Pro PT inc - July 2020

Pro PT inc - July 2020

JULY 2020

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

RECOGNIZE THE SIGNS Shifts in Everyday Activities Can Change Our Bodies

notice some strange aches and pains that you haven’t felt before. If your back, neck, arms, or hands feel tight, weak, or painful, it’s likely because your home-office setup just isn’t comfortably equipped the same way your regular office is. Working eight hours a day at a kitchen table with a computer that’s not the right height and in a chair that doesn’t give proper support can take its toll quickly and get more severe over an extended period of time. Improper posture can lead to a lot of extenuating issues, so if you’d like to address them now, come in to see us. Even our youth may be feeling the effects of change! Kids and teens who would normally be out in droves playing with neighborhood friends or on sports teams are now spending more time sitting on the couch. Kids can get out of shape too, and you may notice that your young ones aren’t as strong and flexible or are getting winded a lot more quickly. As they do start to head outside to play with more frequency, make sure they’re taking it easy and not doing anything that could potentially cause injury. If something should happen, we may be able to help. If you’ve suffered an injury that physical therapy might be able to help you address, or if you’ve been waiting for months to see a physician or specialist, then Professional Physical Therapy could be a great alternative. Patients who have twisted ankles or sprained knees have benefited from seeing us rather than risk visiting a hospital. Some appointments with orthopedic specialists are taking months to secure, and if your injury can’t wait that long, schedule a telehealth or in-person consultation with us, and we can help you determine the proper course of care. No matter where you might fall on the spectrum of bodily changes during these unusual times, it’s always important to pay attention and take care of your physical health. If you or someone you know is suffering from any aches or pains, give them this newsletter and let them know we’d love to see them for a free consultation during July or August . Again, check out the insert in this newsletter for more information, and let’s get on the road to recovery together.

With all the constant and drastic changes going on around us right now, we may not be paying as much attention to our physical health as we should. At Professional Physical Therapy, we’re seeing some consistent concerns arise in people of all ages who have had to alter their everyday activities thanks to the pandemic. So we’re here to help. Take a look at the insert included with this newsletter to find out how you or someone you know can schedule a free consultation with us during the months of July and August. Isolation measures have been keeping nearly everyone cooped up at home more than they’re used to, and this inactivity can start to take its toll on the body. In the older generation, we work with many patients who haven’t been taking as many walks, visiting or playing with grandkids, or generally keeping as active because they’ve had to take precautions about their safety with the virus. This means many are losing their strength and endurance at a much higher rate, as is common with this age bracket. If you are in this group and are concerned about keeping up with your musculoskeletal health, we’d love to help you.

If you’re part of the group of individuals who had to make the change to remote work at home several months ago, you too may start to

– Dr . Stacey Raybuck Schatz

Professional Physical Therapy | 508-528-6100 • 1

Feel Bad About Throwing Away Photos? 4 Rules for Guilt-Free Photo Downsizing

If you’ve reached a point in your life where you’ve started to

Rule No. 2:Tell a Story When you look at a photo, does it make you want to tell a story about the people or places in the image? Could you share plenty of stories about riding around in Dad’s old truck or about how funny your best friend from college was? Keep those photos. Pictures of people whose names you can’t remember or blurry photos you can’t make out can all go. Rule No. 3: EditWell If you have a lot of photos from a specific event or part of your life, think about how long each “chapter” of your life story would be. How much time would you spend writing about your cousin’s wedding or high school prom? If a certain event didn’t have that much meaning in your life, why dedicate pages and pages of a photo album to it? Rule No. 4:Throw Photos Away If a photo isn’t important enough to put in an album or frame on the wall, then it doesn’t need to stick around. Don’t put them in a box you’ll have to sort through later. Let the rejects go.

downsize, then you’ve likely grappled with the difficult task of getting rid of photos. After decades

of life, how are you supposed to choose which memories are

important enough to keep and which aren’t? These four rules can help make this daunting task easier.

Rule No. 1: Cut ScenicViews You don’t need dozens of photos of that

campsite you went to on vacation one summer. If a location was really meaningful, like the beach at your honeymoon, then keep a few, but pictures of the places you’ve been to are far less special than pictures of the people you love.

After all that hard work, treat yourself to a photo album shopping spree so you can start organizing the meaningful photos you have left.

Patient

of the Month

DEBRA COLEMAN JEFF’S PLACE CHILDREN’S BEREAVEMENT CENTER

Deb always brings extra life and excitement into the clinic with each visit. Always joking and making the best of each situation, she has made the rehab from her injury seem manageable. Deb demonstrates all the aspects of becoming a Patient of the Month, and we are all excited for her recovery.

Jeff’s Place continues to grow and increase its offerings of free support groups, individual counseling, educational trainings, and crisis intervention. It welcomes families from a wide diversity of backgrounds; grief and loss do not discriminate.

“I picked this charity because Jeff’s Place offers hope and healing in a supportive community for grieving children, teens, families, and individuals.” –Deb

2 • www.ProPTinc.com | Professional Physical Therapy

WHO LOVES FREE? (That’s a NO-BRAINER: Everyone!)

That’s why during the rest of July and for the entire month of August, Professional Physical Therapy is offering FREE CONSULTATIONS for past, present, and prospective patients when they mention our newsletter or this insert.

Do you have:

•New aches and pains you can’t manage? •A musculoskeletal injury that hasn’t healed quite right? •Questions about building good balance, posture, or strength? •The need for a second opinion about treatment?

If so, reach out to us so we can help. Call (580) 528-6100 to schedule your FREE CONSULTATION Flip this page over to learn more about our consultation process.

