Physical Therapy Doctor - November 2019

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November 2019

ON THE MOVE

The Evolution of My Thanksgiving CHANGING TRADITIONS

It’s hard to believe, but Thanksgiving is here again. I’m sure many of you will be gearing up for the big feast, whether you do the cooking yourself or head over to eat with your loved ones. One thing I’ve noticed as I’ve

make up Italian cuisine. Personally, I wasn’t complaining to have some great, authentic dishes. It was just jarring to see the turkey take a back seat on its most iconic holiday.

grown older is just how many ways there are to do Thanksgiving — dropping in on different relatives really shows you that “turkey day” traditions aren’t quite as universal as you might think. Even the turkey itself isn’t always the main feature! Of course, it wasn’t this way at my grandparents’ Thanksgiving table when I was a kid. Yes, we had our family favorites, like my mom’s deviled eggs, but the turkey was the

To this day we usually have Thanksgiving dinner at my in-laws’ house. They’re a little more traditional than my side of the family, so the women typically do all the cooking — even the barbecuing. I’d offer to help in the past, but at this point, I’ve been chased out of the kitchen too many times! So, these days while they cook up a delicious feast, my kids and I will usually sit down with a movie — usually “Jingle All the Way.”

“With the turkey being such a big part of both the feast and our after-dinner activities, having Thanksgiving with my in-laws proved very surprising.”

absolute star of the show. My grandparents would make it so moist and buttery, you had to wipe down the wishbone before you could try to tug on it! My brother and I got pretty competitive when it came to trying to get the larger piece of the bone (and the wish that came with it), but my grandpa was quite the master at actually winning the game. While we tugged and pulled, he just held still and inevitably came away with the bigger portion. Maybe there’s a lesson there. With the turkey being such a big part of both the feast and our after- dinner activities, having Thanksgiving with my in-laws proved very surprising. You see, my wife’s family immigrated to the United States from Italy in 1987 bringing many of their traditions with them. They’re amazing cooks and happily began celebrating Thanksgiving upon moving here. They just weren’t turkey cooks. The bird isn’t that popular over in the old country, as it loses out to the many delicious sausages and pastas that

There’s just something about Arnold Schwartzenegger losing his mind trying to get an action figure for his son that never fails to make me smile. I guess it’s just one more new twist on how we spend the holiday! But, whether we’re honoring new traditions or old ones, one thing always stays the same. Every year I’m reminded of all these wonderful memories and feel so incredibly thankful for the family that made them with me. So, whether you’re having Thanksgiving the same way you always have or trying something new, I hope the experience leaves you with something you can look back on and smile.

From our family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving,

–Dr. Robert Morea

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T E A T I M E

WHAT’S SWIRLING AROUND IN YOUR CUP?

Tea has been consumed for thousands of years and is the second-most popular drink in the world, with water being the first. It is the national drink of several nations, including China and India, and is an integral component of religious ceremonies the world over. Drinking tea has been known to reduce stress, promote relaxation, and improve sleep. In addition to these instant benefits, tea can also help improve a person’s long- term health through regular consumption. YOUR HEART According to Harvard Health Institute, several studies show that those who regularly drink black and green tea are at a lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease. These types of tea contain antioxidants and flavonoids, which are plant chemicals that help dilate arteries and reduce bad cholesterol. Studies also link tea consumption with improved vascular reactivity — how well your blood vessels respond to stress. YOUR BRAIN Flavonoids don’t only fight heart disease; these chemicals can also reduce any vascular damage to the brain. The National University of Singapore has conducted studies that

link reduced risks of dementia in the elderly with regular tea consumption. The results speak for themselves: “The longitudinal study involving 957 Chinese seniors aged 55 years or older has found that regular consumption of tea lowers the risk of cognitive decline in the elderly by 50%, while APOE e4 gene carriers who are genetically at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease may experience a reduction in cognitive impairment risk by as much as 86%.” YOUR MOOD Tea leaves contain the amino acid L-theanine, which stimulates several feel-good neurotransmitters, like serotonin and gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA). These neurotransmitters help boost your mood and alertness. According to a study by the Huazhong University of Science and Technology in China, tea even has the ability to ward off depression. The study took 22,817 participants with 4,743 cases of depression over 11 studies, and 13 reports found that individuals who drank three cups of tea a day decreased their depression risk by 37%.

