Horizon PT - May 2020

physical therapy and rehabilitation May 2020

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

MY LONG HISTORY IN SPORTS From Floor Hockey to Basketball

May is Physical Fitness and Sports Month. Athletics and fitness are something I hold near and dear to my heart, and not just because I’m a physical therapist. I have been playing sports all my life. When I was in elementary school, if there was a sport, I wanted to play it and be good at it. We had floor hockey, soccer, basketball, and even flag football. As a kid, I was ultracompetitive, and I wanted to do everything. My grandfather once told me, “You can do whatever you want to do in life, as long as you work hard at it.” This advice stuck with me. In high school, I bowled, played basketball, and ran both track and cross-country. It was a lot, but I wanted to stay busy. Of all the sports I played, basketball was always my favorite. I would spend the whole day at the gym or in the park shooting hoops. When I was growing up, I had an uncle who played basketball. I really enjoyed going to Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournaments to hang out with my uncle and watch him play with his friends. That’s where my love of the game really first began. I started playing basketball myself in elementary school and kept playing for years. In college, I played intramural basketball and continued to play even after graduating. I didn’t think about getting off the court until I suffered a knee injury that kept me out of work for several weeks. I ultimately needed surgery, and while I was recovering, I had to accept the fact that, at this stage in my life, I wasn’t going to get into the NBA. I’m still a really competitive person, and when I play a game, I can’t stop myself from going all out. It’s not wise for me to risk hurting myself again just to play a game of recreational basketball. Instead, I just need to focus on doing what I can to stay healthy, which usually means using the machines at work. Though I don’t play anymore, basketball is still part of my life. I founded Flint’s Finest Basketball Club in 2008 and have been part of promoting positive values like discipline, commitment, and integrity in the young men of the Flint community through the game of basketball. Flint’s Finest has grown so much over the last 12 years, and I really enjoy being able to coach these kids in the sport I played for so many years.

“Of all the sports I played, basketball was always my favorite.”

Recently, I started a new chapter in my relationship with basketball when my oldest son, Jerome, started asking more and more if he could go play basketball. He’s 5 years old and has never asked to play basketball before, so it’s pretty exciting. When I was younger and thought about having kids in the future, I hoped my kids would want to play basketball, too. It’s something we can share, and it will be fun to go to his games and teach my son how to play. He has an opportunity to do stuff that I didn’t get to do when I was growing up. We can go to camps and clinics and really hone his skills, if that’s what he wants to do. Right now, he mostly just wants to bounce the ball around, and that’s fun, too. Being active is important to our health, but it also serves as a way for us to connect with each other. My history with the sport has opened the door for me to bond over basketball with my son today. And I make time to exercise so I can be there for my sons well into the future.

-Dr. Jerome Adams

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Give Your Kid the Gift of a Green Thumb HEALTH BENEFITS OF FAMILY GARDENING

author, Rob Knight, emphasize the health benefits of garden time in their book, “Dirt Is Good: The Advantage of Germs for Your Child’s Developing Immune System.” The two found that exposure to different microbes, like those found in a garden, strengthens a child’s immune system and makes them less likely to develop allergies. If this is your first time gardening, you don’t need much to get started. Grab a few shovels, a pair of gloves for each family member, and fresh potting soil, and you’ll be set. Then, you can decide together which plants you’d like to grow! Carrots are fun because of the surprise factor — just imagine your child discovering that the part they eat grows below the ground! Peas are tasty and fairly easy to grow, as are strawberries. The options really are endless. Depending on the growing season in your area, you can choose to buy seeds or opt for rooted plants. Last but certainly not least, the best part of gardening as a family is the healthy, fresh produce you’ll get to enjoy all summer long!

Springtime often means nicer weather and more time spent outside, but it also means it’s gardening season. That means it’s time to roll up your sleeves and play in the dirt. If you’ve been searching for a way to get the kids away from technology and engaged with the real world, gardening is the perfect activity for the whole family to enjoy. Not only is it fun, but it’s also beneficial for your kids’ development. For example, gardening can improve your children’s analytical abilities. As Dr. Wendy Matthews says, “Gardening exercises important reasoning, initiation, planning, and organization skills.” Furthermore, several studies, including one at Texas A&M University, suggest that gardening improves a child’s attitude toward fruits and vegetables and may make themmore likely to choose them as snacks. Gardening helps kids identify with where their food is coming from, and nothing tastes better than a freshly picked strawberry or pea pod they grew themselves.

Jack Gilbert, a scientist at the University of Chicago and a parent himself, and his co-

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

“Having physical therapy at Horizon was not just about setting goals, but, with a very friendly staff, it was also about building relationships and trust with seeing how they care about each and every individual person.”

“My foot is pain-free. I would recommend Horizon PT to anyone who needs it. Staff is absolutely wonderful.”

