PT Services of Tennessee - October 2020

OCTOBER 2020 EastTennessee Physical Therapy News

www.pt s tn.ne t 423-543-0073

FROM THE DESK OF

DANNY D. SMITH

PERSONAL MESSAGE

The COVID-19 virus that has swept the world has caused problems for everyone. No one is immune to the ravages of this disease and the cost in human lives and lost revenue, not to mention the business closings and lost jobs. I try to look on the bright side of this situation. Whenever I see statistics related to COVID-19, I try to focus on the recoveries. I think that if the media would do the same, the impact of COVID-19 could be lessened. There is some method to my madness. Recently, PTS has brought on board a new Fellow in physical therapy through our educational agreement with ETSU Department of Physical Therapy. Dr. Emily Grieshaber, PT is from St. Louis and will be spending a year in Fellowship training both in our office And ETSU. Dr. Grieshaber has recently completed a Residency at the VA hospital in St. Louis. Her clinical specialization is in Cardio-pulmonary physical therapy and her interest lies with rehabilitation of COVID-19 survivors. This program is in its early stages; however, she is ready to take new referrals and see new patients who have residual effects of COVID-19.

BONE AND JOINT HEALTH ACTION WEEK

E ach year, from Oct. 12–20, Bone and Joint Health Action Week aims to spread awareness of the treatment, management, and even prevention of musculoskeletal disorders. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines musculoskeletal disorders as “injuries or disorders of the muscles, nerves, tendons, joints, cartilage, and spinal discs.” As we grow older, regular aches and pains are normal, but someone suffering from a musculoskeletal disorder can find it difficult or even almost impossible to enjoy everyday activities. In order to spread awareness, increase education, and encourage the treatment and management of musculoskeletal conditions, Bone and Joint Health Action Week helps ensure people have access to useful information.

THE TYPES OF MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS According to the Bone and Joint Initiative, musculoskeletal disorders affect more than half the American population over the age of 18, and 1 in 3 people require medical care for a musculoskeletal condition. These conditions include arthritis, trauma, back pain, spinal deformity, pediatric conditions, and osteoporosis. Many of these, such as arthritis and spinal deformity, are the most common causes of severe long-term pain and disability for people around the world. While there may be no permanent cure for these ailments, a person who suffers from them can do a few things to reduce their discomfort. 5 TOPICS FOR ACTIONWEEK Musculoskeletal disorders have many aspects, so Bone and Joint Health Action

For more information, contact our office 423-543-0073.

–Danny

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Week dedicates each of the five days to raising awareness about a different ailment. This year, the schedule is as follows:

• Oct. 12: World Arthritis Day —The main focus for this day is “Don’t Delay, Connect Today.” Although arthritis has no cure, if it’s caught early on, sufferers can treat and manage it better. On the first day of Action Week, people are encouraged to seek out support groups, information, or medical advice for this condition. • Oct. 16: World Spine Day —“Get Spine Active!” is the theme for this day and encourages people to get moving to help manage back and neck pain. Often, appropriate movement and exercise are key in promoting and maintaining spine health. • Oct. 17: World Trauma Day — General aging is not the only cause of musculoskeletal conditions. World Trauma Day is designed to spread information about intervention, treatment, and prevention of traumatic injuries that lead to these painful conditions. • Oct. 19: World Pediatric Bone and Joint (PB&J) Day — Adults aren’t the only ones who suffer from musculoskeletal disorders. One in 1,000 children is diagnosed with arthritis, and PB&J Day is dedicated to spreading awareness and educating the public about the impact these disorders have on children.

• Oct. 20: World Osteoporosis Day — Osteoporosis is when the body loses or does not make enough bone, which weakens the bone and makes it prone to breaks. This day provides activities to inform people of their risk factors for osteoporosis and broken bones. Overall, this unique week is full of fun and useful activities that emphasize the importance of muscle and bone health through getting regular exercise, eating a healthy diet, and seeking medical help if you have signs of a musculoskeletal condition. If you want to be involved in Bone and Joint Health Action Week this year —whether through donating to a cause, learning more about musculoskeletal diseases, or seeking help — visit the U.S. Bone and Joint Initiative website at USBJI.org.

5 Steps to a Safer Hotel Room

Keep Strangers and Viruses Out With These Quick Tips

S taying home is the best way to protect yourself and your family from illness, but sometimes life gets in the way. Maybe you need to travel for work, to help a relative, or just to keep your kids from bouncing off the walls. If you have a hotel stay on the books, worrying about safety is understandable. But by taking these precautions, you can protect your loved ones and increase your odds of coming home healthy. Bring a sanitation kit and use it! Most hotels are going above and beyond to sanitize their rooms these days, but it never hurts to take extra care. Before you check in, pick up cleaning supplies like disinfectant spray, wipes, plastic bags, and gloves. Then, use them to wipe down your room. Focus on big surfaces as well as features like faucet handles, doorknobs, lightswitches, and microwave buttons. Skip the decorative linens. Many hotels don’t wash decorative bedding like comforters and fancy pillowcases. To be extra safe, strip these off the bed and wash your hands afterward. If you’re chilly, opt for the hotel’s spare blanket (it’s probably hiding in a closet) or bring one from home. Quarantine your remote control. As USA Today puts it, “It’s common knowledge that one of the germiest items in a hotel room is the remote control.” To avoid the ick, pick up the remote while

