Cornerstone PT - September 2018

SEPTEMBER 2018

CORNERSTONE Monthly

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

Cornerstone PT Patients

This time of year, I always marvel at how time flies. Not only will I be turning 43 this month, my kids are now both in middle school! It seems like just yesterday that we brought my daughter home from the hospital, bundled in a little blanket. Now she’s almost as tall as I am, riding the bus to school with her little brother and absolutely crushing it on the softball field. Kids really do grow up too fast. This is something that all parents are constantly reminded of. First words, first steps, first days of school, birthdays — every milestone our kids hit can have a bittersweet edge to it. The steps our kids take toward adulthood should be celebrated, but they can sometimes leave a parent with the unshakable feeling of having lost something. For me, this has never been more apparent than having a child go into the eighth grade. “From school and sports to family vacations, my kids approach every year with an adventurous attitude. Being able to share in that excitement has been one of the many joys of fatherhood.” KIDS GROW UP TOO FAST, AND THAT’S OKAY MIDDLE SCHOOL AND MILESTONES It’s an incredibly big leap toward adulthood, though my daughter may not realize it yet. When I was her age, college and adulthood still felt eons away. Looking back, I hardly had a care in the world. I spent this time of year chasing the sun with my friends from one backyard swimming pool to the next. Getting the last of the warmth out of summer was our No. 1 priority. But before I knew it, I was working to help support my family, meeting the woman who would become my wife, and applying to colleges. So now, as a parent, I sometimes worry about adulthood sneaking up on me again. Both of my kids live such joyful, carefree lives, pursuing their passions for sports, excelling in school, and still finding the time to just be

VIP Referral Patient of the Month!

LYNN KALMANSON

kids. Sometimes I find myself wishing things could stay that way for them forever. But ultimately, that’s not what parenthood is about. Kids want to grow up. Just as I wanted more independence and responsibility when I was their age, my kids are constantly pushing for the next big thing. To them, those birthdays, those first days of school, and the first pitches of a new season can’t come soon enough! Who am I to get in the way of that? So rather than let milestones like my daughter’s “last first day of middle school” get me down, I draw inspiration from her own enthusiasm. She and her brother are always looking forward to the next big adventure. From school and sports to family vacations, my kids approach every year with an adventurous attitude. Being able to share in that excitement has been one of the many joys of fatherhood. My kids have taught me that being a good parent is about both loving your children for who they are and being excited to see the adults they will become. My wife and I are so proud of our two middle schoolers, of how driven and mature they are. We hope our daughter and son never lose their outgoing, adventurous attitudes either. Watching them excitedly throw themselves into life has been nothing short of inspiring.

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

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

As they go back to school, here’s to all the lessons our kids can teach us,

–David DeLaFuente

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Prepare Your Garden

From left to right: Recent Cornerstone Graduate Ronald Stotz and Patrick Chinjen, PTA

“My experience here at Cornerstone was awesome. The staff was knowledgeable and very helpful. It was a pleasure to be treated in this facility. Prior to coming here, I had almost no use of my right arm and shoulder due to surgery. Through treatment, I now have full use of my arm and shoulder and will start work again very soon. Thank you very much for treating me, and it was a pleasure getting to know the staff.” –Ronald Stotz

AUTUMN STEPS FOR A BETTER SPRING GARDEN

With fall just ahead, it’s a good time to think about your spring garden. For a beautiful garden next year, begin preparing this fall. Here are a few ways to get a head start! PLANTING BULBS If you want beautiful flowers in April, you should start planting bulbs now. Many flower bulbs need to be in the ground before winter settles in; this helps activate the bulbs’ biochemical process that allows them to bloom. Getting the bulbs into the ground before it freezes allows their roots to grow deep enough to protect them from the biting winter weather. Among the flower bulbs you should plant soon are tulips, daffodils, irises, and hyacinths. CHICKEN WIRE After you’ve planted your bulbs, there’s a risk that uninvited guests will dig them up. There are a few ways you can ensure that your bulbs remain undisturbed throughout the fall. One way is to place chicken wire over your bulbs after they’ve been planted. This keeps rodents from digging them up and allows the plants to grow through the gaps in the wire. KEEP YOUR GARDEN TIDY Once you’ve harvested your best fruits and vegetables, go back through and harvest the rest, even if you don’t plan to eat them. Make sure your garden is clear of old vegetables, fallen leaves, and weeds. Leaving decaying plants in or on top of the ground can spread diseases into the soil and attract unwanted pests to your garden. HEALTHY SOIL Pulling up weeds and all of your vegetables can help keep the earth free from rotting plants, but there are other steps you can take to ensure that your soil stays full of nutrients. Pick up a kit to test the pH levels of your soil. Most gardens thrive in soil with a pH of 6.5. Add compost to your soil supply now to give it time to break down during the winter months.

