Kinetic PT - December 2017

Kinetic PT - December 2017

DECEMBER 2017

847-515-8970 • www.KineticPTS.com

Back when I was a child, I couldn’t wait for Christmas morning. I daydreamed about the gifts Santa’s elves were building for me. I pictured how they’d look, basking in the glow of the Christmas tree lights as I came down the stairs on the morning of Dec. 25. Oddly, I’m still the same way now, but in complete reverse. Every year, Emilie and I give our sons a toy catalog and tell them to circle what they want the most. (If we’re going to spend the money, it might as well be something we know they want.) Without fail, they’ll circle almost everything in the catalog. Without fail, I’ll want to get them everything in it. I’m as excited to give them cool stuff as I ever was to receive it, almost to a fault. Emilie and I make a budget, but I always want to go completely off the charts. I see something in the store and say, “That’d be the coolest thing ever!” or “Let’s get them that!” Emilie has to rein me in a little. It’s like I’m a kid myself. Now, we do most of our shopping online.

enough, before the clock reads 7:01, they rush into our room. “Wake up! It’s Christmas!” As if we forgot. The boys open their presents as Emilie and I bask in their excitement. Most of the time, they’re ecstatic. Sometimes, we think we’ve gotten them the perfect gift, then they play with it for about 10 seconds. Most parents know what that’s like. The boys are always grateful. But they haven’t seemed to catch on to the gifts not arriving by reindeer-driven sleigh yet. I suppose that’s their way of keeping with the status quo as the presents show up in the den every year. Are they going to nitpick whether they come from Santa or their parents, and risk losing everything? Probably not. Our oldest, Zachary, is a Lego maniac. His room is lined with shelves that hold his favorite and most challenging models. We get him a large set to put together, sometimes 1,000 pieces or more. He’ll have it built within a couple days. Our youngest, Nathan, wants a smartphone like his older brother. We tell him he’ll have to wait a few more years. The only reason we relented on Zachary is because he is involved in after school activities, and we need to stay in touch. In the meantime, we’ll focus on Nathan’s other interests: his Nerf gun arsenal and chemistry sets. I’ve talked a lot about presents, but my boys know what Christmas is really about. So do I. With that said, I’d like to close by wishing my patients a very merry Christmas, and a very happy Hanukkah! No matter how we celebrate or when, our loved ones are what make it special. It was true for me when my parents gave me exciting presents, and it’s true now as the father of two boys. –Mike Ulmer

Emilie and I try really hard to make Christmas morning a joyous occasion for the boys. They get up early — sometimes 5 a.m. — but

they aren’t allowed to wake us up until 7. Sure

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Which Charity Should I Donate To?

At the peak of the holiday season, many Americans find themselves overcome by a spirit of generosity and goodwill. Many people go beyond finding the perfect gift for friends and family and give their time or money to a charitable organization, seeking to make the holidays a little better for those worse off than themselves. But with thousands upon thousands of charities to choose from, how we do ensure our dollars are truly going to the best possible cause? It may seem obvious, but it’s best not to hand your credit card info to an anonymous organization soliciting your aid. The IRS has little regulatory power over most charitable organizations since they don’t typically pay taxes. As a result, it’s all too easy to be defrauded. “Never give a gift where you didn’t initiate the communication,” advises Tim Meisenheimer, a certified financial planner. Calls can be a red flag, as charities who employ telemarketers are much less likely to receive the entirety of your donation. If you’re donating online, he also advises you to check that there’s a “https” at the beginning of the URL, which indicates a secure connection.

But the best way to avoid shady scammers is to research the charity before you hand over your cash. One helpful resource is CharityNavigator.org, a charity- screening website where you can scrutinize a charity’s rating, spending habits, category, and much more. When examining a charity, they look for all kinds of red flags, such as if they spend more than one-third of their budget on administrative costs or if they aren’t forthcoming about their operations and expenditures. If you’re unsure of where to donate, check out their list of “Charities With Perfect Scores.” If you want to provide humanitarian aid, Direct Relief (DirectRelief.org) is a well-known charity, and it has a perfect rating of 100 on Charity Navigator. They provide medical treatment in resource-poor communities. If you’re more inclined to protect the environment, check out The Conservation Fund (ConservationFund. org), which seeks to preserve natural resources while fostering economic development in America. Education-minded donors should look up Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO-usa.org), another organization with a perfect 100 from Charity Navigator. They strive to provide robust education for underserved communities. There are thousands of excellent charities to donate to, and many of them are probably right in your backyard.

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It’s that time of year to be thinking about the holidays and Christmas shopping. We feel very fortunate to participate as a drop-off location for Toys for Tots again this year. Please consider helping children in our community by donating an unwrapped new toy by Dec. 18

“After rotator cuff surgery and months of therapy at Kinetic, I was very grateful to be able to reach the top shelves in my house — pain-free. I can take care of all my personal needs, and my husband is glad I can cook again. I’m ready for the pool! I have actually looked forward to each therapy visit with Emilie, because she always encouraged me with new hope for a full recovery. I could feel the progress with each session. Thanks so much, Emilie!”

