Premier Rehab PT - September 2018

Premier Rehab PT - September 2018

817-498-8585 premierrehab.org

4120 Heritage Trace Pkwy #220 | Keller, TX 76244 2720 Western Center Blvd. #312 | Fort Worth, TX 76131 5060 Davis Blvd. | North Richland Hills, TX 76180

816 Keller Pkwy #200 | Keller, TX 76248 1600 FM 544 #200 | The Colony, TX 75056

PREMIER FOR YOU

SEPTEMBER 2018

ADVANCING MY CAREER AT PREMIER REHAB PT Discovering My Drive

When I first started working at Premier, I had to move my family of seven from Utah to Texas. It was worth it, though, because it’s been a rewarding experience working here. I first started as the only therapist in the Western Centers, Fort Worth Clinic working part-time, but then I became the director. Now we have one part-time and two full-time physical therapists. As director here, I have a full patient load, and I oversee therapists, support staff, and the operations of this particular clinic. I also work as the coordinator for all the physical therapist interns who work for us throughout the five different locations. Finding free time for myself can be a bit of a struggle due to the busy nature of my life, but it’s a great life. I love working with the staff and patients and spending time at home with my family. Since moving to Texas, I’ve had two more children and couldn’t be happier. I’m usually busy with going to soccer games, basketball games, recitals, and church. My oldest is Sarah, followed by Sam, Emma, Rachel, Annie, Reid, and our 15-month-old, Mary. Sarah is entering her first semester of college this year. It’s exciting to see her taking this next step in her life. She’s been working at Western Centers over the summer with me, and while it’s been fun commuting with her every day to work, she doesn’t want to be a physical therapist. Sarah wants to be a high school math teacher. As far back as I can remember, she’s always wanted to be a math teacher — she’s excelled at math and would even ask her math teachers for books so she could learn how to teach. My wife and I are very supportive of her and can’t wait to see her excel further in life. –Dr. David Benson

The medical field always interested me while in school, but I was never certain which path I wanted to take. I enjoyed studying athletics and how the human body worked, but it wasn’t until I took an anatomy class that I was positive which direction I wanted to go.

In that class, we worked with human cadavers. My classmates and I had to identify the different muscles and tendons we could see. The class was so fascinating that it solidified my resolve to become a physical therapist. The first step was to do well while in undergrad and the next was to apply to graduate school. I received my Master’s Degree in 2003 and went back in 2007 to get my doctorate. Just last year, I became a board-certified specialist in orthopedic physical therapy. It’s been a career goal that I’ve had for a long time, and I’m glad I’ve finally achieved it. I had been working in this practice for seven years before I started to work for Kelly at Premier Rehab PT. I had reached a point in my career where I wasn’t happy with my job and I wanted to look for something that would bring

more meaning to my life. I decided to look around the country to see if there was a place that fit with what I was searching for, and I found Premier. I was living in Utah when I discovered Kelly’s business and reached out to her online to inquire about an open PT position. Our first interview took place over the phone. Then Kelly flew me down for an in-person interview, and the experience blew my mind. I was very impressed with the company and how organized Kelly was. I was pleased that she followed, and still follows, all of the regulations that the physical therapy profession requires. Kelly also went to great lengths to make sure her clients were comfortable while undergoing therapy sessions.

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FIND THE RIGHT FOOD BALANCE FOODS THAT CAUSE AND REDUCE INFLAMMATION

The food you eat plays a major role in how your body functions on the cellular level. Some foods can wreak havoc on your body, while others can make you feel great. This is especially true when it comes to that all-too- common ailment, inflammation.

know all of those detox diets? They don’t work. In fact, the only way to detox is to let your liver do its job. When you consume alcohol, it’s harder for the liver to pump out the toxins in your body. When it can’t do its job properly, the result is inflammation.

Here are a few examples of foods that lead to inflammation:

Now, for the good stuff. Eat these foods to reduce inflammation:

SUGAR: One of the biggest culprits behind inflammation, sugar is far worse than eating fatty foods. It’s best to skip foods that have added sugar (and this includes sugar of any kind, including corn syrup, fructose, and sucrose). Many manufacturers now label food with more specific kinds of sugar to hide the fact that they added sugar to their product. Be sure to read labels carefully! REFINED CARBS: Basically anything made from white flour falls into this category, including bread, pasta, baked goods, and cereals. Research suggests that refined carbs may be a bigger contributing factor than fat in obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

BLUEBERRIES: Many studies call blueberries one of the best fruits you can eat to ease symptoms of inflammation. These blue orbs of goodness are packed with antioxidants, vitamin C, polyphenols, and so much more. Eat a handful every day! SALMON : As a source of healthy fats and omega-3 fatty acids, salmon is one of the best protein choices for people with inflammatory conditions, or for those who want to keep inflammation at bay. BROCCOLI: One of the most nutritious and easily accessible vegetables around, the little green buds that cover the tops of broccoli are loaded with anti- inflammatory compounds.

ALCOHOL: Too much alcohol puts a burden on your liver, an organ that helps flush toxins out of the body. You

TIME TO LIGHTEN THE LOAD Is a Heavy Backpack Endangering Your Child?

of problems if not corrected. If your child starts to complain about neck or back pain, or you notice their posture has become increasingly worse, check how heavy their backpack is. HOW CAN I PROTECT MY CHILD’S BACK? The quickest way to take the burden off your child’s back is to swap their backpack for a wheeling bag. Unfortunately, many schools have banned wheeling bags for being a tripping hazard, and kids resist them because rolling bags just aren’t “cool.” The next option is to make sure your child is wearing their backpack correctly. They should be wearing both straps, tightened enough that the backpack rests higher than their waist. It also helps to strategize when packing the backpack. Store heavier items at the center and closer to the back so the weight is more evenly distributed. There’s nothing wrong with choosing a backpack because it has Captain America on it, but remember that the strength of the character doesn’t help your child handle the weight of a too-heavy backpack. Help keep your child healthy this school year and make sure their backpack won’t cause back problems.

