Horizon PT - February 2021

Horizon PT - February 2021

physical therapy and rehabilitation February 2021

3600 Miller Road, Flint, MI 48503 • 810-620-8042 • horizonptflint.com

TRY TAKING FEWER SCIENCE CLASSES If at First You Don’t Succeed …

Though it may not be the most well-known holiday, Feb. 1 is National Get Up Day, which got me thinking about a time in my life when I struggled and had to overcome some challenges when I transitioned from high school to college. Adjusting to college life is hard for a lot of people. Most are teenagers when this big life transition happens. Not only do new college students have to adjust to a more independent life, but they also have to adjust to the rigors of higher education. I chose to stay in Flint and attend the University of Michigan-Flint after high school, in part because this is where I was born and raised, and I knew I had a support system here. While I didn’t have to struggle with issues of being away from home or far from family, I did have a difficult time adjusting to what was happening inside the classroom. As a high schooler, I didn’t feel like I had to work hard to get good grades. Even though I ran track and had a job, I still got a 3.5 or 3.6 GPA easily. I just didn’t really have to think about or plan my school work much. It came pretty naturally for me. But my first semester of college proved to be very different from that experience. I didn’t have the best academic advising that first semester at UM-Flint, so I chose my classes the best way I knew how: like I did in high school. I knew from that first semester in college that I would be pre-med or pre- PT, so I had to take a lot of science classes. But I soon realized that having more than two science classes at the same time was very difficult. I worked really hard but always felt like there was not enough time in the day to study for each class the way that I’d heard students need to study to do well. So, despite my hard work, I ended my first semester of college with the lowest GPA I’d ever had in my life, around a 2.3, which was a far cry from the easily attained 3.5 of my high school days. I was very disappointed at the end of that semester, not just because I wasn’t doing as well as I’d done in high school, but also because I felt like I’d worked as hard as I could, and yet I didn’t succeed. I knew I needed to do something different in the coming semesters, so I made some key changes. I got a new academic advisor who was able to really explain to me how to be successful and choose my classes to maximize

University of Michigan - Flint Commencement, December 10, 2006

my potential. I ended up spreading my science classes out, which made a huge difference. I also started to use flashcards to study and began forming relationships with my classmates. We’d share notes, quiz each other on what we were learning, and meet in groups to study. This collaboration with other students in my classes helped me to be better prepared and do well on exams. These changes really added up for me. They got me back on track and ultimately helped me graduate and get to where I am today. When I think back to what helped me get back up after that stumble that first year of college, I think it can be summed up by saying that reorganizing my approach was key. Sometimes, we really are working our hardest, but if that hard work isn’t paying off, you’ve got to sit down and take a good look at what you’re doing to figure out the best way to proceed forward and achieve your goal. Sometimes, you’ve got to ask for help from others too. I learned this lesson in college, and I still use it today. I struggled when I first opened Horizon PT, so I had to take the time to look at what I was doing and what I needed to change to get to that place of success. Since I’d done it before, I knew I could do it again. As we move a little deeper into 2021, you might feel like you’re still working on getting up from being knocked down last year. So, take a moment to look up and make a plan to move forward. Find what works for you, and you’ll get yourself back on track in no time. 1 810-620-8042 -Dr. Jerome Adams

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4 LIFE SKILLS YOU CAN TEACH YOUR KIDS THIS VALENTINE’S DAY

Nothing says “I love you” more than equipping your children with important knowledge they’ll need for the rest of their adult lives. Even if they groan about it now, they’ll be grateful for the know-how when they’re on their own in the future. Keep in mind that your home classroom doesn’t have to mimic a school classroom. Research from the University of Utah shows that kids learn best through hands-on activities and play. Have fun while teaching these life skills, and you’ll earn thank-yous for decades to come. CLEAN THE HOUSE Were you ever surprised by how often you have to clean your kitchen? Your child may be too. Although your 10-year-old won’t have to worry about cleaning the stove today, they will need to know how when they move out, so find ways to incentivize cleaning and make it more fun. You can have your kids collect “chore points” that add up to a prize, like an extra hour of playing video games! DEVELOP COOKING SKILLS You may be hesitant to have a little chef in the house, but if you’re teaching them how to clean up and stay safe while making some easy dishes, there’s no reason to worry! Even if you’re not a great cook yourself, it’s fun to prepare simple recipes as a family. Plus, your kids will get used to the idea of cooking for themselves, which is both healthy and cost-effective.

LEARN TO GARDEN What’s a better way to get outdoors with your child than to garden together? From using tools like shovels and rakes to nurturing another living organism, gardening provides plenty of rich life lessons, such as patience. UNDERSTAND HOUSEHOLD MAINTENANCE Whether they’re learning how to use an electric breaker, unclog a drain, or clean out the washer or dryer, your kids can get started learning household maintenance skills with just a little guidance. Who knows, maybe they will be their dorm’s future superhero! There are many lessons you can teach your child at any age, so don’t limit yourself ! Be creative with the lessons you pass on, and there’s a chance they’ll never forget them

A Pain-Free Tomorrow OUR PAT I ENTS SAY I T BEST

“I came to Horizon PT because my right leg was weak. It hurt when I sat or stood too long, and I had constant pain in my knee. I had this problem for years, but after therapy, I can stand longer without pain, and my knee movement has gotten better. Dr. Adams gave me clear information on what was causing the pain, how to work out the muscle, and what I needed to do at home to help the process be successful. I enjoyed the people and the atmosphere at the clinic.”

