Elite PT August 2018

Elite PT August 2018

August 2018

ELITE Physical Therapy Lagniappe (318) 443-3311

www.elitephysicaltherapy.us

WOW! 33 years

I can’t believe it has been 33 years that I have had the honor of being a physical therapist in Central Louisiana. So much has changed during that time, with so many details that I can’t even remember. When I came to Alexandria in 1985 as a new PT, I had no idea I would call this place home for the next 33 years. I only knew one or two people, but through work and the golf community, I quickly felt comfortable here.

development was in the early stages for MRI, arthroscopy, and joint replacements. Some of the advances in the PT profession were in their infancies as well. By my best estimate, I have evaluated about 13,000 people and have had about 130,000 visits during the years. And by and large, those encounters have made me a better PT, a better community representative, and a better person.

I had a new patient who was 75 years old. I recognized his last name, so I asked him about somebody that I’d treated many years before who had the same last name. His response? “Oh, that was my mother!” That one really hit home for me! Reflecting on these 33 years, I am blessed with a loving wife and great family and blessed to have raised two beautiful girls who have grown

into college women now. I am also fortunate to have worked side by side with some great people who have dedicated themselves to taking care of so many patients over the years. Their passion for our work inspires me. I also think about the coworkers who are no longer with us: Angie, Ms. Johnnie, and Beth. It’s been a rugged pace at times, but I wouldn’t have done it any other way. I look forward to continuing to serve our patients and be there for those who need me. As we have said before,

By my best estimate, I have evaluated about 13,000 people and have had about 130,000 visits during the years. And by and large, those encounters have made me a better PT, a better community representative, and a better person.

Our PT profession has advanced so much during these years. When I graduated in 1985, it was a bachelor’s degree program. It has since advanced to a masters and now a doctorate program. In the early years of my career, we worked in an office like we do now, but we also did quite a bit on the road, going to nursing homes, schools, and private homes to take

care of patients. I carried a beeper and knew where all the pay phones were located in case I got a call. I remember when I got my first “bag phone,” then my “car phone” before we ever had cell phones. I thought the car phone was awesome! Everything was on paper in those days, from documenting our visits and our schedules to the billing process. We used a typewriter for letters and somebody was there to do it for us. We thought the reimbursement process was tough then! Well, it’s gotten harder to navigate the reimbursement world today. When I began,

With 33 years under my belt, I’ve seen a lot of folks from our community. The kids I treated who were high schoolers when I started now have adult kids of their own, and they have grandkids I’ve treated! I’ve had the honor of following families through a couple generations and treating folks in each. One of my favorite things about my job is talking to people who grew up in the Alexandria area and learning about what area they grew up in and what life was like years ago. One of my favorite stories is fairly recent.

we are here because of our patients. And even though I have a long way to go, I want to thank you all for a rewarding first 33 years.

–Bart Jones

Elite PT • (318) 443-3311 • 1

How to Achieve a More Restful Night’s Sleep A good night’s sleep is one of the most important things you can do for your mind and body. One study published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research found that the quality of your sleep is much more important than the quantity — that is, if you want to feel rested. And we all want to feel rested. So, what can you do to improve the quality of your sleep and get the rest you need? to bed then. The more consistent you are, the better your sleep will be. WAKE UP NATURALLY. Jolting yourself awake with an alarm or radio isn’t doing your brain and body any favors (it can be stressful on the body and even elevate blood pressure, which is not good first thing in the morning). If you do need an alarm, consider a wake-up light. Wake-up lights mimic the sunrise, slowly brightening the room, waking your body in a natural, gentle way.

— before bed is detrimental to sleep quality. Light from these devices is disruptive to your brain’s suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which helps regulate your circadian rhythm, and screen time before bed can throw off normal SCN function. Put your excuses for staying up too late to bed. Say no to “one more episode.” And all those emails? They can wait until tomorrow. Not getting enough quality sleep is harmful to your mental and physical health. When you get into the habit of following these three tips, you’ll find yourself feeling rested and refreshed in no time.

LISTEN TO YOUR BODY. This, above all else, is crucial to a good night’s sleep. Your body knows when it’s time for bed. Generally, you want to go to bed when you feel tired, whether that’s at 8 p.m. or 1 a.m. Whenever your body tells you it needs rest, you should make a habit of going

KICK THE SCREEN HABIT. You’ve heard it before, and you’ll hear it again: Looking at an electronic screen — a TV, computer, tablet, or smartphone

Client Testimonial I tore my ACL and lateral meniscus during a football game at Louisiana College. After surgery, I was doing therapy with my trainer, but I wasn’t progressing like we wanted, so my doctor recommended coming here to Elite. Coming to Elite was the best choice I could have made for my rehab.