–Annette Haraburda

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You’ve seen people in this position: sitting down, leaning forward, shoulders hunched, neck craning down, scrolling through a smartphone.

that probably won’t work. Many people need them for their job anyway. You can prevent tech neck with a few simple exercises. • LOOK UP FROM THE SCREEN EVERY 2–3 MINUTES • BRING THE SMARTPHONE UP TO EYE LEVEL • DO SOME EASY NECK STRETCHES Neck stretches are simple, effective, and easy to do at home. To do a chin tuck, move your chin toward your chest, holding for a few seconds as you feel a comfortable stretch from your neck to the base of your skull. Repeat this motion a few times. You can mimic this exercise by tilting your head to the side or rotating it toward your shoulder. Finally, cut down on smartphone use (sounds like a long shot, we know), but it’s better for personal wellness, both mentally and physically. When all’s said and done, smartphones can be a literal pain in the neck if you don’t use them wisely and sparingly.

You see it on the train, at the doctor’s office, and probably

on your living room couch. We know smartphones are changing society and rewiring our brains, but what about our bodies?

The posture described above is terrible for your neck since it’s such an unnatural angle. Likewise, hunching your shoulders forward can strain your entire upper body. Doctors have a nickname for this posture: “tech neck.”

How do we fight tech neck? We could

tell you to get rid of your smartphone, but

Sudoku

Chocolate Kris-Crinkle Cookies

Ingredients • 1½ cups all-purpose flour • 1 cup sugar • ½ cup packed brown sugar • ½ cup cocoa • 1 teaspoon baking powder • ¼ teaspoon salt

Grid n°970183136 easy

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• ⅓ cup butter, at room temperature • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten • 2 teaspoons vanilla • Powdered sugar, for rolling

3 5

1

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Instructions 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, brown sugar, cocoa, baking powder, and salt. Add butter and whisk in until mixture is well-combined and crumbly. 2. Add eggs and vanilla and stir by hand just until dough comes together. If dough is dry, use your hands to combine it into a soft, sticky dough. 3. Roll dough into 1½-inch balls and roll the balls in powdered sugar to coat. Place about 2 inches apart on a greased baking sheet. Bake for 12–14 minutes, or until just set around the edges but still soft in the middle. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

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We have all the free sudokus you need! 400 new sudokus every week. Make your own free printable sudoku at www.PrintMySudoku.com

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INSIDE

We’re All Children on Christmas PAGE 1 Which Charity Should I Donate To? PAGE 2 Testimonial PAGE 2 Is Your Smartphone Causing Neck Pain? PAGE 3 Chocolate Kris-Crinkle Cookies PAGE 3 Step Aside, Balto PAGE 4

In the winter of 1924–25, the Alaskan town of Nome suffered a deadly outbreak of diphtheria. Facing an epidemic, with no medicine on hand, the entire population of Nome and the surrounding areas could’ve been wiped out. The doctor sent a plea to the U.S. Public Health Service in Washington, D.C., for help. Due to the harsh Alaskan winter, ships couldn’t reach the Nome port, and it was too dangerous for planes. Sled dogs were the only method of transportation available. They decided to send a shipment of serum by train to Nenana, Alaska. The serum was then transported to Nome by sled dog. The fastest trip from Nenana to Nome was nine days. Due to the brutal conditions, the serum could only last six days before it would expire.

Seppala, who crossed the longest and most dangerous leg of the relay. Togo’s 91-mile race crossed the frozen Norton Sound, where unstable ice could break apart and claim the lives of a musher and their dogs. But this route saved a day of travel, and Seppala and Togo carried on. In a whiteout blizzard, with temperatures at -85 F and winds up to 65 mph, Togo’s incredible stamina and ability to sense danger led his team to safety. Thanks to their bravery, the serum arrived in Nome in 5½ days. The official death toll for Nome and the surrounding Native Alaskan encampments was less than 100 — far below the 100,000 predicted. Today, a statue of Balto, the lead dog of the relay’s last leg, stands in Central Park, New York City, though it’s worth mentioning the award on the statue was not actually given to Balto, but to Togo. As Seppala said himself, “I never had a better dog than Togo. His stamina, loyalty, and intelligence could not be improved upon. Togo was the best dog that ever traveled the Alaska trail.”

What followed was the Great Race of Mercy — a desperate relay to deliver the serum 700 miles across northern Alaska. Twenty mushers and 150 sled dogs participated in the relay, but most historians agree

one hero stood out above the rest: Togo, lead dog of renown musher Leonhard

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