PT Services of Tennessee - July 2021

PT Services of Tennessee - July 2021

JULY 2021

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EastTennessee Physical Therapy News

FROM THE DESK OF DANNY D. SMITH, PT, DHSC As I sit here thinking about this past Memorial Day, I noticed that more people have traveled this year than in any year past. COVID-19 did a number on the travel industry as well as individuals, so we are trying to make up for being cooped up. One thing that COVID-19 has done is make us appreciate the outdoors more. Another thing that has crossed my mind related to travel is the real reason for Memorial Day. Too many people forget the true meaning of Memorial Day — that is to honor the memory of those in the Armed Forces who did not return from battle. Those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the rest of us. Every family has been touched by the loss of a love one, especially those individuals in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines who did not get to see their families again. We at Physical Therapy Services are eternally grateful for all those serving in

A century ago, Americans adapted to a new way of doing business. This resulted from the booming economies in cities. Technology was at the root of this growth, specifically new building technologies that allowed structures to grow larger and taller than ever. Suddenly, more people could live in a single block of space than previously thought possible. As the economy changed, so did the nature of work. If the story of the previous generation had been industrialization with factories, the story of the next generation would be the boom of white-collar workers, especially in Manhattan which became the blueprint for this new American city. Now, oddly enough, the whole situation is happening in reverse today as white-collar workers flee the cities to find cheaper places to live as a result of remote work becoming a daily reality in the wake of COVID-19. Of course something similar did happen in the past: the “white flight” of the 1940s and ’50s. But what made those people desire to live in the suburbs was created in part by the automobile industry and public projects like Eisenhower’s interstate system, which allowed white-collar workers to live outside of cities and still make the commute to work. But it didn’t jeopardize the office as being integral to American life. After all, where were all of those suburbanites commuting to? No, like the office itself, the suburban phenomenon is only now really in jeopardy, in our post-COVID world. THE REMOTE CENTURY Nothing New About the ‘In Person’ Working Dilemma

the military, and especially those who gave their lives in service.

–Danny

The question is: Does any of this matter?

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I would say yes, it does. We’re seeing an important shift in the way Americans do business and think about work. It dovetails with other discussions surrounding minimum wage and single-payer insurance systems, but both of those topics are hot-button political issues (some might say dog whistles!) By contrast, the remote work debate is happening by and large off the political stage — which is probably for the best.

On the one side, we have those who believe that white-collar workers are more efficient working in offices together — that, barring another pandemic, the best way for people to work is together . There is some evidence that they’re right since people generally communicate and get along better in person. On the other hand, are the folks who argue for embracing new technologies that could prepare us for necessary changes, just as our ancestors did. White-collar workers didn’t exist before office buildings, and that is 100% the result of technological change. Why shouldn’t we change again with new technologies and embrace a new century’s method of doing business? This side is bolstered by studies on happiness and efficiency — both of which seem to go up when employees are allowed to work from home. You might expect me to throw in my lot with one side or the other, but I won’t do that. As a businessperson, I’m a pragmatist first and foremost. I’ll follow the trend that works best for my employees, and we’ll either join with the national movements or fly in their face.

That’s just the nature of business, after all.

One parting thought: I do wonder what will happen to the American city, commonly the place of highest real estate value in the nation and the heart of industry, if white-collar workers leave all of those office buildings behind. Something to ponder, no?

The Meow at 10,000 Feet High on the slopes of Bristen, a mountain in the Glarus Alps in central Switzerland,

snow,” Cyril noted. “We picked her up and carried her when she was too exhausted to walk uphill anymore. We were definitely confused. I felt really sorry for the cat. She was really exhausted on the ridge underneath the summit.” The cat stayed with them for some time before they met up with another group of hikers who were headed down the mountain. The cat joined them for what would hopefully be a journey back home. And it was! Remarkably, the cat’s owners were found. They revealed that their cat had vanished four days earlier and apparently followed yet another group of hikers up Bristen. “Animals do weird things. And they are way tougher than humans. They’ll never give up. Even though they are hurting really, really bad,” Cyril said of his feline hiking companion. Hopefully, that will be the little feline’s last trip up for some time!

a pair of skiers discovered something unexpected. At 4:30 a.m., the skiers climbed toward the summit of Bristen when they realized they weren’t alone. They were being followed by a cat — not a lynx or a wildcat, but a little mewling house cat. How does a house cat end up on the slopes of a snow-covered, 10,000-foot mountain? This was an answer the skiers wouldn’t get. They weren’t even sure what to do with a cat in general. It’s likely that it simply wandered away from one of the nearby towns or villages near the base of the mountain, but even for a human, that’s a major undertaking. Lost, the cat followed the only sign of civilization it could find: the skiers, Cyril and Erik Rohrer. “She started to shiver, and her paws began to bleed from the hard

