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…
Holiday Hours
Modified Hours for the Holidays! Due to the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, our outpatient clinics will operate with modified hours over the next two weeks. All of our offices will be closed on Christmas day and New Year’s Day, with our home health division operating on-call services. Below are the modified hours: Full Range PT- Drexel Hill Monday: 12:00 – 8:00 pm Tuesday: 7:00 am – 3:00 pm Wednesday: 7:00 am – 3:00 pm Thursday: 12:00 – 8:00 pm Friday: Closed Full Range PT- West Chester Monday: 12:00 – 8:00 pm Tuesday: 7:00 am – 3:00 pm Wednesday: 7:00 am – 3:00 pm Thursday: 12:00 – 8:00 pm Friday: Closed
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…
IASTM… What is it?
Have you heard about instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization, or IASTM? It seems like there are new tools, new brands, and new trainings being developed all of the time, with some of the most familiar being Graston or HawkGrips. But really this type of treatment has been around for a very long time. IASTM is really a descendant of the art of Gua Sha. Gua Sha is more than 2,000 years old and originated in Eastern Asia. Now referred to as IASTM (instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization), it is a technique we use to treat a wide variety of conditions. Modern day tools are typically stainless steel and clinicians perform techniques to treat most muscular and soft tissue conditions, including tendonitis, muscle spasms, and more. These tools are used as a compliment to therapists’ hands-on treatment. IASTM aims to address the root of the issue that is causing your pain…
COVID-19: No Diagnosis, No Symptoms, Big Consequences
COVID-19: No Diagnosis, No Symptoms, Big Consequences Since early March, our lives have been flipped upside down. Social interaction has been discouraged. We have been told to stay in and most have! Many have followed the CDC, State, and Federal guidance in an effort to stay safe. But a new reality has come to light, safe has many meanings! Safety from COVID-19 is one aspect, but what about safety with general function? Many older adults have chosen to stay sheltered for months and have felt the consequences. Some say that for every day in bed, it takes 7 days to recover to lost endurance, lost strength, lost flexibility, lost range of motion, etc…. But what happens when we shelter inside for months? What happens when we get away from our daily routines, including walking, exercise, shopping, and typical life? For many, the answer many be nothing. We adapt and…
Green Expectations
Since March, we have been doing our best to “flatten the curve” as a community and has seemingly worked! But with the quarantine, social distancing, mask wearing, comes a feeling of hesitation, anxiety, and maybe even fear! Despite all of that, our region is now in the Green Phase! We are able to go out, stores are able to reopen, and a mild sense of normalcy is back. But what is normal? What is expected? How can you stay safe? While we can’t speak to every industry, when it comes to outpatient physical therapy and in-home services, we are here for you! We have been serving our community since 2014 and have continued to serve throughout the Pandemic. We have been keeping up with Federal, State, and Local guidelines, requirements, and trends. We have put protocols and policies in place to keep our team safe and keep you safe! And,…
Virtual Visits: What and How?
Coronavirus, also referred to as COVID-19, hit the world seemingly overnight launching a series of daily, weekly, and continuous changes to every aspect of our lives! Included in those changes was the approval of telehealth. We have had the good fortune of experiencing telehealth on a number of different levels and want to take a moment to give you our feedback! Telehealth, also called virtual visits, video visits, e-visits, etc…, was the topic of a number of updates that the government proposed. While many details continue to unfold regarding back-end specifics, these visits ensure social distancing, no introduction of outside germs, and provide the ability for someone to get the care they need when they need it! Pro’s Telehealth gives us the ability to make a positive impact on a person in their time of need. Telehealth ensures one-on-one attention. Telehealth minimizes outside contact. Telehealth has the ability to address…