OPTM Physical Therapy - October 2019

OPTM Physical Therapy - October 2019

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Battling Fears And Improving Patient Experience

For starters, we recruit and attract talented physical therapists and medical professionals that are dedicated to patient healing and growth. We focus our internal training on improving the treatment techniques of our professionals with

Like many people, I have fears that I battle with every day. As a dad, I worry about not spending enough time with my kids or supporting them enough. This winter, I adjusted my schedule in a way that would ease this fear and allow me to be home for dinner more often. I was even able to coach my son’s baseball team this summer! I still have that fear, but I know I have improved. But as a business owner, I struggle with similar fears. I worry about doing enough for my patients and employees. I fear outside forces that make our dedication to healing more difficult. I worry about doing enough for the community we love. We are living in an era where insurance companies are continually paying less for treatment while living in one of the most expensive regions in the world to live and operate a business. As California residents, you know that the OPTM Saratoga staff needs and deserves to be compensated with salaries well above the national average just so they can live securely in their homes and support their families. On that same token, commercial leases remain high while businesses like OPTM Saratoga battle with insurance companies who refuse to adapt. Instead, as the costs for us to provide care rise, insurance companies have yet to pass on inscreased coverage and low out-of-pocket costs. Instead of panicking over these realities — as a passionate entrepreneur, this is easier said than done some days — we decided that we need to focus our energy on what we can control. Our patients seek us out because they want to live a healthy, happy, pain-free life. They want to return to their hobbies and join their families. They are searching for an affordable option to healing that will give them renewed energy, vitality, and control over their health.

“You’renot a statisticor another patient inour system. You’rea personwith real problems, aperson whowants to thrive, apersonwho wants to return toyour normal life.”

mentorship programs between senior staff members and our newest employees. This yearlong curriculum ensures our professionals are consistently improving, feeling supported, and developing world-class skills. Next, we take these internal focuses and implement strategies that will give our patients the best care plans possible. There’s a flaw in the health system that turns people into numbers; instead of placing value on the individual and their healing as a whole, the health system looks at each person as another sick person that needs healing. At OPTM Saratoga, we have worked hard to develop a treatment philosophy that approaches a patient’s healing holistically with a focus on permanent recovery. We maximize patient satisfaction and good treatment outcomes by connecting the mind, body, and spirit together, recognizing that, in order to heal, you need the drive, support, and tools to succeed. This healing begins from the first phone call a prospective patient makes to our clinic. We have trained our staff to find the root of the problem a patient is concerned with from that first phone call. Together with the patient, we create detailed plans of care that identify a team to focus entirely on the methods of treatment and needs that will best benefit the patient. We write out the problem, identify a goal, and label the solutions we need to get there. You’re not a statistic or another patient in our system. You’re a person with real problems, a person who wants to thrive, a person who wants to return to your normal life. We may not be able to control your paycheck or what the insurance will pay out for treatment, but we can control your treatment. We can ensure that your healing is holistic, permanent, and possible.

Find out how, and don’t live in fear anymore.

Dr. Fabrice Rockich

With the processes we have in place, OPTM Saratoga can do just that.

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Dedicated to Healing Meet Our Newest Physical Therapist, Tyler Vinson!

SUCCESS STORIES

There are plenty of obstacles that can keep you on the sidelines, but the power in physical therapy comes from its ability to help you become better, faster, and stronger.

“I came in with pain increasingly occurring in various areas in my right leg. I wanted to reverse the trend and find ways to relieve it. Fabrice’s work and exercises have done this and given me control.”

No one in our clinic understands this concept better than our newest physical therapist, Tyler Vinson.

Tyler didn’t let consistent ankle sprains from awkward landings in volleyball keep him from playing the sport he enjoyed throughout high school. Instead, he leaned on a physical therapist to help him heal and improve his game. When Tyler wasn’t accepted to graduate school after completing his undergraduate degree, he took a year to improve himself. He took additional classes, studied harder, and worked at OPTM Physical Therapy of Saratoga as a physical therapy aide. By the following year, he was headed to Hampton University in Virginia to become a physical therapist. “It just really excites me to eventually go down the road to develop my own style, just use the knowledge and the evidence out there, and help patients down that path [toward healing],” Tyler says. Tyler joined our OPTM Saratoga team in July, and his resilience and dedication to his patients and healing are still strong. Since joining the team once again, Tyler says he has appreciated the mentorship and opportunities for growth. “There’s a gradual progression of caseloads that shows that they want us to grow as clinicians and team members, instead of throwing us in without training,” Tyler says. “They take the little extra steps to make sure that the patient gets the best possible experience. There’s also built-in time to learn from one of the experienced therapists to build skills and reasoning.” Prior to joining OPTM Saratoga, Tyler also studied and trained at a clinic in Huntington Beach and during a study abroad opportunity in Costa Rica. Back in his hometown, Tyler says that when he’s not treating patients at the clinic, he can be found spending time at local restaurants, breweries,

–Candace Brooks 9/13/16

“I tore my ACL in my left knee during a wrestling match. Devan and Celina were so helpful after my surgery in guiding me through the recovery process and getting me ready and strong enough to go off to college this fall. Although I still have some ways to go

before full recovery and being able to go back to martial arts, I am so grateful that I’ll be able to explore my interest in swing dancing and Zumba in college thanks to their help.”

