Empower: Take Care Of Your Hands

Empower: Take Care Of Your Hands

Health & Fitness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body

Empower Physical Therapy & Fitness Presents HOWLSVT HELPS PARKINSON’SDISEASE SEMINAR

While you’ve likely heard of Parkinson’s disease (PD), many people don’t know exactly what the condition is or how it manifests itself. The condition can occur when there is a loss of brain cells that produce a chemical called dopamine. It usually presents in people over the age of 60, but it can present earlier in life as well. The four common symptoms, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke are: tremors, limb and trunk stiffness, bradykinesia (the slowing down of movement) and weak balance or coordination. Some other PD symptoms can be: depression, trouble swallowing or chewing or difficulty sleeping. In 2002, the LSVT-BIG protocol was initiated, as a research-based exercise approach to be given by specially-trained therapists. Patients are shown specific exercises that involve large amplitude, exaggerated movement patterns, leading to smoother, larger, safer movements and improved quality of life. By maintaining larger movements, patients will move better, with more confidence and safety. Empower Physical Therapy will be hosting an LSVT-BIG seminar for individuals with

Parkinson’s Disease and their loved ones. The seminar will be presented by our Occupational Therapist, Lisa Weingartz, who is certified in LSVT-BIG treatment. During the presentation, Lisa will go over the program’s details, exercises, and a Q&A session. The seminar’s information is listed below: Empower Physical Therapy’s Hall Location 6:30pm-7:30pm Thursday, April 26th 20554 Hall Rd, Clinton Twp, MI

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Health & Fitness The Newsl tter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body

Aim For The Correct Diagnosis! TAKE CARE OF YOURHANDS

Inside:

• Instantly Relieve Arthritis Pain In Your Hands

• Win A $10 Target Gift Card

• Relieve Hip Pain In Minutes

• Patient Success Spotlight

At this time of year it isn’t difficult to imagine what would happen if you slipped on a patch of wet ground and fell. Chances are, you would reach out to try to brace yourself against the impact. This reflex is hard wired into your brain and reacts within 10 to 30 milliseconds after tripping to protect you from serious injury. In the best of circumstances, you end up with a bruised ego. In the worst, a fall on snow, ice or otherwise slippery surfacecan result inserious injury toyourhandsorwrists. In fact,according to the Centers for Disease Control, one out of five falls causes a broken bone or other serious injury. Broken Bone When it comes to slipping and falling, the most common injury to a wrist is a buckle fracture, or incomplete fracture to the radius. This bone runs along the thumb side of your wrist from your wrist to your elbow and takes the brunt of a fall when you reach down to try to catch yourself. Buckle fractures are particularly painful to the touch and often swell at the site of the break. Most commonly, these wrist injuries are treated with a splint or cast while the bone heals. Once the splint is removed, the wrist, hand and fingers will be weaker than they were before the injury because they

have not been in use. At this point, it is important to complete a hand therapy treatment program to regain the strength and mobility in your wrist to avoid injury to the weakened tendons, ligaments and muscles. Wrist Sprain After a fall, if there is no sign of broken bones, your wrist may be sprained. Some people refer to it as “jammed”. In simplest terms, a sprain happens when ligaments that hold bones in place with other bones are stretched or slightly torn. Since there are eight bones in the wrist, known as carpals, there are a series of ligaments that hold them in place that are at risk for being sprained in a fall. Unfortunately, a wrist sprain, while painful, takes time to heal. However, that does not mean you need to keep your wrist immobile while it does. Targeted exercises followed by ice therapy and compression are great for helping a wrist stay mobile and strong while it heals. Hand therapy also strengthens the surrounding muscles and tissue to keep the wrist in place during normal activities. This, in turn, helps the wrist heal properly, prevents injury in the future and keeps you from experiencing lasting pain from a simple injury.

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IS IT AWRIST STRAIN OR SPRAIN?

Medically, the difference between a wrist sprain and a wrist strain are the soft tissues involved. In a sprain, ligaments are stretched or torn. In a strain, muscles are injured. While most people think of wrists as having ligaments and bones, but not much muscle, the wrist is the attachment site of several muscles in the forearm. It is possible to fall on your wrist, hyperextending the tendons found there, causing them to tear. Strains are treated similarly to sprains.Time, compressin, ice, and targeted exercises can help speed the healing process for wrist strains. Although hand therapy is the ideal solution for helping an injured wrist heal, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Do your best to stay home while it is icy outside. If you must venture out, wear low heeled, sturdy shoes with gripping soles and walk slowly and carefully. If you are suffering from a hand or wrist injury, contact us today at the clinic nearest you, to schedule an appointment for treatment. Your wrists will thank you for it.

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HEALTHY RECIPE

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CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER ENERGY BALLS INGREDIENTS • 2 cups of rolled oats

• ½ cup of peanut butter • 1 tsp of vanilla extract • 1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder • ½ cup of dark chocolate chips

• ½ cup of ground flax seed • 1 tbsp of black chia seeds

• 1 tsp of cinnamon • ½ cup of raw honey

INSTRUCTIONS Add rolled oats, ground flax seed, chia seeds, cinnamon, honey, peanut butter, vanilla extract, and vanilla protein powder to food processor. Pulse until ingredients are blended (about 7-9 times). Add mixture to a large bowl, add in chocolate chip. Stir to combine. Form energy bite mixture into 1” balls and place on parchment paper lined baking sheet. Cover and place in refrigerator for 2 hours. Serve!

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Author: Krista @ https://www.joyfulhealthyeats.com/no-bake-chocolate-peanut- butter-energy-balls/

Think Empower PT & Fitness First

Patient Success Spotlight

Why You Need To Come Back In For Another Check Up: • Move without pain • Bend and move freely • Balance confidently and securely • Sit for long periods comfortably • Walk for long distances • Live an active and healthy lifestyle

“The LSVT therapy has really helped with my balance. I feel much more steady on my feet. My endurance has also greatly improved. I no longer have to take breath after each exercise. I’m sure over time, with continued exercising, it will get even better” - Doreen C. I feel much more steady on my feet! THIS CAN BE YOU! CALL TODAY TO SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT! METROPOLITAN PARKWAY (586) 228-7000 HALL ROAD (586) 868-7000

TAKE CARE OF YOUR ACHES & PAINS BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!

APRIL IS OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY MONTH

PINCH GRIP Pinch tipoffingerand thumb together.Hold for5seconds repeat8 times. Relieve Hand Pain In Minutes Try this movement if you are experiencing hand pain.

Improves Weakness In Fingers

www.simpleset.net

Occupational Awareness Month began in 1980 to help spread the importance of this additional therapeutic option, in which helps pain sufferers return to a completely independent lifestyle. Occupational therapy allows people who have suffered from a physical or cognitive injury to return to the highest level of activity possible. This form of therapy helps people of all ages re-learn how to complete tasks of daily living and make the proper adaptations to live healthier, fuller lives. Empower Physical Therapy & Fitness offers occupational therapy as part of our services, along with physical therapy and personal fitness training. Let us help you move forward and get back to the life you want to live!

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