FlexPT Aug 2017

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973.812.8000 www.flexptnj.com August 2017

A New Chapter The End of Summer Signals a New Beginning for Our Family

Hi, everyone! I have some exciting news to share from the Lagonigro household. As many of you know, my wife, Taryn, is expecting our third child in September. We’ve been busy making preparations for the newest member of our family, and one of those preparations has been our search for a bigger house to accommodate our growing family. In June, we officially closed on our new home, and we are now completely moved in! Actually, by the time you have read this, my family will have been moved in for a couple of weeks and our old house will have officially sold. We are so excited to be in our new house, and we cannot wait to make new memories there. When we first started shopping for our new home, we knew that we wanted to live closer to downtown Caldwell. Though the idea to move had been toyed with, Taryn’s pregnancy kicked our plan into action, and we were fortunate enough to find a home that fits all of our needs. The house has a big backyard, which is exactly what

I wanted for our girls. We had a relatively small backyard at our old place, and a half acre in a suburban area is hard to find. I’m thinking about building a play set for the kids to enjoy our new space. Our new home is located in a great school district, and we are closer to downtown and the activities we enjoy in our free time. My daughter actually made a close friend in preschool, and we’ve kept in contact with her family throughout the summer. Also, the acreage will allow me to pick up gardening again, which I will have the girls help me with next spring. I am excited for all the new opportunities we will enjoy in our new home. Though we are so thankful to be in our new home, we miss our old house a little bit. Before our move, my commute to work was only about 30 seconds on an average day; now, my commute is closer to 10 minutes. I know that is still a relatively short drive, but I was used to being able to easily walk to work. Next month is Taryn’s due date, and we’re getting anxious. I can’t wait to meet the new baby, and Taryn is excited to be at home with the girls for a bit before she goes back to work. Sofia will be starting first grade around the same time, and Layla will be starting preschool. The girls are going to love having Mom at home! Before the seasons change, we will be enjoying this last bit of summer with some barbecues and quality family time. But mostly, we will be settling into our new

We are so excited to be in our new house, and we cannot wait to make new memories there.

home and getting ready for the new baby’s arrival. This has truly been a great end to the season.

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Get Poppin’ Shake Up Movie Night With Crazy (Healthy) Popcorn Recipes

Popcorn is considered to be a fairly healthy snack by most experts, especially when compared to other salty treats, like corn chips. Unfortunately, microwave popcorn is another matter. Many popular popcorn brands use trans fats, which the Centers for Disease Control estimate are related to 20,000 heart attacks and 7,000 deaths annually. Additionally, a study from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health identified a connection between the chemical diacetyl, used to flavor microwave popcorn, and cases of lung disease in workers at popcorn factories. For popcorn lovers, the answer is clear: Make popcorn yourself! Pour ¼ cup of popcorn kernels into a regular brown paper bag, fold the top of the bag shut tight, then pop in microwave for about two minutes, or until popping slows to a second between pops. Voila! Fresh popcorn with no factory chemicals. If

you’re craving some fun flavors, try these simple recipes.

Traditional Butter Melt 2 tablespoons of butter, then drizzle it along the sides of a brown paper bag. Pour your already popped popcorn into the bag until it’s half full, close the bag tight, and shake vigorously. In no time, you’ll have perfectly buttered popcorn! Cinna-sugar Bliss This is a great recipe to satisfy your sweet tooth. Add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and 2 tablespoons of sugar to 3 tablespoons of melted butter. Drizzle onto the edges of a brown paper bag, add popped popcorn, and shake well! Sriracha Sesame Celebration Here’s to the adventurous popcorn lovers! Combine 1 tablespoon Sriracha, 1 teaspoon of sesame seeds, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1 teaspoon of olive

oil. Sprinkle half over popcorn and shake well inside of bag. Repeat with remaining mixture. Whether you’re preparing for a movie marathon or need an after-school snack, any of these recipes will be a tasty alternative to the chemicals saturating microwave popcorn. Enjoy!

Testimonials

my exercises and activities. I am able to do things like housework, walking, and standing without pain. “With all the care and compassion I received here at Flex Physical Therapy, I am truly grateful!” “When I came into PT, I had hurt my arm in a softball game. I had thrown the ball the wrong way and was unable to throw the ball with all my power. When I got to PT, I started activities. Some of the activities were difficult to do in the beginning, but once I started doing them regularly, I was building up all my strength again. Doing activities from –Helen F.

before and now, the trouble has gone down. I feel that PT has helped me a lot, and I will be able to play softball in the spring.”

–Julie G.