From left to right: Giana Galasso, PTA; Recent Cornerstone Graduate Karen Bersosa, PT Aide Michael Palmadessa, and David De La Fuente, DPT

“Before I began physical therapy, my ankles were causing me pain, especially my left one. But after attending physical therapy for a couple weeks, I started feeling better. Now I have no pain!” –Karen Bersosa

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THE TRUTH ABOUT LASERS Shedding Light on Misconceptions

LASER THERAPY IS A MEDICAL PROCEDURE The idea of healing someone with concentrated light can sound a little like pseudoscience to some. But the effectiveness of deep tissue laser therapy is well- documented in the medical community. Over 2,500 research reports, including more than 100 double- blind, positive-controlled studies, have confirmed the treatment’s usefulness, even going so far as to promote lasers as an alternative to surgery in certain cases. It’s not magic; it’s photochemistry. What this all boils down to is this: Laser therapy isn’t too good to be true. For those dealing with muscle or tissue ailments or just looking for a nonpharmaceutical alternative to pain management, laser therapy is an extremely viable option! We are proud to offer this noninvasive, medically proven treatment to our patients.

Over the past few months, our clinic’s newest treatment modality has become increasingly popular. That’s because deep tissue laser therapy is an incredibly versatile, noninvasive means of pain relief and accelerated healing. Still, like any relatively new edition to the medical world, some folks have a few misconceptions about how this state-of-the-art treatment works. Here are some facts about laser therapy to set the record straight. LASER THERAPY IS SAFE When some people hear “laser,” they think of lightsabers and the plethora of other weapons seen in sci-fi series. But the truth is that our Class IV laser couldn’t hurt a fly, let alone an Imperial Star Destroyer. That’s because the lightwaves the laser uses to massage your tissues are just that — light. The laser will not burn you, and it’s safe to touch to skin.

LASER THERAPY IS NOT RADIOACTIVE

treatment that uses radioactive isotopes. This is false. The lasers used to heal muscle injuries do not use radiation. In fact, sunlight is more radioactive than the rays we use to reduce pain and swelling at our clinic.

Another misconception people have is that laser therapy is somehow related to radiotherapy, a form of cancer

INSIDE-OUT GRILLED HAM AND CHEESE

• 8 slices of bread (Pullman works best) • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (preferably Parmigiano-Reggiano) Want to take your grilled cheese game to the next level? This recipe calls for cheese both inside and outside the sandwich, adding a crispy crunch to the grilled cheese experience. It’s a quick, delicious weekday dinner option the whole family will love. INGREDIENTS

• 8 ounces ham, thinly sliced • 1/2 pound Swiss cheese, sliced • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard • 1/4 cup apricot preserves

DIRECTIONS

1. Butter each slice of bread on the outsides and sprinkle with Parmesan. 2. Layer ham and cheese evenly on top of 4 slices of bread. 3. Spread apricot preserves and mustard across the other 4 slices. Press sandwiches together. 4. In a cast-iron skillet or large sauté pan over medium heat, grill sandwiches until golden, about 3 minutes per side. 5. Cut in half and serve.

Recipe inspired by Food & Wine magazine

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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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An Important Lesson From My Kids

Testimonials

Get a Head Start on Next Spring’s Garden

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Why We Want to Shoot Lasers at You

Inside-Out Grilled Ham and Cheese

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Have You Heard About Mauritius?

Marvelous Mauritius

A SECRET ISLAND OF ADVENTURE

Just over 1,000 miles off the southeastern coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean lies the small island of Mauritius. The island is often overlooked by the rest of the world. Most people are more likely to have heard of the island’s most famous extinct occupant, the dodo bird, than the island itself. This is shocking when you discover how much fun there is to be had in this tropical wonderland. ADVENTURE AWAITS Looking for fun in the sun? Start your trip to Mauritius with a hike up the lush Lion Mountain, or take time to snap a photo of the Seven Coloured Earths, where volcanic soil has created sand dunes of seven distinct colors. And what’s a trip to an island without the beach? Beautiful coral reefs surround Mauritius, keeping sharks away from the pristine beaches. Island guests and locals can fearlessly scuba dive around the brilliant reefs, swim with dolphins, kite surf,

can visit one of the historical rummeries or explore Mauritius’ two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You can also check out Aapravasi Ghat, the Immigration Depot, and Le Mourne Brabant. TASTE THE MEMORIES A day spent playing on an island is always better with great food. Influenced by its French, Creole, Indian, and Chinese heritage, Mauritius offers a vast menu of delicious dishes to try, from curry to dim sum. And the rich soil and bountiful ocean provide more than enough fresh fruit and seafood to go around.

Despite its amazing vacation potential, Mauritius is all but unheard of to people in the United States. This means travelers can find amazing five-star resorts at unbeatable prices! With this in mind, isn’t it time you got to know the island of Mauritius?

and find lots of other ways to enjoy the warm ocean waters. WALK THROUGH HISTORY

More than a tropical escape, Mauritius is an island full of history and culture, so there are plenty of opportunities to learn about the island’s layered past. You

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