Professional PT Inc - October 2020

Professional PT Inc - October 2020

OCTOBER 2020

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

WHAT A TIME FOR AWEDDING

But Love Always Deserves to Be Celebrated

When the COVID-19 pandemic began to escalate and we started hearing heartbreaking stories about weddings and all the plans surrounding them being canceled, we, of course, had our own share of concerns. Anyone who has ever had a wedding can tell you how much work they are. So much money and effort goes into planning every detail, and even though wedding insurance exists, nothing could ever cover the wave of change that the COVID-19 brought down on the industry. And of course, there are many people who have lost a lot more than money or time spent. Ashley and Stephen have certainly had to make hard decisions when it comes to their wedding plans, but they knew that no matter what, they still wanted to find a way to celebrate their love. It will be a small affair now, with only about 35 people attending. All the tables and seating will be spaced out in a way that I’m sure will challenge the photographer. Face masks will make an appearance, people will have to dance 6 feet away from each other, and the food plans have been changed at the eleventh hour. They’ve even made the tough decision to postpone planning a honeymoon until they can feel safe and confident about traveling again. In many ways, it might have been easier to just postpone the entire wedding celebration until the world gets a little closer to normal. But that’s also exactly the reason this wedding still needs to happen. Despite all the strange workarounds to expected traditions, the main purpose of the wedding has not changed. We are still finding a way to celebrate the love and life that these two wonderful people plan to share together. The world has done its best to bring people down lately, which means finding ways to still celebrate those things that bring us joy and hope are more important now than ever. And when I look at Ashley and Stephen, joy and hope are exactly what I see. That deserves to be celebrated.

If you had told me when I was planning my own wedding that I would have to put markings on the dance floor so people could stay 6 feet apart, that I couldn’t go to a shop to try on dresses, or that I had to cancel my honeymoon because traveling wasn’t safe and destinations were closed, I might have wondered if I should be celebrating a wedding at all. But amid all the ups and downs that this strange year has brought about, perhaps a wedding (in any shape or form) is just what we need. And that’s why, despite the strange hoops they’ve had to jump through to get here, I’m so excited that my daughter and her fiancé have not put off their plans to get married later this month. Ashley is my oldest daughter and the first child in our family to get married. You often hear parents say that the first child is always the hardest, but when the couple has been together since the early years of high school, you admittedly reach a point when you’re just waiting for the proposal and the actual day to come. After 10 years together, Ashley and Stephen have been through nearly every life milestone that comes before marriage, and watching them grow into this incredible duo has made me so excited for the next phase of the life they’ll share. Stephen has really felt like my own child in many ways because he’s been such a presence in our lives for so long, and I’m thrilled to finally be able to officially welcome him into our family.

± Dr . Stacey Raybuck Schatz

Professional Physical Therapy | 508-528-6100 • 1

Get Tech Savvy and Stay Healthy 4 Wellness Apps to Fight Aging

It’s no secret that age comes with more and more add-ons to our health and wellness plans. If you are struggling to keep up with this, you may benefit from easy-to-use wellness apps that can be downloaded and used right from your smartphone. INSTANT HEART RATE Measuring and keeping track of your heart rate has long been a complicated process of hooking up wires or strapping on other uncomfortable tools. But the Instant Heart Rate app has done away with all external equipment; all you need to do is place your finger on your smartphone’s camera, and it tracks and records your heart rate in seconds. MEDISAFE As we age, one of the prices we pay to stay healthy is taking more pills — whether they be medications or vitamin supplements. Missing a dose can be an unsettling setback to our carefully planned health regimens, so Medisafe has made it easy to set and send reminders when it’s time to take your medication.

