Pro PT inc July 2018

Pro PT inc July 2018

JULY 2018

620 Old West Central Street, Franklin, MA 02038 • 508-528-6100 • www.ProPTinc.com

What Does Independence Mean toYou? The Values Behind the Fireworks

the people it’s meant to serve. Over the past few decades, it seems to only have gotten worse. People have to jump through all sorts of hoops to get the care they need. Big insurance companies and pharmaceutical manufacturers control the industry in ways that aren’t always clear to patients. You may need a degree in economics to understand the way the system operates, but you don’t need to be an expert to know when you’re being short-changed. I founded Professional Physical Therapy to stand in opposition to this type of care. At our practice, caring for patients and meeting their individual needs is always our objective. We believe that red tape is a hindrance to accessing great care. Luckily, one of the great things about our nation is that we allow these alternatives to give patients the freedom to choose what works for them. As our forefathers taught us, when a system doesn’t work for its people, it’s time to create a new system. As you enjoy the fireworks and festivities this year, I hope you’ll take a moment to consider what freedom and independence mean to you. Ask yourself what’s holding you back from feeling free and how you can work to gain more independence over your life. Our freedoms shouldn’t be taken for granted, even if we don’t have to battle against a tyrannical monarchy anymore.

I’ve always considered the Fourth of July to be one of my favorite holidays, but my appreciation of it rose to a whole new level after I moved to New England. In my eyes, there’s no better place to be on Independence Day than Massachusetts. It’s not hard to see why. Our state is teeming with Revolutionary War-era history — Franklin, after all, is named after Ben Franklin and home to America’s first public library. Plus, the celebration in Boston is unrivaled. Just thinking about the Boston Pops playing Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” is enough to put fireworks in my eyes and send a shiver down my spine. As much as the Fourth of July is about celebrating our history, it’s also a great time to think about how the values that our country was founded upon are still relevant today. Chief among those values are the three unalienable rights Thomas Jefferson laid out in the Declaration of Independence: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We may not live under foreign rule anymore, but the desire to be free and independent in our lives is just as strong today as it was in 1776. For many of our patients, freedom and the pursuit of happiness go hand in hand. We all want to enjoy our favorite activities without having to worry about pain and discomfort. Similarly, we want to live our lives independently, without a constant cycle of medications and a calendar full of surgeries. I’m not saying that physical therapy is akin to a meeting of the Continental Congress, but it does provide each patient with the tools to live their life and pursue their happiness to the fullest extent.

Happy Fourth of July!

– Dr. Stacey Raybuck Schatz

As a private practice owner, independence is a huge part of why I do what I do. Let’s face it: Our traditional medical system doesn’t always benefit

Professional Physical Therapy | 508-528-6100 • 1

spacious and climate-controlled, they make great year-round walking venues, especially when summer temperatures spike. You don’t even need to put on sunscreen! REST STOPS ABOUND While the average American shopping center isn’t as scenic as the Appalachian Trail, they are far more convenient. Replete with bathrooms, cool drinking water, and plenty of benches, the mall lets you focus on exercising and removes all of the “what ifs” that come with aging. Most malls are also outfitted with EMT kits in the event of a medical emergency. SQUEEZE IN SOME SHOPPING It is still a mall, after all. Why not check a few items off your shopping list or reward yourself with a new pair of sneakers? Getting things done as you exercise makes the experience that much more rewarding. Just remember not to overdo it. Carrying too many shopping bags can place undue stress on your back — and your wallet. YOU WON’T BE ALONE Today, malls are the second-most popular places to walk in America, after neighborhoods. Mall walking has become so big that many communities and senior living centers have put together official groups to stride together. Your local mall may already open early to accommodate walkers. So if you’re looking to make friends in an active, fun-loving community, do some research. Chances are there’s a mall-walking club near you!

These Malls Were Made for Walking

If you’re young at heart and looking to stay (or get) in shape this summer, consider taking a trip to the mall. No, not to pick up some hot new exercise product or dietary supplement, but to walk a few laps. Safe and convenient, “mall walking” has become one of the biggest trends in senior fitness. COOL IN THE SUMMER, WARM IN THE WINTER This time of year, heatstroke can be a real concern when exercising outside. But that doesn’t mean you have to be a homebody. Because malls are

Patient

of the Month

MARLENE WYE MICHAEL J. FOX FOUNDATION

Marlene was chosen as the Patient of the Month because of her determination and hard work during her time in PT. She kept a positive attitude and always had a great sense of humor. We will all miss her teasing of Dr. Patt. And we will miss her troublemaking husband, Ralph, too!

“About one million people in the United States have Parkinson’s disease (PD) and approximately another 60,000 Americans are diagnosed each year. It is thought that 10–15 percent of those diagnosed have Parkinson’s due to genetics — the rest due to the environment. I have Parkinson’s and have found the Fox Foundation to be a great source of information. For every dollar they receive, 89 cents are spent on research.” –Marlene Wye

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Is shoulder pain putting a damper on your summer?

The warmest months of the year should present the opportunity to get out, enjoy the sunshine, and have some fun. But that can be hard when your shoulder flares up during your basic daily routine. Join Professional Physical Therapy on August 4 from 10–11 a.m. to learn what’s causing your pesky shoulder issues and how to make them go away.

At Pro PT’s Shoulder Pain Workshop, you’ll learn the most common causes for shoulder pain and how to treat the issue without surgery, injections, or medication. Shoulder pain can cramp your style in the following ways:

• It can take away your focus and concentration, making even routine tasks a chore.

• It can keep you from doing your favorite activities.

• It can ruin your travel plans because you’re worried about handling luggage.

• It can hamper your independence.

