Gilbert Physical Therapy - December 2017

Gilbert Physical Therapy - December 2017

717-591-0955

www.GilbertPT.com December 2017

The Gilbert Gazette

CHRISTMAS WITH THE FAMILY

Why I Love Celebrating ChristmasWith My Kids

W hen I think back on the laughter, and happiness. My parents were able to get me wonderful gifts, and each year I was excited about whatever they wrapped up for me. I can still remember getting the exact toys I wanted. One year I even got a bike. However, the most memorable Christmases, and my favorites, have been as an adult celebrating with my own children. Eight years ago, my daughter, Emily, was born seven days before Christmas. Even if I tried I could never forget that day. It changed my life. We were able to take her home soon after she was born. That was the first year we had to buy an artificial tree instead of picking out a live Christmases of my childhood, my memories are filled with joy,

THE MOST MEMORABLE CHRISTMASES, AND MY FAVORITES, HAVE BEEN AS AN ADULT CELEBRATING WITH MY OWN CHILDREN. After my son, Alex, was born and our kids grew older, my favorite part of Christmas was watching my kids’ faces light up as they ran downstairs to see all the presents under the tree. When they were much younger and would unwrap their presents, they would end up playing with the boxes and wrapping paper instead of their actual toys. I used to joke with Adrienne that we could have just given them boxes for the first few years of their lives and it would have been their best Christmas ever. Now that they’re older, we have introduced them to new traditions. Currently, we have an Elf on the Shelf named Flower. Each night, Flower moves to a new spot in the house, and it’s a blast to watch the kids come down each morning and run around to find where she is. Our kids continue to love the spirit of Christmas more and more each year, and one, since we had no time with the new baby on the way. She sat quietly in her bouncer as we opened up presents. I can still remember how tiny she was and how the lights twinkled on her onesie.

Adrienne and I are doing what we can to facilitate that for them.

Since that first Christmas with Emily as a newborn, we have retired the artificial tree for a fragrant, yet slightly messier, live tree. Every year, we plan a family outing to go pick out our Christmas tree. We get all bundled up and go to the same tree farm each year to find the tree. After we choose the very best one and cut it down, then we all help drag the tree to our car. The kids love helping us pick it, and they take their jobs very seriously when it’s time to drag it out. I only hope they maintain this enthusiasm as they grow older! As I mentioned last year, Christmas is a special time for our family, not only because of the wonderful memories made, but because we also celebrate many birthdays during the month. Emily’s birthday is on Dec. 18, Adrienne’s birthday is on Christmas Day, and my father-in-law’s birthday is the 26. It feels like we celebrate the whole month, and it’s just a fun time of the year for everyone.

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas. We will see you soon.

–Michael M Gilbert, DPT

Cutting down the perfect tree!

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SANTA TRACKING GOES HIGH-TECH

sorts, where buildings around Santa’s village“thaw out”and reveal a host of fun games and activities. There’s even a section titled“Santa Tracker for Educators,”which includes kid-friendly coding games, information on international holiday traditions, and a translation app to“learn the Santa lingo from around the world.” When the eve of the big day finally comes, Google promises a showcase of Santa’s“dashboard, the technology that powers his sleigh during his around-the-world journey.”Featuring“the latest and greatest … in sleigh engineering,”the app displays a Google Maps window that tracks each of Santa’s stops, gives status updates from Old Saint Nick, and tells kids how far he is from their city. It’s a colorful, fun adventure for the whole family. Of course, Google’s not the only kid on the Santa-tracking block. There’s also NORADTracks Santa , operated by the North American Aerospace Defense Command, the same organization that tracks nuclear missiles for the government. Similar to Google, noradsanta.org includes a variety of fun games and activities leading up to Christmas. But unlike Google, NORAD has a dedicated Santa-tracking app for your phone, where you can see a 3-D view of Santa’s location during his trip. The app also features videos, so you and your little ones can see clips of Santa flying around major landmarks and world cities. Just don’t stay up too late watching them. You don’t want Santa to skip over your house!

It’s almost Christmas, and if you have small kids, you know what that means: prepping for the arrival of a jolly man in a red suit and his confusingly named reindeer. Some of us may remember spending Christmas Eve curled on the couch with a cup of hot cocoa as radio reports tracked Santa’s trip around the globe. But these days, kiddos have gotten a little more high-tech in their search for up-to-date, GPS-driven Kringle updates.

First, there’s the Google Santa Tracker (santatracker.google.com), a full- fledged holiday hub for your browser powered by Google Maps, including, of course, an up-to-the-minute GPS tracker for the big man. The application arrived in 2004, and it’s been updated every year

since. During the countdown to Christmas, there’s a colorfully animated advent calendar of

December Testimonials Don’t Just Take Our Word for It

HAPPY TO BE PAIN-FREE!

“I could not raise my arm to put clothing over my head, or wash my hair, or use a curling iron. I had difficulty putting on earrings and closing necklaces. Now, I do everything. I’m careful lifting heavy items, but I’m happy to say I’m pain-free. Everyone at Gilbert was very professional, friendly, and helpful. I never felt

GOALS ACHIEVED RAPIDLY! “Three days after a total knee replacement, I began at Gilbert Physical Therapy. The initial focus was on breaking through, followed by gaining range of motion. The exercises here and at home benefited me, and I achieved my goals rapidly. Continued effort yielded above- target results, and today, I am without pain and my strength exceeds expectations!” –ROGER S.

rushed or on a schedule. I have and will continue to highly recommend Gilbert Physical Therapy to my friends. Everyone was fantastic! I am greatly improved thanks to everyone at Gilbert PT.”