So, the next time you want a warm beverage that will do your mind and body good, reach for some tea and bask in all the health benefits as you sip.

ME E T JOSH GRAUE R !

For the past four years, Josh Grauer has been a beloved member of our physical therapy team. His upbeat attitude and compassionate care made him a perfect fit for our clinic from the start, so we couldn’t think of a better person to feature in our first team member spotlight! We sat down with him to get the story of how he found his way to us. For all his talent, it may surprise many of Josh’s patients that physical therapy wasn’t originally on his radar.

Josh on a personal level. As a young adult, he’d worked as an EMT and lifeguard, helping to protect people’s health. Now seeing the ways PT had helped him, Josh was feeling inspired.

“I started looking into PT schools,” Josh recalls, detailing how he would work days at his finance job while

studying the sciences he needed at night. When he had the required credits, he applied to a physical therapy school and was accepted! Fast forward to today, and it’s clear the career move was more than a good fit. “I love the satisfaction of having someone in bad shape come in, and guiding them back to what they want to be able to do.” of ours. With his years of exceptional service, we couldn’t be happier he found us! When he’s not at the clinic, you’ll most likely find Josh spending time with his 6-year-old daughter. The two have begun going deep-sea fishing together, a tradition Josh is passing down from how he spent time with his own father. Josh actually found his way to our clinic thanks to his father, who was a patient

“I actually started in finance,” Josh explains with a laugh. “I got my undergraduate degree in economics.” But, while Josh’s day job was all numbers and spreadsheets, he still managed to keep himself physically active, sometimes to his own detriment. “While working, I also

practiced mixed martial arts … and was constantly getting hurt.” These frequent injuries made Josh a regular at his local physical therapy clinic.

Coming in visit after visit, Josh began to build a rapport with the doctor there. “I told [the doctor] he had a great gig going on here,” he remembers. “He was doing right by all sorts of people, getting them back on track to their everyday life.” This sort of service spoke to

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WORDS IN YOUR BRAIN

Here is a brain exercise aiming to stimulate the connections or associations between words in your temporal lobe. In the left column, you have a pair of words. Your goal is to find a third word that is connected to or associated with both of these two words. The first pair is “lock” and “piano.” The answer is “key.” The word key is connected with both the word piano and the word lock — there are keys on a piano and you use a key to lock a door.

1. LOCK — PIANO 2. SHIP — CARD 3. TREE — CAR 4. SCHOOL — EYE 5. PILLOW — COURT 6. RIVER — MONEY

7. BED — PAPER 8. ARMY — WATER 9. TENNIS — NOISE

10. EGYPTIAN — MOTHER 11. SMOKER — PLUMBER

Many patients believe that once they’re out of physical therapy Medicare visits, they can’t come into our clinic for the help they need. This leads people to suffer from joint pain and balance issues instead of seeking help. But even if you are out of your allotted visits for physical therapy, you still have occupational therapy visits through your Medicare plan. WHAT IS OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY? Occupational therapy is a medical profession geared toward helping people maintain the activities (or occupations) they do in their everyday lives. Since most activities are based on movement, this practice shares many overlaps with physical therapy, especially where joints and balance are concerned. In fact, practitioners in both fields use many of the same exercises and techniques to treat patients with mobility issues. However, Medicare recognizes them as two separate practices. HOW MANY VISITS? Assuming you have never gone to see an occupational therapist, your Medicare CAP allows you about 14 visits to one of these highly trained professionals. This makes occupational therapy the perfect alternative for those who have exhausted their physical therapy visits. With that many extra sessions at your disposal, you can fully address your pain and mobility issues rather than leave your treatment in the lurch. WHERE CAN I FIND AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST? Right here! Our clinic is very fortunate to have Jenove James, a highly trained and experienced occupational therapist, as a member of our team! In fact, he specializes in mobility and pain management, making him the perfect fit for so many of our clients. So, if you are still struggling with joint pain or staying balanced after exhausting your physical therapy visits, give us a call. We’ll set you up with Jenove and get you the help you need. Pick up the phone and call 718-747-2019. There’s an Alternative! OUT OF PHYSICAL THERAPY VISI TS?

