Advance Physical Therapy December 2017

Advance Physical Therapy December 2017

THE MONTHLY ADVANCE

9362 W. Overland Rd., Boise, Idaho 83709 December 2017

Michelle had a space in the garage prepared for our newest family member. She wanted the surprise to be as perfect as possible, and the garage was the closest thing we had to a soundproof environment. As Scott walked to the tree on Christmas morning, it didn’t take long for him to realize his wish had come true. He held Jenny in his arms, a mile-wide smile on his face. I looked at Michelle, and we felt so good that we were able to provide Scott with a surprise he’d never forget. And really, all the credit goes to her. My job was more courier than curator. This year, Christmas will be slightly bittersweet for us. Michelle recently lost her mom, Colleen. Colleen was a remarkable woman, and I think Michelle inherited a lot of the Christmas spirit from her mom. Though Colleen didn’t come from a wealthy family, she always made the holidays a special time for her kids. I think Michelle enjoyed returning the favor for her mom in recent years. We’ll certainly miss spending the holidays with Colleen this year, but Michelle, Scott, and I will keep her in our memory. In closing, I want to wish you a happy holidays and merry Christmas. I hope you have somebody in your life who embodies the true spirit of Christmas — someone like Michelle. all-out in the best possible way. I may have to restrain myself from eating way too many delicious Christmas cookies, but I consider that a great problem to have.” “From decoration and music to the smells and tastes of the holiday season, Michelle goes

THE PERSONIFICATION OF HOLIDAY CHEER A Tribute to Michelle

When it came time to think about what I’d discuss this month, I immediately knew who I wanted to highlight. My wife, Michelle, personifies the spirit of Christmas, and I want this article to be a tribute. She’s the brightest presence in my life no matter the season, but she becomes even more effervescent during the holidays. If I were to use a holiday-themed analogy, I’d say she lights up like Christmas tree. Every year, we fill our house to the brim with some serious Christmas joy. From decorations and music to the smells and tastes of the holiday season, Michelle goes all-out in the best possible way. I may have to restrain myself from eating way too many delicious Christmas cookies, but I consider that a great problem to have. When Michelle makes prime rib on Christmas day, however, there’s simply no holding me back. Between that and her world-famous (or at least Jones family-famous) pumpkin pie, I spend

the last week of the year trying to recover from a delightful food coma.

As a gift-giver, Michelle is just as spectacular as you might imagine. I remember when Scott, our son, was 3 or 4. We went to visit Santa, and Scott said in no uncertain terms that what he wanted was a puppy. After that fateful day, we knew we had no choice but to deliver a four-legged present Scott would never forget. Michelle found the cutest little dog, a half German shepherd and half chow mix. We had the pet store keep the dog until Christmas Eve so Scott wouldn’t catch on to the surprise. When the day arrived, it was my job to pick up the little pup. I remember walking through the mall with her yapping away at everyone who walked by. “Christmas present for my son,” I would say to them, lest they think I was just some crazy guy carrying a dog from store to store. When I got home,

Al Jones , PT, OCS, Cert. MDT

Advance: To move forward; to make progress; to move ahead.

www.aptorthosports.com • 1

This Month in History

THE MAGICAL WORLD OF WALT DISNEY

“I only hope that we don’t lose sight of one thing — that it was all started by a mouse.”

with animation. In 1934, he began to work on the world’s first feature-length animated movie, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.” His experiment would become the biggest movie of 1938 and the highest grossing sound film at that time. In addition to many other groundbreaking animated movies, Disney also ventured into live- action films and TV shows, and he even fulfilled a lifelong dream: opening his own theme park. Today, almost 150 million people visit Disney Parks all over the world every year. By the time he died in 1966, Disney had been involved in 81 feature films, won a record number of Academy Awards, and left the world with a legacy of magic and creativity that will never be forgotten.

–Walt Disney

The legacy of Walter Elias “Walt” Disney is known across the world. Just the name “Disney” conjures up images of magical animated films, grand theme parks, and massively diverse entertainment. What better time to salute this incredible cartoonist and storyteller than December — Disney’s birthday month? Disney’s first job in cartooning was an apprenticeship with Pesmen-Rubin Commercial Art Studio in Kansas City at the age of 18. There, he met fellow artist Ub Iwerks, and the two struck up a lifelong friendship. Together, they created a series of cartoons based on “Alice in Wonderland” and worked with film producer Charles Mintz to distribute the cartoons.

