Kinetic PT - November 2020

Kinetic PT - November 2020

NOVEMBER 2020

847-515-8970 • www.KineticPTS.com

A TIME OF THANKS REMEMBER THE POSITIVE THINGS THIS THANKSGIVING

I wrote about Thanksgiving and being thankful in my last year’s newsletter, but it’s especially important I write about it again this year. So much has happened in the last 12 months that it’s hard not to write about such an essential topic. During such crazy times, it’s good to think about the positive things that may have happened over the year and give thanks for everything we have, even if things are still uncertain. It’s easy to get caught up in all the negatives the pandemic has caused, but there are a lot of things to be thankful for when you look for them. Despite the slightly chaotic year, I’m very grateful our business has returned very close to normal. At the beginning of the pandemic, I wasn’t sure if we were going to keep our doors open, a scary prospect. Yet as we’ve moved through the summer and into the fall, things are becoming more normalized and look better and better every day. I’m also thankful that everyone in my family has been healthy throughout this whole situation. My kids have adjusted well to e-learning, even if it’s not their favorite thing about the new school year. Fortunately, they’re old enough to be independent

with their school work, so my wife and I don’t have to constantly look over their shoulders to make sure they’re doing their work. They’ve been doing a fantastic job these past few months with it, too. Then there’s Thanksgiving. I have no idea what the holiday is going to look like. One nice thing about my profession is the insight my team and I have into people’s lives, especially around the holidays. Over the years, we’ve heard all about people’s plans to travel or go home for Thanksgiving. Some people have really large gatherings with family and friends, others have smaller groups, and unfortunately, some don’t have anyone to share the holiday with at all. This year, people may not be comfortable traveling across the country or visiting with large groups of family because of underlying health conditions. Yet, even though many plans are still up in the air, the most important thing we can do this Thanksgiving is take a little extra time and think about all the good in our lives. I’ve caught myself saying many times this year: “I can’t wait for 2020 to be over.” Just like many of you, I’m looking forward to when this crazy year finally comes to an end. But, we

have no guarantee that by 2021 the pandemic will be over. So, instead, I look for the positives. Thanksgiving means I’ll get to enjoy my favorite foods: turkey and stuffing. Then, even if we’re unable to travel like we usually do and our group isn’t as large as we’d like, there are still plenty of things to look forward to. A smaller group of people means more turkey leftovers, which is another of my favorite parts of the holiday. I also know for certain I’ll get to enjoy watching my dad fall asleep as the family watches a football game. Once the holiday is over, our family — and our entire neighborhood — will still enjoy the tradition of putting up our Christmas lights that following weekend. Even though things are different, being grateful for all the good

things and not focusing on the bad can help make this

Thanksgiving as special as those before it. No matter what your holiday may look like, I hope it is filled with love, plenty of turkey, and an abundance of gratitude.

–Mike Ulmer

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Getting your day started with coffee isn’t always enough. Sometimes, you need to give yourself an extra boost, especially when you have little energy or trouble focusing. For an awesome start to your day, here are five tips to get you going right off the bat. WAKE UP 5 MINUTES EARLY. What’s the power of five minutes? It can be more than you think. Spend this time doing simple breathing exercises or a quick meditation so you can get focused for the rest of the day. If that’s not your style, you can prepare a quick to-do list for your day ahead. Either way, it’s always nice to have a little extra time for

WRITE IN YOUR JOURNAL. Who says you have to journal at the end of the day when you’re tired and ready to sleep? You can journal in the morning about what happened yesterday and the things you’re looking forward to that day. Journaling can remind you of your daily goals and motivate you to stick to your commitments. PACK YOUR LUNCH (OR SNACKS!). Staying on track with your goals starts with having the energy to do them. Plan a healthy balance of fats, vegetables, carbohydrates, and proteins. This can be as simple as assembling dips, carrots, wraps, and salads each morning.

yourself without losing too much sleep. START WITH GREEN TEA, THEN COFFEE.

A cup of coffee at 7 a.m. can leave you burned out by 10 a.m. Try swapping it with green tea for a more gentle wake-up call. After that, you can brew your favorite coffee to keep you going strong. This practice also might help you consume less caffeine overall! TAKE A QUICK MORNING WALK — AND HAVE YOUR MEETINGS ON THE GO. Morning meetings can make us want to fall asleep again. Don’t spend all of them sitting down if you don’t have to! Not only will morning walks help you wake up, but they can also add some extra physical activity to your day.

It’s time to try these tactics to jump-start your day!

“To graduate from 6 months of PT is quite an achievement for me since consistent exercise has eluded me previously. I’ve been able to get into a home exercise routine,

“My major problem when entering the Kinetic Physical Therapy facility was with a sciatica pain on my right side. After 10 treatments, my pain on my side, thigh, and leg are for the most part gone. With home exercises, I hope to keep a maintenance program on my own. This is the first therapy that has helped.”

which is a first in my 67 years. I’ve enjoyed

Emilie immensely, her skill encouragement and fun upbeat attitude. By the way, I rehabbed a knee replacement during my time at Kinetic.”

