Focus PT - October/November 2019

Focus PT - October/November 2019

Focus Physical Therapy Bi-Monthly Focuspt.net 949.709.8770

October/November 2019

Our Favorite Mascot M y family is getting back into the groove of a new school year. Kaden has made it through several football games without any significant injuries, and it’s been great to watch him on the field. His coaches say he’s doing really well, and MACY BRINGS THE SCHOOL SPIRIT

I’m proud to see him willing to work so hard. My daughter, Macy, has two great adventures. She has made the junior high volleyball A-team and has also been selected as the high school mascot! Macy just started eighth grade, making her the top dog in junior high. This age can be rough on some kids, but Macy has always been very confident. People are drawn to her and her bright personality. My kids go to a K–12 school, and Macy has friends in all age groups. Many of her friends are in high school and have joined the cheerleading team. They thought it would be great to have Macy join them as the school mascot, because she is full of school spirit and will not be able to cheer until her freshman year. Though she’s never been in any performing arts programs, Macy has always been a performer. She’s great at entertaining people and loves to make them laugh. When the school invited her to be the mascot, she happily accepted. This is new and exciting. Macy has always been in some kind of sport, like volleyball or basketball, but being a mascot is going to be a completely different challenge. I’m proud of her for trying something new and have no doubt she’s going to be great. Macy started attending practices toward the end of summer and debuted as the mascot at a pep rally on the first day of school. From what I hear, she was a big hit! So far, she has had a lot of fun and has been the star of many fan videos. Her volleyball season has also been going very well, and she is having a great time in every game. It is a completely different challenge than putting on

the eagle costume. I attended a really small high school that didn’t have a football team or a costumed mascot, so this is a pretty neat experience for me, too. While being a mascot isn’t quite as rigorous as being on the football team, I’ve been giving Macy some physical therapy advice on how to stay flexible and energized. She has to run and jump around in a heavy eagle costume for several hours during games. We want to make sure she’s not going to peter out in the second half, when her talent is really needed to rally the crowd, especially if the team is down. It’s really cool to see my kids broadening their interests and trying new things. This is the time in their lives when they really start to learn who they are as people. I’m glad I get to be along for the ride. This year is sure to be memorable.

–Julian Manrique

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October is National Physical Therapy Month, making it the perfect opportunity to celebrate the people dedicated to improving the health and well-being of others. Physical therapists are an important part of our society, and their efforts deserve recognition. Here are a few things you need to know about this month’s observance. National Physical Therapy Month Originally started in June 1981, the annual celebration of physical therapy took place for one week instead of a whole month. In 1992, the holiday was extended, dubbed National Physical Therapy Month, and moved to October to prevent any conflict with the annual American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) conference held every June. Since then, this holiday has become an icon for APTA members, physical therapists, and many health providers throughout the U.S. Celebrating the Therapists Dedicated to Improving Your Health When Did National Physical Therapy Month Begin?

to go about their daily lives and that physical therapy can even help patients avoid surgery. In

addition, National Physical Therapy Month offers a great opportunity to practice self-care to promote better physical and mental health.

What Can You Do to Celebrate?

The best way to celebrate National Physical Therapy Month is to appreciate your physical therapist, learn more about the benefits of physical therapy, and find new habits to become more active. Look into getting involved in a sport, yoga, tai chi, or any other activity that allows you to be physically active. If you know a physical therapist, take the time to talk to them about their profession and thank them for everything they do. Physical therapists dedicate their lives to ensure that people can return to living pain-free, and their commitment deserves mountains of praise.

Why Is It Important?

The top priority for the APTA each year is to educate people on how physical therapy can help improve health. Physical therapists want people to understand that they don’t have to rely on medication

SUCCESS STORY

“I was recently experiencing some postpartum pains. I had tried everything, but nothing seemed to be working to make it feel better. I heard about Focus Physical Therapy and thought I would see if they could help. Best idea ever! One visit to Focus PT and five months of pain was gone in minutes. All the staff was great to work with too! I honestly couldn’t believe how good I felt after I left. I would highly recommend this place to anyone.”

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 gift card CALL 949.709.8770 Contest for past and present Focus Physical Therapy patients only.