–Carolyn Ma 08/22/19

“When I came to OPTM Saratoga, I had severe muscle spasms and pain in my right shoulder. I was unable to reach or lift my arm without spasms. I couldn’t even pick anything up with my arm and couldn’t walk around my house without a spasm.

“Ben and Jill are the best. They developed a plan for me and gave me stretches to do and added more as time went on. They stressed

that there should be no more pain in doing them. Eventually my shoulder got better, and I now have all my range of motion back. I also have no more pain in my neck. “Everyone here is great and very friendly. I could always count on their smiles when I came in. I would recommend OPTM Saratoga to everyone who is looking for physical therapy.”

festivals, or music shows with his girlfriend. Tyler also plays volleyball, hikes, and enjoys pick- up games of basketball. Now that he is back in the clinic, Tyler has shown us just how dedicated he is to his patients. Keep up the great work, Tyler!

–MacKenzie Soldan

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HITTING THE LINKS

Your Golf Game and Healing From Your Injuries With Physical Therapy

There are plenty of reasons why California is one of the greatest states to live. The weather is beautiful, there’s always a new landmark to see, and California’s mark on history makes for some of the greatest stories in cinematic history. But perhaps the

“biomechanical” parts of your body that may be hindering your swing and the ways you can use your body to your advantage. Golfers will learn how to balance the three performance pairs, which are mobility and stability, power and accuracy, and consistency and adaptability. These come with an understanding of the power and pitfalls of a golfer’s hips, feet, and upper back. Any golfer can benefit from these consultations; they are intended to help a golfer improve their game and enjoy their hobby without pain. Because of the twisting movements required in golf, extra strain is put on the hips, back, elbows, knees, and shoulders. Addressing the problem as soon as possible can help your body heal faster and better. Your physical therapist at OPTM Physical Therapy of Saratoga will create a routine to target the source of your pain and offer pointers on avoiding aggravating the injury. California may be the perfect place for golf, but don’t take that for granted. Improve your game and battle those pesky injuries with OPTM Physical Therapy of Saratoga by calling 408-973-7700, or visit OPTMSaratoga.com to learn more.

greatest perk about California has little to do with Hollywood and our state’s features. Instead, it can be found on the golf course. It’s always golf season in southern California, and that means golfers have plenty of opportunities to hit the links. Unfortunately, there are also more chances for golfing injuries, too. We have three Nike Golf Performance Specialists at OPTM Physical Therapy of Saratoga – Fabrice Rockich, Ben Turner, and Phil Edwards – who can help you improve

your game and mobility through private evaluations and lessons. Together, you will identify the

CHOCOLATE-DIPPED FRUIT

TAKE A BREAK

This super easy and fun way to create homemade treats provides your kids with a healthier and more delicious alternative to packaged industrial candy. As a bonus, making it is an awesome Halloween activity for your family to enjoy.

Ingredients

• 1 package melting chocolate • Assorted dried fruit, including apricots and mangoes

Directions

1. In a large saucepan, bring 1 inch of water to a boil. 2. Place a large, heatproof mixing bowl on top of saucepan so that no steam can escape. Place melting chocolate in mixing bowl and double boil until melted. 3. Dip half of each piece of fruit in chocolate before transferring

to a parchment-lined baking sheet to rest. 4. Let cool for 10 minutes until chocolate solidifies. 5. Place in school lunches, serve at parties, and indulge in a few for yourself.

Autumn Candy Carve Costume

October Orange Pumpkin Football Harvest Leaves

Inspired by Food Network

Scarecrow Halloween

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18780 Cox Ave Saratoga, CA 95070 408-973-7700 www.optmsaratoga.com

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Thanking theOPTMSaratoga Team Page1

What People Are Saying About Us Page2

Welcome, Tyler Vinson! Page2

How Physical Therapy Can Improve Your Golf Score Page3

Chocolate-Dipped Fruit Page3

Learn About Your Gut-Brain Axis Page4

Thinking With Your Gut The Amazing Connection Between Your Stomach and Your Brain

While it may seem strange to think about, the human stomach is truly a thing of wonder. Most humans only acknowledge its digestive processes, but the gut plays a much more influential role in our day-to- day lives than simply breaking down food for nutrient production; it is closely connected to our emotional states, as well. Think about it. Have you ever felt butterflies before a date, intestinal pain during moments of stress, or nausea before an important presentation? Have you ever told someone to “follow their gut” before making a big decision? These physical symptoms are not a coincidence; they are known in the scientific world as the gut-brain axis . Your gut is connected to the limbic system, the part of the brain that processes emotions. The brain sends messages to all other organs in your body, so it’s not surprising it communicates with your stomach, too. What is surprising, however, is that the connection goes both ways. Just as your brain can relay information to your gut about excitement and anxiety, your gut can have a direct impact on the way you feel.

According to a recent study published by the National Library of Medicine, when a person’s microbiome — the diverse population of good and bad bacteria living in the GI tract — becomes significantly altered or imbalanced, psychological or neurological issues can arise. In response to these emerging findings, dietary approaches and probiotics are being explored to see how well they can modulate a person’s microbiome and address symptoms. While research is still being conducted to determine the extent of the stomach’s influence over emotional and mental states, plenty of evidence proves the connection is real. Your stomach “talks” to you all the time, and, if you didn’t have enough reasons to pay attention to the food you eat, now you have one more thing to keep in mind. If you start thinking a bit more with your gut, your health will thank you for it!

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