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Stay Cool This Summer When thinking about extreme and deadly weather, most people conjure up images of massive tornadoes in the Midwest or hurricanes and flooding in the Southeast. But you might be surprised to learn that the deadliest extreme weather event is excessive heat. In fact, according to a study from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), heat causes more deaths each year than floods, lightning, tornadoes, and hurricanes combined . Since 2020 was the second warmest year on record and all the other years in the top 10 have occurred since 2005, it’s time to wise up about heat-related illnesses. Heat-Related Illnesses and Risk Factors According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heat-related illnesses are caused by “exposure to extreme heat where the body becomes unable to properly cool, resulting in a rapid rise in body temperature.” There are several kinds of heat-related illnesses. The least severe are heat rashes, sunburn, and heat cramps, and the most serious are heat exhaustion and heat stroke. While anyone can experience these illnesses if they overexert themselves in hot weather, some groups are more at risk than others, including: • Children under the age of 4 and adults over the age of 65 • People with preexisting medical conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease • People who are overweight • People taking certain kinds of medication • Individuals who are intoxicated or drink excessively

EDUCATE YOURSELF ON HEAT-RELATED ILLNESSES Symptoms to Watch Out For Both heat exhaustion and heat stroke have many of the same symptoms, including headaches, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, and passing out. But other symptoms help differentiate the two. Heat stroke victims will have hot, red skin that may be dry or damp, and they’ll likely have a fast, strong pulse. By contrast, victims of heat exhaustion will have cold, pale, and clammy skin and a fast but weak pulse. Heat stroke is a medical emergency requiring professional medical attention immediately. You should also seek medical help for anyone exhibiting the above symptoms who is also throwing up or whose symptoms are getting worse or last longer than one hour. For a complete list of symptoms and treatment for all heat-related illnesses, visit CDC.gov/disasters/extremeheat/ warning.html . Stay cool this summer and prevent heat-related illnesses by seeking shade or staying indoors on hot days, avoiding exerting yourself in the heat, and drinking plenty of water!

Take a Break!

THE BEST TEXAS-STYLE SMOKED BRISKET Inspired by AllRecipes.com

Impress guests at your next barbecue with this perfectly smoked brisket. Plus, you’ll have plenty of leftovers!

INGREDIENTS • Wood chips • 1/4 cup paprika

• 1/4 cup chili powder • 1/4 cup garlic powder • 1/4 cup onion powder • 1/4 cup salt • 1/4 cup pepper • 10 lbs brisket

• 1/4 cup white sugar • 1/4 cup ground cumin • 1/4 cup cayenne pepper • 1/4 cup brown sugar

DIRECTIONS

1. In a bowl, soak wood chips in water overnight. 2. In a large bowl, mix paprika, white sugar, cumin, cayenne pepper, brown sugar, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. 3. Rub spice mixture on the brisket and refrigerate for 24 hours. 4. Preheat smoker to 230 F. Drain wood chips and place them in the smoker. 5. Smoke brisket until it has an internal temperature of 165 F. 6. Remove brisket and wrap it in aluminum foil. 7. Smoke brisket further until it reaches an internal temperature of 185 F.

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Inside This Issue From the Desk of Dr. Smith PAGE 1 The Remote Century PAGE 1 The Miraculous Mountain Cat PAGE 2 What Are Heat-Related Illnesses? PAGE 3 Take a Break PAGE 3 The Best Texas-Style Smoked Brisket PAGE 3 Kickboard Pool Exercises PAGE 4

The Humble Kickboard A Powerful Pool Workout Tool

If the heat of the summer is zapping your energy and motivation to exercise, it’s probably time to head to the pool to cool down and get moving without breaking a sweat. While swimming laps is a great low-impact exercise, there are many other ways to work out in the water. And there’s one humble, versatile, and widely available piece of equipment that can provide a full-body water workout: a foam kickboard. That’s right, those colorful kickboards you often see lined up poolside are perfect for elevating your aquatic workout. High- quality kickboards are made from foam that is both long-lasting and hygienic, but if you’re taking extra safety precautions and don’t want to use shared boards, they are also inexpensive to buy.

your core muscles engaged as you push the board down into the water until your elbows are straight. Slowly bring the board back to the starting position. Do 2–3 cycles of 10 reps each. Legs: Flutter Kicks This exercise is great to do in the lap lane at the pool and is probably one you’ve seen before. Grip the top of the board (the round end) with both hands and extend your arms in front of you with the board on the surface of the water. Lift your hips so your body is horizontal and be sure to slide your shoulders down and engage your core as you start performing small kicks with your legs. Engage your thighs to power the kick and keep your knees slightly bent while your ankles remain relaxed. Abs and Hip Flexors: L Sit In shallow water that still allows you to float, lean your chest and outstretched arms over your kickboard. Keep your back straight and your legs at a 90-degree angle to create the L-shape this exercise is named after. Engaging your core muscles and keeping your back long, move your legs in tandem up toward the kickboard, then return slowly to the starting position. Do 2–3 sets of 10 reps.

Here are three exercises to get you started!

Arms: Pushdowns Land lovers do pushups and water lovers do pushdowns. The principle behind both exercises is the same, but doing it in the water means less strain on your muscles. To perform the pushdown, stand in waist-deep water and hold your kickboard in front of you with your elbows bent and your hands shoulder-width apart. Keep

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