Cornerstone PT - October 2018

OCTOBER 2018

CORNERSTONE Monthly

77 Brant Avenue Suite 101, Clark, NJ 07066 • www.cornerstoneptnj.com • 732.499.4540

Cornerstone PT Patients

THE BEST TREAT

MY THOUGHTS ON HALLOWEEN

VIP Referral Patient of the Month!

Whenever Halloween rolls around, I marvel at my wife and mother-in-law’s artistic abilities. They always collaborate to put together some fantastic costumes for the kids. Back when my son was 9 years old, they decided to put him in a full hobo get-up, complete with fake beard! That one got a lot of laughs while we were out trick-or-treating. It definitely made me wish I’d had such a talented duo of costume makers when I was a kid. Don’t get me wrong — I had some stellar costumes of my own. Growing up at the height of the Michael Jackson craze, I couldn’t resist dressing up like the pop icon and moonwalking my way through the neighborhood. My mom even made me a sparkling white glove to complete the look. As a huge MJ fan, being able to mimic the smooth moves of the star was definitely the highlight of my night. Well, that, and the candy. “As a huge MJ fan, being able to mimic the smooth moves of the star was definitely the highlight of my night. Well, that, and the candy.” I never had the biggest sweet tooth as a kid, but who’s going to say no to free candy? There was one treat in particular I had my eye out for. It was pretty rare on Halloween, but I would trade just about anything for a 100 Grand Bar. That crispy mix of chocolate, caramel, and rice was irresistible to me as a kid. I don’t see those bars around quite as often today, but if my kids come home with some this Halloween, I might have to “tax” them. Honestly, my son and daughter are way too efficient at getting candy. Every year, they come home with far too much for them to ever eat, and shortly after, bowls of treats

MELISSA GOMES

The best compliment we can receive is to have one of our patients refer a friend or family member to our practice. If you refer someone and we are able to take them as a patient, both you and the person who was referred

begin mysteriously showing up around our clinic. That yearly supply of sweets may start to run dry, however.

My daughter’s getting to that age where she’s losing interest in trick-or-treating. I experienced the same thing as a teenager. You want to hang out with your peers and be cool — and after a certain point, wearing a costume and making your way around the neighborhood becomes, well, uncool. I’m not sure if she’ll be trick-or-treating this year, but one thing is certain: No matter how old my kids get, I’ll be out walking with the best-costumed member of our family. Hands-down, the queen of Halloween in our house is our yellow lab, Bristal. We dress her up every year; she’s been everything from a “top dog” with bomber jacket and aviators to a 70-pound hot dog. She loves walking with me and the kids on Halloween and getting all the extra attention from her costume. I’m glad to have a holiday that’s all about having fun. Seeing the kids run up and down the street is one of those sweet memories that stays with you the rest of your life. It took becoming a father to do it, but I’ve finally found a treat better than a 100 Grand.

Thank You! will be entered to win a $25 gift card! It’s just our way of saying

Have a safe and happy Halloween!

–David DeLaFuente

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Best in Show or Halloween Hazard?

(From left to right: David De La Fuente, DPT; Charlene Hayden, recent Cornerstone graduate; Christopher DaSilva, DPT)

“When I first came here, I had a very difficult time moving my head. My neck was extremely tight. Thanks to the caring and knowledgeable staff, I have no pain now. Everyone here is super nice and very helpful. I think I’ll actually miss coming here!” –Charlene Hayden

COSTUME SAFETY TIPS FOR KIDS

For many kids, picking out a costume is the best part of Halloween. Will they be a spooky witch, a wildcat, or their favorite superhero? There are so many options! But in all the fun, it can be easy for parents to overlook certain risks that Halloween costumes can pose. Here are important safety tips to remember when choosing the best Halloween costume. LOOK FOR FIRE-RESISTANT COSTUMES. Candles inside jack-o’-lanterns and other open flames are everywhere on Halloween night, so make sure your child’s costume isn’t a fire hazard. Most store-bought costumes are made from fire-resistant materials, but you should still check the labels on all costumes, wigs, and accessories. The same goes when you’re buying fabric for homemade costumes. And remember, fire-resistant is not the same as fireproof . While fire- resistant material takes longer to burn and can be put out quickly, it can still catch fire and cause serious injuries. Remind your child to use caution around open flames and avoid costumes with flimsy, hanging components, like flowing sleeves, long skirts, and capes. TEST MAKEUP FIRST. Halloween is a great time to have fun with face paint, and makeup is a good alternative to masks, which can obscure a child’s vision. However, a lot of costume makeup isn’t approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Before letting your child cover their face in makeup from the Halloween store, test their skin for allergic reactions by putting just a little bit on the back of their hand first. PRACTICE PROP SAFETY. What’s a Jedi Knight without her lightsaber or a wizard without his magic wand? The right accessories can really bring a costume together, but it’s important that props — especially weapon props, like swords, knives, or guns — are not mistaken for the real thing. Choose props that are obviously fake, with round edges made from soft, flexible material. And if your child wants to wear their Halloween costume to school or some other event, check the rules on props beforehand to avoid any trouble.

(From left to right: Patrick Chinjen, PTA; Connor Hayden, recent Cornerstone graduate; Jaime Ferreria, PT Aide)

“I came in around may with a torn hamstring. Cornerstone really helped me recover, and now I can run a 9:35 mile and a half. Thank you all so much” –Connor Hayden

Halloween is a night for ghosts and goblins to come out to play, and with these tips, your kids can safely dress up and join in the fun.

