OPTM PT - October/November 2020

OPTM PT - October/November 2020

MOTION Monthly We’re Moving Next Door!

COX AVE.

QUITO VILLAGE

Intero

Bank of the West

Creating a Space for Healing in a Familiar Place

Starbucks

About 10 years ago, the OPTM Physical Therapy of Saratoga team had to leave our original home of one decade and move into the Quito Village Shopping Center. We were lucky enough to work with our landlord to find a new location just minutes away in the same center.

Relocation!

Current Location

12930 Saratoga Ave.

Now, after six years in Quito Village, I’m proud to announce that we’re going home!

had to strip the space down to the bones and configure it into a place of healing and sustainability for our clients and our team. I’m proud of the clinic and the environment we built here. A lot of blood, sweat, and tears went into making that clinic our home, and it served us well for six years. However, we are very excited to return to our roots and move into our new location over one weekend in the middle of November. I’m anticipating a very easy move and transition. Our goal is to continue to have the same open layout that we accomplished at Quito, and patients can anticipate little to no disruption in their routine — other than a location shift. We are proud to represent Saratoga and the surrounding communities, and there is nowhere else we would rather be. We feel blessed to have been part of this community for the past 16 years, and I’m just so grateful to only move down the block in a region we have always called home. We can’t wait to see you in our new space! P.S. Get updates on OPTM of Saratoga’s move, as well as news and tips, on our page at Facebook.com/optmsaratoga! –Dr. Fabrice Rockich

Back in January, I was visiting Disneyland with my family. (Remember when it was safe to travel and go on family adventures?) While on vacation, I received a call about a news release, which mentioned that the Quito Village would be torn down and 91 homes would go in its place. Immediately, I began to panic, thinking our business would be homeless and worrying about what we would do next. That emotion slowly subsided as I realized I had to find our team and our patients a new location for healing. Soon enough, I found us a new home which is, ironically, right near our very first clinic in Saratoga. We won’t even be too far from the Quito Village — you can see it from the village parking lot! The new location is just as open and welcoming as our location here in Quito, and it has a great natural view. In fact, the view from our new location, just off Saratoga and Cox avenues, is a welcome, soothing upgrade from our current office which looks out at the parking lot. I’d be remiss if I didn’t pay homage to our Quito Village clinic. This space was constructed out of four individual spaces and built to suit our needs. We

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PT CAN HELP Meet Our Newest Physical Therapist, Emily Schlaefer!

SUCCESS STORIES

Many physical therapists discovered the profession by

“I started with Ben about a month ago. I was having chronic back pain and hip discomfort on the right side. It was probably due to long hours sitting and a decrease in exercise due to the COVID-19 lockdown. My situation has changed 180 degrees by now. Ben was very sharp

undergoing a course of physical therapy as a patient seeking pain relief. Though it’s a common story, this wasn’t the case for our newest physical therapist, Emily Schlaefer. “I had physical therapy in high school for lower back pain, and I went to another PT clinic but didn’t have a great experience,” Emily says. “They didn’t explain what was

in analyzing my issue right away. We started with very simple exercises. I wouldn’t have believed that in a month, I would feel much better; the target seemed way far, but I progressed steadily. Ben was very diligent in addressing any issue I had during my progression, and we worked out the challenges successfully. My pain is now insignificant, and I am signed up to hike Half Dome in 10 days! This clearly is a testament of a happy ending!”

happening and why I was doing these exercises … So I strive to make sure my patients know why I’m doing the exercises that I’m doing for them.”

–Zahra S.

Emily joined the OPTM of Saratoga team this past July, after graduating from the physical therapy program at Columbia University. Born and raised in San Jose,

“After my knee replacement surgery in June 2019, I had PT sessions at OPTM Saratoga with Todd and Devan for several months, and my mobility pretty much returned. However, I developed sciatica pain toward the end of 2019 and began PT with Todd for

California, Emily says she fell in love with physical therapy as an undergraduate at Chapman University. Emily is also a familiar face around our clinic; she did some of her first job shadowing at OPTM of Saratoga when she was just 18 years old! “Everyone is really great. I get a mentorship once a week with the senior PTs,” Emily says. “If I’m struggling with a more complex case, I can talk to anyone around me and they’re willing to help me.” Currently, Emily is undergoing training and education to focus on pelvic floor treatment. Emily’s goal is to use her knowledge of pelvic floor health to help men and women who are suffering from incontinence and pain from pregnancy or sex. It’s often an issue that’s overlooked by other medical professionals, Emily explains. “People will go to their doctor and get told that their pain is normal or that it’s normal to leak pee when you exercise. It seems like it’s taboo to talk about … But it’s not normal to have pain or leak with exercise,” Emily says. “Physical therapy can help. That’s not something you have to live with.” We are excited to build our pelvic floor treatment program at OPTM of Saratoga and to have an expert like Emily join our team. Thank you for your commitment to patients, Emily!

this pain. At that time, I could hardly walk from our living room to the kitchen without pain. Over the next few weeks, my PT with Todd (and taking a new medicine) started showing positive results, and now I’m pretty much back to normal. I want to thank OPTM Saratoga, and especially Todd, for my recovery.”

–Madhav D.

