Meet Jaquelyn Hedden | Physical Therapist & Owner of Alpenglow Movement Specialists

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jaquelyn Hedden and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jaquelyn, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
Growing up as a multi-sport athlete and spending years working as a lifeguard, I realized I had a love for both athletics and helping others. Not surprisingly, I later entered the medical field and found my passion in physical therapy.

Becoming a small business owner was not my original intention, but after nearly a decade of working in traditional physical therapy clinics where insurance and upper management had created toxic work environments that were far from conducive to truly serving our clients, I started to re-evaluate my priorities as a physical therapist. I began imagining how I could create a healing environment that prioritized patients and their goals while not being restricted by the constraints of insurance.

From there, the idea for Alpenglow Movement Specialists was born.

My goal was to take the things I love about my profession and remove the limitations that had plagued me as a physical therapist in traditional practice. I wanted to create a truly patient-centered environment that focuses on healing and teaching.

Alpenglow Movement Specialists works with clients who enjoy an active lifestyle, providing services including physical therapy, personal training, and movement education. For physical therapy, each client is assessed through a detailed evaluation aimed at identifying specific movement restrictions contributing to their concerns. Sessions are all one-on-one with a doctor of physical therapy, and treatments are tailored to each individual based on their specific needs and goals. We focus on addressing the root cause of a problem in order to achieve long-term relief. At Alpenglow Movement Specialists, our goal is to empower each client with the knowledge needed to take control of their health by spending time discussing their diagnosis, creating a plan to address it, and providing ways to manage symptoms long-term.

What should our readers know about your business?
Alpenglow Movement Specialists is a small business focusing on providing health and wellness services for the Colorado athlete. Just as the Colorado lifestyle is conducive to countless recreational sports and activities, Alpenglow Movement Specialists is geared to helping Coloradans stay healthy while doing the activities they enjoy. We provide services including physical therapy for injury recovery, health and wellness services to improve sports performance, and movement education to foster confidence in your fitness journey.

We believe that to effectively treat the Colorado athlete, we must step away from the cookie-cutter treatment approach of most traditional PT clinics. Here, every session is entirely one-on-one with a doctor and board-certified orthopedic specialist in physical therapy. We perform thorough evaluations and movement assessments to identify the root cause of the problem. From these assessments, we create individualized treatment programs tailored to each person and provide treatments that are a full hour in length and focus on reaching goals as efficiently as possible.

As a physical therapist and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), we are able to provide additional services including personal training and performance programs to aid in reaching health and wellness goals, Functional Movement Screens (FMS) to identify areas of restriction and strength, and gait analyses to deep-dive into running mechanics. Whether you are training for your first 5k road race, competing in a triathlon, or hiking a 14-er, we strive to provide a comprehensive approach to addressing health, fitness, and injury recovery.

Colorado offers a multitude of activities and sports to enjoy year-round, and Alpenglow Movement Specialists is here to help Coloradans succeed in their goals and hobbies. We are proud to be able to offer services geared to helping others do what they love without being constrained by the restrictions imposed by insurance. Through physical therapy, sports performance training, and movement education, we offer a unique experience in health and wellness. Check out our website for more information, or feel free to call for a no-cost consultation to determine what programs may be best for you.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Having grown up on the East coast, my husband and I were drawn to Colorado because of our love for the mountains and the active lifestyle that Colorado provides. When friends and family come to visit, we strive to give them a taste of the state’s beautiful sights, delicious food, and endless activities.

In our opinion, a visit to Colorado Springs requires a stop at the Garden of the Gods, an incredible vista that can be enjoyed with a scenic drive, on foot, or even horseback riding. Red Rock and Ute Valley Park are some of our other favorite open spaces, offering countless hiking trails with beautiful views of the city.

With so much hiking, we tend to work up an appetite which can be easily remedied by supporting local small businesses with tasty menus. Our favorite lunch spots are Oliver’s Deli and the Skirted Heifer, or dinner at Salsa on the Rock (each of which have vegetarian-friendly options). For dessert, a scoop or two from Josh & John’s Ice Cream is a must.

Whenever given the opportunity, we love to take our guests into the mountains where the activities are infinite. Pending the season, we may go cross-country skiing at Tennessee Pass (which is best enjoyed with a stop at their cookhouse yurt), or we may do some downhill skiing and snowboarding. In the warmer months, we love to show our guests the beauty that Colorado has to offer, hiking up to alpine lakes in Rocky Mountain National Park, camping at the Great Sand Dunes, or simply enjoying some of the other snowcapped vistas throughout the state. If our guests are particularly adventurous, we have been known to take them white water rafting down Browns Canyon! Regardless of your age, ability level, or interests, Colorado has activities for everyone.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Alpenglow Movement Specialists has been a dream of mine for years and would not be a reality today if it were not for the love and support of my husband, family, and friends.

From a young age, my parents instilled in me the belief that I can achieve anything I set my mind to. Empowered by this notion and with my family’s continuous support, I have been able to tackle every obstacle along my path to becoming a doctor of physical therapy and ultimately a small business owner.

My husband has been truly pivotal in the creation of this business. Throughout the highs and lows that inevitably come with taking the jump into owning a small business, my husband has stood by my side with unwavering faith in my abilities, believing in me and enthusiastically joining me on this adventure. This dream could not have become a reality if not for his love, encouragement, and support.

Website: www.alpenglowmovement.com

Instagram: @alpenglow.movement.specialists

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Alpenglow.Movement.Specialists