Mission PT - March 2021

Mission PT - March 2021

(480) 550-9100 • missionptaz.com

March 2021

3321 E. Queen Creek Rd. #106 Gilbert, AZ 85297

6636 E. Baseline Rd. #102 Mesa, AZ 85206

PT Is More Useful Than You May Realize!

When people think of physical therapy, they often think about it in certain contexts. “Isn’t PT for people who have been in a car accident? Or after they get surgery? Or after they get a sports injury?” Yes, PT is beneficial in all of those cases, but it’s not just for traumatic events or extensive injuries, despite what we see in the movies. It can be applied to anything related to muscles, joints, tendons, and their connection to the skeletal structure.

PT is also useful as a way to screen for anything suspicious. Surgery may be needed in some cases, but our goal is to help people avoid it, if possible. We do work closely with primary care providers, and we can refer to other specialists if the situation is more serious than meets the eye. Another thing people often don’t realize is that PT does not require a doctor’s referral in Arizona. If you’re in pain, you don’t have to wait around to see your primary care provider first. In fact, many doctors won’t give their patients much of an answer in regards to musculoskeletal issues. While doctors are trained to diagnose all kinds of ailments and diseases, they aren’t necessarily experts in physical rehabilitation or orthopedics. That’s where we come in. (Please note, your health insurance may require a doctor’s referral, but state law does not. Please check with your plan first.) If you or someone you know is hurting, you don’t have to take any extra steps or spend unnecessary time at the doctor before getting answers and relief. Take advantage of PT when you really need it! The bottom line is that PT isn’t just for extreme situations. It’s for practically any situation that affects musculoskeletal systems. If you aren’t already taking advantage of PT in order to live a more active, pain-free, or pain-controlled life, all I can say is, “We’re here for you!”

In short, PT is useful in a lot of different situations.

For example, at the start of every new year, many people are focused on self-improvement. Some may have decided to improve their health, so they start an exercise regimen. Maybe they’ve started jogging, swimming, or going to the gym. But here’s what happens way too often: People start a new exercise routine and within a few days or weeks, their knees start hurting. Or they start experiencing unusual muscle or joint pain. And so, they stop their new routine and suddenly, their goal for the year is put on the back burner. Part of the problem is that they don’t understand their pain. This is where PT is awesome. If someone is experiencing a musculoskeletal issue — sprains, strains, restricted joint movement, frequent headaches, you name it — PT can make a difference. Our approach is to help people by looking at what’s going on mechanically — to see what’s stuck and get it unstuck. This way, people can begin to move better without experiencing new or unusual pain or resorting to medication to manage their symptoms.

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Our mission is YOU. What is YOUR mission?

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AN EASY WAY TO DRINK MORE WATER And Avoid Dehydration We all know the solution to dehydration is to drink more water, but exactly how much water do we need each day? The amount will differ depending on the person, but one simple way to approximate your necessary daily intake is by dividing your body weight in half and drinking that much water (in fluid ounces) each day. For example, if you weigh 175 pounds, you’d need to drink 87.5 fluid ounces — over half a gallon — of water per day. That might seem like a lot of liquid, but you can easily drink it without trying too hard. All you have to do is be proactive: Start keeping water any place you frequent during the day. Keep a bottle in your car, at your desk, by your favorite chair, near your workout equipment, etc. Having water easily available in the places you spend the most time each day helps increase your chances of actually drinking it. An alternative approach is to purchase a giant jug that can hold all the water you need to drink in a day. Seeing it all in one place might be intimidating at first, but this method makes things very simple. Keep the jug close, and your water intake will likely increase without too much additional effort. And if you’re just not motivated to drink plain water, you can always add sugar-free flavoring or lemon to make it more enticing.

Dehydration is a big problem. Many people don’t drink enough water each day — some reports show that 75% of adults in the United States don’t drink enough water, and over a quarter are dehydrated. Though those statistics aren’t widely agreed upon, it’s obvious that most people need more fluids. Even if it feels like you’re drinking a lot of water, remember that water leaves your body every time you sweat, go to the bathroom, and even breathe. Not keeping up with proper water intake can lead to dehydration. Even mild dehydration can cause health problems and impact your brain, heart, skin, and other organs, which can lead to headaches, confusion, fatigue, and gastrointestinal distress.

Here’s How to Get More in 30 Minutes We All Need More Vitamin D

It’s spring! This means it’s the perfect time to get outside in Arizona! A lot of people have been spending more time indoors in recent months, which means they haven’t been getting the fresh air, movement, and vitamin D they need. And that last one is a big one. Even in Arizona, people don’t get enough vitamin D, which is essential to good health. Recent research has shown that vitamin D may help reduce the symptoms associated with COVID-19. While it won’t prevent infection, studies have found people who were vitamin D deficient were more likely to experience more severe symptoms than those with sufficient vitamin D levels.

So, how do you get enough vitamin D? The single best way is by spending time outdoors in the sun. But here’s the kicker: You need direct exposure to sunlight for about 20–30

minutes a day. If you wear sunscreen or cover up with clothes, you significantly reduce your body’s ability to produce vitamin D. Here’s what you can do: Go for a walk! While many of us may be hesitant to spend too much time in direct sunlight, it is necessary at times. Just make sure you’re keeping a close eye on your exposure.

