Focus PT - January 2018

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January 2018

Looking Forward to a Brand New Year

W ell, 2018 is here, and with it is a whole new set of things to look forward to. I have plenty of goals in store for the coming year, a bunch of fun planned for my family, and, of course, a lot of work to do. That said, I’m not really the type to set New Year’s resolutions. It’s always been my thinking that the day of the week, month, or year should never stop you from realizing your goals. If you’re waiting for the fabled perfect opportunity to get started changing your life for the better, there will always be a reason to continue putting it off. Don’t get me wrong, though. I’m not about to knock other people’s resolutions. The first of the year can feel like a clean slate and a great time to restructure your habits, achieving things you’ve kept on the back burner for too long. Still, I wish the success and failure of resolutions could be reframed. It’s so easy to stumble once along the path and give up, thinking progress is an all-or-nothing affair. Instead, it’s best to make steady, year-round changes. I think most people would find goal setting “I think most people would find goal setting gets pretty

field have seen costs skyrocket for patients, leaving many options too expensive for the average family. I’ve been scratching my head for months now, trying to figure out how we can provide our patients with avenues to get healthy in a safe way. Whether that means implementing a new, online personal training program or holding a movement education program at a local elementary school, I’m optimistic we’ll be able to teach people how to move and optimize their health before crisis strikes. Outside of work, I’m going to spend as much time as possible with my family. My kids are fast approaching the era where they’re going to be a lot busier, so I know I need to take advantage of every available moment. Pretty soon, my son will be in high school, my daughter will be in junior high, and neither of them will be in the co-op home- schooling program we’ve had for the past couple years. So it’s top priority to hang out with them. We’re hoping to check a few more national parks off our list, starting with Joshua Tree. Last year was one of growth, both personally and professionally, and so far, 2018 is shaping up to be even better. I welcome all the challenges and opportunities this coming year may bring.

Focus Physical Therapy patients ENTER TO WIN Find the misspelled word in this newsletter and call 949.709.8770 for your chance to win a $10 CALL 949.709.8770 Contest for past and present Focus Physical Therapy patients only. addictive once you start taking meaningful steps forward.” gift card.

gets pretty addictive once you start taking meaningful steps forward. As for me, I’m excited to continue making some promising shifts at Focus Physical Therapy in 2018. One of our main initiatives in the coming few months will be to equip our patients with ways to help themselves more effectively. All of us in the healthcare

Happy New Year!

-Julian Manrique

Focus Physical Therapy • Call 949.709.8770 • 1

Have a Tickle in Your Throat? 2 Strange Cold Remedies for the Winter Season

The cruel winds of winter swirl just outside your window, leaving traces of frost on each pane. You stoke the fire and curl up in the velvet armchair nearby, eager to finally start that Agatha Christie novel. But as you stir your tea and pull on a pair of wool socks, you feel a slight tickle in the back of your throat. Frantic, you reach for your trusty onion necklace and blare Pandora’s jazz station. Yes, it’s as strange as it sounds. Among the countless cold remedies in the world, there are some that involve an extra-large helping of lizard soup and others that require a supply of powdered frog skin. But most of the time, these superstitions do little or nothing to combat your infections. Take these two sock remedies, for instance. A DIRTY LARD SCARF Some home-remedy enthusiasts encourage their infected friends to grease their necks with chicken fat or lard. After their skin is sufficiently coated, the afflicted then wrap their necks with dirty socks. Warm and a little sticky, the sick were supposed to sweat out their germs. “I began physical therapy at Focus after knee surgery following a job-related injury. My initial post-surgical status was left knee pain with weakness, mobility limitations, and lack of proper control and coordination. My treatment took me from having complete lack of confidence in my knee’s ability to function properly in the work environment to returning to full duty as a fire captain with the fire department. Ming and his team provided a nicely paced and focused treatment plan with a goal of getting me back to work with the confidence and ability I had prior to my injury. Thank you!” -Fred Niblo SUCCESS STORY But Does It Work? Probably not. This remedy supposedly surfaced in England before drugs and vaccines helped eliminate contagious illnesses like strep throat and diphtheria. While sweating does help rid the body of unwanted bacteria and germs, the dirty sock

adornment served more as a reminder for the healthy to steer clear of their feverish neighbors. But hey, at least the scarf will keep you warm during a bout of the shivers! YOU’RE HOT THEN YOU’RE COLD This holistic approach supposedly clears nasal congestion for a restful night’s sleep. Simply soak your feet in warm water until they’re hot and pink. While you’re sitting, let a pair of socks rest in a bowl of ice water. Wring them out, then pull them over your warm feet. Immediately add another layer of dry socks and hop into bed! But Does It Work? Maybe! This approach is a standard practice in hydrotherapy. Your body is surprised by the sudden change in temperature and increases its circulation rate. This could help clear your nasal passages and jump-start your immune system. Licensed acupuncturist Anne Carruth described her experience with this method on PortlandNaturalHealth.net. For her, the treatment “nips a sore throat in the bud” and has helped her “get over lingering cold and flu symptoms.” In the end, whether you’re experimenting with socks or just taking another dose of Nyquil, it’s important to fight your cold when it arrives. Get adequate sleep, drink plenty of fluids, and warm up a bowl of chicken noodle soup. Your body will thank you!

