Madden Physical Therapy - Dauphin - December 2020

Madden Physical Therapy - Dauphin - December 2020

December 2020

Monthly

MADDEN PHYSICAL THERAPY

Courtesy of a Mom Who Loves Christmas Holiday Memories

with her granddaughter has had to be limited due to the pandemic.

When you grow up with a mom whose favorite holiday is Christmas, you tend to have more than a few over-the-top memories that come with each holiday season. Every Black Friday, my brothers and I didn’t spend the day waiting in long lines for shopping deals. We were at home, decorating for Christmas. It was my mom’s season, and she wasn’t going to let a moment of it pass without her favorite decor. There was even one year when I was hosting Christmas at my house, and my mom, who was staying with us, spent the entire day I was at work decorating my home. I came home to every room decked out in holiday decor! Now that she’s a grandma, my mom cannot help but spoil her granddaughter every Christmas. My brother’s daughter was born in February 2019, so you can imagine just how big my mom went for her first Christmas. I’m sure she will still go big this year — a year in which her time

I have to admit I’m looking forward to seeing Christmas through my niece’s eyes this year. She’s a little more aware of what’s going on now that she’s almost 2 years old and the magic of Christmas is still very real for her. Like my mom, I’ve only had one opportunity to see my niece once during this pandemic, and while I can watch her grow through Zoom or photos, it’ll be surreal to see how much she’s changed this Christmas. This year in particular, I’m really looking forward to my family’s annual small gathering. About 15 of us get together for the big holidays, and we always spend Christmas Eve together. We enjoy a traditional meal, do a gift swap, and then as the day winds down, we spend the night together. It’s tradition to wake up Christmas morning all together! Plus, it’s my

mom’s belief that you must open your stocking on Christmas morning. I have so many great memories of giving sleepy-eyed thank-you’s as we dumped our stockings out on Christmas morning. I may not have inherited my mom’s love of decorating for Christmas, or even an insatiable love of the holiday, but I can appreciate what her fondness for the holiday means. Christmas is an opportunity to gather with those who mean the most to us. It’s a time to set aside our worries or conflicts and focus on what brings us together. I believe we need that this year more than any year before. I hope you find time to make the holidays special with your loved ones, whether you’re joining a small gathering or celebrating from afar over video chat. Happy holidays and stay safe,

Help Madden PT Dauphin with Feed My Sheep and donate food before Dec. 14.

–Dan Hinnerschitz

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www.MaddenPT.com • 717.474.8754

Snow Shoveling Hacks

How to Spend Less Time Clearing Your Driveway Every Winter Everyone loves the snow — at least until it settles on the driveway, a barrier between your car and the open road. Shoveling snow off your driveway and walkway can be so tedious that you might be tempted to just hope and pray that the sun melts it all before you have to shovel it — which, of course, almost never happens. However, there are a few tools and methods you can use to clear the snow away that are faster than shoveling for hours on end. Check them out below. Create a nonstick shovel. Wet, partially melted snow might work well for packing snowballs, but it’s a pain to shovel. It has a tendency to stick to the scoop and not let go — unless you spray it with some common household cooking spray. This will make it a lot easier for the snow to slide off your shovel. Just remember to wipe your shovel down afterward! Make your own salt alternative. Sometimes you start shoveling, only to find that the snow concealed a layer of ice that you can’t scoop up with your shovel. However, if you combine 1 teaspoon of dish soap, 1 tablespoon of rubbing alcohol, and 1/2 gallon of water in a bucket, you can spread the mixture over the ice and melt it away, much like the salt you see on major roadways.

Be preemptive with some tarps. Did you see on the weather forecast that your area is about to get some major snowfall? Throw down some tarps on your walkways and driveway. Then, after the snow stops falling, lift the snow off to the side, and your walkways will be as clear as if it hadn’t snowed at all. Blow the snow away. If you’re lucky enough to be clearing your driveway while the snow is still powdery, rev up your leaf blower instead of breaking out your shovel. You’ll be able to clear your driveway in a fraction of the time it would take to shovel and dump it off to the sides of your driveway.

With one (or a few) of these methods, you can clear your driveway and enjoy the fun side of snowfall in no time!

“I expected the therapy to be first rate because of other patients I know that said it would be. The more pleasant surprise was the outstanding care of the staff in Dauphin. It is a pleasure to come to therapy here. I have gotten better in both motion and strength. Almost too much to believe. The improvement in lifting and driving is great. Dan knows his stuff, and the ladies make it happen. Best money I ever spent. I wish you all ‘Godspeed’ and blessings.” –Charlie Z.

Please share your experience with us! Simply go to MaddenPT.com/review_new. From there, just follow the steps. Thank you for trusting us with your care during your time at our clinic. We appreciate your help in sharing your story with others!

