Farmingdale: Correct Your Posture

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS & HAPPY NEW YEARS FROM FARMINGDALE PT WEST!

BUTCH IS BACK! OUR RONKONKOMA LOCATION IS NOW OPEN MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, AND SATURDAY!

INSIDE:

• Our Commitment To You! • Improving Your Posture With PT

• Exercise Essentials • Patient Success Spotlight

FARMINGDALE PHYSICAL THERAPY WEST CALL TODAY! 516-731-3583

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LET’S GET BETTER!

OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU! BUTCH IS BACK! OUR RONKONKOMA LOCATION IS NOW OPEN MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, AND SATURDAY!

INSIDE:

• Improving Your Posture With PT • Exercise Essentials

• Snow Shoveling Tips • Patient Success Spotlight

To our valued patients and physicians,

• Dedicated Zoom/Telehealth physical therapy appointments • Continuation of our in-home physical therapy • Supplemental one on one dedicated mental health counseling (ask us for details) Finally, if you or someone you care about has a unique physical therapy related need please contact us so that we can try to accommodate your needs. We’re here to help the community as best we can while safeguarding our patients and staff.

We hope that you and your loved ones are staying healthy and safe during this holiday season. It’s a special time of the year when most of us would like to forget about all of the ways that COVID has pervaded every facet of our physical and social interactions. While you’re spending time with your loved ones please continue to keep your health and safety in mind, and consider some of the key ways that Farmingdale West continues to be flexible to meet the needs of our patients while also following the latest guidance from the CDC and other local and federal agencies. ONGOING COVID-19 SERVICE-RELATED ENHANCEMENTS: • Dedicated one patient per physical therapist at a time

For more information on how we’re keeping you safe, contact us today!

FARMINGDALE PHYSICAL THERAPY WEST CALL TODAY! 516-731-3583

IMPROVING YOUR POSTURE WITH PT

Our physical therapists are experts in evaluating posture and movement. By pinpointing the source of your aches and pains, we can develop a plan for you that will return you to an ideal posture and quickly relieve your pain. In fact, physical therapy has been proven as one of the most successful methods for improving posture. According to a study published by the National Institutes of Health, titled, “Evidence-based protocol for structural rehabilitation of the spine and posture,” the method of structural rehabilitation has a strong efficacy for back pain, neck pain, and postural improvement. Physical therapists have found success in using their methods to treat postural issues, as well as the chronic conditions that may develop as a result. Physical therapists are movement experts and they are great resources to have when trying to achieve your physical performance goals. They will aid you in the improvement of your balance, stability, flexibility, and mobility, all of which will positively affect your posture. 3 simple tips: Physical therapy treatments will yield the best results when focusing on improving your posture. However, there are some simple tips you can use on your own when standing, sitting, or bending in your daily life: 1. Standing - Stand facing a mirror. Look at your shoulders - does one seem higher than the other? Look at your neck - does it tilt to one side or stick forward? Pretend that an imaginary string is pulling gently through the top of your head. Notice how your posture improves automatically when you try to be taller? Keep your abdominals slightly contracted to maintain this posture. EXERC I SE ESSENT I ALS TRY TH I S EXERC I SE TO IMPROVE YOUR BAL ANCE

When walking, make sure that your arms are moving comfortably back and forth, feeling the rotation through your torso. 2. Sitting - Sit all the way back in your chair so you feel your lower back against the back rest. Avoid prolonged sitting on soft couches when watching TV, as this causes excessive slouching. Try to keep your feet flat on the floor and angle your chair so that your knees are slightly lower than your hips. Try using a small rolled-up towel for your lower back if you need more support while sitting. If you work at a computer, make sure that your keyboard and mouse are slightly lower than the level of your elbow. You may need to adjust your seat higher to make this happen. 3. Bending - Most back injuries occur when bending and twisting at the same time. When you need to bend down to get something from a low surface, make sure you squat, and keep your abdominals tight as you do so. In addition, if you are lifting something, get your body as close as possible to what you are lifting. Try having one leg forward to use your legs more to lift, rather than your back. As part of your physical therapy treatment, we can teach you proper posture, bending, and lifting techniques to protect your body from future injuries and make sure you stay healthy for the long-haul.

Contact Farmingdale PT West today to learn more about how we can help you live pain-free!

SNOW SHOVEL I NG T I PS Snow shoveling can lead to a number of health risks for many people, from back injuries to heart attacks. The following tips can help keep you safer when you set out to shovel: Warm up - Warm your muscles before heading out to shovel by doing some light movements to get your body ready, such as bending side to side and walking in place. You are more likely to injure yourself with “cold” muscles.

