Mission PT AZ - October 2020

Mission PT AZ - October 2020

3321 E. Queen Creek Rd. #106, Gilbert, AZ 85297 • (480) 550-9100 • missionptaz.com October 2020

Techniques, Tools, and Training THE 3 TS

People go to physical therapy in hopes to find relief from pain, injuries, numbness, or a host of other problems. They often look at their symptoms as coming from at least one of four general areas:

1. Age 2. Genetics 3. Previous injuries 4. Extra Weight

something else is going on. Chances are, it has to do with how she moves her body (how she stands, locks her knees, twists her legs, etc.) while at work that has contributed to her knee pain.

I helped this woman by using gentle and effective TECHNIQUES to restore normal mobility to her muscles and joints. It wasn’t that she was on her feet all day — she just had a lot of tension in her legs, and as a result, she wasn’t able to move correctly, leading to pain. Techniques are the skilled interventions used in therapy that patients cannot do for themselves. Techniques are individualized to each person. Examples might be joint mobilization or manipulation, trigger point release, dry needling (acupuncture), etc. Then I showed our friend TOOLS , gentle exercises and stretches that she could do at home to maintain the mobility she had gained from the techniques we used in the clinic. Most people are given just 3–5 tools that they can do several times a day, as needed, for relief or to “fix” their problem. The third strategy is TRAINING . Training is what is going on in the brain — like the software (or mental programming) that runs the body. The therapists offer training so our patients learn how to posture, position, or move correctly to prevent future injury. These exercises are meant to retrain the brain to utilize better movement patterns. They are a series of motions that often feel strange at first, because they are not used to positioning or moving that way. They are retraining or reprogramming the brain to the proper — and not the hurtful — way of moving. It will likely take a few hundred repetitions over just a few weeks to make the new movement pattern automatic or natural for our minds and bodies.

Let’s take a closer look at those “causes” and how physical therapists can approach them. We, clearly, cannot change the first three items. They are what they are. The fourth, extra weight, is something that can be changed, but certainly not overnight. So then, what can anyone offer you to help you get better? Fortunately, there is a fifth factor that many people don’t usually think of:

5. Movement

This is the least talked about cause of our orthopedic problems, but it’s exactly what we at Mission Physical Therapy like to focus on. The way we move (or don’t move) our bodies, or the way we repeatedly do certain motions in our daily activities, most often contribute to our problem. When we hear things like “I must have slept wrong” or “my office chair is just so uncomfortable,” that’s when we’re getting closer to the true source of pain. At Mission Physical Therapy, we use the Movement Correction Method to focus on the most significant factor: your movement. This unique method includes three strategies to help you heal in an effective, holistic way: Techniques, Tools, and Training. I’ll give you an example. I recently had a conversation with a patient who is on her feet all day. She came in with knee pain and blamed it on her job. So, I asked her if other people at her job — where everyone is on their feet all day — were experiencing this same pain. She said “no.” This tells me that

This approach applies to many different issues. Like the woman who learned how to work on her feet pain free, we can help you as well. Our therapists use certain techniques to reduce pain and restore your range of motion. We then give you the tools you need to reduce or eliminate pain and maintain that range of motion on your own. And finally, we train your body to move correctly, resulting in long- term success! And those, friends, are the 3 T’s of the Movement Correction Method — unique to Mission Physical Therapy. We can’t wait to help get you moving better!

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Our mission is YOU. What is YOUR mission?

(480) 550-9100 • missionptaz.com

The Best Halloween Movies on Disney+

faithful dog, he uses the power of mad science to bring the pooch back to life. What follows is a strange and heartwarming stop-motion adventure about the love between a boy and his dog. Some scenes may be a little intense for young children, but “Frankenweenie” never becomes too scary for kids to enjoy. ‘HOCUS POCUS’ Max and his family have just moved from California to Salem, Massachusetts, when Max accidentally resurrects three evil witches. To save his little sister, Max must team up with his new crush and a talking cat to stop the witches’ reign of terror. “Hocus Pocus” does contain some truly frightening scenes, so it may not be appropriate for young children. However, the way this film balances comedy and humor makes it a perfect Halloween thrill for older kids. These are just a few of the creepy and cool Halloween movies streaming on Disney+. When you’re done with these, scroll through the catalog to find some more new favorites. Happy Halloween!