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WHAT KNEE PAIN SUFFERERS NEED TO KNOW The human leg is a delicate and incredible instrument, with a very complicated design. But complication comes with a price: a heightened risk of injury. Our knees, especially, can succumb to any number of issues. Chief among them is patellofemoral pain syndrome, also known as runner’s knee. Normally, as you bend your knee, the patella, or kneecap, glides along the femoral groove, a track in our femur cushioned by cartilage. The muscles and ligaments of the leg work to keep the patella sliding normally along this groove. However, if something is amiss and the patella doesn’t ride normally through the track, it will begin to slide to the side. This forces the patella to rub and grind against the edges of the femur. As the problem worsens, it can irritate the joint, which results in kneecap pain and deterioration of the patellar surface. According to PhysioWorks, approximately 25 percent of the American population experiences aching kneecaps at one time in their lives, but it’s even higher in athletes. Often, pain will begin after a period of overuse, like after ramping up training or performing high-intensity training. This is usually the result of a muscle imbalance and tightness in the quadriceps, hamstrings, and hip

About How They’re Treated

muscles. However, it can also arise from internal anatomical factors, such as naturally poor patellar tracking, improper foot posture, or weak hip control. Patellofemoral pain is localized in and behind the kneecap, but it can cause swelling and pain that may spread throughout the structure. This pain is usually at its worst after climbing hills or stairs, squatting, running, hopping, or sitting for long periods of time. Patellofemoral pain is complicated and extremely common, and it can easily lead to more serious conditions such as patellar tendinitis or arthritis. Luckily, it’s usually treatable with careful exercise and physical therapy. Treatment often involves the initial mitigation of pain symptoms, followed by exercises that restore range of motion, a battery of stretches, and a muscle-strengthening regimen designed to even out any imbalances. After a few weeks of treatment, most patients are able to return to playing sports and living pain-free. If your knee is hurting, give us a call. We’d love to help you get back to doing the things you love to do. CALL TODAY! 949.709.8770

GRANOLA GOJI BERRY PISTACHIO

HAVE A LAUGH

Want to spruce up your morning yogurt? Top it with this tasty granola. Even better, swap out the dairy for coconut yogurt and enjoy your vegan breakfast.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup coconut flakes • 1 teaspoon cinnamon • 1/3 cup goji berries

• 1 cup rolled oats • 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1 tablespoon coconut oil • 3 tablespoons maple syrup • 1/3 cup pistachios, chopped

Instructions

3. Once oats are toasted, add pistachios,

1. Heat a large skillet over low heat. Add oats in a thin layer and toast for 1–2 minutes. Add coconut oil and salt, then stir. Continue toasting for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally. 2. Add maple syrup 1 tablespoon at a time; stir to coat.

coconut flakes, and cinnamon. Cook slowly until pistachios and coconut flakes are toasted but not burned, about 5 minutes.

Focus Physical Therapy • Call 949.709.8770 • 3 4. Remove from pan and stir in goji berries. 5. Let cool and enjoy as a snack or on top of your yogurt!

30212 Tomas #120 Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688, USA

949.709.8770

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

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SPECIALIZING IN: LOWER BACK PAIN • SCIATICA • NECK PAIN AND HEADACHES HIP PROBLEMS • SHOULDER PAIN, BURSITIS, AND TENDINITIS SPORTS PHYSICAL THERAPY • GOLF PERFORMANCE KNEE PAIN • PLANTAR FASCIITIS • DIZZINESS AND VERTIGO AQUATIC PHYSICAL THERAPY • AND OTHER CONDITIONS

Owner Julian Manrique’s Plans for 2018 Can Chicken Fat Cure Your Cold? Patient Success story Why Knee Pain Is So Common Start the Day Right With This Granola INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1 2 3

GUESS WHO’S HAVING A BIRTHDAY! Join us on Jan. 30, 2018 from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. to celebrate

our 16th Anniversary here in RSM. Call TODAY to schedule your FREE, 30-minute, one-on-one appointment with the Physical Therapist of your choice! LIMITED TO ONLY 5 SPOTS FOR EACH PT!

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