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A LIGHT IN THE DARK

Laser Therapy Offers Pain Sufferers Hope

In light of the tragic opioid crisis in this country, it’s easy for those living with pain to feel trapped. Painkillers’ hazardous side effects and extremely addictive qualities are well-documented, but for many people with acute or chronic injuries, these pills have also been the only option. While physical therapy can help you overcome such pain, not everyone is mobile enough to do the necessary exercises. But the relatively new practice of deep tissue laser therapy has opened a world of possibilities for those in need. HEALS AND SOOTHES We’ve mentioned in past editions that our Class IV Lightforce laser has proven extremely effective at speeding the healing process of a wide variety of muscle injuries. This is done by the photons from the laser’s light “exciting” the mitochondria within your cells, speeding your body’s natural healing process. A fortunate side effect of this is that your body’s natural pain blockers are also triggered as part of this process, leading to fast, medication-free pain relief on site.

tissue laser therapy report lasting pain relief after a few sessions. And unlike opioid-based treatments, this relief came without harmful side effects or the risk of chemical addictions. AN ALTERNATIVE OR AN AID While laser therapy has proven to be a viable, noninvasive alternative to traditional pain-management approaches, it can also play a supporting role. In the case of severe injuries, laser therapy can be paired along with pain medication, speeding the healing process and reducing the dosage you may need to feel relief. It can also heal and soothe immobile patients to the point where physical therapy becomes a viable option. Here at Cornerstone Physical Therapy & Wellness Center, we know every patient’s needs are unique. That’s why we are so excited to offer this cutting-edge treatment. It provides new avenues of care so that our clinical professionals can help you find your route to relief. If you’re living with pain or know someone who is, give us a call and see if deep tissue laser therapy is right for you.

RELIEF THAT LASTS While the specific length of time varies by patient, many who have received deep

HOMEMADE MARSHMALLOWS

As we enter the height of s’mores season, consider upgrading those store-bought marshmallows to homemade ones. For a colorful treat, you can easily add food coloring to this recipe.

INGREDIENTS

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3 packages unflavored gelatin 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

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1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup light corn syrup

Powdered sugar, to coat

DIRECTIONS

1. In a mixing bowl, combine gelatin and 1/2 cup cold water. Let sit while you make the syrup. 2. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, syrup, salt, and 1/2 cup water until the sugar dissolves. 3. Raise heat to high and bring syrup up to 240 F, using a candy thermometer to check for temperature. 4. With an electric whisk on low speed, slowly whisk syrup into gelatin mixture. Switch speed to high and whip for 15 minutes, until very thick. Fold in vanilla after whipping. 5. Dust a nonmetal baking dish with powdered sugar and spoon mixture into dish. Smooth mixture, top with more powdered sugar, and let stand uncovered overnight. 6. Cut into squares, decorate, and serve.

Recipe inspired by foodnetwork.com

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77 Brant Avenue Suite 101 Clark, NJ 07066 732.499.4540 www.cornerstoneptnj.com

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INSIDE This Issue

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The Best Halloween Treat

Testimonials

What Parents Need to Know About Halloween Costumes

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Laser Therapy and Pain Relief

Homemade Marshmallows

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The Birthplace of Halloween

The Real Halloween Town

COUNTY MEATH, IRELAND, WHERE HALLOWEEN BEGAN

Fans of Halloween don’t need to look far to find somewhere to celebrate their favorite holiday. There are festive parties all over the world, from New Orleans to London, but if you really want to embrace the spirit of Halloween, there’s no better destination than the birthplace of the holiday: County Meath, Ireland. Every year in Boyne Valley, the residents of County Meath throw a month-long Halloween celebration. The Spirits of Meath Halloween Festival attracts thousands of guests from all over the world, and while this festival has only been celebrated since 2009, many of the traditions observed here date back to ancient times. The ancient Irish weren’t trick-or-treating or visiting haunted houses on Oct. 31, but they were celebrating the pagan holiday Samhain. Over 3,000 years ago, this Celtic festival was born in Meath and marked the end of the harvest. Samhain was celebrated with bonfires, offerings to fairies, and other rituals meant to keep evil spirits away. Many of these customs carried through the centuries and inspired Halloween traditions that are still practiced today.

of the first torch fire of Samhain in Athboy, which kicks off a month of fun activities. If you like your Halloween extra spooky, the scream park, Farmaphobia, is waiting for you. And if you’re not a fan of screaming your head off, you can check out the Halloween-themed Spookling Afternoon Tea for fresh-baked treats and spirited conversation. The motto of this all-ages festival is “Fun by Day; Frights by Night,” meaning all the really scary ghosts wait until after sunset to come out. There are plenty of ways to celebrate Halloween, from carving jack-o’-lanterns and eating chocolate to running for your life through a haunted corn maze. And in County Meath, you can celebrate Halloween in every possible way. For more info, visit www.Discoverboynevalley.ie/whats-on/spirits-meath-halloween- festival-2018.

Today, Meath celebrates Oct. 31 with a blend of spooky thrills and traditional Samhain practices. The Spirits of Meath Halloween Festival starts with the lighting

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