LUMOSITY Staying mentally sharp as we age is all about giving necessary exercise to our brains, which is why Lumosity was built for “brain training.” This app creates games that are specifically designed to improve cognition and keep the synapses in your brain functioning at healthy levels. SHOPWELL Whether you shop in store or online, the thousands of choices you face when it comes to food and wellness products can be overwhelming and confusing. ShopWell helps the user make shopping lists compiled of nutritious foods as well as where to buy them. It can also show you healthy alternatives to your favorite foods (you can read more about that on Page 3 of this newsletter!). Each of these useful wellness apps can be downloaded directly from the App Store or Google Play (depending on which smartphone you have). They’re easy apps to learn about and fun to use, so no matter how tech-illiterate you might feel, you still have the tools you need to keep yourself feeling great.

Patient

of the Month

ADAM CORNBLATT PAN-MASS CHALLENGE

“I chose this charity because it’s a great cause, and we’ve all been affected by cancer. We should all try our best to put it in the rearview mirror. My dad was diagnosed with cancer when he was 54 and unfortunately lost his battle a year later. Watching such a strong, amazing person being ripped down by this disease will forever be in my mind. Lets all do our part to abolish this terrible disease.” –Adam

Whenever Adam comes to his appointments, he has a way of uplifting everybody around him. He always has a positive attitude and it is hard not be happy when he is here. Adam has been an easy selection for patient of the month, and as he gets better and gets closer to discharge, we know we will miss him.

2 • www.ProPTinc.com | Professional Physical Therapy

ATTENTION SHOULDER PAIN SUFFERERS!

The holiday season is coming up! Will you be able to wrap your arms around your loved ones for a hug this year, or is your shoulder pain keeping you from even the simplest of actions? If your pain is keeping you (or someone you know) from: •Reaching for objects on high shelves •Reaching into your car’s back seat •Scratching your back •Sleeping through the night then you’ll benefit from attending our shoulder and rotator cuff workshop.

Join us at our office for a one-hour workshop on Oct. 24 at 8 a.m.

You’ll learn more about what might be causing your shoulder pain and how to make it go away.

And don’t forget to wear your mask!

If you want to head into the upcoming holiday season thankful for your renewed health and happiness, don’t let your shoulder pain keep you down!

At our shoulder pain and rotator cuff workshop, you’ll learn the most common causes of shoulder pain and how to treat the issue without invasive surgery, injections, or medication. Don’t let your pain detract from your life by: • Sapping your focus and concentration on everyday tasks • Keeping you from your favorite activities • Hampering your independence • Stopping you from hugging your family Our workshop will feature in-depth explanations from our experts about how to deal with shoulder pain. We specialize in natural, safe, and permanent solutions that don’t cost an arm and a leg. Don’t suffer in silence. We can help. Give us a call, visit our website, or drop by our office to reserve your space for our workshop.

Professional Physical Therapy 620 Old West Central Street Franklin, MA 02038 (508) 528-6100

This, Not That

Easy Food Swaps to Improve Your Diet

It’ll give you a boost of antioxidants, nutrients, and fiber and will fill you up with fewer grams of fat and calories. SWEET POTATOES INSTEAD OF POTATOES Regular potatoes may contain several nutrients, but they’re high on the glycemic index, which means they can lead to energy slumps and bad cravings. Sweet potatoes have a lot more to offer since they are a complex carbohydrate packed with minerals and vitamins (like the antioxidant beta-carotene). FRUIT INSTEADOFFRUITBARS “Healthy” snacks like fruit and nut bars are actually packed with cane sugar, corn syrup, and saturated fat. Some contain as much sugar or calories as a candy bar! If you’re craving something sweet, reach for a piece of real fruit instead. You’ll get a sugar boost that costs a lot fewer calories. Making big changes in the way we eat is all about starting small. Get into a routine of replacing one “bad” food with one “good” food each week, and before you know it, making broader diet decisions will become easier.

