Focus PT - June 2018

Focus Physical Therapy Monthly Focuspt.net 949.709.8770

June 2018

The Two Coolest Kids in Town CELEBRATING MY CHILDREN THIS FATHER’S DAY A dvertising companies always make Father’s Day out to be about buying presents for your dad, but I’m confident pretty much any father would tell you that the greatest gift of all is

to see your kids grow up and flourish with their distinct personalities. With my 12-year-old daughter, Macy, and my 14-year-old son, Kaden, there’s so much to be proud of and celebrate that it feels a little disingenuous to make the day about me. At every step, I try to be present and involved in their lives, encouraging them to try new things and experience all that the world has to offer. A lot of times that means steering them away from technology as much as possible — and, obviously, failing in that impossible task — but generally I work to equip them with the skills and confidence needed to learn new things on their own. A couple weeks ago, I discovered that my son had been working on his bike for a couple hours to no avail. He’s been out on the trails like a madman lately, and as a result, he’d broken the derailleur on his gearshift. So, we went out to the garage and got to work, and I showed him the same techniques my dad did back when I was a kid. After we started putting the thing back together, he decided to take on the challenge on his own. In the end, he still needed a little more help from me, but I was just proud that he was willing to wrestle with it solo for a while before asking for my help. He always surprises me with

On top of the world with my kids!

And then, of course, there’s Macy, who’s an incredibly driven kid in her own right. Whenever we’re hanging out with some family friends and they’ve got their own yung kids, Macy makes a point of helping the youngsters out. It’s awesome to see her nurturing, compassionate personality come to the fore. She notices things about people that nobody else can even see and is steadily developing a keen intuition about others that will serve her well in life. There are so many special moments to be proud of with these kids: the first time I held them in my arms, their first words, any time we successfully summit a grueling hike together ... And then there are all those “mundane” day-to-day accomplishments, which are just too numerous to really name. Fatherhood comes with its share of challenges, but the rewards are so much greater than the difficult times. It feels good to be able to say with complete confidence that my kids are completely awesome, and that I constantly look forward to spending time with them and seeing what they’re going to do next.

his intrepid attitude: Just the other week he went for a ride, got a haircut, picked himself up a donut, and rode home without batting an eye. It’s the kind of moment that makes you think, “Hey, maybe I am doing something right with these kids.”

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. gift card.

-Julian Manrique

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Celebrating Our PT ’s Recent We ing Congratulations to Shannon Pink!

“Jon and I have been dating for over 11 years, and engaged for 1½,” she says, “so it was wonderful to make it official surrounded by our family and friends!” They tied the knot in the city they originally met: San Luis Obispo

At Focus Physical Therapy, we pride ourselves on building a team of only the most passionate physical therapists, a group of talented musculoskeletal experts who are truly dedicated to changing their patients’ lives. And since she finished up her Doctor of Physical Therapy at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences and started at Focus nearly five years ago, Shannon Pink has fit that description perfectly. With her wide breadth of knowledge and genuine love for facilitating her patients’ well-being, you couldn’t ask for a better medical professional to have by your side during treatment. “My favorite thing is making a positive difference in someone’s life,” she says. “There’s nothing better than an email or call from a previous patient months down the road, telling me all the great things they’ve been able to do since we worked together.” Of course, Shannon’s patients already know about her boundless reserves of compassion and skill. What they’re curious to hear about lately is her wedding to her fiancé Jon Freeberg in late April! Since she returned from her picturesque honeymoon in Jamaica a few weeks ago, everyone’s been asking for details and pictures of her special day.

near the Cal Poly campus. Backdropped by a small pond and the verdant, rolling California hills, it was truly a ceremony to remember. With gorgeous flower arrangements provided by her mother’s floral business and centerpieces of driftwood and succulents the couple had collected themselves, it was hard to imagine a more fitting way to celebrate the love between Shannon and Jon.

As for their honeymoon, she says they spent most of the time “hanging out at [their] all-inclusive resort, relaxing by the beach, swimming, scuba diving, and enjoying the delicious food.” All of us are so happy for them both and wish them all the best in their future together. In the meantime, we’re just glad to have her on our team, doing everything she can to get our patients back on their feet and into their normal lives!

