Hands For Living: Relief From Hand Injuries

Hands For Living: Relief From Hand Injuries

NEWSLETTER

Getting Back on Track After a hand injury or surgery

Having a hand, wrist or arm injury can really set you back and not just in the short term. Everyday, you use your hands and arms to do thousands of tasks that we often take for granted. Frombrushing your teeth to cutting up your food, your hands and arms do a lot of work. That is why, when an injury occurs or after a needed surgical procedure, hand therapy is vital to get your joints and muscles moving properly again. After an injury or surgery, right away muscles begin to waste, joints become stiff and swelling happens. The hands are a very difficult place for swelling to leave from and it typically takes quite some time for it to resolve. Depending on the type of injury or surgery, putting the arm or wrist in a cast or brace may be required. This helps the tendons, ligaments or bones affected, to heal in a natural position. The downside is that you don’t do all those normal movements you need to be doing each day. Everything becomes stiff and weak. However, the right therapy can increase your movement and strength back to normal.

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NEWSLETTER

Hello to all of you! How have your vacations been? Did you get to relax a bit this summer? If you haven’t take the time to smell the roses and spend time with loved ones, we urge you to schedule something before the summer is over.

INSIDE: • BBQ SAFETY TIPS • SUDOKU • GETTING BACK ON TRACK • KEY TO RECOVERY • REDUCE INFLAMMATION WITH WHAT YOU EAT? 4 8 2 6 5 1 2 8 3 6 2 7 1 4 4 6 5 7 1 5 7 8 6 4 7 9 1 4 8 3 9 5 8 4 4 8 6 7 3 3 4 9 2 2 8 1 7 7 6 4 5 1 9 3 4 2 9 6 2 1 3 2 5 4 8 1 2 www.handsforliving.com Are you in Pain? Call Today And Start Feeling Better Fast! 425-368-7943 http://1sudoku.com 1

Photo By: Amy Enderle

Take a look at our newsletter this month. There is a couple games for you to play and some great health information as well. Enjoy the rest of your summer. As always, we want to thank you for making Hands for Living a home for recovery and meeting and surpassing health goals for all of our patients! JoAnn Keller, OTD, OTR/L, CHT

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Print sudoku http://1sudoku.com

BBQ SAFELY THIS SUMMER!

7

3 8 6

3 2 6 7 4 • Grills should be positioned a safe distance away from anything flammable including siding, deck railings, and out from under eaves and branches • When lit, a grill should be kept away from lawn games, play areas and foot traffic • Keep children and pets at least 3 feet away from a lit grill 1 5 1 4 2 8 1 9 2 4 9 7 3 1 5 6 2 8 7 9 5 1 3 6 3 8 5

• Use long handled grilling tools to keep your hands and arms away from the heat and flames • Clear out grease and fat buildup in trays below grill so it cannot be ignited during cooking • Only use propane and charcoal grills outside Inside they cause

both the risk of fire and the inhalation of toxic gases

n°119362 - Level Easy

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n° 110504 - Level Easy

http://www.tariolaw.com/bbq-accident-statistics/

5 9 7

This Month’s Sudoku! TAKE IT EASY LEVEL The goal of Sudoku is to fill in a 9×9 grid with digits so that each column, row, and 3×3 section contain the numbers between 1 to 9. At the beginning of the game, the 9×9 grid will have some of the squares filled in. Your job is to use logic to fill in the missing digits and complete the grid.

7 1 6

4

6 9 8 5 4 5 6 2 9 7 6 2 4 8 2 8 4 3 7 5 1 3 1 2 8 4 6 1 5

http://1sudoku.com

n°123062 - Level Easy

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n°127435 - Level Easy

Getting Back on Track After a hand injury or surgery

The Key to Recovery How well you recover after any injury or surgery of the hand, wrist or arm is dependent on occupational therapy,especiallyhandtherapywithacertifiedhand therapist. With years of extensive training in the upper extremityand hands, a hand therapist is a true specialist in this area. That makes all the difference in the speed and completeness of your recovery. Depending on your body and the severity of the injury or surgery, the length of time to recover can vary. Typically soft tissue injuries take six weeks or more to heal and bone injuries take eight weeks or longer. Your doctor and therapist work together to make sure you are progressing at the needed pace to allow your body to heal at its best ability. Know that no matter what you have been through, theexperthandandoccupationaltherapistsatHands For Living are here to work withyou andyour doctor to achieve the best outcomes. In no time,you will be well on your way to a speedy recovery and back to your normal daily activities. Call us today to find out how we can help you.