–Tina Franklin

–Chase Bogedin

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THE LITTLE-KNOWN CONNECTION BETWEEN PAINAND SLEEP

And How a PT Can Help YouWith Both

Do you have a comfortable mattress? Does your pillow support your neck? Are you going to bed at the same time every night? Considering these questions, as well as double-checking your diet and exercise routines and identifying bad habits, can set you up for a good night of sleep that will help ease your pain. However, if you’ve done all these things and are still struggling, it might be time to turn to a physical therapist for help. There are multiple things a good PT can do to help you get better sleep. Here at Horizon PT, our physical therapists are experts at teaching techniques like autogenic relaxation, progressive muscle relaxation, and visualization, all of which promote sleep. They can also identify the cause of your pain then treat it with hands- on techniques like joint mobilization and massage. This array of techniques, combined with stretches and strengthening exercises, has helped many of our patients ditch counting sheep and get back to sleeping deeply. If you’re losing sleep because of pain or have insomnia that’s getting in the way of your recovery, we can help. Call Horizon PT today at 810-620-8042 to get on track for a well-rested, pain-free life.

If you struggle with pain on a regular basis, odds are you’ve tried just about everything to mitigate it, frommedication to exercise. But have you considered that you just might not be getting enough sleep to heal? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 1 in 3 Americans gets a healthy amount of sleep on a regular basis. This is a huge problem because missing sleep can contribute to issues like obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and depression. It can also intensify pain! In fact, pain and sleep are very closely related. Some people sleep more to escape from pain, while others have pain that keeps them from sleeping. According to the Cleveland Clinic, up to two- thirds of patients with chronic pain also suffer from sleep disorders, particularly insomnia. If you’re having trouble getting to sleep or find yourself waking up in the middle of the night, a good first step to fixing your problem is reevaluating your environment. Is your bedroom dark and quiet?

Sticky and Sweet Pork ‘Ribs’

Have a Laugh

Inspired by Bon Appétit

Ingredients

• • • • • • •

2 heads garlic, cloves separated

3 thumbs ginger, chopped

• • • • •

1/3 cup oyster sauce

1 cup hoisin sauce 3/4 cup fish sauce

1/3 cup toasted sesame oil

5 lbs boneless pork shoulder, flattened

2/3 cup honey

3/4 cup brown sugar

2/3 cup rice wine 1/2 cup chili oil

1 tbsp molasses

Directions

1. In a blender, purée garlic, ginger, hoisin sauce, fish sauce, honey, rice wine, chili oil, oyster sauce, and toasted sesame oil until smooth. 2. Reserve and chill 1 1/2 cups for later use. 3. In a bag, add the remaining mixture and pork shoulder. Marinate for at least 8 hours. 4. Using a convection plate on the grill, cook pork until the thickest part reaches an internal temperature of 140–145 F. 5. In a large saucepan, simmer brown sugar, molasses, and reservedmarinade for 6–8minutes. 6. Baste the pork with the brown sugar glaze for 2 minutes before serving.

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3600 Miller Road Flint, MI 48503

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

THIS ISSUE Inside

What’s Your Favorite Sport?

What Is Gardening Good For?

Our Patients Say It Best

The Little-Known Connection Between Pain and Sleep

Sticky and Sweet Pork ‘Ribs’

The Best Technology for Graduates

WI TH THESE TECH GI FTS FOR GRADS SAY CONGRATULATIONS

For the Streamer There’s no shortage of streaming services, and depending on what your graduate enjoys watching, you may consider gifting them a subscription. Nostalgic Disney lovers looking for some stress relief would certainly love a Disney+ subscription, but if you know someone who has an affinity for the

Spring is all about new beginnings, and for many, graduation is just the start of something big. Whether your favorite graduate is heading off to college, serve in our nation’s military, or join the

workforce, there’s a gadget out there that will give them a great start — or at least make you their favorite relative. Check out this guide to find the perfect tech gift. For the Audio Lover Fromwireless headphones that surround you with sound to Bluetooth speakers that offer crystal-clear quality, the options are endless when it comes to choosing an audio device. But before purchasing the “next best thing,” consider the person who will use it. If your graduate exercises frequently, they may want wireless

dramatic sagas, a subscription to HBO Now could satisfy their cravings. Hulu + Live TV can also be a great alternative for a grad who is out of the house! The best part is that this gift keeps on giving with every movie or show they stream.

For the Academic This May will mark the start of a new academic adventure for many. AI systems like the Amazon Alexa and Google Home canmake staying in touch and studying easier, while an e-reader could house all their textbooks in one handy place. Laptop cases, screen covers, and other protective gear can keep their technology safe fromwear and tear. (After all, what college kid can afford a new laptop on a whim?) Charging stations and cord organizers can also protect their tech and keep their space clean.

headphones like Apple’s AirPods or one of the many Samsung varieties. On the flip side, if they enjoy actionmovies, a great sound bar for their entertainment system just might do the trick.

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