SUCCESS STORIES

“My experience at Focus PT has been excellent. I had a complete tear and repair of my rotator cuff and expected a very painful and long recovery time. I’m happy to report that I am at 22 weeks and couldn’t be happier with the results I have achieved. I attribute my success to Shannon

that I feared surgery would be necessary because my shoulder was essentially frozen and the pain gently impacted my daily activities. Julian worked very closely with me, and gradually, over a period of several months, I began to experience relief from the shoulder and an increase in my range of

and the rest of the staff coaching me through my exercises and helping me on the road of recovery! The level of expertise and professionalism exhibited at Focus Physical Therapy is second to none and I would happily refer this office to anyone in need of aid.” -Brian Pyle “My experience at Focus has been nothing short of magnificent. I presented with a partial tear in my left rotator cuff of my shoulder with significant disability, to the point

motion. Julian and all the staff were always very positive and encouraging during my therapy sessions. Julian persevered with a combination of various types of manipulation and stretches until I was able to realize significant improvement. I am extremely grateful to Julian and the rest of the Focus staff for all their efforts. It is a blessing to no longer have to deal with the pain from my shoulder and to have the range of motion that I was without for so long. In conclusion, I want to thank Julian and the Focus staff for allowing me to return to my previous quality of life!” -Louis Alvarez

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The Dreaded ACL Tear And How Physical Therapy Can Help Each year, more than an estimated 350,000 people are sidelined by an ACL injury, many of them forced to undergo surgery to repair the delicate structure of their knee. And even after surgery, studies show that 20 percent of them re-injure themselves all over again. Occasionally, an ACL tear can be so severe that patients are advised to abstain from their favorite sport entirely, a devastating blow to anyone passionate about physical activity and competition. Luckily, these cases are few and far between, and whether you’re recovering after surgery, seeking less invasive treatment, or — your best option — correcting your risk factors for ACL injury before they put you on the sidelines, physical therapy can help. Your knee is composed of three bones, connected by a complex network of ligaments. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) runs diagonally across the middle of the knee, and keeps your shinbone from sliding out in front of your femur while maintaining the stability of the structure during rotation. But if you suddenly change direction or stop, land poorly after a jump, or suffer a traumatic impact to the leg, it can put undue pressure on the ACL, potentially spraining or even tearing it. Often, the injury is accompanied by a “pop” and overwhelming pain, and it can lead to massive swelling, difficulty walking, and restriction of your range of motion.

If the ACL is torn and not just sprained, you’ll almost certainly need surgery. But if it’s

simply damaged — or if you’ve recently been through surgery — physical therapy is vital to help you restore full function and increase the strength of the muscles that support it, healing the structure and preventing further injury. However, studies suggest that the best way to treat ACL tears may be to address risk factors for injury before they become a problem. Physical therapists can assess your body’s anatomical disposition toward injury and put you through a series of sport-specific exercises to determine whether you’re regularly overextending your knee or moving in a way that poses a risk to your ACL. Then, we can create a treatment program to correct these issues before they result in ACL damage. If you’re a high-level athlete seeking to prevent injury before it happens, a postoperative patient in need of comprehensive rehabilitation, or looking to heal a minor ACL injury without surgery, call the experts at Focus Physical Therapy today at 949.709.8770.

BALSAMIC CHICKEN WITH BACON AND APPLES

HAVE A LAUGH

With this one-pan wonder, you can complete an entire meal in under an hour. It tastes delicious and makes your kitchen smell heavenly.

Ingredients

sheet. Add chicken and pour any extra marinade over the top. Season with salt and pepper. 3. Bake 20–25 minutes until chicken is cooked through. For extra crunchiness, turn the heat up to 425 F for the last 5 minutes. 4. Transfer to platter and serve immediately. • 10 ounces Brussels sprouts, halved, stems removed • 2 apples, cored, peeled, and coarsely chopped • 6 slices bacon, cut into squares • Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste

• 1 1/2 pounds chicken breast, cut into pieces • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar • 1/2 cup olive oil • Juice of 1/2 lemon • 2 cloves garlic, crushed • 1/4 cup rosemary, finely chopped 1. Blend balsamic vinegar, olive oil, lemon, rosemary, and garlic to create marinade. Pour into bowl or sealable bag and add chicken. Marinate for at least 5 minutes or up to 12 hours. The longer you marinate, the more flavorful the chicken will be. 2. Heat oven to 375 F. Spread Brussels sprouts, bacon, and apples on a baking Instructions

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949.709.8770

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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

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Julian Manrique on His Two Awesome Kids Congratulations to Our Pt, Shannon Pink Success Stories Physical Therapy and Your ACL Balsamic Chicken With Bacon and Apples

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