Kinetic PT - October 2018

OCTOBER 2018

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OUR FAMILY PREPARES FOR ANOTHER HALLOWEEN TRICKS AND TREATS

On the cover of the newsletter we published last October, Emilie speculated about whether or not our eldest, Zach, would be trick-or- treating this year. Well, I’m happy to say that so far, all signs point to yes for our eighth grader. If he doesn’t go out with his friends this Halloween, he’ll most likely tag along with his little brother Nathan. That’s been one change we have seen over the years. The brothers are still mostly inseparable, but at events like Halloween, they start drifting toward their own peer groups. That’s part of growing up, I suppose, but I’m glad to see the two of them have maintained their close bond of friendship into the beginnings of adolescence. For our part, Emilie and I would never pressure our boys to skip trick-or-treating. Halloween is a magical holiday, one that’s all about having fun and being a kid. How could we as parents take that away from them? Plus, seeing our kids get dressed up and go trick-or-treating gives us parents a chance to relive the joy of the holiday through their eyes. When I was a kid growing up in a small town, we had free rein

on Halloween. My friends and I would roam far and wide with our pillowcases full of candy. In fact, we’d make pit stops back at our houses to empty our bags, then go out and get more. Of course, we never managed to eat it all, but that wasn’t really the point. Just competing to see how much we could get in a night was part of the fun. But of course, as you get older, you start giving into peer pressure and stop trick-or-treating. Between college and having kids, Halloween lost a lot of its magic for me.

So I certainly won’t be the one to pressure my kids into giving up this tradition. They are free to head out and get as much free candy as they can carry year after year — so long as they wear costumes. In my mind, there’s nothing worse than those teenagers that wear T-shirts trick-or-treating, saying “I’m dressed as a teenager.” If I were the one passing out the candy at our household, there would be a minimum threshold on effort and creativity before you got treats. That’s probably the reason I’m the one out watching the boys every year while Emilie mans the candy bowl. I’m just biased toward creative costumes. One of my favorite memories with my kids was from the Halloween a few years ago when Nathan made up his own superhero. We still laugh about “The Windenator” and how Nathan spun his way from house to house making tornado noises! More than candy or costumes, those sorts of memories are the best Halloween treats of all.

“SEEING OUR KIDS GET DRESSED UP AND GO TRICK-OR-TREATING GIVES US PARENTS A CHANCE TO RELIVE THE JOY OF THE HOLIDAY THROUGH THEIR EYES.”

During those years, it really is just another fall day. Having kids (and our dog Stitch) to dress up in costumes and take trick-or- treating really let me re-experience what made Oct. 31 fun.

–Mike Ulmer

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One of the hardest challenges of aging isn’t coping with the physical changes or new limitations associated with getting older; it’s finding new groups of people with similar interests, especially for empty nesters. Many adults build their peer networks around their children, making them the focal point of conversations with other parents in similar situations. But as children grow older and eventually leave home, parents are forced to adjust to their dwindling social lives. While some adults thrive in meeting new people, many struggle to find ways to connect with their peers. Fortunately, there are apps for that. EASY FACEBOOK FOR SENIORS The mother ship of social media can sometimes be more of a maze than a way to connect with others. Facebook took notice of this and created a simplified version of the app specifically designed for those who want to avoid all the distractions. Ease of use makes the opportunity to connect with others who have similar interests simpler than ever. OURTIME Dating in your 50s can be tricky, especially when many singles are looking for specific requirements HOW TO REWIND LIFE’S CLOCK USING SOCIAL MEDIA

in a partner. Some are seeking casual relationships, while others are looking for someone to grow old with. OurTime is a dating app that allows seniors to find partners with similar values, priorities, and passions. It’s a great way to find new people to share the golden years with. SKYPE You don’t have to wait for the holidays for your next group gathering; Skype allows you the opportunity to have video chats with anyone who has a smartphone. Maybe your conversation about the football game got cut short at church, or maybe you never finished your discussion at book club. Whatever the occasion, Skype gives you the option to connect with the people around you, even when you don’t feel like leaving the comfort of your house.