Our workshop will feature live demonstrations on audience members and in-depth explanations on how to deal with shoulder pain. PRO PT specializes in natural, safe, permanent solutions that don’t cost an arm and a leg.

Don’t suffer in silence. Call us today at (508) 528-6100, or stop by the office to reserve your space.

Beach Reads for Better Living How Literary Fiction Fosters Empathy

“There is no frigate like a book / To take us lands away.” –Emily Dickinson

According to novelist Louise Erdrich, the study “found a way to prove true the intangible benefits of literary fiction.” For advocates of deeply reading great works — the oft-maligned English majors and art nerds — these results demonstrate scientifically what people have known intuitively for hundreds of years. Reading a novel may not lead to the observable changes of lifestyle that reading a fitness book might, but it can change you in ways that are just as significant. Great fiction lets us see into the mind of another, albeit created, person and their world. Experiencing these worlds can help us better understand and interact with people in real life. Literary fiction, which encompasses everything from classics like “Pride and Prejudice” to contemporary works like “My Brilliant Friend,” shouldn’t be regarded as serious, boring stuff you only read in school. Immersing yourself in a great book can make you a better person while having a great deal of fun. Sounds like a win-win to us.

People read different books for different reasons. Self-betterment and business strategy books, for example, have clear-cut takeaways for the reader. It’s not hard to see the benefits of reading texts like these, but what about reading fiction? Literature has been a staple of cultures around the world since time immemorial. Is that simply because appreciating the arts provides the “highest quality to your moments as they pass,” as cultural critic Walter Pater suggested in 1868? Or is there something measurable that fiction teaches us? Many scientists have been asking these questions over the past decade and their results may surprise you. In a landmark study published in the journal Science, two researchers from the New School found that reading literary fiction develops social perception, empathy, and emotional intelligence. By “literary fiction,” the researchers mean works with aspirations as complex art, rather than nonfiction manuals or simple page-turners. While there are no hard-and-fast rules for what makes a piece of fiction literary, it’s not hard to Google a list of literary fiction from any time period.

SUCCESS STORIES

Balsamic Glazed Pork Chops

Inspired by paleoleap.com

Ingredients

“When I started, stairs were like Halloween — really spooky! So when I got to ProPT, I didn’t expect to get better. But as I continued coming here over and over again, I started to realize something. The people here are not monotonous, and they didn’t follow strict guidelines on what to say or what to do. They cared for each and every person who walked through these magical and life-changing doors. The people who work here are friendly and always remember my name. They always say ‘work hard!’ to give me positive encouragement. Here is one last and sincere thank-you!”

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1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 1 teaspoon fresh thyme Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

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4 boneless pork chops 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar 3 tablespoons raw honey 2 cloves garlic, minced

• •

Directions 1. Heat oven to 400 F.

–Kyle Bates

2. Generously season pork chops with salt and pepper.

3. In a saucepan, combine balsamic vinegar, honey, garlic, red pepper flakes, and thyme.

4. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer gently for 5–6 minutes.

5. On high heat in an oven-safe saute pan or skillet, sear the pork chops for 1–2 minutes on each side.

6. Brush chops with half of glaze and transfer to oven.

“The laser therapy was super convenient and easy. It was something that actually relaxed me. I had trouble doing day-to-day activities where I had to stand for a long time. Laser therapy definitely brought down the pain and inflammation.”

7. Roast 6–8 minutes.

8. Remove from oven and brush with another coat of glaze. Let cool 5–10 minutes and serve.

–Niharika Verma

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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

www.ProPTinc.com 620 Old West Central Street Franklin, MA 02038 508-528-6100

Thank you for being part of the Professional Physical Therapy family!

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Searching for Independence The Benefits of Mall Walking Patient of the Month How Literature Enhances Your Life Balsamic Glazed Pork Chops Where Do Essential Oils Come From?

WHERE ESSENTIAL OILS COME FROM

Tea Tree oil comes from the leaves of melaleuca

Most essential oils are derived from a process called steam distillation . Soon after harvest, the plants are placed on a mesh inside a sealed still, into which steam is injected. As the steam rises and envelops the plant, it breaks it down and lifts its constituent components up through a tube and into a condenser. The condenser cools the resulting vapor and collects it in liquid form at the bottom. Since essential oils do not mix with water, they float on the surface, where they’re siphoned off, bottled, and shipped off to a distributor. There are other methods, such as expression (aka cold pressing), but because steam distillation is so easy to do, most essential oils you see on the shelf will have gone through this process. Lavender essential oil is harvested from sheaves of lavandula angustifolia , that purple herb you see all over gardens across the United States. There are lavender farms all over the world, from California to Japan to Brazil, but the biggest world producer of lavender is, interestingly, Bulgaria.

alternifolia, commonly known as narrow-leaved paperbark, a short, bushy tree that produces white, fluffy flowers in the spring. The trees are

endemic to Australia, but today are usually farmed in New South Wales or Queensland.

Call it a pseudoscientific fad or a medical revolution; either way, essential oils are more popular today than they have ever been. Though research on the efficacy of lavender, ginger, and the dozens of other sweet-smelling oils is conflicting at best, people are using them at an astonishing rate. In fact, according to Stratistics MRC, essential oils were a $5.91 billion industry in 2016 and are expected to reach $12.85 billion by 2023. Whether you’re an essential oil acolyte or fly into a rage at the faintest hint of bergamot, your mind is probably already made up about aromatherapy. The question remains, though: Where does all this delicious-smelling stuff come from?

Bergamot is distilled from the peels of lime- green bergamot oranges, or citrus bergamia . Most of it comes from coastal areas around the Ionian Sea. Whatever you do with it, use it sparingly on your skin — it can amplify skin damage from the sun!

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