Kinetic Physical Therapy Specialists - March 2022

Kinetic Physical Therapy Specialists - March 2022

MARCH 2022

847-515-8970 • www.KineticPTS.com

FORT MYERS, HERE WE COME! Help Me Make This Trip the Best Yet

“All suggestions are welcome — just fill me in next time you’re in the office! You can also email me at mikeu@kineticpts. com if you don’t have an appointment coming up.”

When I sat down to book our spring break vacation this year, I had to take a second to thank God for airline miles. Usually, we drive all the way to Florida to spend spring break in St. Petersburg with my whole family. But the traffic has gotten unbelievably bad — so much so that I dreaded taking the wheel. Last time we went, the traffic added another 5 or 6 hours onto our already 19-hour trip. As if that’s not awful enough, I was pretty sure we’d wind up with car trouble! Every single driver in my family has had something go wrong with their ride on the way to St. Petersburg. When I was a kid, my dad’s mechanic messed up his tires. They weren’t centered correctly, so partway through the trip, the whole car started shaking like mad! Another

left town forgot to put the cap back on the power steering fluid. There wasn’t a drop left. With all of that on my mind, I felt like yelling “Hallelujah!” when I found out I’d built up enough airline miles to fly our whole family to Florida affordably. Dealing with the airport rules will be a breeze compared to driving and listening to Nathan ask, “Are we there yet?” from Rockford onward. If you’re a longtime newsletter reader, you might remember other stories about these spring break trips. My family has been taking them for as long as I can remember, and when Emilie and I got married, we continued the tradition. We almost always go to St. Pete’s, but sometimes my mom has a different idea. She

I have no idea what we’ll do there, but a beach is a beach, right? Emilie will be happy as long as she can lay around in the sand and read a book, and I’m sure Zach, Nathan, and their cousins will find a game of shuffleboard to play or a restaurant to visit if I bother them enough. The older they get, the more I have to yell at them to get out of the hotel room and have some fun! Have you been to Fort Myers? If you have, I’d love to pick your brain about what we should do on our trip. We’ll be there with my parents, both of my siblings, and their families. We like to golf and go on excursions. All suggestions are welcome — just fill me in next time you’re in the office! You can also email me at mikeu@ kineticpts.com if you don’t have an appointment coming up. Thanks in advance for any suggestions. You just might make our vacation!

took the reins of the trip again this year and changed our destination to Fort Myers. (A corporation bought out the family-run hotel

time, I realized I could hardly turn my steering

wheel. I pulled off the interstate to see a mechanic, and guess what he found? The guy who had checked my car before we

we used to stay at, so we found another area where we could support a local business.)

–Mike Ulmer

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3 Tips to Stay Warm This Winter BRRR! IT’S COLD IN HERE!

Winter can bring beautiful outdoor scenery, but it can also be freezing outside — and that’s not much fun if you can’t stay warm. Luckily, there are several ways you can beat the cold this winter. DRESS IN LAYERS. To keep in as much body heat as possible, wear several layers of clothing, but don’t wear more than three layers. Fleece, wool, and cotton retain heat more than other materials. These extra layers make it harder for heat to escape. If you wear more than three layers, you may find yourself feeling chilly because there isn’t enough space between you and the material so that it can help heat your body. USE WOOD-BURNING STOVES. Not only can you cook meals on these stoves, but you can also warm up your entire house. You want to create a consistent fire without burning through a lot of wood. Wood burns best on a bed of ash, so don’t clear out all of it. Although an excessive amount of ash can cause problems, having a moderate amount is preferred. Once you get a good fire going, you should close the air vents on your stove at least halfway to

ensure that the fire won’t burn out too quickly.

The quality of your fire depends on the type of wood you’re burning.

It’s best to use logs that have been seasoned for at least a year. Oak, birch, ash, and hazel are the best kinds of wood to burn in your home because they tend to burn slowly and produce fewer sparks.

CLOSE YOUR DOORS, AND COVER YOUR WINDOWS.

If there are any rooms that you aren’t using, be sure to close those doors; you don’t need to heat unused rooms. You can also stick towels or blankets underneath your doors to keep the heat in. Since windows can make your home chilly, even if they are closed, consider covering them up with blankets or thermal curtains to help prevent cold air from seeping into your home. These tips can help you and your family stay warm during the winter. Take this as a great opportunity to enjoy time together in a cozy, warm house!

