Accelerate Therapy & Performance - May/June 2022

Accelerate Therapy & Performance - May/June 2022

THE RECOVERY REVIEW

The Best Medicine Preventing One Workplace Injury at a Time

MAY/ JUNE 2022

As Mother’s Day approaches, I’m reminded that every moment you get to spend with your mom is a gift. My mother passed away 13 years ago, but I’m grateful for all the years I had her in my life. During that time, she instilled in me how to be my own person, stand by my beliefs, and do what’s right.

a worker constantly completes the same motions. The goal is to keep employees from needing to see a doctor in the first place by showing them how to control their own health. The changes can be very simple. We often coach people on proper lifting and handling of items. It’s usually a casual approach when we show someone how to do something slightly different. “Try it for a week or two and see what happens,” we tell them. They almost always come back to us in amazement at how well the suggestion worked and its far-reaching impacts. For example, when a person stops lifting with their back and starts squatting to pick up boxes, their leg muscles strengthen. That means they can move around better — and often have more energy to play with their kids and spend time with their families. By having a physical therapist on-site and available, we’re making wellness personal. According to BLS, an average single claim costs a company $41,000 — and when a business has hundreds of people working with their bodies each day, the totals add up fast. Our program prevents injuries and saves money while providing individualized care. The management teams are happy because they have less paperwork, payouts, and gaps in work schedules to fill. And employees are happy because they feel better and can live fuller lives outside of work. It has always been my passion to take care of people. The injury prevention program is just one more way I can do that. I’ve stuck by it for years because I believe in it. That’s why I never back down in my mission to help others — just like Mom taught me.

When I married Alan, I also won the in-law lottery. Both of his parents are great, but I especially can’t say enough good things about his mom. She told me that she became a mother to become a grandma one day, and she has done far more than spoiling our kids rotten. (Though she does a little of that, too.) She’s interested in the caregiving aspect of being a grandparent, and she is always available to help our family when we need it. Aside from having a mother, I’ve found that one of the great blessings in life is being one. I love caring for people, especially my kiddos. It is my and Accelerate’s mission to help more people be and feel well. Recently, I have been traveling to promote and implement our corporate injury prevention program, which has really taken off in the past couple of years. Thankfully, my mother-in-law takes care of my children when I’m away so my husband doesn’t have to do it all. Our injury prevention program has been a labor of love for many years. They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and I’ve been beating that drum for a long time. In my view, every business with required physical work should have an active plan to prevent injuries. Companies are finally taking notice and signing up like never before. Through our injury prevention program, we serve businesses all across the country. We hire PTs and ATCs to work within our client’s location to deliver the type of care and coaching hardworking employees deserve. Their job is then to look after the health of all the employees and coach them on safer movement.

Much of the work takes place in factories and warehouses, and the goal is to address small complaints before

they become major problems. Minor or

intermittent aches and pains can progress into substantial injury down the road, especially when

- Delaine Fowler, PT, DPT

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5 Free Games to Exercise Your Brain BORED WITH WORDLE? TRYTHIS

Star Wordle: As you probably guessed, this is Wordle for “Star Wars” fans. The process is the same as with normal Wordle, but all of the five-letter words come from the “Star Wars” books and movies. Test your knowledge at StarWordle.com.

If you’re one of the 300,000 people who play the vocabulary- themed guessing game Wordle every day, we have good news: There are more online games just like it! Wordle went viral in October 2021. Although few people know it, the game actually started with romance. Software engineer Josh Wardle (yep, that’s where the name “Wordle” comes from) created it for his partner, Palak Shah. According to NPR, Palak loves word games — so to keep her entertained during COVID-19, Josh made her one! In January, he sold it to The New York Times for more than $1 million. Guessing the word of the day in five tries is addicting, and so is sharing your success on social media. But that spark might not last forever. To avoid total Wordle burnout and/or keep the fun going between daily puzzles, try these five other online games that also involve words, guessing games, or both. Quordle: Wordle masters love Quordle, which is the same basic game — except you have to guess four words at once on four different boards. You have just nine tries to solve the four daily puzzles, so bring your A game! Try it at Quordle.com.

Nerdle: Love words and math? This is the Wordle spinoff for you. Instead of guessing a word, players try to fill in a daily math equation and solution. Solve them at NerdleGame.com. Worldle: Leaving words behind entirely, in this game you guess the name of a country or territory from its outline! You have six chances, and each time you miss one, the game will give you more information about where the country is located relative to you. Play now at Worldle.teuteuf.fr. Words With Friends: This isn’t a Wordle spinoff, but if you’ve never played it, you’ll probably love it! Words With Friends is basically Scrabble for just two players, and you can play online or over the app. Like in Scrabble, you compete to score the most points. Spell those long words and win at WordsWithFriends.com.

