OPTM Physical Therapy of Saratoga - June July 2021

OPTM Physical Therapy of Saratoga - June July 2021

MOTION Monthly THE POWER OF MUSIC How My Tastes and Worldview Have Grown as My Music Changes

Make Your Move to Better

About one year ago, when our team at OPTM of Saratoga came back together to reopen after the pandemic forced us to close down, I played AC/DC’s classic hit “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)” for everyone. Like everyone else, we were facing a tough time. There was a lot of stress and anxiety about opening the clinic again, and I wanted to show my team how much I appreciated them for working during a pandemic while also “rallying the troops,” so to speak.

As I grew, my tastes in music started to grow, too. I found I enjoyed more progressive forms of rock, like Pink Floyd. My first concert was actually a Pink Floyd show with all these cool pyrotechnics and special effects. Let’s just say it was powerful and impressive! Today, my tastes have even evolved to include reggae and country, and I even enjoy rap and hip-hop as I moved around California. In the past, I would have said I hated country, but after visiting Nashville, I found the musicians are just as talented. I really enjoyed learning about their stories and the history of country music. Plus, I personally enjoy Johnny Cash’s music. Regardless of your tastes, there’s a music style for everyone and every emotion. As an expert in pain management and rehabilitation, I know music can be a powerful tool for our patients. It can inspire people to push forward, remind them of what they were once able to do, or help them tune out all the noise that comes with treatment. (Let us know next time you’re in the office if we can play a certain song or genre to motivate you!) As we look to celebrate World Day of Music on June 21, I hope you take time to explore different types of music. We all have our favorite genres, but if I had never experienced reggae or kept an open mind about country music, I may not have had the experiences or memories I have today.

It certainly set the tone.

Music has this powerful connection to everything we do. The words

and meaning can hold inspiration for us, but it’s the tune that helps us focus. We often remember the music behind the words when picturing our

Fabrice and Lindsay Rockich at Grand Ole Opry

greatest memories, like our wedding day or our favorite summer from childhood. It’s no wonder that music therapy is a big part of treatment for those with dementia. It’s through music that special moments become treasured. For me, that tone was set by rock and roll. Musicians like Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, and the Doors became my all-time favorites when I was in junior high school. As I grew older, I found Metallica, Rush, Black Sabbath, and Ozzy Osbourne. That music was the soundtrack to my childhood. I would listen to rock music in the moments before a big football game or when I was hanging out with my friends. It kept me focused and happy. Even today, I still come back to rock music. Today’s artists don’t produce the same quality of rock music true fans like myself love, but I will always appreciate this genre.

Music is behind everything we do. All we have to do is listen and let it take us away.

–Dr. Fabrice Rockich

408-973-7700 www.optmsaratoga.com

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3 Steps to Par IMPROVE YOUR GOLF SCORE WITH PHYSICAL THERAPY

SUCCESS STORIES

Like any sport, improving your golf game takes practice, but it may also require targeted treatment and strength training. Physical therapy can help you lower your score, lessen the impact of golf on your joints, and improve your accuracy and power by focusing on the foundational elements of your swing. Improve Balance A proper golf swing is punctuated by a pose. As Golf Digest explains, holding this pose after every swing signals that your stroke was in sync and strong. But if you stumble or are uneasy in your after-swing pose, this may be a sign that you are unbalanced. Your swing won’t have the accuracy or power it needs behind it. Physical therapists can help golfers improve their core and hip strength to increase their balance. This will ultimately make for stronger swings and confidence in their game. Strengthen Your Joints Golfing requires the use of many joints, including your knees, ankles, and elbows. Unfortunately, this also means that improper swinging techniques and overuse can inflame and stiffen joints, resulting in poor execution. When you know how to care for your joints, you ensure that your golf game has longevity. This puts you in control of your game. Your physical therapist creates a routine that targets the joints you use most in golf, which helps protect this vital asset to your game. Increase Mobility Anyone can golf. That’s why it’s a popular game among people of all ages! But mobility can be a limiting factor. If you struggle to swivel your hips or have lingering shoulder pain that limits your rotation, your golf game can suffer. Physical therapists are trained to use exercise techniques that increase the range of motion of stiff, painful joints and muscles. Through practice and continual treatment, your swing can become fluid again (and you can play longer!). If you’re ready to golf better, our team is willing to help. OPTM Physical Therapy of Saratoga is home to three Nike Golf Performance Specialists who can help you. Call us today to schedule a consultation and learn more.

