Hands for Living: Sprain Or Strain?

Hands for Living: Sprain Or Strain?

NEWSLETTER

Helen Reilly is the newest addition to the Hands for Living Team. She is a skilled and caring occupational therapist, and also loves to dance. She shares some thoughts below on her interest outside of hand therapy! I love to dance. I’ve danced in some form or fashion most of my life. I started with ballet when I was 7 and moved on to jazz, swing, and Norwegian folk dancing. Currently, I’mhelping teach 7-12year olds ballet and taking a jazz class with my old studio. I love how the basic principle of movement to music is the same, even though dance can look very different depending on the style. Ballet conjures up images of disciplined “Degas-esk” ballerinas in tutus on the stage or at the bar, whereas swing conjures up images of jazzy night clubs and fast “free and easy” movements. They look vastly different but really, you’re just moving to a four or eight count beat. It’s not just the movement to music that I enjoy. I love the excitement, stress, and fun of putting together a recital. Our big spring/summer recital is around the corner and the studio is filled with old costumes that are getting re-fitted for a new purpose, glitter, ballet slippers, music, and whirling dancers. There is a jittery excitement that fills the air when StaffSpotlight Introducing Helen Reilly, OTR/L Occupational Therapist – and Dancer!

you’re preparing for a recital. I love putting together costumes and trying to visually capture an expression of music. In the studiowe ceaselessly drill tondues, plies, and pirouttes. We practice our dance routines thousands of times. We also practice what to do when the props fall over or we drop a hat on stage. No matter how well planned the recital is, something always happens. A dancer is sick, and the trio is now a duet; or costumes or props fail while on stage. Since the “show must go on”, you learn to roll with the punches to pull together the best performance you can. One of the best things I learned through performing is how to stay calmunder pressure when the music is wrong and the lights won’t turn on. After all, as Shakespeare said, “All the world’s a stage”.

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NEWSLETTER

Hello to all of you! I hope you are enjoying your summer so far. It’s time for the kids and grandkids to be out of school which means parents and grandparents will be out enjoying more activities outside. With more activity can come more injury.

INSIDE: • PATIENT SPOTLIGHTS • SUDOKU • DID YOU JUST

Photo By: Amy Enderle

We want you to prevent injury as much as you possibly can. Stay safe out there. If you do suffer an injury this newsletter has some great information on sprains and strains. Have a safe and active summer. 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

SUFFER A SPRAIN OR A STRAIN? • COOL WRIST SOAK • WHAT DOES R.I.C.E. MEAN?

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“I will miss you!” “ JoAnn and Shawna were both caring about my fingers, as I have been seeing them for numerous surgeries on both hands. I feel like they have turned into my friends. Your group can’t do any better, everything is so welcoming and so friendly. I will miss you!” Lynda C. 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 7 5 1 2 9 7 5 8 6 3 8 http://1sudoku.com http://1sudoku.com n°119362 - Level Easy Patient Spotlight

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Are you in Pain? Call Today And Start Feeling Better Fast! 425-368-7943

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7 1 6 This Month’s Sudoku! 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. 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 n°127435 - Level Easy

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Did You Just Suffer a Sprain or a Strain?

This type of injury is frequently seen with lifting and twisting while carrying something. This places the small muscles in the elbow and forearm on a tremendous load straining them. This causes elbow and forearm pain as well as sharp spasms with movement as your body tries to protect the injured area from moving. Severity of sprains and strains Sprains and strains are categorized according to severity. A Grade I (mild) sprain or strain involves some stretching or minor tearing of a ligament or muscle. AGrade II (moderate) sprain or

strain is a ligament or muscle that is partiallytorn but still intact. A Grade III (severe) sprain or strain means that the ligament or muscle is completely torn, resulting in joint instability. The keyto a great recovery is occupational therapywith Hands For Living. We help people quickly recover from minor to severe sprains and strains everyday. If you or someone you know is suffering frompain or limitedmovement, call us today to learn more how we can relieve the pain and get you back to enjoying life!

Cool Hand Soak

To Reduce Inflamation

Helps With Pain

www.simpleset.net

Prepare a tub of cold water. With cold water and ice. Soak hand in water often to evenly and deeply cool your wrist.

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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FREE INJURY SCREENING • Arthritis Shorten recovery time and improve your flexibility with a free screening. As soon as possible after an injury, such as a wrist or elbow sprain, you can relieve pain and swelling and promote healing and flexibility with RICE-Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Rest. Rest and protect the injured or sore area. Stop, change, or take a break from anyactivity that may be causing your pain or soreness. Ice. Cold will reduce pain and swelling. Apply an ice or cold pack right away to prevent or minimize swelling. Apply the ice or cold pack for 10 to 20 minutes, 3 or more times a day. After 48 to 72 hours, if swelling is gone, apply heat to the area that hurts. Do not apply ice or heat directly to the skin. Place a towel over the cold or heat pack before applying it to the skin. Compression. Compression, or wrapping the injured or sore area with an elastic bandage (such as an Ace wrap), will help decrease swelling. Don’t wrap it too tightly, because this can cause more swelling below the affected area. Loosen the bandage if it gets too tight. Signs that the bandage is too tight include numbness, tingling, increased pain, coolness, or swelling in the area below the bandage. Talk to your doctor if you think you need to use a wrap for longer than 48 to 72 hours; a more serious problemmay be present. Elevation. Elevate the injured or sore area on pillows while applying ice and anytime you are sitting or lying down. Try to keep the area at or above the level of your heart to help minimize swelling. Can You Remember The Letters R.I.C.E. for a Sprain? http://www.webmd.com/first-aid/tc/rest-ice-compression-and-elevation-rice-topic-overview

Patient Spotlights

“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.

• Shoulder • Arm pain • Hand pain • Elbow pain • Wrist pain

CALL TODAY TO SCHEDULE YOURS! 425-368-7943

Shoulders • Elbows • Wrists • Hands 19203 36th Ave W, Suite 103 Lynnwood, WA 98036

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