You might be surprised to learn Disney’s first successful original creation wasn’t a certain mouse — it was a rabbit. The venturesome Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was a great hit, but Mintz sold the intellectual property rights of Oswald to Universal Pictures. After a falling out, Disney swore he’d never let someone else own his work ever again. From this defeat, Disney and Iwerks created one of the world’s most enduring characters, Mickey Mouse. With this new character, Disney created the short “Steamboat Willie,” which debuted in 1928 as the first cartoon to feature sound. Mickey Mouse and “Steamboat Willie” signaled the beginning of Disney pushing the envelope

SERVICE HIGHLIGHT

WHY MANUAL THERAPY MATTERS A Hands-on Treatment Technique

One of our specialties at Advance Physical Therapy is manual therapy, which is sometimes referred to as the “hands-on technique.” Manual therapy is a general term describing many techniques used to improve the movement of joints and soft tissue, like muscles and fascia (fibrous tissue around muscles and organs). As part of a comprehensive treatment plan, manual therapy can help relieve pain and treat tension, inflammation, restricted motion, lack of flexibility, and more. Here is an overview of some of the manual therapy techniques we employ at Advance Physical Therapy. Soft Tissue Mobilization Mobilization of the soft tissue improves mechanics and range of motion by releasing tension in fascia. Injured or weakened tissue will often shrink and tighten, which leads to restricted movement.Your therapist will apply pressure to weakened areas, making the tissue more limber.

therapist will train the muscles and tendons around your joints to move more efficiently and with less resistance. Flexibility After you experience a strengthening in a previously weakened area, therapists will use flexibility training to improve the functionality of adjacent muscle groups. More flexibility leads to bodily confidence and stability, allowing you to perform daily movement and exercises without fear of reaggravation. These are just three of the most common manual therapy techniques we use.We always include other styles of physical therapy when creating a personalized treatment plan. Manual therapy offers therapists the chance to get hands-on feedback from your body to identify precise areas for improvement.Advance Physical Therapy is proud to offer this treatment option to our patients. If you are looking for a practitioner that performs specific manual therapy treatment techniques, please call us for more information.

Joint Manipulation Many issues stem from a lack of flexibility in the joints. Using guided movements, your

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Tips for Prevention When the Temperature Drops AVOID A WINTER INJURY

Wintertime brings beautiful landscapes, but all that snow and ice creates an increased risk of injury. Daily tasks, like clearing out your sidewalk, could result in a painful fall. If you suffer an injury, physical therapy is a great way to recover quickly and safely. But we wanted to provide some tips to help you avoid that cold-weather accident in the first place. When it comes to winterizing your home, preparation is key. Try to clear pathways early and often so you don’t have to deal with an immense amount of snow. Any areas that are prone to freezing over should receive a little extra attention. In public spaces like parking lots, use the frame of your car to support yourself as you get a feel for the slickness of the ground. Simply taking the time to watch your step can greatly decrease the chance of slipping.

Appropriate clothing and footwear can also make a difference. Avoid shoes with smooth soles in favor of a pair with a little more traction. Bundling up for errands will keep you from needing to rush from the car to the store to minimize your time in the cold. If you do end up on some icy terrain, try to walk as flat-footed as possible. The more of your foot that makes contact with the ground, the more stability you’ll have. The great outdoors isn’t where the most potential slip-and-fall hazards exist during the winter. Entryways with heavy foot traffic tend to get wet and slippery as well, especially when there’s snow on the ground. Whether you’re stopping at the mall or heading into work, be mindful of wetness on the floor.

you stay safer around all the snow and ice. If this winter is anything like last year, you’ll be thankful you practiced some preventative habits.

Unfortunately, not all winter injuries are avoidable. But these techniques will help

Wisdom FROM HARRY

RECIPE: HOLIDAY STAR COOKIES

I think dogs in general have a special sense for Christmastime. We dogs are very sensitive to energy levels of humans, and Christmastime in particular seems to raise that energy to heights unseen during the rest of the year. Dogs pick up on the pace of activities, the tone of conversations, and all the comings and goings during this time of the year. The smells around the house are especially noticeable — the smell of the Christmas tree, the smell of pumpkin pie, the smell of cooking food. It all raises a dog’s anticipation, excitement, and hope for TREATS! Christmas food is the best: cookie crumbs that fall to the floor, dropped candy, tamales, and my favorite: leftovers smothered in gravy. OMG. We can definitely depart from our ordinary diet plans that keep us healthy the rest of the year. It’s hard to bark “no” to all the wonderful things humans eat at this time of the year.