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www.MaddenPT.com • 717.474.8754

What’ s Under Your Hood?

How Your Car Illustrates Why You DON’T Need Surgery

pressure. Just walking or bending can strain your joints when they don’t have muscles to protect them. That’s why it’s not uncommon for a patient’s physician to tell them they are experiencing “bone-on-bone” pain and to suggest the patient’s only option is to surgically repair the worn joint. The muscles have been too weak for too long to protect the joints, the doctor says, and now the only option is surgery.

Like many patients, you may believe you need a hip or knee replacement, but did you know that physical therapy may actually be more effective than surgery? In fact, it can make surgery completely avoidable and unnecessary. Think of your body as a car. As a car moves, its springs and shock absorbers take on the brunt of the impact of potholes and divots in the road to provide a smooth ride over any terrain. Your body has similar mechanisms: your muscles and your joints! Like a car’s wheel bearings and tires, your joints allow you to move. The joints use simple mechanics to allow your knees to bend and your hips to swivel.

But the truth is “bone-on-bone” is more common than you might think — and it’s treatable without going under the knife!

Experts at Harvard Medical School cite physical therapy as one of the top two ways to prevent hip- or knee-replacement surgery. (The second was weight loss, which is easier to

achieve once you get stronger!) The movements of physical therapy are designed to strengthen the muscles that absorb the pressure of your daily activities. Exercising and stretching regularly encourage the muscles to change and grow, creating a powerful cushion between your joints and the force of walking or playing with your grandchildren.

Though our joints play a powerful role in helping us move, they are incredibly weak. It’s the muscles that surround these joints that absorb the force of planting your

feet on the ground or sitting on a chair, similar to how shocks absorb the impact of driving over a speed bump.

For many, physical therapy is an effective, affordable treatment option. If you or a loved one would like to learn more, schedule a consultation with our team by calling 717.474.8754.

When your muscles are weak or small, they fail to absorb

Laugh Therapy

If you’re cutting back on calories, skip the eggnog and buttered rum this year and fill up your mug with this delicious mulled cider! Festive Apple Cider

Inspired by BoulderLocavore.com

Ingredients

• 2 tsp allspice berries • 1 inch fresh ginger, thinly sliced • 2 tbsp honey • 3 cinnamon sticks

• 1 lemon • 1 gallon pure apple cider • 1 large orange, thinly sliced crosswise • 2 tsp whole cloves

Directions

1. Using a paring knife, shave the lemon peel off in curls. Reserve the curls and save the lemon for use in a different recipe. 2. In a large slow cooker, combine the lemon peel with all other ingredients. Cook on low for 3–4 hours. 3. If desired, use a sieve to strain the spices. Serve and enjoy!

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www.MaddenPT.com PHONE: 717.474.8754 FAX: 717.474.8755

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

722 Allegheny St. #2 Dauphin, PA 17018

Inside

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Great Christmas Memories From My Mom

Hate Shoveling Snow? Try These Hacks

Patient Success Story

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You Can Avoid Knee or Hip Replacement Surgery

Festive Apple Cider

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3 Prompts for PT Referrals

Tips for Referring Your Family to PT This Holiday Season Show Them You Care

how much you care about their well-being.

therapy helped you achieve pain-free living and got you your life back. Your story just might inspire your cousin, aunt, or sibling to do the same!

Whether you host a Zoom holiday party or find a safe way to gather with a small number of people, joining your loved ones for a celebration is what the holiday season is truly about. This year, as you gather with those who mean the most to you, our team at Madden Physical Therapy Dauphin would like to encourage you to use this opportune time to refer your loved ones to physical therapy. With the next major holiday not until Easter, you may not be together again for months! We know what you’re thinking. You don’t want to stir the pot. You’re worried about offering unsolicited advice. You fear they will retaliate or become angry. We understand, but it’s important to also remember that your advice or referral could be life-changing for your loved one.

1. “What’s your New Year’s resolution?” Even those who don’t make resolutions will be thinking about ways they can improve in the new year. Use this time of reflection to prompt an inquiry about their pain management. Offer physical therapy and your experience with it as guidance.

3. “Did you know … ” You learn a lot in physical therapy! Whether that’s the difference between muscle and bone strength or the proper exercises to fight off

shoulder pain. Use these bits of trivia to create an opening where you can encourage those in pain to give physical therapy a try. Don’t let this season pass by without showing your loved ones how much they mean to you. Refer your friends and family to Madden Physical Therapy Dauphin and have them give us a call at 717.474.8754!

2. “I’m moving with ease these days!” What could be better proof than your own

experiences with physical therapy? In fact, people place more weight on

So, here are three prompts to help you propose physical therapy and show your loved ones just

the experiences their loved ones have than what businesses say about the experience. Share how

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