I was able to use more equipment than I had access to at my school and was helped by a great staff that made me look forward to going to rehab. Now I am back and working out with my team, and it would not be possible without Elite. I want to thank Abby and the entire staff at Elite for answering my many questions and helping me accomplish my rehab goals to go back to playing the sport I love. –––- Jackson Hetzler

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Changes to ACL Tear Treatment

How Technology and Science Have Advanced to Better Treat ACL Tears In this month’s testimonial, we feature Jackson Hetzler, a football player at Louisiana College. Jackson tore his ACL during a game, had surgery, and did his rehab here with us at ELITE. In our cover story, Bart also talked about the changes that have occurred in our profession over the rehab progressed, we moved to earlier weight- bearing exercises and aggressive work on range of motion and early strengthening. Although the repair must still be protected, the surgical procedures are better and more stable now. Therefore, the rehab process has accelerated.

last 33 years. ACL surgery and the recovery process is one of the areas we’ve seen several advances in over the years. Most of us are familiar with ACL tears, and you may even know someone who has had the injury. It can be a very difficult recovery process. ACL surgery can keep you out of your sport for several months to a year. Early in the history of ACL surgery, they tried to repair the ligament, but this often failed. This progressed to ligament replacement with a patient’s own patellar tendon. This was and still is a good procedure, but some people have difficulty with tendonitis and pain at the donor site. Surgeons now harvest tendons from the

The goals of the rehab process include protecting the graft, controlling pain and inflammation, regaining range of motion, and slowly regaining strength and function in the injured leg. Activities such as running, cutting, and aggressive movements that put stress on the repaired ACL are limited while the graft heals. Then, in the later stages of rehab, those more aggressive activities are slowly introduced to allow the patient to begin to return to their sport and normal activities. This can be 9–12 months after surgery. Our goal at Elite PT is to get you back to what you enjoy most in life: living every day to its fullest! Call us today at 318-443-3311 to schedule your consultation, no referral necessary.

Before

After

hamstring or other locations, which typically creates less complications.

In the early years of the rehab process, the patient would not be allowed to bear weight, or limited weight for several weeks. The process was much more protective and limited. As

Have a Laugh!

Spicy Chimichurri Grilled Cheese

Ingredients

For chimichurri: • 2 jalapeños •

•

1 ripe avocado, cut into slices 2–4 ounces fresh mozzarella 4 slices whole- wheat bread

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2 tablespoons olive oil

•

Juice of 1 lime

•

•

2 teaspoons honey

4 green onions

For sandwiches: •

•

1/2 cup cilantro

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1 tablespoon olive oil

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1 clove garlic

Directions 1. Pulse chimichurri ingredients in a food processor or blender until combined but not pureed. Add extra olive oil as needed. 2. Heat grill or skillet to medium-low. Brush outsides of bread with olive oil. Smear 1 tablespoon chimichurri on each slice of

bread. Place a layer of avocado and cheese between slices. 3. Cook gently until bread is crisp and cheese is melted. 4. Slice and serve.

Elite PT • (318) 443-3311 • 3

[inspired by naturallyella.com]

3446 Masonic Drive Alexandria, LA 71301 (318) 443-3311

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

www.elitephysicaltherapy.us

Hours of Operation: M–Th: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Fri: 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Inside THIS ISSUE

• Bart Reflects on 33 Years in the Profession

• Sleep Better and Feel Great

• Hear From a Happy Client

• Advances in ACL Rehab

• Spicy Chimichurri Grilled Cheese • Shadow: The Hang- Gliding Service Dog

Meet Shadow: The Amazing Hang-Gliding Service Dog

For his entire life, Utah resident Dan McManus has suffered from several mental health issues, including generalized anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, night terrors, and severe panic attacks. Over the years, he’s utilized numerous coping mechanisms to stave off the symptoms, but there are two things that calm him more than anything else: hang gliding across the Utah skies and the companionship of his service animal, an Australian cattle dog named Shadow. Over the course of 37 years, McManus went from being a hang-gliding hobbyist to an expert instructor in Salt Lake City, going out gliding as often as possible. But it seemed that his

passion gave his pup a bit of anxiety of his own. Whenever McManus would take off, Shadow always wanted to chase him. “So I would be out here flying, and he would chase me and jump up at me and sometimes get my foot and hang on a little bit … It felt like he wanted to keep me safe,” he says. And when he left the dog at home, he’d often come home to a scratched-up floor and doors. It seemed that Shadow couldn’t bear to be away from his owner. So, about 12 years ago, McManus had a special harness made for Shadow, enabling the pup to join him while he took to the skies. They’ve been side-by-side on nearly every flight since.

Some pet owners might balk at the idea of taking a dog on a hang glider, but it’s clear that, in this case, Shadow definitely wants to fly. Whenever they go out, Shadow wraps his paws around McManus’ arm, remaining stoic as they survey the landscape together from high above. While we all struggle with our own obstacles in life, it’s nice to know that our canine pals will always be there to offer their furry support. As McManus and Shadow demonstrate, it’s a bond that remains strong even hundreds of feet above the ground.

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