May 1 kicks off National Pet Week, which celebrates the bond humans create with their animal companions. About 68% of American households have at least one pet, and most of us consider our four-legged (or winged or finned) friends to be a part of the family. But why do we choose to invite these creatures into our homes and dedicate ourselves to caring for them? Primarily, pets bring us joy. But, perhaps surprisingly, there are health benefits, too. In particular, dog owners have a lower risk of several significant health conditions, possibly thanks to the extra exercise they might receive. One study found that people aged 40–80 who live alone have an 11% lower risk of heart attack, 36% lower risk of death by cardiovascular disease, and 33% risk of death overall when they have a dog. But while dog owners are well-documented as getting more exercise, the physical activity is likely not causing the effect alone. Cat owners, for example, have a 30% lower risk of heart attack and 40% lower risk of stroke. It may have something to do with pets’ ability to lower our stress. Interacting with animals

decreases our levels of the stress hormone cortisol and even reduces blood pressure. Pets also help reduce loneliness by offering us direct companionship and helping us connect

with other people. While dogs present

regular socialization opportunities between walks and visits to the dog park, even animals who never leave home can help create and strengthen human bonds. Your pet is a great icebreaker topic, and several studies have even shown that people consider their pet- owning neighbors friendlier. In addition to teaching them responsibility, boundaries, and social skills, pets are good for kids’ health, too. When introduced early in life, pets in the home boost children’s immune systems. For example, babies who live with a dog or cat before turning 1 have a lower risk of pet allergies and asthma. Of course, the best reason to get a pet is that you genuinely enjoy their company and want to look after their well-being. But if you do choose to have them in your life, the health benefits are a greatly welcomed bonus. Give your pet a little extra love this month, comfortably knowing that they give back as much as they receive.

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MAY/JUNE EVENTS May 26 Knee Workshop June 23 Cervical Neck Workshop

Imagine this: You’ve been injured, sought medical care, and completed physical therapy. Your injury is healed, and you’re feeling better — but when you try returning to work, you find that you can’t do the job like you did before. It’s a common problem called deconditioning. When you do the same job day after day, your body builds a tolerance. But when you’ve been sidelined for weeks or months on end, there’s more to worry about than just the original injury. In short, you’re probably out of shape. Work conditioning programs are specialized physical therapy exercises that aim to understand and simulate the demands of your job so you can get back to doing them comfortably. Work conditioning is particularly helpful for people who work in fields that require physical labor, including lifting, kneeling, or standing for extended periods. We see patients from many professions, including health care, plumbing, electrical, delivery, and firefighting. Patients who enter work conditioning programs can need many types of help. Both chefs and mechanics have labor-intensive jobs, but they’re also very different. Since each profession is unique, a physical therapist will start treatment by asking questions to understand the patient’s occupation. Many patients will need help improving their endurance, but some may also need help recovering their strength or improving flexibility. Some people try to tough out their deconditioning. They decide that if they push through, they’ll improve on their own. That can be a dangerous gamble. Taking on too much at once is a recipe for re-injury, and the new ailment can take you out of work longer — or even result in permanent disability. Work conditioning builds up your abilities at a safe pace under the supervision of a professional. If you or someone you know is struggling to get back to work after an injury, the professionals at Accelerate Therapy and Performance are here to help. We can get you on the job without pain or fatigue through personalized care. Call us today to Work Conditioning Get Back Into Working Order After an Injury

Call the office at 704.630.9656 or email Leslie at [email protected] to sign up.

WORD SEARCH

Aquarium Balloon Bicycle Children Father Flag

Grill Moonstone Pride Rose Watermelon Wedding

schedule an appointment. We’re excited to evaluate your individual needs and create a program that works for you.

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1508 West Innes St. Salisbury, NC 28144

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INSIDE

Accelerate-PT.com

• Why Our Injury Prevention Program Works PAGE 1 • Move Over, Wordle • How Pets Make Us Healthier PAGE 2 • What Is Work Conditioning? • Word Search PAGE 3 • How to Create a Mental Health Sanctuary in Your Home PAGE 4

AMindful Space CREATING A MENTAL HEALTH SANCTUARY IN YOUR HOME

Get rid of distractions. Social media, mainstream news, and

According to the National Institute of Mental Health Disorders, an estimated 26% of Americans over the age of 18 suffer from a diagnosable mental health disorder. With increases in the cost of living, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the rising tensions in Eastern Europe, that percentage could increase even more throughout the next few years.

cellphones as a whole can have disastrous effects on your mental health. When you’re in your home, try

If you’re someone who struggles with mental health, you’ve probably tried all of the traditional methods to improve your situation, but have you made any adjustments to your actual home? If you’re unsure where to begin, try out these tips. Give each room purpose. One of the biggest interior design mistakes you can make is using a room for more than one thing. This is even more important if you work remotely. Each room should have a dedicated purpose. If you work from home, your office should not be in your bedroom or even in the area where you exercise. Plan out every bit of space that you have and add personal touches to it to remind you of what’s really important in your life.

to minimize your use of these technologies. If you’re not using the television, keep it off. Also, try to keep your home as clean as possible because clutter and dirt can easily bring you down. Use natural light and calming colors. When designing your living space, try to incorporate as much natural light as possible. Regular exposure to sunlight gives you more energy, makes you happier, and even improves your appetite. If you’re painting, avoid any loud colors and use calming neutrals instead. Adding the right colors, natural light, and some plants will help create an aesthetic that will boost your mental health.

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