Ready to stimulate connections in your temporal lobe? Enjoy playing! (Solutions are available in the clinic, so make sure to drop by to check your answers!)

Inspired by SharpBrains.com/blog/2008/02/09/brain-teaser-words-in-your-brain- learn-as-you-exercise

Recipe of the Month:

Inspired by TwoHealthyKitchens.com

LEFTOVER THANKSGIVING DOG TREATS

If the leftovers are your favorite part of Thanksgiving, then this recipe is for you! Show your dog how thankful you are for them with these post-feast dog treats.

INGREDIENTS

•

1/2 cup cooked sweet potatoes, plain and mashed

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2 cups cooked turkey, finely chopped 2 cups whole wheat flour

• •

3/4 cup water

•

1 egg

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oven to 350 F. 2. In a medium bowl, combine sweet potatoes, water, and egg. Add turkey and flour and stir again until dough is thick and sticky. 3. Use a rubber spreader to spread dough evenly on parchment-lined baking sheet, about 1/2-inch thick. Cut dough into small rectangles using a knife or pizza cutter. 4. Bake for 30 minutes, until the dog treats are lightly golden brown. 5. Remove from oven and let treats cool completely. Break treats apart along score lines. 6. Serve fresh or store in refrigerator for up to two weeks.

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718.747.2019

212-73 26th Ave. Bayside, NY 11360

Hours of Operation: M, F 8 a.m.–4 p.m. | T, Th 9 a.m.–5 p.m. | W 9 a.m.–4 p.m. theptdoctor.com

INSIDE

Thanksgiving Without the Turkey?

Spilling the Tea on Tea

Meet Josh Grauer!

Post-Feast Dog Treats

Running Out of PT Visits Isn’t the End

The Gift of Giving

Celebrating Giving Tuesday Supporting the People You Believe In

TECHNOLOGY AT ITS BEST Through the use of social media and technology, the organization hopes to encourage and spread generosity on a global scale using the hashtag #GivingTuesday. The website states that “... technology and social media could be used to make generosity go viral; that people fundamentally want to give and talk about giving.” Through massive social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, the individuals and companies participating in Giving Tuesday can spread their missions and messages all over the world, encouraging others to do the same. HOW YOU CAN CELEBRATE Now is the perfect opportunity to support your community and the causes you believe in. The best part of this holiday is that “giving” doesn’t just refer to donating money. People can give back by volunteering their time to help a nonprofit business, donating goods and food, or just buying a stranger some lunch. Even the smallest actions can have the biggest impact. If you’re interested in participating in Giving Tuesday, get together with your friends, family, sports team members, or neighbors to brainstorm on how you can give back. To learn more about how you can participate, visit GivingTuesday.org.

November is usually all about Thanksgiving, but it isn’t the only holiday that encourages generosity. Giving Tuesday is a phenomenal celebration in which millions of people from across the globe are inspired to spend 24 hours giving back to the communities they love. ORIGIN AND GOAL GIVING Tuesday is celebrated every year on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, and this year, the holiday lands on Dec. 3! It was established in 2012 by the United Nations Foundation and New York’s 92nd Street Y as a response to consumer-driven holidays like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The purpose of the holiday was to spread the spirit of giving, not only for the people in our nation but individuals across the world. The goal is “to create a massive wave of generosity that lasts well beyond that day and touches every person on the planet.”

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