Advanced PT in PA - Advanced Physical Therapy and Fitness

office photo

Our Services

Testimonials

Pam J. (Patient):

Working closely with my doctor; Ann focused on my particular needs while stepping out of the box when necessary to develop a personalized program that changed my life. My pain is reduced, my appetite has improved, I sleep better and I have more energy and stamina.

Ann's extensive knowledge, experience and intuitive insight lifted the 13 year glass ceiling on my chronic pain. She enabled my very successful recovery from neck surgery and gave me the gift of a viable existence.

Erin C. (Patient and Physical Therapist):

I was very impressed with Ann's knowledge and skill level and her ability to creatively problem-solve to address my changing needs. I feel like I greatly benefited from her PT services and would highly recommend her to anyone in need of adult orthopedic care.

Constance M. (Patient):

My physician arranged physical therapy for me at Advanced Physical Therapy and Fitness in Mechanicsburg under the supervision of Dr. Ann Dennison, to whom the clinic belongs.

On my initial visit there, I was very impressed with the layout of the clinic. I did not see one huge gym with many people crowded together. There is one large room with various types of equipment and a number of smaller rooms for more private care. I was pleased with this. Ann spends quality time with each person.

Ann is highly educated and is well traveled. Her receptionist, Bonnie, is also very helpful. They are courteous, pleasant, friendly and inspire confidence. I have performed feats I never thought I would ever do and really enjoy. I enjoy being with these girls and have told my family members and friends what fun it is.

My 40-year-old granddaughter said that as long as she has known me, she has never seen me show so much enthusiasm about anything. My husband and two sons are also pleased.

Needless to say, I love my therapist.

Keith G. (Patient):

Dr. Ann is a very knowledgeable and competent professional who provides exemplary treatment and service to her clients.

William H. (Patient):

I could not be more impressed than I am about Advanced PT! Each PT and/or person was a wonderful experience, both professionally and personally. They are all the best."

Advanced Physical Therapy and Fitness

Advanced Physical Therapy and Fitness is an outpatient physical therapy practice specializing in care and prevention of orthopedic injuries.

Our focus is on YOU and our mission is to improve your quality of life by:

providing expert, one-on-one patient care
providing patient, caregiver, community and staff education
promoting wellness

As our patient, you can expect care from highly-educated and skilled clinicians who exhibit integrity and professionalism. And you can expect convenience - we have early morning and late afternoon appointments available, and participate with most major insurances. * No physician referral is required for most insurances.*

Advanced Physical Therapy and Fitness can provide you with an individualized treatment plan to:

Help you move better
Ease your pain
Help you recover from surgery
Teach you how to care for yourself
Help you prevent injury
Improve your quality of life

We accept most insurance plans including Medicare, worker's compensation and auto. Please call us at 717-790-9994 for information about your insurance coverage.

Lazy Summer or Deconditioning?

The weather is hot, the gym may be closed, and you've been relaxing - enjoying the lazy, hazy days of summer. Taking a day off here and there is no problem, but if you've been consistently missing your regular run, bike ride, or gym session and notice some aches and pains showing up, you might have the beginnings of deconditioning.

Deconditioning explained

Exercise creates many changes in your body - your heart begins to pump blood more efficiently, your muscles use oxygen more efficiently, they contract in a more coordinated manner, and your body gets more efficient turning food into fuel to name just a few. Deconditioning is the reversing of these changes. Exercise is a "use it or lose it" kind of thing, and deconditioning is the process by which we "lose it."

How long does it take to decondition?

As with most things related to a system as complex as the human body, it depends. According to the ACSM, two weeks without exercise can lead to significant loss of cardiovascular fitness. Two to eight months of detraining can erase virtually all of your gains. As you detrain, cardiovascular fitness tends to decline first, with muscle strength declining later.

Other factors are your age and your exercise history. If you're younger, you'll probably lose fitness at a slower rate than someone older. If you've been consistently exercising for a long time, or at a high intensity, your losses will probably be slower than for someone who just started.

Reversing the losses

If you're just undergoing a period of increased time commitments at work or with family, using a shortened exercise routine can help minimize your losses. Even one session a week will help you keep most of what you've gained. Other options are to use shorter but more intense interval training sessions, or breaking up your activity into multiple short chunks during the day. If your layoff was longer, it may take just as long to retrain as it did to make the gains initially. If you're having those aches and pains due to inactivity or need help designing a safe program to either maintain your fitness or gain it back after a layoff, your physical therapist can help. Injury and illness are other common reasons for detraining. Your PT can not only help you recover faster, but they can also find activities to maintain your fitness while safely working around an injury or illness.