Beat the Heat
Lets talk about working out in the heat… What’s the new sound of the summer? Air conditioners turning on! No doubt about it, it has been a hot and extended summer. And with hotter temperatures comes concerns about hydration. Water is as important to exercise as stretching, if not more so. Without water, our muscles cannot recover properly, and we even run the risk of some serious adverse effects such as dizziness, passing out, and even heat stroke in severe cases. So how should we be hydrating? Well lets defer to the experts at the CDC and use their tried and true hydration tips for before, during, and after working out in the heat. (more information at https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/userfiles/works/pdfs/2017-126.pdf) Before a workout My old cross-country coach used to say “if you are feeling thirsty, you are already too late.” Unfortunately, our systems for thirst and dehydration are a bit “delayed” shall…
Top 20% in Patient Satisfaction
Renaissance Home Health has earned the 2022 SHPBestTM “Superior Performer” Patient Satisfaction Award Exton, PA, August 30, 2023 – Renaissance Home Health (RHH) has been recognized by Strategic Healthcare Programs (SHP) as a “Superior Performer” for achieving an overall patient satisfaction score that ranked in the top 20% of all eligible SHP clients for the 2022 calendar year. The annual SHPBest™ award program was created to acknowledge home health agencies that consistently provide high quality service to their patients. The 2022 award recipients were determined by reviewing and ranking the overall satisfaction score for around 2,500 home health providers. With the largest HHCAHPS benchmark in the nation, SHP is in a unique position to identify and recognize organizations that have made patient satisfaction a priority and have been rewarded for their efforts with high marks on the HHCAHPS survey. “SHP is proud to present the SHPBest awards to our top-performing customers. We…
Returning from an Injury
Lets talk about getting back into exercise after an injury… Recently, I suffered an injury to my right shoulder that prevented me from doing my normal exercise routine for about a month. It took about a month to have enough function to return to where I feel safe and capable of returning to upper body exercise which truthfully felt like a daunting task. However, through using the principles below, I was able to safely and gradually return to my normal routine. About 4 weeks ago I suffered a training accident that resulted in a compression injury to my right shoulder (think falling straight onto your shoulder). Luckily, I was able to get an appointment with an orthopedic specialist the next day. They ruled out any major damage to the shoulder and cleared me to start exercising to my tolerance. This was a huge relief, but now I have to answer…
One-On-One Physical Therapy
1 to 1 Care. It should be standard for all medical practices. After all, when you go to a doctor’s office, you’re not in a room with 3 other people each describing what brings you into the office. So why shouldn’t the rest of your medical care be the same.
That’s where we are changing the game at Full Range Physical Therapy. WE bring individual care to injury rehabilitation, and WE lead by example. By scheduling at one of our clinic…
Active Spring Tips
Warmer weather and longer days are finally here! It’s time to get outside and enjoy that much needed sunshine. Whether you’re going for a long walk, taking out that bicycle that’s in the corner of your garage, or starting to prep your garden beds for a summer bloom, try these helpful tips to help stay injury free! #1: Start Slow The new warm weather tends to make us want to spend as much time outside as possible, be it walking, running, cycling, gardening, or even swimming. While it’s important to get your daily dose of sunshine, it’s even more important to prevent injury. The best thing you can do is start slow and listen to your body. It’s normal to feel aches and pains, but consistent pain that does not go away can be a sign that you may be doing too much. Start SLOW and and take periodic rests!…
Consistency Is Key
Consistency is key in everything! Whether is it education, your profession, or your health, consistently practicing, studying, and performing good habits is an important key to success. But when it comes to healthcare, there is another side of consistency that is key: developing a quality group of providers that has your best interest at heart! For some of your providers, this is easy. Having the same primary care, or family doctor, is a regular expectation in our healthcare system. Having a consistent team of specialists when you need them is a bit more challenging. But when it comes to home health or outpatient care, it may seem that you don’t have a choice! Having a consistent home health or outpatient team, including nursing, therapies, etc…, is crucial to reaching your goals! When you have the same team each session you develop a trust in them AND they understand your challenges,…
Direct Access Physical Therapy
You feel it. You started feeling at soon as you picked up that heavy load of laundry, and that low back pain has grown since that time. Youve dealt with this before, and you know what’s coming. To make matters worse, you simply don’t have the time. You’ve got a long list of things to do. You know that physical therapy will help but simply don’t have time to wait for a Doctor’s appointment, go to the office, get a prescription and finally make that appointment for therapy. The good news is… you can cut out a few steps. Physical Therapists in Pennsylvania can see you without a doctor’s prescription. Therapists with a Direct Access License can work with you for up to 30 days before needing a prescription or referral. Even more, we will contact your doctor and keep them in the loop from day 1! This way there…
Ready for the slopes?
A quick message from Brian Mallon, PT, DPT at Full Range PT- West Chester! The season has finally turned, and the snow has fallen. A quick reminder to all of us snow lovers that snow sporting activities are about to kick into high gear. Be it skiing, snowboarding, sledding or tubing, winter fun is finally upon us. If you are like me, you wake up every day and check the Poconos ski report and the Poconos weather forecast. You can’t wait to finally strap that equipment to your legs and let gravity control your destiny. Here in Pennsylvania, we don’t get a particularly long season by comparison. More notable ski locations do boast bigger mountains, more trails and the most divine snow you could ask for, but with COVID restricting our travel, we must make the most of every chance we have to glide down a slope of pillowy ice crystals. While we can’t make…
RPE & COVID-19
By: Dr. Patrick Rutledge at Full Range PT- Drexel Hill Whether recovering from COVID-19, pneumonia, or deconditioned from lack of activity, catching your breath, or even simply breathing may be difficult at times. For some, this may be due to weakened lungs and cardiovascular system, too much streaming and comfort foods during the pandemic, or even the daily donning of thick face masks to prevent the spread of the virus while out in public or at the workplace. Why does this matter? Typically, when someone is meeting with their doctor or medical professional, their vitals and general health is assessed through blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation of their blood. These can be quickly measured via a BP cuff, finger pulse oximeter, and visually assessing their respiratory rate. However, a quick assessment that is often under utilized is called the Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE). The…
Getting Moving… Again
By: Dr. Brian Mallon at Full Range West Chester It’s that time of year. The Holidays. Spreading cheer, love and happiness. This year of course, all from a 6-foot distance. It’s also that time of year for people to enjoy the many holiday treats we’ve come to expect over the years. Holiday cookies, pumpkin pies, leftover candy from Halloween. This does have the tendency to show a bit of our holiday cheer around our midsection, leading many to get that age-old New Year’s resolution “I’m gonna go to the gym and get in shape”. This year, as we are all aware, due to the pandemic, everything has changed. Gyms are closed in most areas again, and the cold weather does not serve as a great motivator. That leaves us in a tght spot! What can we do to get motivated, get in shape and shave off the results of those holiday treats? Here are 5 easy tips to…