active on the New Jersey register, read Nov 11 2026.
Training. Loyola University Maryland. DPT, Rutgers.
Christine Matecki
PTA, LMT, MLD-CLT
Licences. Physical Therapist Asst, 40QB00370200. Active on the New Jersey register, read Nov 11 2026.
Massage and Bodywork Therapist, 18KT00792500. Active on the New Jersey register, read Nov 11 2026.
Training. Rowan University, 2012. PTA, Union County College, 2019. New Jersey massage licence, 2015.
Certifications. Norton School of Lymphatic Therapy (MLD/CDT). Academy of Lymphatic Studies (post-op and oncology MLD). Certified Yoga Instructor. Ashiatsu.
Licences: checked by us – New Jersey licence register, newjersey.mylicense.com, Nov 11 2026. Credentials, training and certifications: provided by the business – handsonnj.com/our-staff, read Nov 11 2026. Roles, clinics and photos: checked by us – handsonnj.com/our-staff and handsonnj.com/locations, Nov 11 2026. TMJ at Brick: provided by the business – Nov 10 2026.
How You Become a Patient
- Call a clinic
Toms River 732-736-7007, Brick 732-746-3933, Whiting/Manchester 732-849-5195.
checked by us – handsonnj.com/new-appointments, Nov 11 2026 - What to bring
An insurance card, and clothing suited to the part of the body being treated. A new patient form can be downloaded from the Forms page on handsonnj.com.
checked by us – handsonnj.com/new-appointments, Nov 11 2026 - The first visit
The therapist asks first: when it hurts, what makes it better or worse, the time of day, sitting still or moving, coughing or sneezing, waking at night, sleeping on the side. Then the therapist measures: active and passive range of motion, strength, and special tests. If the two do not agree, the patient’s account guides the first session and the second session follows the findings.
provided by the business – Nov 10 2026
The first evaluation decides what is done for the condition. An appointment takes one hour to one hour and 30 minutes, depending on the case.
checked by us – handsonnj.com/faqs, Nov 11 2026 - After the first visit
The patient gets one, maybe two, exercises to do at home, sometimes very often.
provided by the business – Nov 10 2026
The same therapist sees the patient for the whole course of care. A covering therapist steps in during vacation days.
checked by us – handsonnj.com/faqs, Nov 11 2026
Coming from HSS. A patient who has surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan gets Hands On’s details from HSS or finds the website, then calls the clinic. The clinic does not get the patient’s name beforehand. Kenneth Pavlinec says HSS inspects the clinics each year: the facility, equipment testing, charts and documentation, safety standards, and therapists’ continuing education.
provided by the business – Nov 10 2026
What It Costs
The cost of each visit varies with the treatment the condition needs.
checked by us – handsonnj.com/faqs, Nov 11 2026
Insurance
Hands On submits to all insurance companies, including Blue Cross & Blue Shield, Aetna, Medicare, and work, auto and school accident insurers. It also submits to out-of-network carriers such as Oxford, St Barnabas and Qualcare, and to secondary carriers. The office bills the insurance company directly. The patient pays the deductible and the co-insurance or co-payment.
Plans the site lists: Aetna; Aetna Medicare; Allstate; American Specialty Health/ASH; Amica; All auto insurance policies; Blue Cross Blue Shield out of state plans; Care First; Cigna PPO; Cigna Open Access; Care IQ; CHN; Clover; Farmer’s; GHI; GEHA; Geico; Hartford; Healthnet federal services; Horizon BCBS Omina (tier 1 biller); Horizon Medicare Advantage; Horizon HMO/PPO/POS; Horizon Casualty; Horizon NJ Direct; Horizon Blue Choice; Horizon Traditional Plans; Horizon NJ Carpenters Fund; Humana; Integrated Health Care inc. (UMR); Liberty Mutual; Medicare; Medrisk; Meritain Health; Multiplan; Nationwide; NJ Manufacturers; One Call Care; PHCS (Private Health Insurance); Plymouth Rock; Procura; Progressive; State Farm; Sedgewick; SPNet; Tricare; United Health Care/Optum Health; Unitedhealthcare PPO/POS.
checked by us – handsonnj.com/faqs/insurance-faqs, Nov 11 2026
Who checks and who bills
The front office verifies the insurance and tells the patient what the insurer said. If the explanation of benefits comes back different, the office calls the patient back with the verification number. The front office handles pre-authorisation, and billing is done in house. Any authorisation needed once therapy has started is handled by Hands On.
provided by the business – Nov 10 2026; checked by us – handsonnj.com/faqs/insurance-faqs, Nov 11 2026
Self-pay
Self-pay (cash) visits are offered.
provided by the business – Nov 10 2026
Free transportation
Toms River and Brick offer free transportation to post-operative patients, and to very elderly patients who do not or may not drive.
provided by the business – Nov 10 2026
Massage and bodywork prices
$99.99
60-minute Swedish, medical regional, oncology, prenatal or sports massage
$109.99
Deep tissue massage
$119.99
Hot stone massage
$49.99
30-minute cold stone facial
$84.99 a month
Membership
Prices are Beyond Massage & Bodywork Center’s, as the site prints them.
checked by us – handsonnj.com/services/beyond-massage-bodywork-center, Nov 11 2026
Reviews, As We Found Them
| Google, Toms River | 4.9 average, 115 reviews. Read Nov 11 2026. |
| Google, Brick | 4.8 average, 33 reviews. Read Nov 11 2026. |
| Google, Whiting/Manchester | 4.9 average, 37 reviews. Read Nov 11 2026. |
| Yelp, Toms River | 5.0 average, 12 reviews shown; Yelp lists 7 more as not currently recommended. Read Nov 11 2026. Read them on Yelp |
| Yelp, Brick | 5.0 average, 2 reviews. Read Nov 11 2026. Read them on Yelp |
What reviewers return to checked by us – from the reviews we read, not all reviews: Google Toms River about 19 of 115, Google Brick about 29 of 33, Google Whiting about 10 of 37, Yelp Toms River 10 of 12, Nov 11 2026
- Staff are described as friendly and caring, including the front desk and the aides. This runs through reviews at all three clinics and on Yelp.