Pop some popcorn and break out the candy corn because it’s time for a spooky family movie night! Disney+ offers a treasure trove of Halloween movies with just the right amount of tricks and treats. Here are a few of the best Halloween movies you can watch on Disney+ right now. ‘HALLOWEENTOWN’ When 13-year-old Marnie and her siblings follow their grandmother home on Halloween night, they make some surprising discoveries. Not only does their grandmother live in Halloweentown, a place where monsters lead normal lives, but their whole family is secretly a bunch of witches! Marnie must learn to rely on the magic of family in order to save her grandmother and all of Halloweentown. If your family enjoys “Halloweentown,” you’ll be glad to know that all three of its sequels are also on Disney+! ‘FRANKENWEENIE’ This movie is a charming twist on the classic horror story! When a young boy loses his

Mike Restores His Range of Motion After Back Surgery

Once his hips flexed freely and his upper back was relaxed, we trained him how to bend at his hips while keeping his back straight and relaxed, as when picking something up or getting in and out of a chair. Though the motion we taught did not feel normal to him, Mike admitted that it did not hurt and found it to be an easier way to move. After about six or seven squats, we noticed he started to bend his back slightly. It can take a lot of focus to keep your back straight while doing squats, but with enough practice and repetition, it became easier. Just by slowing down, going through each motion deliberately, and staying focused, Mike was able to do two sets of twenty squats without increasing his back pain! We told him it would take a couple hundred repetitions over a couple of weeks before these motions would start to feel normal. Then, it will take another 300–400 repetitions before it became automatic or natural. Easy to do in less than a month. As Mike continued to recover from his surgery, he used the tools we gave him and he was able to train his body to move better — and he reported that his back felt great once again!

Mike came to us after a back surgery, where he had several small tumors removed that had been painfully pressing up against his spine. However, following the surgery, he couldn’t move the way he used to. And of course, his doctor told him no bending, lifting, or twisting. When Mike came in for physical therapy, we told him we would help him to be able to bend, lift, and twist once again. The doctor did exactly what he was supposed to do for the tumors in Mike’s back — however, the surgeon did not have the techniques or tools to help Mike regain his previous range of motion. This is exactly what physical therapy is for! We eased into it by using some simple techniques to restore his hip flexion. Then we taught Mike to hold his knee to his chest to use the hip flexion motion he had gained (tool No. 1). We then turned our attention to his middle and upper back and used techniques to ensure that he had full motion at all of the spinal segments above the area of his surgery with normal and relaxed muscle tone. We had him lie on his side and gently twist as far as he could without any pain, repeatedly (tool No. 2). He did these tools at least three times a day.

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AND SAY HELLO TO THE GRILL! SAY GOODBYE TO THE SUMMER HEAT The summer heat is finally starting to settle down and Arizonans are coming out of our summer hibernation. With temperatures becoming more reasonable, more people will be spending time outside. We’ll be going for walks, enjoying the great outdoors in and around the Phoenix area, and grilling in the backyard. For many of us, fall is peak grilling season! With more people at home, grilling in the backyard has become one of “the things” to do this fall. It’s a great way to get out of the house and to have a few people over for some food and fun. Want to step up your grilling game? Here are a few tips to get more out of your goodies. DON’T WALK AWAY When grilling, never walk away from your grill once you’ve put the food on the grates. When you turn your attention elsewhere, you risk disaster. All it takes is a few minutes of distraction to ruin a perfectly good steak. When the meat goes on and you watch it, the results speak for themselves. BROADEN YOUR HORIZONS If you really want to wow your guests, put away the burgers, hot dogs, and steak and say hello to … pizza? Yes, pizza — or anything else, really! After all, your grill is just an outdoor oven. While the primary heat source may be below the grates, when the lid is closed, heat circulates through the entire grill space, effectively cooking or baking whatever you have inside. So try grilling all your favorite dishes! DON’T FORGET DESSERT Pizza isn’t the only type of pie you can grill. You can also grill dessert pie, and it’s relatively straightforward. Simply prepare your favorite pie recipe and put it on the grill at the same time and temperature that you would normally bake it. (Fruit pies are especially recommended for grilling, but you can grill any type of pie that you would normally bake!) Of course, with grilling comes a lot of standing. If you feel aches or pains setting in from being on your feet for any length of time, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Mission Physical Therapy! We want to get to the root cause of the issue, because standing shouldn’t hurt. Even better, if you call us AND mention this grilling article, we’ll schedule you for a FREE screening and laser treatment. Now that is a great way to start the fall!