If you have questions or concerns that you’d like help with, calling in for a FREE consultation is a NO-BRAINER! We can meet with you and help figure out what’s going on and what to do about it. Call our office at (580) 528-6100 and mention our newsletter or this page to schedule your no- brainer, free consultation with us. If you have a friend or family member looking for a great physical therapist, be sure to share this page with them, too. We’d love to help.

Professional Physical Therapy 620 Old West Central Street Franklin, MA 02038 (580) 528-6100

Don’t Let Stress MakeYou a Mess 5 Simple Tricks for Calming Your Brain Down

closet, it will engage and refocus your mind, making you feel more able to deal with what’s actually stressing you out.

There’s a lot of stress coming from many different sources in most people’s lives these days. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, there are some great simple remedies to try at home that have been proven to effectively reduce stress and get your brain back on good vibes. Quick Exercise Quick bursts of movement, like one round of 20 jumping jacks, 10 pushups, or running in place for 30 seconds, will get your heart rate up. That briefly activates dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, which enhance your mood and cushion anxiety. Tactile Activities Engaging your sense of touch can take you out of your own head and bring you back to the present, thereby calming your nerves or stress. Try popping bubble wrap, sorting your change jar, or even petting your dog or cat. Problem-Solving Problems are often the cause of our stress, but if you give yourself a simple, discrete task to tackle, like doing a crossword puzzle or organizing your

Dancing Putting on your favorite playlist and allowing your body to let loose is great exercise and brings on feelings of happiness and inspiration. Certain music can also trigger positive memories, so if you’re not comfortable with dancing, then just listening to some tunes can go a long way. Conscious Breathing This is a well-researched practice that’s simple and effective, and there’s no mind-clearing meditation necessary. If you sit somewhere quiet and just focus on keeping the speed of your breathing nice and slow, it has a calming effect on the central nervous and cardiovascular systems. If something in your life is stressing you out, don’t be afraid to take a break, walk away, and calm down so you can refresh your brain, your mood, and your outlook.

SUCCESS STORIES

“Initially I had PT to treat hip arthritis. Although I had much improvement, I still needed a total hip replacement. I am convinced that my pre-surgical PT did a lot of preparation for a successful surgery and a great recovery. My post-surgical PT helped me to improve and reach what I considered to be a very satisfactory result: no more limping and no more pain. I am a happy camper.”

Breakfast Sausage Kebabs

– Laurei Denison

“Before I came to Professional Physical Therapy, I was lost in the thought of never being back to my original self. I broke my femur playing hockey and had to miss my sophomore season due to it. Thankfully, with the help of Dr. Patt and everyone else here, I have gained the confidence to come back to hockey even better than I was before. If you asked me six months ago if I thought I would ever be back to 100%, I would’ve thought you were crazy. Thank you to Dr. Patt and everyone else here at Professional Physical Therapy for helping me every step of the way. I am now 100% better.”

Ingredients

• •

2 tbsp butter, melted Maple syrup, to taste

•

7 oz frozen, fully cooked breakfast sausage links, thawed 20 oz pineapple chunks, drained 10 medium-sized, fresh mushrooms

Equipment •

•

5 metal or soaked wooden kebab skewers

•

Directions 1. Cut sausages in half. Thread alternating sausages halves, pineapple chunks, and mushrooms onto kebab skewers. Brush with butter and syrup. 2. Grill over medium heat, regularly turning and basting with syrup, until sausages are lightly browned, about 8 minutes.

Inspired by TasteOfHome.com

–Aiden Hunt

Professional Physical Therapy | 508-528-6100 • 3

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

If You’re Feeling Aches or Pains, Schedule a Free Consultation 4 Steps to Finally Sort Through Old Photos Patients of the Month 5 Tricks for Tackling Stress Good Morning Breakfast Kebabs Shop Smarter With Information About Your Sunscreen

Know Which Common Sunscreen Ingredients May Be Harmful DON’T LET FANCY LABELS FOOL YOU

Lately, it seems like the word “natural” has been slapped on products as readily as candy is passed out on Halloween. But what does natural even mean? It could be just about anything because there’s no regulation on the use of the word. So-called natural products may include asthma-inducing chemicals or plant-based ingredients that can cause severe reactions. But reading the list of ingredients may cause confusion as well. How do you know which ingredients are safe for you and your family? For sunscreen, one of the most important summertime products, the research nonprofit Environmental Working Group (EWG) has done the work for you. Here are some suggestions. Words to BeWary Of Read ingredient labels carefully when you’re choosing products. In addition to long chemical names and “natural” printed all over the labels, “fragrance” is another that has almost no regulation. Many “fragrant” scents in lotions and sunscreens are synthetic and can trigger allergies. Oxybenzone is another commonly listed ingredient in sunscreen that has been linked to hormone disruption and allergies and has been flagged as potentially risky by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Along with octinoxate, an ultraviolet-filtering chemical, oxybenzone has also been shown to cause damage to coral reefs.

What to Choose After several yearslong studies, the FDA reported that there’s only enough information to deem two sunscreen ingredients safe and effective: zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Look for brands that feature one or both of these as the main active ingredient(s) and avoid those with oxybenzone. Covering up with a hat, sunglasses, and clothing is also an effective way to protect yourself from the sun. Companies use complex words to mask potentially harmful ingredients, but don’t let them stump you. A quick Google search can often reveal what these words mean. For details on specific ingredients, check EWG. org, which lists and scores products and ingredients based on their health and environmental risks. Their site also provides downloadable sunscreen guides to help you shop smarter and safer.

4 • www.ProPTinc.com | Professional Physical Therapy