–Linda Hoffman

– Linda Brown

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Pain, stiffness, a decreased range of motion, and swelling around the joints are all common signs of arthritis. Usually, these symptoms vary depending on the type of arthritis, and all tend to worsen as a person grows older. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are two of the most common types of arthritis and can occur in any of the joints around the body. For this article, we’re taking a closer look at shoulder arthritis. WHAT IS SHOULDER ARTHRITIS? Your shoulder consists of three main bones: the humerus (upper arm bone), scapula (shoulder blade), and clavicle (collarbone). Shoulder arthritis can occur in two joints in the shoulder: the AC joint, where the clavicle meets the top of the scapula, and/or the

glenohumeral joint, where the head of the humerus fits into the scapula. When the cartilage between any of these two joints begins to deteriorate, that is known as arthritis. Normal wear and tear can cause this deterioration, as can a chronic disease like rheumatoid arthritis, or it can develop after an injury. WHAT ARE THE TREATMENT OPTIONS? When seeking treatment for arthritis in the shoulder, people have several options. Two treatments include corticosteroid injections, to reduce swelling and pain, or surgery. However, before deciding on either one of these, your first choice should be physical therapy. Going to a physical therapist to get your shoulder(s) evaluated can not only save you a

lot of time and money but also additional pain and discomfort. A physical therapist will thoroughly examine your shoulder to determine the best treatment for you. They will look for any pain the joint may cause when pressure is applied, test your range of movement, measure weakness, or look for signs of previous injuries. Once they have this vital information, your physical therapist will work toward strengthening the muscles and limbs to increase your range of motion in the shoulder. If you’ve experienced pain, stiffness, and a decreased range of motion in your shoulder, our therapists can help. Call the Kinetic PT Specialists at 847-515-8970 to learn more.

Sudoku

Luxurious Vegan Chocolate Mousse

Inspired by WellPlated.com

Making chocolate mousse with avocados may sound strange, but we promise it’s a match made in heaven! This sinfully delicious recipe is a great holiday treat.

INGREDIENTS • 4 oz vegan dark

• 1/4 cup almond milk • 1 tsp vanilla extract • 1–3 tsp maple syrup, to taste • Fresh berries, for garnish

chocolate, chopped • 2 large avocados, pitted and skinned • 3 tbsp cocoa powder

DIRECTIONS 1. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the dark chocolate. Heat in 15-second intervals, then stir and repeat until melted. Set aside to cool. 2. In a food processor or blender, combine the cooled chocolate and other ingredients. Blend until smooth and creamy, adding additional sweetener as desired. 3. Scoop into glasses and refrigerate at least 2 hours. Top with berries and serve!

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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

847-515-8970 www.KineticPTS.com

11920 Oak Creek Parkway Huntley, IL 60142

INSIDE A Time of Thanks PAGE 1

Top 5 Healthy Life Hacks to Have an Awesome Morning PAGE 2

My PT Story PAGE 2

Taking a Closer Look at Shoulder Arthritis PAGE 3

Luxurious Vegan Chocolate Mousse PAGE 3

Is ‘Glamping’ the Perfect Winter Getaway? PAGE 4

STEP 1: DECIDE WHICH KIND OF LODGING YOU WANT. Glamping shelters come in all shapes and sizes depending on the level of comfort you desire on your trip. The most rugged glamping lodgings usually still include a wood-burning stove and a nice comfy bed, whether you opt for a log cabin or a specialized glamping tent (sometimes called a yurt). However, some of the more posh options include amenities like fresh linens, private bathrooms and showers, fully stocked kitchenettes, and even TVs. STEP 2: DECIDE HOW YOU WANT TO SPEND YOUR TIME. Obviously, the point of glamping is to spend time in the great outdoors with winter activities, such as snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and other fun snow activities. However, glamping really shines during the frigid evenings. You can retreat indoors, throw some logs in the stove, prepare some hot cocoa or cider, and just watch the snowfall from your window. There’s no right or wrong way to glamp. All that matters is spending time in the wilderness with all the comforts of home — all while feeling refreshed and at peace.

When COVID-19 struck the U.S., travel restrictions had people canceling their vacation plans left and right. This meant that many would-be vacationers had to find some getaways a little closer to home — namely, camping trips and their fancier cousin, glamping trips. If you haven’t heard of “glamping” before, it’s essentially glamorous camping. You have access to the beautiful, rugged outdoors as well as all the comforts of home. While traditional winter camping certainly wouldn’t be a relaxing getaway for most people, glamping during the winter months can give you access to the peace of the outdoors like you’ve never experienced before without so much as a shiver or sniffle. If you’ve decided to make glamping your go- to method of escape from the cabin fever that besets us all during the cold, dark winter days, you might be thinking: How can I make sure I have the best glamping experience possible? Luckily, there are a few tips and tricks you can apply to any glamping location to ensure that your time away from home is just as relaxing as that Caribbean cruise would have been.

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