wearing gloves and drop it into a Ziploc. Then, remove your gloves and seal the bag. Now you can use the remote without touching it directly! Invest in a rubber door wedge. Viruses aren’t the only risk in hotel rooms — break-ins are

another concern. To keep your room secure, bring a rubber door wedge. They cost less than $10 on Amazon and make kicking in a door much more difficult. For maximum security, bring a door alarm. Simple travel alarms hang from the handle of a door and have two prongs that slide between the door and its frame. When the door opens and the prongs separate, that triggers the alarm. These simple devices send thieves running, and Lewis N. Clark makes a model for just $14.99.

Hopefully, these tips give you some peace of mind on your next trip. Happy trails!

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Tips for Buying New Outdoor Gear! FALL AND WINTER SPORTS ARE ON THE HORIZON

When was the last time you bought new ski pants or hiking boots? Now that you’re thinking about it, you might be realizing it’s been many years since you updated your most used athletic gear, which might explain why you’ve been colder than usual on the ski hill or why your feet ache after a short hike. If this sounds familiar, it might be time to consider investing in new gear. It can be very expensive, but you’re in luck — the holidays are just around the corner, which means so are the sales!

Before you drop cash on new gear, sort through your current inventory and decide what to keep, sell, and toss. This might be hard and you may be tempted to skip it, but making these decisions can help you save money. If you have equipment or athletic wear that’s still in good condition but you no longer need, find a consignment shop where you can sell or trade it. After all, your gear might be perfect for someone else and still give you some money to get a great upgrade for yourself. As you sort through your gear, see if any equipment is damaged and requires repair or replacement. Test flashlights and headlamps to make sure they work and inspect gear that’s been stored and forgotten, like backpacks and tents, that you might not notice the wear and tear on while out in the wild. You don’t want any equipment to malfunction when you’re in the middle of an excursion.

Now that you know what gear you want to replace, it is time for the fun part.

Decide what outdoor activities you want to do in the upcoming months and in the next year. Adjust your inventory to your new needs and research which brands have the best ratings and reviews. Then, find which retailers tend to have the best prices. Shopping smart takes a little bit of preparation, but it can save you hundreds of dollars and lots of stress during those busy holiday weeks. So, dig through your closet or garage, take note of your current gear, and prepare to find some awesome deals for the whole family on new gear for the coming year.

Take a Break!

SPOOKY STRAWBERRY GHOSTS Inspired by Candiquik.com

These adorable chocolate-dipped strawberry ghosts will be the stars of your Halloween party!

INGREDIENTS

•

16 oz white chocolate, chopped

•

1 package mini dark chocolate chips

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24 strawberries

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!

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1500 West Elk Ave. Elizabethton, TN 37643 423-543-2215

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Inside This Issue From the Desk of Dr. Smith PAGE 1 The 5 Days Dedicated to Bone and Joint Health PAGE 1 5 Steps to a Safer Hotel Room PAGE 2 Tips for Buying New Outdoor Gear! PAGE 3 Take a Break PAGE 3 Spooky Strawberry Ghosts PAGE 3 Why Physical Therapy Should Be Your First Resort PAGE 4

Why Physical Therapy Should Be Your First Resort

For most people, October is all about pumpkin spice, apple cider, candy, and Halloween costumes. However, October is also a noteworthy month for physical therapists because it’s National Physical Therapy Month, a time of year that celebrates and raises awareness about the benefits of physical therapy. In a world where everyone is quick to take a pill or schedule a surgery to mask their symptoms, National Physical Therapy Month is a great time to highlight why PT is one of the best methods of injury recovery. Almost any way you slice it, physical therapy is an incredibly cost- effective way to recover from a musculoskeletal injury. One study, commissioned by the Alliance for Physical Therapy Quality and Innovation (APTQI), found that patients who utilized physical therapy as their first means of lower back pain recovery saved nearly $1,000 when compared to the group who used injections as their first means of recovery. Those savings jumped to over $12,000 when compared to the average cost of turning to surgery as a first resort. That’s not just the case for patients with lower back pain, however. According to another study done by ATI Physical Therapy, My Health First Network, Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), and Greenville Health System (GHS), 70% of patients that opted to use physical therapy as a means for spine, shoulder, and knee pain didn’t need any additional

imaging, prescription medication, or visits to their physician. The sooner you start physical therapy, the sooner you recover and the less you have to spend on health care costs. While there are still some cases where surgery and prescription medications are necessary for healing musculoskeletal injuries, more often than not, going to physical therapy first can help you heal faster and save money in the long run. So, if you’re dealing with chronic pain and don’t know how to stop it, connect with us today!

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