YOUR STORY MATTERS HERE: Dale Reckless, PT

By Jenny Monahan

Dale Reckless first knew he wanted to be a physical therapist when he was a junior in high school. One of his close friends was in a car accident and suffered a brain injury. Reckless accompanied him to some of his physical therapy appointments and often helped out during the sessions; he realized that was exactly what he wanted to do with his life.

Reckless has been a physical therapist for more than 30 years now, and still loves his work. A 1989 graduate of Ithaca College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy, Reckless began his professional career in Rochester, NY, working with adults and children with developmental disabilities.

In 1991, Reckless moved to Pittsburgh, PA, to work at Harmarville Rehabilitation Hospital, where he spent more than 22 years working in all areas of physical rehabilitation. He did inpatient rehabilitation in the areas of orthopedics, amputee, and spinal cord injury. In 1996, Reckless shifted into outpatient work and served as outpatient rehabilitation manager from 1998 – 2014. During that period, he specialized in neurological diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson’s and also in cerebrovascular accident (CVA or stroke) and traumatic brain injuries (TBI). He has lectured widely at area colleges and universities and holds special certifications in Parkinson rehabilitation.

In 2014, Reckless joined MRS Physical Therapy as the facility director of its Bridgewater location. Reckless opened his own clinic, Cranberry Physical Therapy, in 2015. He continues to practice in both Cranberry and Bridgewater.

“Seeing people improve—whether that means less pain, increased mobility, or maybe being able to do something they couldn’t do—is one of the best parts of this job,” Reckless explained. “I also love to be up and around, working directly with people. You have to be a people person to do physical therapy.”

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Reckless and his wife, Tracy, joined Dutilh Church more than ten years ago. Reckless said the church has been a home for his family, affording opportunities for both family and personal growth. The children’s programming and proximity of the cry room to the sanctuary were what first attracted Dale and Tracy to Dutilh.

“All our kids went to preschool here. They do VBS. They participate in FISH, FISH Jr., Chimes….Developing our children in their faith is important to us, and Dutilh offers that,” Reckless said.

“Personal growth for me has included men’s groups. I really love the Friday morning small group at Cracker Barrel—and I’m not a morning person, so it says something that I get up in time to be there at 6:30 a.m.!” Reckless joked. He has also led men’s ministry programs such as last spring’s “Raising a Modern-Day Knight” small group.

Dutilh has ultimately been invaluable because of the relationships, Reckless said. Connecting with people from Dutilh in the local community—whether in church, in the neighborhood, or on the sidelines of their kids’ sporting events—has given the family an opportunity to create meaningful relationships, Reckless explained. “People have to find their own path,” Reckless said, “but we love sharing what Dutilh has meant to us with our friends in the broader community and inviting them to be part of Dutilh.”

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Reckless’s faith has had a profound influence on his work.

“Physical therapy allows me to be a vessel and gives me an opportunity to serve God. God gave me these skills and this ability, and I want to use them to serve God. Being a physical therapist is a way to provide for people by using what God has given me,” Reckless explained.

When he first opened his clinic in Cranberry Township, Reckless invited Pastor Dwayne Burfield to the opening to bless the clinic and its work—an auspicious beginning that is right in line with Reckless’s approach to physical therapy as a means to serve God.

Reckless also volunteers his gifts in the community, where he is a living example of how to love God, love others, and love to serve. He leads two support groups for people with Parkinson’s disease. One in Butler County has 100 members, while the other in Beaver County has approximately 150 members. The groups offer emotional, social, and physical support to people dealing with Parkinson’s. He has been active with ParaOlympics, Disabled Sports USA, and the Pittsburgh Marathon wheelchair division.

After 30+ years in his profession, Reckless remains passionate and energized about physical therapy.

“I always enjoy when people approach me to ask questions. I love to help out,” Reckless said. He has often had students who are aspiring physical therapists job shadow him, and says it is an excellent way for someone to learn about whether the profession might be a good fit.

Reckless enjoys working in the community where he lives, and has a number of people from both the Dutilh family and broader Cranberry community as patients. Cranberry Physical Therapy treats individuals with all orthopedic and neurological diagnoses.

To find out more about Cranberry Physical Therapy, check out their website. If you or someone you know in the Dutilh family has an interesting story or profession, send us your ideas! We would love to help tell the story. Email: communications@dutilhumc.org.