Exercises copyright of

Push rather than lift - Pushing the snow with the shovel instead of lifting can help reduce the strain on your body.

FARMINGDALE PHYSICAL THERAPY WEST 516-731-3583 FarmingdalePhysicalTherapyWest.com LAKE SHORE PHYSICAL THERAPY 631-676-3573 Lakeshorephysicaltherapyny.com Lighten your load - Consider multiple trips during a long snowfall and using a lighter shovel. You should also shovel right after a snowfall because waiting may allow the snow to melt slightly and become heavier. Good Posture - When lifting is required, be sure to bend at the hips and knees with your chest out. Place the snow down instead of twisting and tossing.

TAND EM WA L K - WA L L Stand with the fingertips of one, or both, hands resting on a wall. Place the feet ‘heel to toe’ with the left foot forward. Steady yourself in this position. Step forward with the right foot, placing the heel directly in front of, and touching, the toes of the left foot. Step forward with the left foot, placing the heel directly in front of, and touching, the toes of the right foot. Repeat this sequence, moving forward down the hallway. Reverse direction, moving backward down the hallway. Always consult your physical therapist or physician before starting exercises you are unsure of doing.

L E AV E US A G O O G L E R E V I EW S O OT H E RS CAN H E AR YOUR S TORY !

PATIENT SUCCESS SPOTLIGHT

“My FPTW story began in March 2012. I was in rehab after having my right hip replaced. Since then Butch and his staff have seen me through a left hip replacement, a right shoulder replacement, issues with sciatica and my achillies tendon and heaven only knows what other bumps in the road. I have come through every incident with flying colors. The staff at FPTW excels in getting you back in shape. The difference is that they do it while really “caring” for you. By that I mean that you are not just a patient. You are a person that needs therapy but you also need support, physical and emotional. You need to know that you are more than a body part that needs repair. You need to know that you are making progress. You need

Farmingdale Physical Therapy West 4277 Hempstead Turnpike Bethpage, NY 11714

to know that if today’s session wasn’t as good as the last one, that it’s okay. It happens and that’s alright. We’ll just try to get back to that better session next time. If that exercise doesn’t work for you, we’ll try another one and if that doesn’t work there are still others that we will try. Vin went through days of modifying an exercise before we found a way that my shoulder would tolerate the stretching it needed. Each time I said I couldn’t do it he simply said we’ll try something different next time. Finally we found the right one. There was never a “you’re not trying hard enough” or “of course you can do it”. There was always concern and encouragement. Always the unspoken we’ll get through this and I’ll be with you to make sure we do. It is this special caring and support that makes FPTW the unique facility it is. I’m sure this is not the end of my FPTW story. I know they will be there the next time I need them.” - Anna W.

Lake Shore Physical Therapy 700 Union Pkwy, Suite 3 Ronkonkoma, NY 11779

EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH

Experience: He graduated SUNY Brockport from the PTA program and acquired a degree in Sports Medicine. He’s been a PTA for 30 years. The reason he chose to work at FPT West: Rich loves the fact that he has an independent schedule, he loves working with our patients, and he loves being able to utilize everything he’s learned over the years. Favorite part of being a PTA: Rich loves assessing patients. He enjoys hearing about what’s bothering them and answering the question “why do they have that pain?” He also loves helping people feel better. His hobbies outside of work: Gardening, hiking, working out RICHARD VISKEWICH, PTA

SEASONAL RECIPE: NO-BAKE CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT BALLS

INGREDIENTS

• 10 tbsp cocoa powder • 6 tbsp maple syrup • 1/4 cup almond butter • 1/4 cup unflavored pea protein powder • ½ tsp peppermint extract

RICH IS ALSO OUR LEADER IN HOME-CARE TREATMENTS

• 1/4 tsp sea salt • 2-4 tbsp crushed candy canes • 2-4 tbsp dairy free chocolate chips (optional) DIRECTIONS Put everything except the candy cane or cacao nibs, chocolate chips and water into a bowl and mix well. Slowly add water if needed (You may not need any water if your almond butter is runny). Start with a teaspoon and slowly add until you get a well mixed batter. If you add too much then the batter will be too soft to roll. Add the candy canes/cacao nibs and chocolate chips and mix again. Allow to chill in the fridge while you clean up, then roll into balls (continued refrigeration optional).

