On The Grow!

Since 2017, Advanced Motion Rehabilitation has been expanding their practice in Red Hill to include Personal Training, Pelvic Floor Rehab, and most recently, they have brought on a second Physical Therapist. Meet Sandrina Alexander, PT, MSPT. AMR’s newest team member! In 2003, Sandrina graduated from Misericordia University with a Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy, along with a bachelor’s degree in Health science and a minor in Psychology.

From early on, Sandrina had an interest in the medical field for her career. Her first influence was her uncle who is an emergency room physician. He recommended that she check out physical or occupational therapy. This led to Sandrina volunteering in the rehab department of her local hospital. Her duties there included transporting patients, assisting the therapists with non-patient care, and helping clean up. “I really enjoyed getting to know the patients during this time. Everyone has a story and I just love taking it all in,” says Sandrina.

After graduating Sandrina started to hone in on what the focus area of her career would be. Her calling would soon be found in her first job that included several different areas; including outpatient, acute care, and inpatient rehab. She found that direction in the neurological population. This area included patients who had strokes, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injuries, Parkinson’s disease, and peripheral neuropathy.

In 2015, Sandrina expanded her knowledge base even further by attaining her Certification in Vestibular therapy at Emory University. Her practice began to focus on gait and balance. “I enjoy working with the neurological population as it is so rewarding. Seeing patients improving with daily tasks such as getting out of bed, standing up from a chair and walking makes every day worth it.”, says Sandrina. She recently obtained a certificate that specializes in treatments geared towards Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system and the parts of the body controlled by the nerves.Manyexperts believe that Physical therapy can help people with Parkinson’s disease by improving balance, muscle tone and ability to move. With 20 years of experience coupled with her wealth of knowledge in post-surgical rehab from years of working in hospitals, Sandrina is an excellent addition and compliment to the Advanced Motion Rehabilitation team.

If you need Physical Therapy, or know someone that could benefit from Physical Therapy, please give our office a call at 215-622-6285. We offer our services in a unique one on one setting within a quiet environment. Call today and experience the AMR difference!

Parkinson’s Disease by the numbers:

•Nearly one million people in the U.S. are living with Parkinson’s disease (PD). This number is expected to rise to 1.2 million by 2030. Parkinson’s is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s disease.

•Nearly 90,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with PD each year.

•More than 10 million people worldwide are living with PD.

•The incidence of Parkinson’s disease increases with age, but an estimated four percent of people with PD are diagnosed before age 50.

•Men are 1.5 times more likely to have Parkinson’s disease than women.

In a perfect world, you’d be able to walk your dog yourself several times a day. Unfortunately, your job, health, or other commitments may not always let you do so. Almost anyone can walk a dog, but how do you choose a good dog walker you can trust? Finding a professional dog walker can seem like a daunting task. These days, there seems to be an abundance of dog walkers, each offering different services, varying experience, and pricing structure. There are currently no regulations on who can become a dog walker, so anyone can throw their hat in the ring. But what sets dog walkers apart? Doing your homework is vital for your peace of mind as well as your dogs well being. At Harley and Co., we pride ourselves on making sure when you entrust us with your best friend, you get the best, most reliable experience available.

So what sets Harley & Co. apart?

Harley & CO. was started in 2022 by Nicole Olsen. But, her story starts well before that. From an early age, Nicole has been an avid animal lover. She grew up around German Shepherds & a LOT of cats! In fact, she learned to walk a dog before she was in kindergarten. She would leash up her dogs and take them for pretend walks around the house! Since her mom was such a pushover, she had a zoo growing up. Dogs, cats, ferrets, hamsters, lizards, birds, ponies, horses, even a tarantula! And she loved on all of them. Nicole’s bond with the animal world was so strong, and so precious, it was easy for her mom to say yes to every rescued mouse and bird she took in! When Nicole announced she was going to become a dog walker, it was no shock to anyone that knew her. She started her first dog walking company, No Worries Animal Care when she was 16. She went from there to pursue dog grooming, but found she would rather play with the dogs then groom them, so after spending a few years working for a dog walker, she decided once again to branch out on her own. Thus, Harley & CO. was born, named after her beloved German Shepherd, Harley. As for the CO., well, the business name wouldn’t fit on a business card if she had to use all the names of the pets she currently owns! (Side note: Kevin, her goat, feels slightly offended to be clumped in with the CO. designation.)

When picking a dog walker, whether it is for daily walks while you’re at work, or overnight house sitting, there are a few things to consider:

Is it love at first sight for your dog?

At Harley & CO., we set up a meet and greet to get to know your dog, or any animal you would like us to care for. Your dog should feel comfortable and excited for their walks, not anxious. We make sure that we are a perfect match, and if not, we won’t force the issue. Ultimately, your dog or pet has the final say!

Does your dog have special needs?

Harley & CO. can care for your dogs special needs, from medications and injections, to diapering or cleaning up messy dogs. We recognize if your dog is having a bad day, and we adjust walks accordingly as well. If your dog is high energy or dog reactive towards strange dogs, we are capable of handling those situations also.

We are prepared for emergencies.

A good professional dog walker should know exactly what to do in the event of an emergency. At Harley and CO., we know how to handle situations like an injury, a slipped leash, a snake bite, or a dog fight. We are trained in basic pet first aid. We are able to calm a fearful or aggressive dog down or break up fights as needed.

We prefer positive reinforcement training.

At Harley & CO., we believe in positive, reward-based training methods. The last thing you want is for your dog’s beloved walk to turn into a stressful time of yelling or punishment if they do something ‘wrong.’

At Harley & CO, we are licensed and insured. We hope never to have to use it, but in case of mishaps, we carry liability insurance to help put your mind at ease. From simple daily dog walks, to overnight vacation stays in your home, or on your farm, we have you covered.

In short, there’s a big difference between someone looking to make some quick money and someone who truly enjoys spending time with animals. It’s easy to spot a true dog lover versus someone who merely tolerates dogs. We love ALL the animals, and we take our job very seriously. We treat your best friend like they are our own, and we hope it shows in everything we do. We send photos, communicate daily, and we are very responsive to your needs as a pet owner.

We recognize that it isn’t easy to leave your furry friend in the care of a stranger, but we are confident that after a few visits, we won’t be strangers any longer. We hope you give us a call the next time you find yourself in need of a pet sitter or dog walker. Let us show you why we think Harley & CO. is your number one choice!