Gilbert PT - April 2019

Gilbert PT - April 2019

gazette

April 2019

717-591-0955 | www.GilbertPT.com

NITTANY LION AND CLIMBER WILLIAM GILBERT: My 2 (Furry) Children

I’ve always self-identified as a total dog person. Growing up, I would spend hours playing in the sun with my family’s black Labrador retrievers and beagles. It only made sense that when I grew up and had a family of my own, I’d make sure we filled our home with the happy, playful energy that can only come from a dog. Enter Nittany. Nittany, or Nittany Lion Gilbert — named after Penn State’s mascot — was our first baby. We got him several years before Emily and Alex were born. I remember driving to a farm to pick him up. He was the cutest little yellow fluffball either of us had ever seen! We laid some blankets down in a laundry basket and placed him inside so he could have a comfortable place to sleep on the drive home. If you’ve ever had a puppy yourself, then you know their adorable stage is short-lived. In under a year, he had grown into a 100-pound lab that looked more like a bear than a dog. But no matter how big he grew, he stayed a playful, sweet dog. Even when the kids were small, he let them hang all over him. “Instead of chasing his beloved tennis ball or splashing in the water, Nittany spends a great portion of his days trying to will our family cat, Climber William, off his dog bed.”

fetch for hours on end. Now that he is nearly 11 and has torn both of his ACLs, he’s not as active, but in spite of this, he’s still immensely valuable to our family. Now, instead of chasing his beloved tennis ball or splashing in the water, Nittany spends a great portion of his days trying to will our family cat, Climber William, off his dog bed. Though I grew up a dedicated dog lover, my wife grew up with cats. For the longest time, she wanted to get a kitten to pair with Nittany, but I fought tooth and nail against the idea. I think I even claimed to have allergies as an excuse a fair share of the time. Then, a little over three years ago, I finally gave in — and I’m glad I did. We ventured to a local shelter, and my wife picked out a grey cat with white socks that apparently looked just like a cat she had in her childhood. We learned that the cat’s name was Climber. We never learned the actual origin of his name, but the second

we let him out of the car, he immediately climbed up our wooden window panes. Once we coerced him inside, his climbing energy seemed to dissipate, and he morphed into this prim and proper royal gentleman who stole the dog’s bed every chance he got. He thinks he rules the house. We added “William” after his royal tendencies started to occur. We’ve decided his moniker fits him quite well. While it took a week or two (and lots of hissing and chasing) for Nittany and Climber William to befriend each other, they now get along fairly well. All my life, I’ve found that pets (now dogs and cats) bring such joy and positivity to a home and to all who live there, and I know I speak for my entire family when I say that Nittany and Climber are the best around.

–Dr. Gilbert

For years, he went with us on our family hikes, swam with us in rivers and lakes, and played

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Active Searching for Active Pastimes

Whether you were the star player or the kid who picked flowers in the middle of the field all game, almost everyone has memories of being on a sports team when they were young. Some lose interest over time and pursue other activities, while others find they really enjoy their sport, maybe have a real talent for it, and continue playing until they are young adults. Whatever the case, parents should take a couple of factors into consideration when determining if their child is ready for sports. If they begin playing too early, it might turn them off to the sport before they really understand it. It could also result in premature wear on muscles and bones that prevents them from playing their sport later on. Most experts believe that the proper age for introducing your child to sports is somewhere between 6 and 9 years old. When they are younger than 6, it is important for them to be active, but their motor skills are not yet developed enough to play most competitive sports. Trying to get them to understand this fact at that age might only make them frustrated with the sport and make them dislike it before they can even give it a try. Even when children are between the ages of 6 and 9, they might not be ready for sports that require higher forms of coordination, like football or hockey. Instead, try sports like T-ball, soccer, or karate. They won’t be ready for more intensive sports until they are 10–12 years old.

If your child does not seem to enjoy team sports, you might see if they may like more individual sports, like running or swimming. Their personality can be just as significant as their age when it comes to choosing the right sport. Some children might not show interest in organized sports at all. If your child does not seem interested in any sports, even though they are old enough to understand the rules and are coordinated enough to play, you might want to consider other activities, like art or music classes. Still, it is essential that they are active for at least an hour every day, no matter their interests. Sometimes kids will get frustrated with the sports they play (even if they like playing them), and they might want to quit. If your child doesn’t seem to like the sport you signed them up for, encourage them to at least finish out the season. They might just need a little more time to warm up to it. However, if they still aren’t enjoying it at the end of the season, help them find other activities that they might like better. Ultimately, when a child is ready to play sports, it is important to stay in tune with what brings them joy and what keeps them mentally and physically healthy.

Don’ t Take Our Word For It

Patient Testimonial

“Before I started my rehabilitation with the therapists at Gilbert PT, I was experiencing extreme shoulder pain and left forearm numbness. I was also unable to bend the thumb and forefinger of my left hand as a result of an adverse reaction to medication. After seeing several physicians for this persistent condition, I was referred to physical therapy. Since my wife had experienced great care with Gilbert PT, I decided to seek out treatment there for my condition. Dr. Jon, Pat, and Erin worked with me to alleviate my chronic pain and loss of strength and movement through the use of exercises, massages, and in-clinic treatments.” “Before physical therapy, I was unable to lift my arm above my head, and I couldn’t lift more than 5 pounds. In fact, I viewed my exercise class as a real chore. Now I have full movement and can finally get back to normal activities. Thank you to Dr. Jon, Pat, Erin, and the rest of the Gilbert PT staff for their expertise and their caring, patient-centered approach to treatment.” –Dennis B.