“Where do I begin? I felt from day one that I chose the perfect place for PT after having a knee replacement. The care and compassion I received was outstanding! Walking, sitting, and sleeping

“This was my second encounter with Emilie at Kinetic. The first time I had a bad hamstring pull, which was very painful, but with Emilie’s help, I was able to get back to a normal exercise program. This time, I

were difficult for me after surgery, as I could never get comfortable. Every little chore was exhausting. After six weeks of PT, I’m back to my old self and able to manage most things I did before. That makes me extremely happy and very, very grateful! Thank you to Amanda for starting me on the road to recovery. Once Emilie took over, she brought me all the way home with an incredible journey and recovery. I will miss you all!” –Lori Lankes

was experiencing pain in my hip when I tried to walk any distance (around Wildflower Lake). Also, my core was very weak, and my balance was a problem. With several weeks of therapy and doing exercises at home, I feel so much better and also like I have much more strength. My posture is better, my balance is better, and my pain is now minimal. Thanks again, Emilie — I could not feel this way without your help. If you need PT, Emilie, Mike, and Amanda are the ones to help you!” –Martha Throckmorton

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As Halloween approaches and we prepare to celebrate all things spooky and frightening, it feels like a good time to remind our readers that fear can be debilitating. The fear of falling (FoF) is an extremely prevalent condition in individuals over the age of 60 and can lead to a whole host of health problems. Being able to identify this fear and recognize its risks is the first step to overcoming it. HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE FOF? Unlike other conditions related to balance, FoF can be difficult to diagnose. Often, it’s up to the individual to identify when they are feeling anxious about something. If you or a loved one frequently avoids walking due to concerns about what might happen, or if you find

even small activities while standing stressful, you may have FoF. WHAT ARE THE RISKS? Ironically, those who suffer from FoF are actually putting themselves at greater risk for harmful falls. While avoiding standing and walking may seem like a preventative act, in reality, you are weakening the muscles and balance skills necessary to move safely. On top of this heightened risk of a fall, sedentary lifestyles carry plenty of additional health risks with them, including obesity and Type 2 diabetes. WHAT CAN YOU DO? Facing any fear can be extremely difficult and emotionally taxing, but that does not mean you have to resign yourself to a sedentary

lifestyle. Physical Therapy is one of the best ways to overcome FoF, as a PT clinic offers a safe space with a professional staff dedicated to keeping you safe while getting you moving. At Kinetic, we specialize in helping clients overcome a wide range of balance issues. If you feel inspired to face your fears this Halloween season, we’ll be happy to stand with you!

Sudoku

Spiced Pumpkin Seed Crunch

• 1/4 cup shelled sunflower seeds • 1/4 cup raw cashews, coarsely chopped • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper • Nonstick vegetable oil spray 4. Using a slotted spoon, strain spoonfuls of mixture over bowl and transfer to baking sheet. Discard excess egg white mixture. 5. Bake 20–25 minutes, tossing once. 6. Let cool and serve.

INGREDIENTS • 1 large egg white • 1 teaspoon light agave syrup • 1/2 teaspoon garam masala or curry powder • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt • 1/4 cup shelled pumpkin seeds DIRECTIONS 1. Heat oven to 300 F. 2. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray. 3. In a mixing bowl, whisk together egg white,

agave, salt, and spices. Add nuts and seeds and toss until evenly coated.

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INSIDE What Makes Halloween Special PAGE 1

Turn Back Time With Social Media PAGE 2

My PT Story PAGE 2

Face Your Fear of Falling PAGE 3

Spiced Pumpkin Seed Crunch PAGE 3

The Birthplace of Halloween PAGE 4

Fans of Halloween don’t need to look far to find somewhere to celebrate their favorite holiday. There are festive parties all over the world, from New Orleans to London, but if you really want to embrace the spirit of Halloween, there’s no better destination than the birthplace of the holiday: County Meath, Ireland. Every year in Boyne Valley, the residents of County Meath throw a month-long Halloween celebration. The Spirits of Meath Halloween Festival attracts thousands of guests from all over the world, and while this festival has only been celebrated since 2009, many of the traditions observed here date back to ancient times. The ancient Irish weren’t trick-or-treating or visiting haunted houses on Oct. 31, but they were celebrating the pagan holiday Samhain. Over 3,000 years ago, this Celtic festival was born in Meath and marked the end of the harvest. Samhain was celebrated with bonfires, offerings to fairies, and other rituals meant to keep evil spirits away. Many of these customs carried through the centuries and inspired Halloween traditions that are still practiced today.

Today, Meath celebrates Oct. 31 with a blend of spooky thrills and traditional Samhain practices. The Spirits of Meath Halloween Festival starts with the lighting of the first torch fire of Samhain in Athboy, which kicks off a month of fun activities. If you like your Halloween extra spooky, the scream park, Farmaphobia, is waiting for you. And if you’re not a fan of screaming your head off, you can check out the Halloween-themed Spookling Afternoon Tea for fresh-baked treats and spirited conversation. The motto of this all- ages festival is “Fun by Day; Frights by Night,” meaning all the really scary ghosts wait until after sunset to come out. There are plenty of ways to celebrate Halloween, from carving jack-o’-lanterns and eating chocolate to running for your life through a haunted corn maze. And in County Meath, you can celebrate Halloween in every possible way. For more info, visit www.discoverboynevalley.ie/ whats-on/spirits-meath-halloween-festival-2018.

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