WORD SEARCH

Apples Calendula Candy Halloween

Horror Masks Opal Popcorn Scary Scream

Treat Trick

Spooky Strawberry Ghosts

These adorable chocolate-dipped strawberry ghosts will be the stars of your Halloween party!

INGREDIENTS

• 16 oz white chocolate, chopped

• 24 strawberries

• 1 package mini dark chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS

1. In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the white chocolate at 50% power for 30 seconds. Remove it and stir, then repeat the process until melted.

2. Lay out a sheet of parchment paper.

3. One by one, dip the strawberries into the melted white chocolate and set them on the parchment. Allow the extra chocolate to pool to form a “tail” effect. 4. Before the chocolate coating fully cools, add three mini chocolate chips to each berry to form two eyes and a mouth.

5. Let chocolate set, then serve your spooky snacks!

Inspired by Candiquik.com

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(480) 550-9100 • missionptaz.com

Our mission is YOU. What is YOUR mission?

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3321 E. Queen Creek Rd. #106 Gilbert, AZ 85297 (480) 550-9100 missionptaz.com

Inside This Issue 1 What Are the 3 Ts?

Family-Friendly Halloween Movies You Can Watch Tonight!

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The 3 Ts in Action

It’s Grilling Season in AZ! (And a Special Offer Just for You)

Spooky Strawberry Ghosts

When ‘Star Wars’ Invaded Halloween

The Spooky ‘Star Wars’ Shortage of 1977

A long time ago … in October of 1977 to be exact, Halloween was fast approaching and many parents faced a major dilemma. That year, kids didn’t want to go trick-or-treating dressed as vampires, witches, or ghosts. The classic costumes simply wouldn’t do. That Halloween, almost every child in the United States wanted to dress as their favorite character from the new hit movie, “Star Wars.” Today, you can walk into a Halloween City on Oct. 30 and easily pick up a costume for Rey, Darth Vader, or Princess Leia. But in 1977, less than five months after the release of the first movie in the popular franchise, getting your hands on “Star Wars” merchandise was a bit more difficult. Ben Cooper, a costume company in Brooklyn, had the foresight to license “Star Wars” for costumes right after the movie came out. Unfortunately, they didn’t foresee how great the demand for these costumes would be. Retailers across the country were selling out of “Star Wars” costumes as fast as they came in. Some stores reported selling more “Star Wars” costumes than pumpkins. Kids

who got their hands on an authentic Han Solo or C-3PO costume were considered lucky. But kids who arrived at the store to find the costume shelves empty didn’t throw in the towel. Instead, they went and found some brown towels to make their own Chewbacca costumes.

In the current age of cosplay, homemade costumes based on movie characters are commonplace, but in 1977, this was uncharted territory. Kids searched for white dresses to be Princess Leia and bathrobes they could cut short to mimic Luke Skywalker. Families everywhere broke out their sewing machines and created costumes using only action figures for reference. It was grueling work, but it showed how much kids wanted to spend Halloween in a galaxy far, far away.

The “Star Wars” costume shortage marked a new era for Halloween — one where making your own costume was just as cool, if not better, than buying it.

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