THUMB MCP EXTENSION STRETCH To Reduce Inflammation

Helps With Pain

www.simpleset.net

Grasp the affected thumb below the last knuckle and gently stretch it into a more straightened position.

Why Choose Hands For Living?

• Expert, caring, and cost-effective evaluation of your injury or concern. • Information about what has happened and what can be done to help. • Specialized exercises and instructions to complete between sessions. • Comfortable and precise customorthoses (splints), if needed, to protect your elbow, wrist, or hand or improve motion. • Care of wounds, scars, swelling, and injuries to tendon, nerve, bone, muscle or soft tissue. • Practical ergonomic instructions to prevent injuries.

Always consultyour therapistorphysicianbefore startingexercisesyouareunsureofdoing.

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Patient Spotlights

HealthTip You can reduce inflammationwith the food you eat The salad recipe calls for ingredients that are naturally rich in anti- inflammatory nutrients and other nutrients that may provide relief to patients with pain. There are two simple rules you can follow when cooking to make sure your food will reduce inflammation. #1: Consume FoodsThat Contain Quercetin Quercetin is a flavonoid and a powerful antioxidant. Studies suggest that it can fight inflammation, including inflammation that occurs in the joints of rheumatoid arthritis patients. Good dietary sources of quercetin include capers, apples, lovage, red and yellow onions, broccoli, red grapes, tea, cherries, citrus fruits, chia seeds, and many berries including raspberries, lingonberries, and cranberries. #2: Be Sure to Get Enough Vitamin D . There is some evidence that vitamin D might prevent rheumatoid arthritis. The body uses vitamin D to maintain healthy cartilage and it seems to prevent the breakdown of cartilage in people with rheumatoid arthritis (cartilage is a type of connective tissue that provides a cushioning effect in joints). Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is present in a few foods such as egg yolks, liver, fish, and dairy products fortified with vitamin D. However, most people meet their vitamin D needs through exposure to sunlight as sunlight triggers the body to synthesize its own vitamin D. This low-GI broccoli salad featuring apples and cranberries is low in calories and low in fat, but loaded with a wide range of nutrients.

“Kind, caring, and compassionate!”

“My therapist was amazing, kind, caring and compassionate. She was very knowledgeable about my injury and was supportive and patient during treatment. Keep up what you’re doing! Thank you for all your help and knowledge during my difficult time of recovery.” Christina B.

“I was well informed on my injury”

“My therapist informed me well in the dos and don’ts of healing, was considerate of my pain tolerance and helped me not rush the healing process. My therapist was kind-hearted and truly values her patients and puts their wellbeing first.” Stefan H. “Great therapy team” “My therapist was amazing, outstanding and very knowledgeable. She has a great therapy team and scheduling system.” Virginia M.

SUMMERWORD SEARCH

Ingredients

• 4 cups fresh broccoli florets • 1/2 cup dried cranberries • 1/2 cup sunflower seeds • 3 organic apples • 1/4 cup red onion, chopped • 1 cup plain, low-fat yogurt with probiotic bacteria • 2 Tbsp Dijon style mustard • 1/4 cup honey

Directions

Combine broccoli florets, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, chopped apples, and chopped onion in a large serving bowl. Blend yogurt, mustard, and honey in a small bowl. Add dressing to the salad and toss. Chill before serving.

Source:http://www.healwithfood.org/recipes/broccolisalad-apples-cranberries.php#ixzz4jFO85YYG