- Patients often name a therapist by first name. At Brick the TMJ and children’s care is tied to one therapist in a few reviews; at Whiting and Toms River, one or two therapists are named in several reviews.
- Several reviews say the therapist took time to listen and understand the problem, set goals, and gave exercises to do at home.
- A few reviews raise a problem: billing or phone and scheduling communication (a few reviews at different clinics), and one or two older reviews on how hard a single session felt. The owner replied to the billing and scheduling ones.
Garden State Circle Verified
Verified means: identity verified, credentials checked where applicable, information reviewed directly with the business, and maintained over time. Hands On Physical Therapy is a Garden State Circle partner; partnership funds this deeper record and its upkeep. It does not purchase inclusion in any guide or position within one.
Last reviewed: Nov 11 2026.
Verification
| Business name | Hands On Physical Therapy. The site also prints the name Institute of Manual Therapy, LLC. checked by us – handsonnj.com and handsonnj.com/faqs, Nov 11 2026 |
| Owner | Kenneth Pavlinec, PT, Cert MDT. The site says the practice is operated and owned by a physical therapist. checked by us – handsonnj.com/our-staff and handsonnj.com/faqs, Nov 11 2026 |
| Toms River clinic | 780 Route 37 West, Suite 210, Toms River, NJ 08755 checked by us – handsonnj.com/locations, Nov 11 2026 |
| Brick clinic | 224 Jack Martin Blvd, Unit E4, Brick, NJ 08724 checked by us – handsonnj.com/locations, Nov 11 2026 |
| Whiting/Manchester clinic | 60 Lacey Road, Whiting/Manchester, NJ 08759 checked by us – handsonnj.com/locations, Nov 11 2026 |
| Kenneth Pavlinec | Physical Therapist, 40QA00730700. Active on the New Jersey register, read Nov 11 2026. checked by us – New Jersey licence register, Nov 11 2026 |
| Karen J. Schechter | Physical Therapist, 40QA00472000. Active on the New Jersey register, read Nov 11 2026. checked by us – New Jersey licence register, Nov 11 2026 |
| Andrew Grando | Physical Therapist, 40QA01560400. Active on the New Jersey register, read Nov 11 2026. checked by us – New Jersey licence register, Nov 11 2026 |
| Gregory O’Connor | Physical Therapist, 40QA01867400. Active on the New Jersey register, read Nov 11 2026. checked by us – New Jersey licence register, Nov 11 2026 |
| Taylor Pieroni | Physical Therapist, 40QA02279400. Active on the New Jersey register, read Nov 11 2026. checked by us – New Jersey licence register, Nov 11 2026 |
| Christine Matecki | Physical Therapist Asst, 40QB00370200. Active on the New Jersey register, read Nov 11 2026. Massage and Bodywork Therapist, 18KT00792500. Active on the New Jersey register, read Nov 11 2026. checked by us – New Jersey licence register, Nov 11 2026 |
Source: New Jersey licence register, newjersey.mylicense.com, read Nov 11 2026. Addresses: handsonnj.com/locations, read Nov 11 2026.
Common Questions
How long are your appointments?
All appointments can take one hour to one hour and 30 minutes depending on how involved the case is.
What is the charge per visit and what is my cost?
The cost of each visit is variable and based upon the type of treatment required for your condition.
What’s the credentials Certified MDT stand for?
Certified MDT stands for “Certified in Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy” for treatment of pain of spinal origin. This is also more commonly known as A McKenzie clinician. These certifications were post graduate work that took our therapists over two years to obtain and required an examination that was both written and practical.
What will you do for my shoulder/back/knee etc?
This is probably our favorite question. Not all conditions are created equal. There is no cook book recipe for any one condition. The initial evaluation determines what will be done for your condition to be treated.
Will I have a different therapist each time?
No. We feel it is important to maintain continuity of care for the duration of your care. That is why we have one therapist facilities. Yes, our therapists do take vacation days but our covering therapist is more than capable of handling your case.
Is your clinic operated or owned by special interest groups?
No. We are an independent free standing facility that is operated and owned by a physical therapist. We take pride in the fact that physicians confidently refer their patients to us because of our reputation.
Answers as Hands On prints them on handsonnj.com/faqs and handsonnj.com/faqs/insurance-faqs. Two sentences are left off. checked by us – handsonnj.com/faqs, Nov 11 2026
Something out of date?
If anything on this page is wrong, email admin@gardenstatecircle.com and we will check it and fix it. There is no charge for a correction, and it applies whether or not a business participates in Garden State Circle.
Garden State Circle is published by Tiffany and Jake Slowinski.