PATIENT TESTIMONIALS Getting Confidence Back

“ After six weeks of physical therapy, I can walk without a cane or walker. I had a total knee replacement. I came home the day after surgery. I had my first physical therapy appointment at Kinetic. I couldn’t drive a car, and it was difficult to get in and out of the car and I was using a

“ My success story started with the workshop. I had a lot of low back pain. With the therapy I slowly progressed to pain-free. There were a few setbacks, but in all, it was a great success story. I feel 100% better today and have my normal life back. I am very thankful for Kinetic Therapy and all the great people there.” — Arlene

walker. I think one of the reasons I progressed so fast is that I went out for physical therapy instead of having home therapy. Thanks Emery and the Kinetic staff — you made PT a great experience.” — Wayne

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CHRONIC NECK PAIN: A WOMAN’S PROBLEM? OUR PTS ARE HERE TO HELP

Did you know that chronic neck pain is more common in women than men, especially older women? The same is true for chronic low back pain. Our team learned about this last year when a study of more than 22,000 people was published in the journal Pain Medicine. It’s fascinating stuff and it definitely backs up what we’ve seen here in our clinic. Neck pain is one of the most common problems we treat. Sometimes it’s chronic, and other times we can point to a cause like whiplash, arthritis, post-surgical fusion, degenerative disc disease (which is 1.38 times more common in women than men), or a pinched nerve. Whatever the cause, physical therapy is one of the best treatment options out there. Unlike other neck pain treatments including drugs, surgery, and epidural infections, PT doesn’t cost an arm and a leg or have nasty side effects. Plus, clinical research has proven that PT is an effective treatment for neck pain — even when it’s chronic.

focus on getting the range of motion you need back in your neck, then we’ll strengthen and stabilize it! A few of our favorite tactics are gentle hands-on techniques (to help you relax), joint mobilization (to decrease stiffness), and ice, heat, and electrical stimulation (to decrease your pain). Researchers aren’t 100% certain why women are more likely to experience chronic neck pain and degenerative disc disease than men. But they do have theories! A popular one is that women are more sensitive to pain because they have more nerve fibers per square centimeter of skin than men do. One study found that women averaged 34 nerve fibers per square centimeter on their faces, for example, while men averaged 17! Another theory is that the hormonal differences between the sexes have something to do with it. Every year, new studies uncover more about our biology that could lead to answers. We’ll keep you in the loop on what we learn! If you’re struggling with neck pain, don’t resign yourself to a new normal. Call us today and let us help you with PT.

If you come to see us with neck pain, our first priority will be to decrease your discomfort. After that, we’ll

Sudoku

Simple Bok Choy Chicken Soup

Is the chill of winter lingering? A hot bowl of this Asian-inspired soup will warm you right up! Our recipe makes 4–5 servings. DIRECTIONS 1. In a medium saucepan, bring chicken broth to a boil. 2. Stir in red pepper flakes, soy sauce, sesame oil, and garlic. 3. Add bok choy leaves and rotisserie chicken. Simmer for 10 minutes or until the bok choy is dark green and tender. 4. Enjoy with slices of your favorite whole-wheat bread!

INGREDIENTS • 3 cups chicken broth • 1 tsp red pepper flakes • 2 tsp soy sauce • 2 tsp sesame oil • 1 garlic clove, chopped • 10 leaves bok choy, thinly sliced • 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken

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Inspired by TheSpruceEats.com

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

847-515-8970 www.KineticPTS.com

11920 Oak Creek Parkway Huntley, IL 60142

INSIDE Mike Needs Your Help! PAGE 1

Layers of Clothing Are Your Best Friend PAGE 2

Patient Testimonials: Getting Confidence Back PAGE 2

PT’s Solution to Chronic Neck Pain PAGE 3 Simple Bok Choy Chicken Soup PAGE 3 Packing Tips to Save Your Back, Wallet, and Sanity PAGE 4

Many people are considering traveling this spring for the first time since the pandemic started. A lot has changed since 2020, but packing for vacation remains a hassle, and baggage fees haven’t gone anywhere. Here are some essential tips to keep your load as light as possible — physically and mentally. Make a list. It’s just as easy to forget things as it is to overpack. Solve both problems at once by creating a packing list in advance. Consider in detail what you’ll need, and put it in writing. As each item gets added to the suitcase, check it off. Writing everything down creates a system to prevent leaving anything behind. And when it’s all on paper, you’re more likely to notice that you probably don’t need that many pairs of sandals. Use your personal item for extra storage. Airlines generally allow travelers one carry-on bag and one personal item. The dimensions allowed vary by airline, Leaving on a Jet Plane? 3 ESSENTIAL PACKING TIPS

but the general rule of thumb is that the personal item needs to fit under the seat in front of you. Don’t bring a small purse or a laptop bag when you can take a large tote or backpack. With the extra room, you can avoid checking another bag. Never check essential items. Lost luggage is the worst way to start a vacation, but it happens. If your luggage is misplaced, you probably won’t get it back that same day. So, you need to pack all essential items, like prescription medications or glasses, in your carry-on bag. Some experts even recommend tossing an extra shirt or pair of underwear in your carry-on in case your bag gets lost. You’ll be glad to have them if something goes awry. Packing smart will make for a less stressful journey. You can kick back, relax, and enjoy the trip knowing that everything you need is right there in your suitcase, and everything you don’t need is safe at home.

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