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CAN HUMANS, TOO? If Dogs Can Predict the Weather ...

If you’re an animal lover, you might be familiar with the popular claim that dogs have the ability to predict an impending storm. While this contention definitely has the makings of an old wives’ tale, it actually holds some truth. Due to their ability to sense changes in barometric pressure and their impeccable sense of smell and sound, your canine friend is able to determine when bad weather is approaching. In fact, when the tsunami hit Sri Lanka on the coastlines of India in 2005, many eyewitnesses reported seeing animals — even household dogs — fleeing to safety several minutes before. If dogs can sense changes in barometric pressure, do you think humans can, too? According to Dr. Timothy Hain — an otoneurologist specializing in inner ear balance disorders — humans, like their puppy pals, possess the power to predict impending storms. However, this power stems from being susceptible to vertigo or migraines. Severe spring storms are especially difficult for millions of people suffering from what is known as “seasonal vertigo.” Studies exploring the correlation between poor weather and vestibular disorders demonstrate that because vertigo or migraine sufferers have lower thresholds to a large array of sensory inputs like light, sound, and motion, it’s likely they are more sensitive to barometric pressures. This is why their disorder is often triggered by rapid weather changes.

Because approximately 40 percent of the U.S. population will experience a balance disorder in their lifetime, and since dizziness is the third most common major medical problem, the number of Americans who experience seasonal vertigo during these spring months will continue to grow. Fortunately, our team here at Gilbert Physical Therapy specializes in vestibular rehabilitation through a repositioning of the inner ear and comprehensive balance training. If you notice that you experience more dizziness during specific seasons, your body might be telling you two things: to prepare for an upcoming storm and to schedule an appointment with us soon.

SUDOKU

Opening Day Hamburgers

Inspired by Saveur Magazine

Ingredients

• • • • •

1 pound ground chuck, 80 percent lean 4 soft, white hamburger buns, split

• • • •

4 1/4-inch-thick yellow onion slices

1 teaspoon vegetable oil Salt and pepper, to taste Condiments of your choice

4 1/4-inch-thick tomato slices

12–16 pickle rounds

4 small leaves iceberg lettuce

Directions

1. Lightly grease a small nonstick skillet with oil. Heat over medium-high. 2. While heating, gently shape meat into four patties 3 1/2 inches in diameter. Be careful to handle the meat as little as possible to prevent tough burgers. Season liberally with salt and pepper. 3. Sear patties on each side, about 1 minute per side. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue cooking until desired doneness, about 1 more minute per side for medium-rare, 2 more per side for medium-well. 4. Let meat rest for a minimum of 3 minutes. 5. To assemble, place patty on bottom bun and top with tomato, pickles, lettuce, and onion (in that order). Spread condiments on top half of bun and place on top of onion. Serve.

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717-591-0955 www.GilbertPT.com Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 7a.m. to 7p.m. Tuesday, Friday 7a.m. to 12p.m.

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5103 Carlisle Pike Mechanicsburg, PA 17050

Inside

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Do You Have Any Pets at Home?

Letting Your Kids Have Fun With Some Healthy Competition Don’t Just Take Our Word for It!

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The Correlation Between Vertigo and Bad Weather Opening Day Hamburgers

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Mechanicsburg Events

2019 Artisan Guitar Show— JimmyWebb Concert When: Saturday, April 13–16; 7–10 p.m. Where: Best Western Premier Conference Center Admission: $35 (tickets on Eventbrite.com) Jimmy Webb is an American songwriter, composer, and singer known throughout the world as a master of his trade. You might recognize his most famous tunes, “Wichita Lineman” and “The Worst That Could Happen.” In addition to crafting catchy songs, Webb is the only artist ever to have received Grammy Awards for music, lyrics, and orchestration, and he was the youngest person ever inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and serve as its chairman. To see him perform your favorite tunes live, be sure to purchase your tickets ahead of time on Eventbrite.com. Mechanicsburg Borough Easter Egg Hunt When: Saturday, April 13; 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Where: Memorial Park Admission: FREE! Don’t miss out on our town’s annual Easter egg hunt. Hosted at Memorial Park, the hunt will start in the late morning to ensure that you have lots of time to get the kids ready before starting. There will be separate hunts for each age group, starting with ages 0–2, then, 3–4, 5–7, and 8 and up. Don’t forget your baskets! Mechanicsburg Events

Abraham Lincoln Funeral Train Reenactment When: Saturday, April 22–23; times depend on chosen package Where: Star Barn Village at Stone Gables Estate Admission: $10–$150; prices depend on chosen package

America’s 16th president, Abraham Lincoln, was assassinated on April 14, 1865. Just eight days later, on April 22, his funeral train passed through Stone Gables Estate. To commemorate his heroic legacy, the staff at Stone Gables Estate is hosting their first re-enactment on the 154th anniversary of his funeral train passing. The event will include bells and whistles, re-enactors, and mounted troops celebrating the arrival of the Lincoln funeral car — also known as “United States”—when it travels the .62 mile of original railbed as it used on that April 22 all those years ago. There are various ticket options. To order yours, go to Eventbrite. com or call 717-902-9791.

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