I’m just going to say this — I hope my canine friends don’t get into too much of the good stuff and get sick. Sometimes, humans have to be reminded not to overindulge their beloved pets this time of the year. So that’s my “good dog” message for Christmas, and I hope no one shows this to my owners, Al and Michelle, hee hee hee. Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all my followers. Harry

Ingredients

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2½ cups blanched almond flour (not almond meal)

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¼ cup coconut oil, melted

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5 tablespoons agave nectar or honey

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½ teaspoon Celtic sea salt

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¼ teaspoon baking soda

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1 tablespoon vanilla extract

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1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine almond flour, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon. 2. In a small bowl, mix coconut oil, agave, and vanilla. 3. Mix wet ingredients into dry. 4. Roll out dough between 2 pieces of parchment paper until ¼ inch thick. 5. Refrigerate for 1 hour.

6. Remove top piece of

parchment paper and dust dough with almond flour. 7. Cut out cookies with a small star cutter. 8. Using a metal spatula, place stars on a parchment-lined baking sheet. 9. Bake at 350 F until edges are lightly browned, 5–8 minutes.

www.aptorthosports.com • 3 Recipe inspired by elanaspantry.com/star-cookies.

Advance: To move forward; to make progress; to move ahead.

9362 W. Overland Rd Boise, ID 83709 www.aptorthosports.com (208) 672-8144

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

INSIDE This Issue

The Embodiment of the Christmas Spirit Page 1

This Month in History The Benefits of Hands-on Therapy Page 2 Tips for an Injury-Free Winter Holiday Star Cookies Page 3

Charitable Donations 101 Page 4

Which Charity Should I Donate To?

At the peak of the holiday season, many Americans find themselves overcome by a spirit of generosity and goodwill. Many people go beyond finding the perfect gift for friends and family and give their time or money to a charitable organization, seeking to make the holidays a little better for those worse off than themselves. But with thousands upon thousands of charities to choose from, how we do ensure our dollars are truly going to the best possible cause? It may seem obvious, but it’s best not to hand your credit card info to an anonymous organization soliciting your aid. The IRS has little regulatory power over most charitable organizations since they don’t typically pay taxes. As a result, it’s all too easy to be defrauded.

“Never give a gift where you didn’t initiate the communication,” advises Tim Meisenheimer, a certified financial planner. Calls can be a red flag, as charities who employ telemarketers are much less likely to receive the entirety of your donation. If you’re donating online, he also advises you to check that there’s a “https” at the beginning of the URL, which indicates a secure connection. But the best way to avoid shady scammers is to research the charity before you hand over your cash. One helpful resource is CharityNavigator.org, a charity-screening website where you can scrutinize a charity’s rating, spending habits, category, and much more.When examining a charity, they look for all kinds of red flags, such as if they spend more than one-third of their budget on administrative costs or if they aren’t forthcoming about their operations and expenditures. If you’re unsure of

where to donate, check out their list of “Charities With Perfect Scores.”

If you want to provide humanitarian aid, Direct Relief (DirectRelief.org) is a well-known charity, and it has a perfect rating of 100 on Charity Navigator. They provide medical treatment in resource-poor communities. If you’re more inclined to protect the environment, check out The Conservation Fund (ConservationFund.org), which seeks to preserve natural resources while fostering economic development in America. Education-minded donors should look up Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO-usa.org), another organization with a perfect 100 from Charity Navigator. They strive to provide robust education for underserved communities. There are thousands of excellent charities to donate to, and many of them are probably right in your backyard.

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ATTENTION BACK PAIN & SCIATICA SUFFERERS!

Have you experienced back pain in the last 30 days? Are you dealing with sciatica?

Do you think there’s nothing you can do to alleviate your back pain? Have you tried medications, injections, or surgery and still found no relief? Do you skip family activities because you’re worried about pain?

If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, then you need to know about the upcoming FREE Back Pain & Sciatica Workshop at Advance Physical Therapy.

At this event, you will learn:

• The biggest mistake made by those suffering from back pain and sciatica

• The three most common causes of lower back pain, including the sneaky cause that doesn’t usually show up on MRIs

• The top three strategies for

eliminating back pain for good

For details about the event and information on how to register, please see other side.

ADVANCE PHYSICAL THERAPY’S FREE BACK PAIN & SCIATICA WORKSHOP

WHEN Saturday, December 9th, 11am - 12pm WHERE Advance Physical Therapy 9362 W. Overland Rd. Boise, Idaho 83709

Space is limited and spots will go fast. If you’d like to register:

Go to advpt.ptworkshops.com OR call 208.672.8144

Back pain and sciatica can be debilitating, but there’s always a way forward. You deserve to live pain-free. Sign up for the FREE workshop to learn how.