Horizon PT - May 2021

Horizon PT - May 2021

physical therapy and rehabilitation

May 2021

3600 Miller Road, Flint, MI 48503 • 810-620-8042 • horizonptflint.com

HOW TO STAY OKAY IN STRESSFUL TIMES Burnout and Mental Health

How are you feeling these days? How are you really feeling? I think it’s important to check in with ourselves to assess this now and again, and this is doubly important in particularly stressful times. I find myself in that position lately. Since May is Mental Health Awareness month, it feels like a good time to dive into the topic. The phrase “mental health” will bring up different things for different people. Maybe you think of your day-to-day mood and disposition, or maybe you think of yourself or a loved one who struggles with a mental health disorder that’s more severe. All of that falls under the umbrella of mental health, and even those of us who are not living with mood disorders or other mental health issues still need to be aware of the state of our mental health.

my knowledge and abilities. However, preparing for this exam has been about a six-week process!

In addition to that, I’m looking to hire a second PT for our clinic. Right now, I’m the sole PT on staff, which means all responsibilities fall on me for seeing new patients and signing paperwork for all of our current patients. I have to tell you, it’s a lot of work! I enjoy what I do and want to continue to provide the best level of service and care to my patients. I am looking forward to bringing another PT on staff who has those same goals, so I can continue to expand how many patients Horizon PT can serve.

I find that when I start to feel this burnout, one thing that really helps is talking to someone. My wife is always there for me to talk with, and so is a friend from my PT school days. More than giving me advice when he and I talk, he’s there to listen

In that regard, I want to share some of what I’ve been experiencing lately with burnout. I know this particular form of mental wear-and-tear is incredibly common. I have many roles in life — father, husband, business owner, physical therapist, landlord, president of a nonprofit — and each requires time, attention, and energy from me. I also feel the pressure of wanting to perform each of those roles to the highest standard possible. Though the specific details may be different, this probably sounds familiar to many of you. If you’re a longtime reader, you also know that I’m committed to continued personal and professional growth. Right now, that’s coming in the form of preparing for the board exam to become an orthopedic certified specialist. There are only a handful of people within a 20–30-mile radius who have this specialization, and though I’ve been working in this area for some time, having this official certification will give patients even more confidence in

and I know he understands (and has sometimes been through) what I’m going through. Because of our similar training and the friendship we established when we were still students, he really gets me more than anyone. So, I count myself lucky to have him as a friend. If you’re going through hard times, I hope you too have someone like this in your life, so please don’t hesitate to reach out to those around you for support. If you’re going through hard times, I hope you too have someone like this in your life, so please don’t hesitate to reach out to those around you for support. I might be in the physical health business, but we all know that our physical health and mental health are linked.

Stay well,

-Dr. Jerome Adams

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5 COVID-SAFE GIFTS FOR YOUR CHILD’S TEACHER

Don’t Miss Teacher Appreciation Month!

When parents first came up with the idea of sending their children to school with an apple as a teacher’s gift, they weren’t counting on a pandemic. In

to DoorDash. Does your child’s teacher have a coffee addiction or a passion for dinosaurs? You can find the perfect gift card with a Google search. 2. Thank-You Yard Signs : If you live in a small town or have access to your child’s teacher’s address, consider “gratitude bombing” their front yard with signs! You can use a professional sign company like Sign Gypsies or make your own. 3. Quarantine Kit: Teachers working in person put themselves at risk every day, and a quarantine kit is the perfect gift in case the worst happens. You can include helpful items like hand sanitizer or personalized masks along with goodies like adult coloring books, novels, and more. Simply email the teacher to find out how to get your gift to them. 4. Sanitizer and Other Learning Tools for the Classroom: Many school districts are underfunded, and the money for sanitary supplies, pencils, markers, glue sticks, and more comes out of the teacher’s pocket. Buying items like this for when they’re back at school will really brighten their day. 5. A Note From You and Your Child: According to a teacher survey done by The Strategist, handwritten notes are one of the best gifts a teacher can receive. To really make an impact, sit down with your child and write a note from both of you, thanking the teacher for their hard work. Then, send it via snail mail or scan it and email it their way!

many places, schools are still operating online or using a mix of virtual and in-person learning, and even kids attending in person don’t want to get within 6 feet of their teacher to hand over fruit! So, what are your options for Teacher Appreciation Month? There are more than you might think. If you have the resources, consider gifting one of these pandemic-friendly items that teachers will love. 1. Virtual Gift Card : These days, you can easily send gift cards by email, and your options include everything from Amazon

A Pain-Free Tomorrow OUR PAT I ENTS SAY I T BEST

“Dr. Adams and his staff are great. They did an excellent job with me for my rehab after getting a total left knee replacement. I came in three months ago with only a 40-degree range of motion. Today, I am at 120 degrees. Thank you for everything. If you are looking for a place for physical therapy and rehab, I recommend them!”

“Full of great people that do their job well while also caring about your growth. 10/10 would recommend it for anyone trying to get better while having fun.”