–Linzi Andersen

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Meet Olita Lace

PT With a Lifetime of Learning

More often than not, student-athletes either grow up to be history teachers and coach their former sport or they become physical therapists. Olita Lace is the latter. The newest physical therapist to join the Focus Physical Therapy community, Olita was born in Latvia, a small country in northern Europe. She grew up participating in many different sports, including cross-country running, cross-country skiing, and track and field. From an early age, Olita was interested in how the human body works. She graduated with her bachelor’s from the Latvian Academy of Sport Education before moving to the United States. After moving, Olita spent a number of years raising her daughter at home. Recently, as her daughter prepared for high school, Olita decided to pursue her longtime dream of becoming a physical therapist. “I like to know and learn more,” Olita says. “As an athlete, I know there are a lot of ways people can get injured, from not stretching to overtraining. I went into physical therapy to

learn how to help people with their injuries and get them back to wherever they were before.”

Olita graduated with her doctorate in physical therapy from Loma Linda University, my alma mater. She joined us this past June and we are thrilled to have her as a part of our team!

“I’m fresh out of school, just starting out, so things are a little nerve-wracking,” Olita admitted.

While she’s still getting the practical experience of being a physical therapist, Olita joins the team with all the latest research and knowledge being taught to physical therapists today. She also comes with a passion to learn. “I’ve always been the kind of person to study hard and try to find the solution to a problem,” Olita says. “I like to help people, and I got into physical therapy to help my patients improve their quality of life. Many things come with experiance, so I’m excited to be working alongside so many experienced physical therapists. Julian is a great boss and mentor. I look forward to helping my patients, learning more, and growing in my profession.” When Olita isn’t working with her patients at the clinic, she’s spending time with her husband, her 16-year-old daughter, and their Labrador, Lily. Olita still enjoys running and has incorporated riding her road bike and doing yoga into her fitness routine.

We’re thrilled to have Olita as part of the Focus PT community. She’s excited to learn, and we know she’s going to have a lot to teach us, too.

HAVE A LAUGH

HOW TO ASSEMBLE A VEGGIE SKELETON

For the Head Your favorite paleo-friendly dip makes a great canvas for a face. Pour it into a bowl and build features on top using different veggies. For the Ribcage Sliced cucumbers make for great vertebrae, and bell pepper slivers can be used to simulate ribs. Alternate between the two to give your skeleton some backbone. For the Arms and Legs Any long and straight vegetable will do the trick here. If you want to be anatomically accurate, consider using some spherical vegetables for joints. Those who eat paleo may struggle to find a Halloween treat suitable to their diet. But no matter what your dietary restrictions are, everyone can enjoy some raw veggies with a healthy dip. Here are some tips for constructing your very own veggie skeleton — a spooky twist on a time-tested treat.

Don’t be afraid to get creative and wacky with your veggie skeleton. The whole point, after all, is to have some fun and give people a reason to smile.

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

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

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Who’s Got Spirit? Thanking Physical Therapists for Their Dedication Success Stories Meet Our New PT, Olita Lace The Real Legend of Sleepy Hollow

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Hayrides and Headless Horsemen HALLOWEEN CELEBRATIONS IN SLEEPY HOLLOW

spooky celebrity buried there. Fans of the Gothic soap opera “Dark Shadows” will be delighted to enter the crypt of famed vampire Barnabas Collins. Another highly anticipated stop for many guests is Sleepy Hollow’s premier annual attraction, Horseman’s Hollow, an experience not for the faint of heart. During the event, the 300-year-old Philipsburg Manor is transformed into a living nightmare, where vampires, witches, ghouls, and undead soldiers lurk in the shadows. They all serve the dreaded Headless Horseman and are determined to make sure guests don’t leave alive! But it’s not all scares in Sleepy Hollow. There’s plenty of Halloween fun for all ages. Sleepy Hollow boasts relaxing hayrides, tours of Irving’s home, live readings of famous Halloween stories, performances of a brand-new musical based on Irving’s spooky tale, and the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze, an incredible exhibition of over 7,000 hand-carved pumpkins.

In 1790, a school teacher named Ichabod Crane was riding home alone from a harvest festival in the village of Sleepy Hollow when he encountered a mysterious rider on horseback. Crane, horrified by the horseman’s missing

head, turned and ran in the opposite direction. The Headless Horseman gave chase, hurling his own decapitated head at the terrified teacher. Ichabod Crane was never heard from again ... or so goes “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving. This story, first published in 1820, has become a Halloween favorite. The legend is so beloved that in 1997, the village of North Tarrytown, New York, where many events of the story take place, officially changed its name to Sleepy Hollow. Today, the town becomes one big Halloween party during the month of October. Sleepy Hollow is home to many historic landmarks, including the Headless Horseman Bridge and the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, where Washington Irving himself was laid to rest. Evening lantern tours of the cemetery are a popular attraction, and Irving isn’t the only

If you want a real Halloween experience, you can’t go wrong in Sleepy Hollow. Just be careful not to lose your head!

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