“When I came to Horizon PT, my muscles in my neck and left shoulder were swollen and out of place, and I had a sharp pain in my right hip. I could barely sit or stand, but Horizon helped me heal and get healthy. The staff are very loving, caring, and determined to make sure clients leave healthy. I would highly recommend anyone to come here. Dr. Adams and his team are amazing. Thank you so much.”

–Shaneka A.

–Margaret N.

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Yes, PT Can Help With Jaw Pain

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS? While pain is the most obvious symptom of a TMJ disorder, patients may also experience jaw fatigue (especially when chewing), ringing in the ears, neck pain, or dizziness. If the jaw joint becomes damaged or strained, you may also experience popping or clicking noises in your jaw or have the sensation that your jaw gets stuck momentarily when moving it. HOW CAN PHYSICAL THERAPY HELP? When patients who are experiencing jaw pain or discomfort come to see us, our physical therapists focus on realigning their jaw joint and helping the patient relax the muscles, tendons, and ligaments around it. Your PT may have a hands-on technique to help with this alignment, and they can also recommend at-home exercises that will help you strengthen the joint and surrounding area to restore motion and reduce pain. If your jaw pain is a result of poor posture or your work routine, your PT may suggest some ergonomic solutions for your workspace that will help reduce the stress on your neck, spine, and jaw. They may also be able to show you how to change any daily tasks you’re doing that are causing undue strain on the jaw.

What do speaking and eating have in common with your posture and stress? All of them can have an effect on your jaw. While your jaw is designed to help you smile and chew, stress and poor posture can have negative effects on your jaw that lead to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, aka jaw pain. This widespread disorder affects about 10 million Americans. The good news is that physical therapy can help! Let’s take a look at the common causes, symptoms, and treatments for jaw pain.

WHAT ARE THE COMMON CAUSES? Stress and poor posture are two of the leading causes of TMJ disorder. Though these are both common, their prevalence has increased due to additional stressors from the pandemic and makeshift at-home workstations. Hunching over a keyboard all day can cause pressure or strain on the neck, spine, and jaw. Similarly, stress may cause you to clench your jaw or grind your teeth, which can strain or damage the jaw joint.

If you’re experiencing jaw pain or discomfort, contact us today to see how we can help.

Have a Laugh

Strawberry Kissed Almond Butter Muffins Inspired by AmbitiousKitchen.com

Enjoy this Valentine’s Day-themed muffin with your Valentine or treat yourself !

Ingredients

• • • •

1 cup oat flour

• •

1 cup ripe bananas, mashed

1 tsp baking powder

3/4 cup natural creamy almond butter (can substitute creamy peanut butter)

1/4 tsp salt

• • •

2 large eggs

1/4 cup strawberry fruit spread, divided (we recommend Bonne Maman INTENSE)

1/4 cup pure maple syrup (or honey)

1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

strawberry fruit spread to the top of each muffin. 6. Use a butter knife to gently swirl the spread into the batter. 7. Bake for 22–27 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. 8. Transfer muffins to wire rack to cool and enjoy!

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with liners and spray with nonstick cooking spray. 3. In a large bowl, mix bananas, almond butter, eggs, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. 4. Stir in oat flour, baking powder, and salt until smooth. 5. Evenly divide batter into liners. Add 1 tsp

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THIS ISSUE Inside

What Dr. Adams Learned During His First Semester in College

Teach Your Kids Life Skills This Valentine’s Day!

Testimonials

How PT Can Help With Jaw Pain

Strawberry Kissed Almond Butter Muffins

What’s the Deal With Valentine’s Day Cards?

WHY VALENT INE ’S DAY I S THE ULT IMATE CARD HOL IDAY This may be the first year in a long time that kids don’t pass out Valentine’s Day cards at school. Going in to the new year, the seasonal section of most stores is lined with cards featuring fun characters from superheroes to unicorns. Handing out cards is now a well-loved tradition, but have you ever wondered how Valentine’s Day became one of the biggest card-giving holidays of the year? IT’S IN THE CARDS Like many holiday traditions, the convention of handing out Valentine’s Day cards goes back centuries. During the 1700s, it became fashionable to trade Valentine’s Day cards with a short poem or verse. The popularity of swapping cards only increased throughout the 1800s. Sometimes, people would go as far as to paint or draw spring-like images on the cards. They were much more elaborate than what we typically see today, though they were still usually very small. But where did those folks get the idea? People of that era were likely inspired by stories that go back even further. There are legends that the originator of this holiday tradition was Saint Valentine himself.

One story says that on the night before he was set to be

executed, Valentine wrote a small letter to a jailer’s daughter. He ended the note with “Your Valentine.”

It’s unknown whether that story is true, but to 18th century Europeans and Americans, it was inspiring! So inspiring, in fact, that the entire Valentine’s Day industry began to gain traction. A guidebook called “The Young Man’s Valentine” was published in 1797 to help suitors garner the attention of their love interests through the written word. Eventually, books aimed at women were also published, including “The Lady’s Own Valentine Writer,” which served much the same goal. These publications, along with young people writing notes to one another every February, have made Valentine’s Day cards an ingrained tradition, and now people can’t get enough of them!

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