Focus Physical Therapy - February/March 2021

Focus Physical Therapy - February/March 2021

Focus Physical Therapy

Bi-Monthly

February/March 2021

Focuspt.net

949.709.8770

A Shoutout to My Very Own Superwomen

Happy International Women’s Day!

Laura and Macy

resist giving my wife a shoutout. Her birthday is this month, too, so the timing really seemed perfect. Plus, she doesn’t get enough credit for all of her hard work. It sounds cheesy, but Laura is the glue that holds our family together. She always makes sure the four of us are headed in the right direction, whether that’s packing lunch for our kids when they forget or helping me with errands so I don’t get behind. Whatever we need, she’s there! Laura’s ambition has always inspired me. She’s a great mother and a hard worker, both in her day job as a dental hygienist and in her spare time. She loves home decor, and on her own time, she grew her blog, Meaningful Spaces, to more than 20,000 followers! Her dedication is amazing. Of course, Laura isn’t the only superwoman in my life. My daughter Macy is right there with her. Like Laura, Macy has a birthday in March. When Laura was pregnant with her, we had our fingers crossed they’d share a birthday, but Macy stayed stubbornly inside the womb for an extra four days. Looking back, I think that was the first example of her strong will! Since day one, my daughter has always done things her way. One of my favorite memories with Macy is doing the YMCA Adventure Guides program together when she was a little girl. The program included monthly father-daughter meetings and camping trips, and I loved those

A while back, my wife Laura decided to paint the inside of our house. She was eager to take on the project, and when she told me about her idea, she said, “I’ll take care of it myself!” Normally, I love my wife’s enthusiasm, but this time, I was a little bit worried. There’s a section of our house with two-story ceilings that are almost impossible to reach. I told her, “Don’t worry about that part. It’s too high — I’ll help you out with it!” I should have known that wouldn’t be the end of it. A few days later, I came home to see Laura standing on top of a ladder, reaching up as far as she could to roll paint onto the top edge of the two-story wall. I can still remember shouting, “Honey, if you fall off, it’s going to cost us a lot more than it would have to hire a painter!” I was definitely concerned for Laura in the moment, but looking back, that incident is a perfect example of what I love most about my wife. She’s determined and dedicated, and she doesn’t give up. When Laura wants something, she makes it happen and does what needs doing, no matter what obstacles the world throws at her. Of course, she has her moments of doubt, but overall she’s one of the strongest, most positive people I know.

opportunities to see Macy grow and become more independent. A lot of those trips involved long car rides, which were a rare chance for the two of us to spend time alone. It was fun to pick her brain and listen to her ideas. This year, Macy is a freshman in High School, and I see more of my wife in her every day. She’s strong-willed, determined, and always willing to take on another activity. Sometimes I think she takes on too much! At one point, this winter she was doing cheerleading, playing volleyball, and practicing with both the basketball and softball teams. When her knee got sore (as anyone’s would after all that work), I told her to rest. She agreed to avoid softball for the day, but then said, “That’s fine, I’ll go to soccer practice instead!” I feel incredibly lucky to have two such independent, strong-willed women in my life. To Laura and Macy, happy birthday and happy International Women’s Day!

When I realized that International Women’s Day was coming up on March 8, I couldn’t

–Julian Manrique

Focus Physical Therapy • Call 949.709.8770 • 1

Get Your Seasonal Allergies Before They Get You!

S pring brings with it many wonderful things, like longer days, picturesque scenery, and spring break, but right alongside those good things is something most people suffer from: allergies. While beautiful, the blooming trees and flowers make you want to stay away from the great outdoors for fear of nonstop sneezing or puffy, watery eyes. If you suffer from allergies caused by pollen, grass, or other spring plants, take these steps to breathe a little easier.

pillowcases weekly. Next, head for the shower. The sooner you can wash away the allergens, the better. Finally, don’t forget to replace the air filter in your home’s air system in the spring. Consider using an air filter designed to capture allergens. If your allergies are particularly troublesome, invest in a dedicated air filtration system or unit. While you can opt for portable, stand-alone air purifiers, there are larger systems that can be incorporated into your heating and air system that keep your entire home’s air free from most, if not all, common allergens.

much as possible. Grass and weeds are notably problematic. The slightest breeze can send particles flying through the air in the blink of an eye. When you walk through grassy areas, pollen will get on you, your clothes, and your hair. It’s best to stick to trails, sidewalks, and other paved areas. If you do find yourself inundated with pollen or other allergens, your next best bet is to establish an at-home decontamination protocol. Take your shoes off at the door and make sure your clothes don’t come in contact with soft surfaces such as carpet, upholstery, or bedding. Take care to wash your “pollinated” clothes as soon as possible and wash your sheets and

When outside, avoid walking through areas with weeds, shrubbery, or lots of trees as

The biggest compliment you can give us is referring friends and family. Thank you for all your referrals and keep them coming! We love our clients!

SUCCESS STORY

“My experience at Focus PT has been wonderful. I started PT there to build strength around my arthritic hip. The PT helped a lot with my strength and mobility until it was time for a hip replacement, which I had a year ago. I then had more PT sessions at Focus after the surgery, which I feel has enhanced my recovery. I’m super grateful to Julian and Nona, my physical therapists. Each of them was in tune with my issues and their PT was effective. The assistants and office staff were all supportive and helpful and I enjoyed my visits. I am happy to report that I’m feeling stronger and more physically able than I’ve felt in many years!” - Kathy S.