Kids often choose their school backpacks based on looks alone. Favorite colors and characters make the decision, which might be why some parents fail to realize that the purple My Little Pony backpack is causing their child back problems. HOW HEAVY IS TOO HEAVY? Parents assume heavy backpacks are only a problem for high school or college students with stacks of textbooks. However, it’s not uncommon for elementary school students to be dragging around backpacks that weigh almost 20 pounds! A backpack shouldn’t be any heavier than 10–15 percent of the child’s body weight. This means that a child who weighs 60 pounds should carry a backpack that’s 9 pounds, maximum. WHAT’S THE DANGER? When kids have to carry around heavy backpacks every day, it’s only a matter of time before it has a negative impact on their developing bodies. Heavy backpacks can cause the spine to unnaturally compress, leading to a lifetime

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PREPARE YOUR GARDEN AUTUMN STEPS FOR A BETTER SPRING GARDEN

CHICKEN WIRE

With fall just ahead, it’s a good time to think about your spring garden. For a beautiful garden next year, begin preparing this fall. Here are a few ways to get a head start!

plants in or on top of the ground can spread diseases into the soil and attract unwanted pests to your garden.

After you’ve planted your bulbs, there’s a risk that uninvited guests will dig them up. There are a few ways you can ensure that your bulbs remain undisturbed throughout the fall. One way is to place chicken wire over your bulbs after they’ve been planted. This keeps rodents from digging them up and allows the plants to grow through the gaps in the wire.

HEALTHY SOIL

PLANTING BULBS

Pulling up weeds and all of your vegetables can help keep the earth free from rotting plants, but there are other steps you can take to ensure that your soil stays full of nutrients. Pick up a kit to test the pH levels of your soil. Most gardens thrive in soil with a pH of 6.5. Add compost to your soil supply now to give it time to break down during the winter months.

If you want beautiful flowers in April, you should start planting bulbs now. Many flower bulbs need to be in the ground before winter settles in; this helps activate the bulbs’ biochemical process that allows them to bloom. Getting the bulbs into the ground before it freezes allows their roots to grow deep enough to protect them from the biting winter weather. Among the flower bulbs you should plant soon are tulips, daffodils, irises, and hyacinths.

KEEP YOUR GARDEN TIDY

Once you’ve harvested your best fruits and vegetables, go back through and harvest the rest, even if you don’t plan to eat them. Make sure your garden is clear of old vegetables, fallen leaves, and weeds. Leaving decaying

BRAISED SWISS CHARD

HAVE A LAUGH

INGREDIENTS • 1 1/4 pound (2 bunches) Swiss chard, trimmed and halved crosswise • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil • 2 large shallots, peeled and chopped • 2 carrots, peeled and chopped • 1 cup canned crushed tomatoes • 2 teaspoons sugar • Salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS 1. In a large skillet, heat olive oil to medium.

2. Once heated, add Swiss chard and sprinkle with carrots and shallots. Put canned tomatoes over chard, add sugar, and season with salt and pepper. 3. Add 1/2 cup water, bring to a simmer. 4. Partially cover skillet and cook until liquid is nearly evaporated, about 15–20 minutes. 5. Transfer to a large platter and serve.

Inspired by Saveur magazine

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817-498-8585

1600 FM 544 #200 | The Colony, TX 75056 817-498-8585 premierrehab.org

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

Movement Correction GET BACK TO YOUR NORMAL

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

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My Starting Career as a Physical Therapist

The Best and Worst Foods for Inflammation

The Secret Dangers of Backpacks

Get a Head Start on Next Spring’s Garden

Braised Swiss Chard

Local Events Around the Dallas Area

LOCAL EVENTS IN THE DALLAS AREA September Is Bursting With Activities!

The start of fall is finally upon us! This September, there are exciting fall activities for the whole family to enjoy.

will be a kid zone play area. Tickets will be $10 a person or $20 a carload.

HISTORIC FREEDMAN TOWNS TOUR ENCORE Where: 3536 Grand Ave. When: Sept. 15, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. If you’re curious to know about the oldest African- American communities in the area, then this tour is just for you. Including a walking tour of historical homes, cemeteries, churches, and businesses, the tour will leave you with a wealth of knowledge about the history throughout these former Freedman towns. Be sure to pack a lunch or your wallet as there will be a 30-minute lunch break in the middle of the tour. Tickets are $30 — ensure that you have them on you. The tour will leave promptly at 9:30 a.m.

FLIGHTS OF OUR FATHERS AIR SHOW AND FLY-IN Where: Terrell Municipal Airport When: Sept. 22, 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m.

STATE FAIR OF TEXAS Where: Fair Park When: Sept. 25 through Oct. 21, times vary A state fair is a perfect spot for a first date, a family outing, or an evening spent with friends. The theme this year, “Celebrating Texas Innovation,” will show an appreciation for the innovative creators throughout the state of Texas. You won’t want to miss this day filled with concerts, food, carnival rides, parades, and fireworks! Tickets range from $14–18 depending on age and height — children ages 2 and under will get in for free. Seniors ages 60 or older will get in for free every Thursday.

Are you an aviation enthusiast? You won’t want to miss this Saturday filled with aircrafts, aerial performances, and even motorcycle and car shows! The event will open with a pancake breakfast starting at 8:30, hosted by the Civil Air Patrol Black Sheep Squadron. Randy Ball and Greg Howell from Fighter Jets Inc. will be performing in several different jets, including their twin MiG-17Fs, a P-51 Mustang, and an A-26. Guest speakers will take the stage, and there

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