“I started PT in November 2016. I basically had trouble with all activities. Raffaele listened to my complaints and concerns. I thought I would have to either have surgery or at least an epidural. Raffaele worked with me slowly until I was able to progress. As of now, I am a pro at all of

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Are You Experiencing Lower Back Pain? Physical Therapy Is Your Solution

Patients suffering from most types of low back pain are often referred for physical therapy as an initial treatment before considering more aggressive options, like back surgery. The goal of physical therapy is to decrease back pain, increase function, and teach the patient a maintenance program to prevent future back problems. Common forms of treatment for lower back pain include passive physical therapy and active physical therapy. The most common treatments in passive physical therapy are pain relief through heat application, ice packs, and electrical stimulation. These therapies are considered passive because they are done to the patient. For example, a heating pad may be applied to warm up the muscles prior to doing exercises and Passive Physical Therapy

stretching, and an ice pack may be used afterward to soothe the muscles and soft tissues.

Active Physical Therapy

Active physical therapy focuses on specific exercises and stretching and is necessary to rehabilitate the spine. For most low back pain treatments, active exercise is the focus of the physical therapy program. Your physical therapist will prescribe many stretches to alleviate your back pain. One of the most common is stretching the hamstrings. Almost every individual who has suffered from low back pain should stretch their hamstring muscles once or twice a day. Simple hamstring stretching does not takemuch time, although it can be difficult to remember, especiallyifyouaren’t experiencing any pain.

At Flex Physical Therapy, our staff helps patients recover from back problems and works to prevent or minimize future flare-ups. If you are experiencing lower back pain, call us today at 973-812-8000. We can help.

5 -Minute Meditation Mudras are symbolic hand gestures that can be added into a meditation practice to help focus the mind and invite additional relaxation into your practice. Our mudra of choice this month is the Vajrapradama Mudra, which invites confidence, independence, and trust. Interlace your fingers at your heart and leave your thumbs open wide, parallel to each other. Complement a simple meditation with this Mudra or just enjoy it for a few deep breaths when you need it.

Avocado and Cucumber Cold Soup

• • • • • •

1 jalapeno

Ingredients • Olive oil •

1 lemon, juiced ½ cup cold water

2 medium ripe avocados, halved 1 large cucumber, halved 6 stalks spring onions

1 clove garlic

• •

¾ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions 1. Preheat grill to medium-high.

2. Coat halved avocados with lemon juice to avoid browning. Brush olive oil over avocados, cucumber, spring onions, and jalapeno. Oil grill while hot. 3. Grill vegetables until everything is grilled or slightly charred. Once grilled, remove and place on platter to cool. 4. Chop grilled veggies and puree with lemon juice, cold water, garlic, salt, and black pepper. 5. Once smooth, portion soup into bowls and refrigerate to cool before serving. 6. Garnish with toasted cubed bread, avocados, spring onions, chives, lemon zest, or a drizzle of olive oil, if desired. (Recipe inspired by kirantarun.com.)

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INSIDE • A New Chapter PAGE 1 • Crazy (Healthy) Popcorn Recipes PAGE 2

• Testimonials PAGE 2

• Are You Experiencing Lower Back Pain? PAGE 3 • Avocado and Cucumber Cold Soup PAGE 3

• View of a Lifetime PAGE 4

Where toWatch the Great American Eclipse

watching the eclipse, so there’s less of a chance cloudy skies will block your view. With wide-open skies, low rolling hills, and no towering buildings to get in the way, the Sandhills are sure to be a popular viewing spot. The Museum of Idaho, Idaho Falls, Idaho Why not view the eclipse from an official NASA broadcast station? The Museum of Idaho has been designated an Official NASA Observation Site, and the museum is hosting four days of events to celebrate. Enjoy live presentations, technology demonstrations, and special exhibits as you prepare to watch the total eclipse with NASA scientists. A total solar eclipse is an event like nothing you’ve ever witnessed before. Be sure to visit the official website of the Great American Eclipse at greatamericaneclipse.com for everything you need to know about this once-in-a- lifetime sight!

If you’re already in the United States, a day’s road trip is all you need to grab a front row seat for this rare

astronomical occurrence.

Columbia, South Carolina Need a place to watch the eclipse in the southern U.S.? Then get yourself to South Carolina! The state capital of Columbia is almost right in the middle of the path of totality, with the duration of totality lasting a full 2 1/2 minutes. Plenty of hotels make Columbia a great viewing location for those who don’t want to camp out, and the vibrant city life means you’ll have a lot to do even when the eclipse is over. Sandhills, North Platte, Nebraska In the heartlands, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more perfect viewing location than the Sandhills of western Nebraska. The August weather in this area has a reputation for ideal conditions for

On August

21, 2017, the greatest show

of the summer will take place in the

United States: a total solar eclipse! In the last 100 years, only 14 solar eclipses were visible from the U.S., and none have occurred in the new millennium. This eclipse will be visible across North America, but the path of totality — the area where the moon completely covers the sun — will only fall in the continental U.S., leading this cosmic event to be called the Great American Eclipse.

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