–SUZANNE D.

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FIND RELIEF FROM VERTIGO With Physical Therapy

V ertigo is the spinning sensationmany people feel even when they’re standing perfectly still. It is caused by an imbalance in the inner ear. Many conditions like ear infections, migraines, tumors, and head injuries can produce vertigo. Occasionally, vertigo can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, sweating, or abnormal eye movements. Thankfully, vertigo can be treated noninvasively with physical therapy. Once your physical therapist has evaluated your condition, performed tests to determine the causes of your vertigo, and assessed your risk of falling, they will work with you to create a specialized treatment plan. Your therapist’s main objective is to help you get moving again. If you’ve been diagnosed with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), your treatment will be very specific. BPPV is caused by a physical imbalance of the inner ear. A layer of calcium carbonate material is present naturally in a part of your inner ear called the utricle. BPPV occurs when pieces of this material break off andmove to another part of the ear called the semicircular canals or posterior canals. When youmove your head a certain way, the crystals move inside the canal and stimulate the nerve endings, resulting in dizziness. The cause of BPPV is not known, but it is not life-threatening or progressive. BPPV can be diagnosed

if you have a particular kind of involuntary eye movement, and if you have vertigo when your head is moved into certain positions.

There is no known way to prevent BPPV as it can be caused by infections, trauma to the head, and disease. Fortunately, most people recover from BPPV with a simple, but very effective, head and neck maneuver performed by a physical therapist. Your therapist will guide you through a series of two to four position changes. Each position may be held for 30 seconds or up to twominutes, depending on your needs. These repositioning treatments are designed tomove the crystals from the semicircular canal back into the utricle. Vertigo is a debilitating condition, and without treatment, people can suffer for years. Talk to the physical therapists at Gilbert Physical Therapy if you are experiencing vertigo. Let us create a specialized treatment plan for your condition.

HAVE A LAUGH!

VANILLA CANDY CANE PEPPERMINT BARS

INGREDIENTS

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½ teaspoon baking powder

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¾ cup sugar (no sugar substitutes)

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½ teaspoon baking soda

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1/3 cup canola oil

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¼ teaspoon salt

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1 egg

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1/3 cup crushed peppermint candies 3 ounces dark chocolate, melted

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1 teaspoon vanilla

•

•

1 cup all-purpose flour

DIRECTIONS

3. Bake 20–25 minutes or until edges are puffed and top is golden. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Using foil, lift uncut bars out of the pan. Cut into bars. 4. Line a tray with parchment paper. Dip one corner of each

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with foil, extending foil over edges. Coat foil with cooking spray. 2. In a medium bowl, beat sugar, oil, egg, and vanilla with a mixer on medium for 2 minutes or until slightly thick and pale yellow. Beat in flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt just until combined.

bar into melted chocolate and place on the prepared tray. Sprinkle chocolate with the remaining peppermint candies. Let stand until set.

Stir in 2 tablespoons of the peppermint candies. Spread batter in the prepared pan.

Recipe inspired by eatingwell.com

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717-591-0955 www.GilbertPT.com Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 7am to 7pm Tuesday, Friday 7am to 12pm

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5103 Carlisle Pike Mechanicsburg, PA 17050

this issue INSIDE 1 2 3

Christmas With the Family

Santa Tracking Goes High-Tech December Testimonials

Find Relief From Vertigo With Physical Therapy Vanilla Candy Cane Peppermint Bars

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Don’t Miss These Mechanicsburg Events

What’s Happening in Mechanicsburg?

A Popcorn Hat Christmas Carol When: December 9, 1:00–3:00 p.m. Where: Gamut Theater

of Charles Dickens’classic story follows Scrooge’s journey with three ghostly spirits on Christmas Eve. This performance contains sudden loud noises, pyrotechnics, and dark images, andmay not be suitable for children younger than 5 years old. Tickets start at $37, and group rates are available. Visit openstagehbg.com/holiday for more information. New MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) Group Startup When: December 15, 9:15–11:15 a.m. Where: First United Methodist Church Raising children is both beautiful and challenging, and having a network of other moms to lean on is important for new mothers! That’s why MOPS connects moms to a community of women whomeet to laugh, support each other, and embrace the journey together. This newMOPS group will beginmeeting monthly at First Church on Friday mornings. Every group meeting will include fellowship over a light breakfast, teachings and lessons, small group discussions, encouragement and support frommentor moms, Christian devotions, and quality childcare. Betweenmonthly meetings, fun outings, playdates, creative projects, and service opportunities will be organized for those interested. To register, visit mops.org/join/ and enter the code“Q393”. Youmay also call the church office at 717-766-4611.

The Popcorn Hat Players Present: A Popcorn Hat Christmas Carol, in which Charles Dickens’timeless tale gets the Popcorn Hat treatment. It’s almost Christmas, and everyone is looking forward to the holiday. Well, almost everyone. We’re talking about you, Scrooge! Join all the characters you know, and some you don’t, as we follow Scrooge through an extraordinary Christmas Eve! This show takes place Saturdays at 1:00 p.m. Tickets are $8 and can be purchased in advance at gamuttheater.org or by calling the box office at 717-238- 4111. We hope to see you there!

Open Stage of Harrisburg’s ‘A Christmas Carol’ When: Please see the performance schedule at openstagehbg.com/holiday Where: Open Stage of Harrisburg

Harrisburg’s seasonal favorite returns in an all-new production this holiday season. Newly adapted by Rachel Landon, this retelling

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