“I had a great experience with Tyler. I was diagnosed with extreme arthritis in my left shoulder, and it was really painful to sleep on or sit with my arm hanging. With Tyler’s help and knowledge, he showed me a lot of exercises that would keep it moving, and after a month, I am

able to sleep without any pain and able to swim and pick up my little 3-year-old granddaughter, along with doing my daily routine. Tyler was a real pleasure to work with. He was kind and patient and very knowledgeable! Just an all-around great professional. The whole OPTM Saratoga staff was a pleasure to work with.”

–Debbi O.

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By Helping Your Loved Ones Heal FEEL GOOD

At OPTM Physical Therapy of Saratoga, we love hearing the stories of former patients returning to their normal lives or even attempting more physical activities than ever before. This ability to heal and to help in such a direct way is why most of us became physical therapists! Did you know that you can feel that way, too? We believe you can help your loved ones and experience that same great emotion by referring your friends and family to physical therapy. It isn’t easy to offer advice to those you love, so if you know someone who is in pain or struggling with daily activities, try this three-step process for referring them to physical therapy. Step 1: Offer Empathy — Nothing sticks with someone more than personal experiences, and if you’re someone who has healed from an injury or pain, you can offer a perspective that medical experts alone simply cannot. Explain your experience with pain and how physical therapy helped you recuperate. Mention your wins and your struggles and remind your loved one that you will be with them every step of the way. TAKE A BREAK

Step 2: Be Pushy Yet Considerate — Your loved one may not be immediately receptive to your advice, and that’s okay! You can still gently nudge them toward healing. Ask about their reservations or offer to set up a meeting between them and your physical therapist. Be considerate of their personal space and feelings, but don’t be afraid to remind them of the importance of healing on a regular basis. Show you care without pushing them beyond what’s comfortable for them. Step 3: Make It Easy for Them to Succeed — We all procrastinate, and for those who put off healing or physical therapy, the easiest way to procrastinate is to blame Father Time. Don’t allow that to happen for your friends. Offer to set up carpool shifts, track goals with them, or even video chat and exercise together! Accountability makes us all stronger, so make sure your friend sticks to their healing routine.

In just three steps, you can help someone feel as good as you do and get them back to the activities they love. Just be careful — that feeling is contagious!

If we can help you refer our treatments to your loved ones, give us a call today or give your loved ones our contact information.

CLASSIC PUMPKIN SOUP

Ingredients

•

1 tbsp olive oil

•

1 cup canned light coconut milk

•

2 shallots, diced

•

2 tbsp honey

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

•

1/4 tsp sea salt

•

2 1/4 cups pumpkin purée (homemade or canned)

•

1/4 tsp pepper

•

1/4 tsp cinnamon

•

2 cups vegetable broth

•

1/4 tsp nutmeg

Directions

1. In a large saucepan over medium heat, sauté olive oil, shallots, and garlic for 2–3 minutes. 2. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a simmer. 3. Transfer the soup to a blender and purée. Pour the blended soup back into the pan. 4. Cook over medium-low heat for 5–10 minutes. Taste and add additional seasoning as desired, then serve!

APPLES CALENDULA CANDY HALLOWEEN HORROR MASKS

OPAL POPCORN SCARY SCREAM

TREAT TRICK

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

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OPTMSaratoga Is on theMove! Page 1

Client Success Stories Page 2

Our New PT Has a Passion for Patient Education Page 2 Help Your LovedOnes Find Relief With a PT Referral Page 3

Classic Pumpkin Soup Page 3

3 Healthy Spices to Try This Fall Page 4

The Best Fall Spices to Boost Your Family’s Health It’s the season of fall spices. Pumpkin spice — which is actually a mix of many different seasonal spices — is a favorite, but it’s not the only one we should try this year. Seasonal spices are a fun way to literally spice up your meals, and many of them also have surprising health benefits! Something for Your Heart: Cinnamon Cinnamon can actually help lower your blood sugar levels, which is especially beneficial for folks with Type 2 diabetes. The Johns Hopkins Medicine website also reports that cinnamon has heart-healthy benefits. For example, studies show that cinnamon can reduce high blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels, thus decreasing the risk of developing heart disease. How to add more cinnamon to your diet: Sprinkle cinnamon on oatmeal or plain yogurt for a warming boost of flavor. You’ll also find cinnamon in pumpkin spice, a seasonal favorite. Something for Your Brain: Turmeric Recent research has found that turmeric can reduce inflammation. A compound in turmeric called curcumin has been shown to help reduce the pain and swelling associated with arthritis. The anti-inflammatory

properties of turmeric may also help reduce inflammation in the brain, which has been linked to depression and Alzheimer’s.

How to add more turmeric to your diet: Homemade curries are a great way to get a good dose of turmeric. You can also add turmeric to roasted vegetables or taco seasoning. Something for Your Stomach: Ginger If you’ve ever drunk ginger ale on a plane to calm your upset stomach, then you’ve already experienced the healing properties of ginger. Ginger can be used to treat nausea, including nausea due to motion sickness and pregnancy. Studies show that ginger can also offer relief to cancer patients suffering from nausea caused by chemotherapy. How to add more ginger to your diet: There are many baked goods that call for ginger. Your morning coffee or tea could also benefit from a hint of ginger.

These are just a few spices that are also superfoods! Do some research to discover the secret benefits of your favorite spices.

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