You can also incorporate vitamin D-rich foods, like oily fish and eggs, into your diet or take

supplements. While these are good options if you can’t get out into the sun, they aren’t as effective as sunshine to help you get your daily dose of vitamin D. In that regard, nothing can beat a walk in the sun! And with weather like ours this time of year, that walk can also give you the movement and fresh air that your body may be craving.

Vitamin D also affects mental health. People who don’t get enough vitamin D are more likely to experience seasonal

affective disorder (SAD). While vitamin D is not a mood enhancer itself, getting the appropriate amount of vitamin D can do wonders for the mind and body.

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SUDOKU

The First Person You See ALL ABOUT HEATHER HUNTER, OUR FACE AT THE FRONT DESK Meet Heather Hunter. Well, if you’ve been a patient of ours at any time over the past four years, you probably already have! This month, we wanted to share a bit more about her so you can get to know her a little better. No matter which therapist you work with at Mission Physical Therapy, everyone generally knows Heather because she’s our receptionist, and she’s there to greet you as you enter for your appointment. She’s an integral part of the Mission PT family. Our patients are gracious and they compliment our therapists, but we also receive so much wonderful feedback about our office staff — Heather very much included. She’s warm, friendly, and professional and has a great sense of humor. She is a dedicated and devoted member of the team. “I love getting to know our patients and getting to watch their recovery,” Heather says. Since she works at the front desk, she gets a unique perspective of the people who come through our door, seeing them on their first day in and on every visit thereafter. She literally gets to watch their progress. Before joining Mission PT, Heather spent years in the customer service and health care fields, including six years at La Posada Assisted Living in Green Valley. She grew up in Seattle, Washington, but moved to Tucson 32 years ago and has called Gilbert home for the past 4 ½ years. She spends most of her free time with her family, including her husband of 25 years. Together they have two (adult) children, two dogs, and a cat! She also loves horseback riding, water skiing, hiking, and traveling.

Tasty Thai Fried Rice

Inspired by OhMyVeggies.com

The Mission PT team is grateful for Heather every day.

We’re smack in the middle of broccoli season, and fried rice is the perfect dish to celebrate it. This savory, plant-based recipe is packed with nutritious vegetables and delicious Thai flavors. INGREDIENTS

• 2 tbsp olive oil • 1 onion, chopped • 8 oz baby bella mushrooms, sliced • 4 cups broccoli, chopped to bite-size pieces • 4 cloves garlic, minced

• 5 cups jasmine rice, cooked and cooled • 1/2 cup peanuts, chopped • 2 tbsp soy sauce • Toppings of choice for serving

(sliced green onions, sliced cucumber, chopped peanuts, lime wedges, Sriracha, etc.)

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large nonstick skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 2–3 minutes, until softened. 2. Add the mushrooms and broccoli. Cook for 5–7 minutes, until the broccoli is tender. 3. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant. 4. Finally, add the rice and cook, stirring constantly, for 3–4 minutes. 5. Remove skillet from the heat and stir in the peanuts and soy sauce. 6. Serve garnished with your toppings.

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Our mission is YOU. What is YOUR mission?

(480) 550-9100 • missionptaz.com

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3321 E. Queen Creek Rd. #106 Gilbert, AZ 85297 (480) 550-9100 missionptaz.com

Inside This Issue

1 PT Is Here for You

2 Sunlight Does the Body Good 2 How to Easily Increase Your Water Intake 3 Tasty Thai Fried Rice 3 Meet Heather! 4 A Match Made in Cornmeal Batter Heaven

AN AMERICAN TRADITION Corn Dogs and Basketball

It’s no coincidence that National Corn Dog Day is March 20 — the third Saturday of the month. This day is traditionally the first Saturday of March Madness, otherwise known as the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship. But wait. What do corn dogs and a basketball tournament have to do with one another? Turns out, National Corn Dog Day has everything to do with March Madness. The “holiday” began in March 1992 when two Corvallis, Oregon, high school students needed a snack while watching a basketball game. They got some corn dogs and called it good. But somehow, this simple snack and sport pairing turned into something huge. In fact, eating corn dogs while watching March Madness caught on like wildfire — and the teens didn’t even have Instagram to promote it! Though it’s not clear how, it spread across Oregon and eventually the rest of the country. It’s likely that people just heard about it from friends and family and thought it was a great idea. The corn dog, like basketball, is an American creation. In the 1920s, the creators toyed around with the idea of fried foods on a stick. They battered and fried everything from cheese to bananas, but it was the battered

sausages that really stood out, and the corn dog was born. By

the 1940s, the convenient creation had popped up at state fairs and drive-in restaurants all over the country. In 2012, in honor of the original Corn Dog Day, the then-governor of Oregon issued an official proclamation naming March 17 National Corn Dog Day in the state. Several companies jumped on the bandwagon

as well, including Foster Farms (a maker of frozen corn dogs, among many other meat products) and the Pabst Brewing Company.

While it’s not an “official” national day recognized by the U.S. Congress, it’s celebrated with thousands of events every March. And it’s grown beyond its U.S. roots. An article printed in The Oregonian in 2009 revealed that National Corn Dog Day parties have been celebrated on nearly every continent — including Antarctica!

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