“I had a knee injury in October and finally decided to do something about it. I have been attending physical therapy sessions with Celeste for a little over a month now and have noticed improvements in strength, range of motion, and decreased pain/discomfort. Assessment results completed after one month of therapy confirm my subjective impressions. Celeste is very mindful about my goals and helping me to achieve them, which I greatly appreciate. The staff is helpful and kind, and it’s easy to schedule appointments that don’t interfere with my work.” – Jennifer O. “Clinic is very clean and continuous cleaning occurs after each client. The staff is very dedicated, professional, and highly trained. They are trained to evaluate each client to determine individual needs and then prescribe a therapeutic program to address the particular needs. Fabrice was my therapist and taught me stretching exercises to relieve my leg and back pain. Highly recommend OPTM.” – Judy S. “I had a great experience with OPTM, Saratoga. They have the best professional therapists, like Celeste Kim. They are very knowledgeable, professional, and passionate about what they do. I feel very comfortable going there since I feel the clinic is very clean and safe during COVID. Laser treatment is helpful.”

– Minhua J.

“I highly recommend OPTM. I had a frozen shoulder issue and worked closely with Tylor for a few weeks. I saw great improvement with his recommended exercises and was able to get back to my usual routine soon after.” – Hanna D. “Several months ago, I went to OPTM to help me address some issues I had been putting off. I have arthritis in my back and degenerative discs so I assumed I would just have to live with my back pain, increasingly poor posture and breathing, and inability to enjoy golf anymore. After working with Tyler, my therapist, for 3–4 months with treatments and exercises, I am so excited that my back pain is much less, I can get deep breaths when I want, my posture is much better and continues to improve, and I am enjoying golf again! I feel very encouraged by the results!” – Pat Y.

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408-973-7700

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LOW-IMPACT CARDIO MOVES ANYONE CAN DO

Cardiovascular exercise is often touted as one of the premier ways to lose weight, protect your heart, and live a healthy lifestyle. But if you have joint problems or hormonal imbalances, intense cardio can worsen these conditions, and you may need to opt for low-impact cardio instead.

But don’t worry. You will still work up a sweat and get your heart pumping, all while protecting your body.

Try Swimming or Biking One of the best ways to protect your body and challenge it is to jump in the pool or get on the bike. Swimming and biking work your entire body. Every muscle is firing! But these differ from high-impact workouts because the water and bicycle absorb the force your joints would normally take on. So, your muscles and joints get stronger without pain! Slow It Down Who says you have to skip jumping jacks or squat jumps? Just slow it down and take out the jumping portion of traditional cardio moves. The key is to move quickly, with intensity, and intention. (Be mindful of your balance!) So, try kickboxing punches, jabs, and kicks without leaving the ground. Squat and shoot back up, ending on the tips of your toes. This works your calves and your thighs! You can even do a standing jack by mimicking the motion of a jumping jack. Just move the same-side leg and arm outward and don’t jump. Just Walk Did you know you can reap the same benefits of running just by going for a walk? Your heart and lungs are challenged, your joints stay lubricated,

your muscles get to move, and your mental health can improve, too. You may not burn as many calories as you do when you run, but you protect your joints from the force of pounding the pavement. Plus, as you walk more, you can add challenges, like hills, more distance, and new destinations. Your approach to wellness should be what works for you — not what you think should work. If you need help creating an exercise routine that protects your joints, or if you need relief from joint pain to do the things you love, please call us today.

EASY TUNA POKE BOWL

WORD SEARCH

Inspired by TheKitchn.com

This protein-packed recipe is the perfect dinner for two on a hot summer night when you don’t want to turn on the oven.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tsp soy sauce • 1 tsp sesame oil • 2 tbsp orange juice • 1-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and minced • 10 oz canned tuna, drained

• 2 tbsp cilantro leaves, chopped • 1 scallion, finely chopped • 1 cup rice, cooked and cooled • 1/4 cup avocado, cubed • 4 cherry tomatoes, quartered • 1 tbsp sesame seeds

DIRECTIONS

1. First, make the dressing. In a jar, add soy sauce, sesame oil, orange juice, and ginger. Secure the lid and shake until emulsified. 2. In a small bowl, empty the drained tuna and pour the dressing over top. Add the cilantro and scallions and stir until well coated. 3. Divide rice between two serving bowls. Top with the dressed tuna, avocado, tomatoes, and sesame seeds.

