CentraState Physical Therapist Honored For Balance Program

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP, NJ — Shannon Lenahan, a physical therapist at CentraState Medical Center, has been named the 2017 Rising Star Young Professional by the American Physical Therapy Association of New Jersey, according to a news release from the hospital.

Lenahan earned the Rising Star award for her efforts related to community health. She led CentraState Medical Center’s efforts to help people prevent falls through its "Matter of Balance" program. She currently is working on making CentraState’s Parkinson program the premier community hospital initiative.

Matter of Balance consists of eight classes designed to reduce falls and the fear of falling. The program gives participants exercises to improve their balance but additionally addresses the fears many older adults have related to falling, and the ways in which this impacts their activity levels and quality of life, the hospital website said.

Lenahan has been a physical therapist for four years and serves as the central district chair of the APTANJ. She also is a state representative to the APTA House of Delegates, and will be presenting at The American Physical Therapy Association meeting in February (10,000 therapists attending) on CentraState’s Matter of Balance program, the hospital said.

CentraState Healthcare System is a nonprofit community health organization consisting of an acute-care hospital, a health and wellness campus, three senior living communities, a Family Medicine Residency Program, and a charitable foundation. CentraState’s teaching program is sponsored by Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

Shannon Lenahan holds her 2017 Rising Star Young Professional Award that was bestowed her by the American Physical Therapy Association of New Jersey. Photo provided by CentraState Medical Center