SHARE the CARE Thank you for put t ing your t rust in us! Tell your friends about your good experience at Farmingdale Physical Therapy West and Lake Shore Physical Therapy.

I was referred by: New Client Name:

Date Redeemed:

CELEBRATING NEW YEAR, NEW YOU WITH FREE EXAMS A ONE DAY SPECIAL OFFER FOR ALL PRESENT & PAST PATIENTS OF FARMINGDALE PHYSICAL THERAPY WEST Dear Valued Client, We’re celebrating the new year at Farmingdale PT West. We want to do something special to celebrate! This is our BIG THANK YOU for allowing us to serve you. To thank you, our valued customers, we are having a day of completely Free Exams for:

• All past clients who have not been seen in PT in more than 3 months • All present clients who have another problem currently not being treated • All loved ones, family, friends, neighbors and co-workers of our past and present patients

If you are a past or present patient then call 516-731-3583 to schedule your Free Exam. If you are referring a friend or family member, give them the certificate included in this letter and have them call 516-731-3583 to schedule their Free Exam.

The day of Free Exams will be on: Sunday, January 24th, 2021 from 9AM to 6PM.

The Free Exam consists of a 30 minute one-on-one appointment with the Physical Therapist of your choice. The PT will talk with you about the history of your problem. They will take measurements to test how well you are moving and to test your strength. After a thorough exam,

they will give you a written copy of: 1. The cause of your pain or problem. 2. A plan for successful treatment.

The appointments are free, but are limited as each PT only has 10 spots available. Call 516-731-3583 now to schedule your Free Exam.

The Free Exam is ideal for people suffering with: • Lower Back Pain

• Arthritis • Sciatica

• Neck Pain • Headaches • Shoulder Pain • Knee Pain • Problems Walking

If you are having pain or problems with day to day activities such as walking, standing, sitting for long periods, going up or down steps, getting in and out of the car, sleeping or driving, then this is an excellent opportunity to see one of our world-class therapists and find out the cause of your problem. Call 516-731-3583 to schedule your Free Exam for January 24th.

Sincerely, Sincerely, the Farmingdale PT West & LakeShore PT Team

FARMINGDALE PT WEST CALL TODAY! 516-731-3583

LAKE SHORE PT CALL TODAY! 631-676-3573

TELEHEALTH: SERVING PATIENTS IN THESE TROUBLING TIMES

We understand that we are in the midst of stressful times, and that there will likely be more ahead. At Farmingdale Physical Therapy West, we want you to know that we are here for you. We genuinely care about the health of each and every one of our patients, which is why we believe telehealth services are the best course of action for the time being. We still want to be able to serve our patients in the best ways possible. We want you to be able to continue your personalized PT plans, so you do not lose all the progress

you’ve made. If any injury or discomfort occurs during this time, we want you to be able to receive the care you need. At the end of the day, we are all in this together – most importantly, stay calm, and stay healthy. We are here to help you with your needs. To learn more about how you can set up our telehealth services on your smartphone or computer, give us a call today.

IN HOME THERAPY

WE ACCEPT MEDICARE, MEDICAID, AND ALL MAJOR INSURANCE PLANS Our In Home Therapy helps you to recover and build strength safely, while in comfortable surroundings. We are dedicated to helping you maintain optimal health. If you have been putting off physical therapy, then Farmingdale Physical Therapy West’s in-home care is right for you. BETTER PHYSICAL CARE BEGINS AT HOME Our In Home care program was developed to work with you and your needs. Being homebound due to surgery recovery or other physical limitations makes you an excellent candidate for In Home Physical Therapy. Our patient-centered care is designed to help you:

• Learn one-on-one about your condition and how to manage it • Therapeutically guide you through day to day living • Learn how manage your condition and medication • Simplify your recovery with continuous care WE BRING THE PHYSICAL THERAPY TO YOU! Getting to our office may be too challenging or painful for some. So, our talented team of physical therapists come to you! On Long Island, we offer skilled physical therapy care at home. From there, you are able to transition to independent living or to in-office visits as needed. Now, you can enjoy the physical therapy you need with the convenience of at-home, personalized care. For people with restrictions, there’s no better option than in home physical therapy. Your body and your situation is unique. And, your own private physical therapist will focus on your needs to find the right therapy for you.

• Start treatment sooner following surgery • Improve your safety at home

FARMINGDALE PT WEST CALL TODAY! 516-731-3583

LAKE SHORE PT CALL TODAY! 631-676-3573