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$10

Want to Live 10 Years Longer?

Take Our American Heart Month Challenge!

People have been looking for the Fountain of Youth — or another immortality-granting body of water — for thousands of years. According to the History channel, the quest dates back to Alexander the Great, who supposedly came across a “healing river of paradise’” in the fourth century B.C. that travelers have been looking for ever since. But recent research uncovered something that might be surprising: The secret to a longer life has been inside us all along. According to a 2018 study published by the American Heart Association Journal, you only have to do five things in order to live 12–14 more years. 1. Eat a healthy diet. 2. Do at least 30 minutes of “moderate to vigorous” physical activity per day. 3. Maintain a healthy body mass index (BMI). 4. Drink alcohol only in moderation. 5. Steer clear of cigarettes.

GREEN GODDESS SMOOTHIE Because February is American Heart Month, we have a challenge for you: Spend the next four weeks focusing on point No. 3 on the list above. This is more important right now than ever because COVID-19 and gym closures have made us all more sedentary. By ramping up your daily exercise, you can really improve your heart health, and you might even add more than 10 years to your life! Your exercise regimen can include anything that gets your heart rate up: running, lifting weights, These five things are pretty simple, and you probably learned them in school, but it’s amazing how they positively impact our race against death in general, and specifically, cancer and heart disease. The latter is particularly impressive because heart disease is a huge problem here in America: 1 in 4 people will die from it, and it kills someone every 36 seconds. Inspired by AmbitiousKitchen.com

walking around the block, doing yardwork, or even playing with your pets.

If you haven’t been exercising because muscle aches, joint pain, or some other issue makes it uncomfortable, our team of physical therapists can help. Before you take our challenge, come in for a checkup. We’ll diagnose your problem, get you on the road to recovery, and put you back on track for a healthy heart and a long life. Call our clinic today at 949.709.8770 to get started.

HAVE A LAUGH

If you’re looking to get your green on, why not try this light smoothie?

Ingredients

• • •

1 1/2 cups fresh organic spinach

•

1 1/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk

1 tbsp chia seeds

1/2 medium avocado

• •

1 organic apple, peeled and chopped

1 medium frozen banana

Directions

1. In a large, high-powered blender, add in all ingredients. 2. Blend on high for 1–2 minutes, or until all ingredients are well combined. 3. If necessary, add in more almond milk to thin the smoothie. 4. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Focus Physical Therapy • Call 949.709.8770 • 3

30212 Tomas #120 Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688, USA

949.709.8770

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

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SPECIALIZING IN: LOWER BACK PAIN • SCIATICA • NECK PAIN AND HEADACHES HIP PROBLEMS • SHOULDER PAIN, BURSITIS, AND TENDINITIS SPORTS PHYSICAL THERAPY • GOLF PERFORMANCE KNEE PAIN • PLANTAR FASCIITIS • DIZZINESS AND VERTIGO AQUATIC PHYSICAL THERAPY • AND OTHER CONDITIONS

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

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Meet the Superwomen in Julian’s Life

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Get Your Seasonal Allergies Before They Get You! Success Stories The Challenge That Could Add 10 Years to Your Life Green Goddess Smoothie

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Meet This Life-Saving Rat From Cambodia

An African Rat Receives Prestigious Gold Medal for Saving Lives

But where did Magawa come from? A Belgium-registered charity named Apopo trained Magawa in Tanzania as part of the program HeroRATs where after a year of training, the animals become certified. This program has been around since the 1990s, teaching animals how to detect land mines and tuberculosis. Magawa only works for a half-hour during the day, but as he nears retirement age at 7 years old, Magawa has sniffed out 39 land mines and 28 unexploded munitions in his career. His tremendous work has now been recognized worldwide. In 2020, the U.K. veterinary charity PDSA gave Magawa its gold medal for “life- saving devotion to duty, in the location and clearance of deadly land mines in

A metal detector can take anywhere from 1–4 days to detect land mines in the war- torn landscapes of Cambodia. However, a Gambian pouched rat named Magawa can detect them in 20 minutes. Magawa’s ability to sniff land mines has been lauded as “truly unique,” as he potentially saves hundreds of lives every day. Yet, he weighs a mere 2.75 pounds and is only 28 inches long. While that’s larger than your average rodent, Magawa is still light enough to safely step over land mines without setting them off. That’s been amazing news for Cambodians. The land mine problem began during the civil wars of the ‘70s and ‘80s, causing over 64,000 casualties and creating 25,000 amputees since 1979.

Cambodia.” Over 30 animals have received this award so far, but Magawa is the first rat.

“To receive this medal is really an honour for us,” Apopo’s chief executive, Christophe Cox, told the Press Association news agency. “But also, it is big for the people in Cambodia, and all the people around the world who are suffering from land mines.” Now that’s a real hero if we’ve ever seen one. Thank you, Magawa, for all your hard work, and we hope you have a long and happy retirement ahead of you!

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