Getting to Know...Ryan Starner, Elite Therapy Solutions

It's time to for another edition of "Getting to Know..." This week's edition features Ryan Starner! Ryan is the clinic manager at Elite Therapy Solution's New Oxford location. Let's meet Ryan!

A little background...Ryan received his bachelor’s degree from Penn State University in 2017 and earned his doctorate in physical therapy from Chatham University in Pittsburgh in 2019. He also completed a residency with a focus in orthopedic physical therapy in March 2022. Ryan, a native of New Oxford, developed a passion for physical therapy (PT) as a result of participating in PT to rehabilitate following injuries sustained as an athlete in high school. He believes every individual has the right to an active life and is passionate about empowering others to achieve their goals. In his free time, he enjoys being outdoors, participating in sports and leading an active lifestyle through hobbies such as trips to the lake, hiking, hunting and golfing.

What originally got you interested in your current field of work?
I was injured multiple times in high school and attended physical therapy to rehab those injuries. In the process, I built a relationship with my physical therapist and grew to love the atmosphere, the idea of helping people regain their lifestyle and the individual interaction that therapists were able to give their patients. From there, with my sports background, my passion grew and led me to the path of becoming a physical therapist.

What is your favorite part of your workday?
My favorite part of the workday is any point in time when I am working with a patient who is able to do a task or activity that they previously could not do (stairs, walking, bending over to pick up an object) for the first time in weeks/months. It brings me great joy seeing the happiness and excitement on their face knowing they are regaining 

their independence and overall functional ability again. That is easily the most rewarding and enjoyable part of my job as a physical therapist. 
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What is the career highlight you are most proud of?
I am most proud of completing my orthopedic residency in physical therapy. It was a specialized one year program focused on the evaluation and management of orthopedic injuries and conditions from a physical therapy perspective. The program has allowed me to grow my skills and ability to be a leading professional in the area for physical therapy and I believe it was a valuable education that is going to translate into the overall improvement in health and wellness in our community. 

What is the best way to avoid injuries when exercising?
The biggest tip I can give to avoid injuries is to master form and proper technique with activity and lifting tasks. Performing movements less than optimally with increased weight or intensity can lead to poor movement patterns and increase the likelihood of injury to various body parts. Maintaining proper positioning or ​

learning the most optimal movement patterns will reduce stress on the body and allow for safe and effective exercising, allowing you to continue to do what you enjoy longer. 
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Do you have any pets? If so, what are their names and what type of animal(s) are they?
I have one pet, and her name is Onyx. She is a nine year old black Labrador retriever.
 
What are some of your hobbies when you aren’t at work?
My favorite hobbies outside of work are spending time with my friends and family. I enjoy going to Penn State football games in the fall as well as going hunting. My friends and I frequent Lake Raystown and spend time at a cabin and enjoying the outdoors. My fiancé and I enjoy the outdoors and will go kayaking and hiking. We also like to visit historical sites in our free time.  Overall, anything that involves being active and outside is what interests me the most.