If you’re trying to make healthier food decisions without having to go on extreme crash diets (that leave you with no energy and even less satisfaction), start by making some easy exchanges within your current diet. PORRIDGE INSTEAD OF CEREAL While some cereals seem like healthy options, most are loaded with sugar. This adds to your calorie consumption and also leaves you with an energy slump that

causes you to want more sugar. Instead, start your morning with a bowl of some type of porridge, like oatmeal. It’s packed with nutrients and is a good source of slow-release energy to keep you feeling full longer. POPCORNINSTEADOFPOTATOCHIPS When it comes tohealth, potato chips really don’t have a lot going for them. They’re high in saturated fats, calories, and salt, with almost no nutritional value. If you’re craving a salty snack, swap chips for lightly seasoned popcorn.

SUCCESS STORIES

“I started PT about one year ago, initially to help my chronic low back pain. Later, I found that PT is also helpful to alleviate my neck pain. After that, I watched a learning video featuring Dr. Patt, and I found that my shoulder had some pain and decreased range

Spooky Strawberry Ghosts

of motion. My quality of life has improved with all the stretching exercises for my back, neck, and shoulder. I continue stretching and will incorporate all indefinitely in my life. Now I have learned better posture and am able to manage myself independently. I highly recommend all the proficient, knowledgeable ProPT staff. Everyone is prompt, kind, friendly, and professional. ”

• 16 oz white chocolate, chopped • 24 strawberries • 1 package mini dark chocolate chips Ingredients

–Kathleen

“I had previously visited after knee surgery and the staff was great. I strengthened the knee with the help of all the staff. Unfortunately, the knee eventually became worse, so I opted for a total knee replacement. Of course, I knew where I would perform my physical therapy. Dr. Patt and

Directions 1. In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the white chocolate at 50% power for 30 seconds. Remove it and stir, then repeat the process until melted. 2. Lay out a sheet of parchment paper. 3. One by one, dip the strawberries into the melted white chocolate and set them on the parchment. Allow the extra chocolate to pool to form a “tail” effect. 4. Before the chocolate coating fully cools, add three mini chocolate chips to each berry to form two eyes and a mouth. 5. Let chocolate set, then serve your spooky snacks!

the staff designed a program to strengthen the knee. They also worked on setting the knee straight, which was the most difficult task. It was hard to envision the knee completely straight, but after I completed my therapy, it was straight! I highly recommend Dr. Patt and the staff.”

– Larry

Inspired by Candiquik.com

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

Weddings in the Time of COVID-19

4 Wellness Apps to Keep You From Feeling Your Age Patient of the Month An Easy Way to Make Healthy Food Decisions Spooky Strawberry Ghosts Blogging Through the Pandemic

BLOGYOURWAY THROUGHTHEPANDEMIC The Power of Writing

from new readers and followers, you might learn of support groups to provide additional insights to your experiences. You can also find empathy and provide support to others. An online community can help you feel less isolated due to the pandemic or provide support through other challenging aspects of your life. EXPRESSYOUR ANXIETIES. Writing helps people cope with stressful experiences, and the pandemic has ushered a huge amount of uncertainty into their lives. Many people have felt afraid and anxious in the last eight months, and they continue to wonder what the future may hold. Your blog gives you a chance to express those fears and ease your stress. Harvard Medical School studies have shown that writing your thoughts down helps you organize ideas and even regulate emotions. With less on your mind, your body can relax.

Everyone has faced trying times over the past few months. While many activities help get us through these challenges, blogging can be one of the most impactful. Writing enables you to express your feelings and experiences, and blogging allows you to share them with others. Here are a few reasons why starting a blog can be an important part of coping with the pandemic. CONNECTWITHYOUR READERS. At times, it can feel like you are alone in the world, especially now. However, your blog can reach people who feel the same as you or who have had similar experiences as you. Also, writing down your story will inspire other people, and they may even start their own blog. In this way, you not only help yourself and others, but you also spark change in their lives. MEET NEW PEOPLE. In addition to encouraging others, you might find a community of like-minded people through sharing your blog. You never know —

Write out your experiences, no matter what situation you find yourself in. You will help other people and especially yourself.

4 • www.ProPTinc.com | Professional Physical Therapy