–Terrance

–Nickolas

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CAN PT BOOST YOURMENTAL HEALTH? The Link Between Mental and Physical Health

Every day, researchers and medical professionals are getting better at understanding the link between physical and mental health. But one thing is clear: Each influences the other. People who experience chronic pain are four times more likely to struggle with mental health issues, like depression and anxiety, than people who are pain-free. Chronic pain sufferers are also more likely to experience limitations with daily physical activities, which can create a negative feedback loop and cause further mental health problems. Knowing that physical and mental health impact one another also reveals that a two-pronged approach to our overall health is necessary. If you suffer from chronic pain, it’s best to seek professional health that addresses both your mental and physical needs. This means assembling a team that includes a mental health practitioner, a primary care doctor, and in many cases, a physical therapist too. A personalized physical therapy regimen can help you manage your pain and other symptoms. At Horizon PT, we see a lot of patients struggling with back pain and arthritis. Both of these chronic ailments can be addressed through PT. We can also help if you’re trying to recover strength and muscle mass

after cancer treatments and if you’re experiencing chronic fatigue, weakness, or migraines. Don’t make the mistake of thinking physical therapy is just for athletes or those recovering from a one-time injury. PT is great for both of those things, but its usefulness is much broader than that! In addition to PT and any other medical treatment your doctor recommends, it can be very beneficial to incorporate mindfulness and stress-reduction techniques to reduce pain and help your find neutrality or even optimism in your mindset. Exercise releases endorphins and provides many other mental and physical benefits. If your pain is keeping you from moving, rest assured that we can help get you back on track with PT. Other healthy activities include journaling, meditating, and connecting with others. Sharing your experiences either with a loved one or a professional like a therapist can provide tremendous

relief and support.

If your physical pain is weighing on you mentally, please call us today. You don’t need to suffer alone, and there are ways that PT can help reduce your pain and set you on a path to happier days.

Have a Laugh

Thai Minced Pork Salad

Inspired by EatingThaiFood.com

Called “Larb” in Thailand, this popular street food comes together quickly and can be easily modified to suit your individual taste.

Ingredients

• • • • • •

5 tbsp uncooked Thai sticky rice

• • • •

4 small shallots, thinly sliced 4 green onions, thinly sliced

1 lb ground pork 1/2 tbsp chili flakes

Cilantro leaves, to taste Mint leaves, to taste

1/8 tsp sugar

1/2 tbsp fish sauce

Juice of 1–2 limes, to taste

Directions

1. First, make toasted rice powder: In a frying pan over low heat, dry-roast the rice, stirring continuously until it turns golden brown and smells fragrant, about 15 minutes. 2. Let toasted rice cool, then grind into a coarse powder using a mortar and pestle, blender, or food processor. Set aside. 3. In a medium frying pan over medium-high

heat, fry pork, breaking it into small pieces as you go, until fully cooked. 4. Remove from heat and add 1 heaping tbsp of toasted rice powder along with all other ingredients. Stir to combine. 5. Taste and adjust, adding more lime juice and herbs to suit your palate. Serve with rice.

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3600Miller Road Flint, MI 48503

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

THIS ISSUE Inside

How Dr. Adams Deals With Burnout

5 COVID-Safe Gifts for Your Child’s Teacher

Testimonials

Can PT Boost Your Mental Health?

Thai Minced Pork Salad

The Support Your Posture Needs

STRAIGHTEN THE SLOUCH

3 TOOLS TO HELP YOU PERFECT YOUR POSTURE

Slumping our shoulders is a form of poor posture that often results in neck, shoulder, and back pain. It can be a hard habit to break, so sometimes people need a little more than self-correction to improve their posture. Enter posture correctors: tools specifically designed to help correct a person’s posture. Though they should not be used regularly, they can help remind your body of what a correct posture is and how to maintain it without support. Here are three correctors that can help you. TRUWEO This supporter is for anyone who is on a small budget and looking to improve their posture. The Truweo posture corrector is used by wrapping around the shoulders — both over and under clothing — and can be adjusted for optimum comfort. It is lightweight, breathable, washable, and can be worn for all activities. Whether you are sitting at a desk, working out, or walking, Truweo will be there to offer you the extra support you need. Find it now on Amazon! FORME Wearing both a corrector and a bra can be uncomfortable, which is why Forme is perfect for anyone hoping to avoid that discomfort. The

Forme sports bra offers an under-bust band for posture improvement and also includes eight functional panels to help you stay comfortable, especially during physical activity. You can find this and other health-conscious clothing items at Forme.science.

ASPEN If you need lower-back support, this posture corrector is a great choice. Easily fitted under or over clothes, this device can ease back pain caused by fatigued muscles, spasms, or flare-ups in addition to offering lumbar support. The Aspen Lumbar Support is completely adjustable, so you are in control of the amount of pressure applied. To learn more about this item, visit the Aspen website at AspenMP.com. Before deciding which corrector you should use, talk to your doctor. They can help you choose the best option for this journey of posture correction and overall health improvement.

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