ADVENTURE CAMPING

HIKING JUNETEENTH PARK PICNIC

PRIDE SANDALS SUNBURN SWIMMING

FATHER GEMINI

408-973-7700

www.optmsaratoga.com

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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

12980 Saratoga Ave. Saratoga, CA 95070 408-973-7700 www.optmsaratoga.com

Why I Think Music Is Powerful Page 1

Success Stories Page 2

3Ways PT Can Get You to Par Page 2

Cardio Is for Everyone! 3 Low-Impact Moves You Can Try Page 3

Easy Tuna Poke Bowl Page 3

Superfoods Are Not So New ... Page 4

KALE, SEAWEED, AND OTHER NOT-SO-NEW SUPERFOODS

There’s nothing so trendy as a new superfood or diet, and the “in vogue” ones change constantly. Older readers may remember the Atkins diets and other fads of the early 2000s, but younger ones may not even remember a time before the paleo diet was a thing — and it’s already almost a thing of the past. Many things we associate with these trends, though, are anything but new. We see this most clearly with the grains we turn to in the name of health. Westerners generally wouldn’t be familiar with quinoa, amaranth, teff, or kamut if it weren’t for their presence in the hippest healthy-eating Instagram feeds.

Many of these foods hail from Africa or the Far East, so it’s understandable we don’t know them all — but there’s nothing really new about them. People in the Americas and the Old World have eaten quinoa for 3,000–5,000 years. Teff, which is technically a grass seed, was one of the first domesticated plants, emerging thousands of years ago in what is now Ethiopia. Alternate sources of protein and fiber show a similar trend. Seaweed — the perennial favorite of Twitter dieters everywhere — has been consumed in China, Korea, and Japan since before recorded history. If you know anything

about recorded history in those regions, then you know that’s a long time! And kale, whose reputation precedes itself, has been cultivated since at least 2,000 B.C. in Greece, Asia Minor, and other parts of the Mediterranean. So, the next time you dig into your favorite health food, take a moment to Google what you are eating. You

might be part of a long line of human beings who have turned to that food for sustenance over the millennia!

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www.optmsaratoga.com

408-973-7700

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Attention Golfers: Take Advantage of the Summer’s Special Offer!

There’s nothing more relaxing than a day on the golf course! But when the hobby you love is causing you pain or when you can no longer progress in your improvement in the sport, you may need some professional guidance and support! If you …

Suffer from pain during or after golf Lack OR lose distance off the tee Can’t seem to break 100, 90, 80, or 70 despite your best efforts Hit some great shots but also some bad shots and can’t seem to find consistency

… then our golf performance program is designed for you!

Here’s what one of our in-house golf specialists, Dr. Ben Turner, has to say about his OWN improvement since beginning with our team. “One of my passions is the game of golf. I love watching golf, talking golf, practicing golf, and, most of all, playing golf. So naturally, as part of my development as a physical therapist, I am always looking for ways to improve myself and my body to help my game. Over the past two years, I have gone from a 25 handicap to a 9, and I added 40 yards off the tee in just six months! I’m also feeling great and having more fun playing than I ever have before! “My other passion is helping others reach their full potential. As a Nike Golf 360 Performance-certified practitioner, I assess the golfer’s body and swing to find faults that could be responsible for pain or lack of distance, accuracy, or consistency. From the PGA Tour to the local country club, I’ve helped golfers achieve what they are looking for: competitive success, injury-free play, or just bombing it down the fairway!” Sounds like fun, doesn’t it? Flip this insert over to learn more about our special offer for golfers this summer!

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... continued from Front

This summer, we want to help golfers improve their game and enjoy a pain-free experience! Here’s what we’re offering to help you get there.

We’re offering 10 people a FREE golf performance assessment with one of our Nike Golf 360 Performance-certified practitioners throughout June and July.

What:

Who:

Our experts Dr. Fabrice Rockich, Dr. Phil Edwards, and Dr. Ben Turner will assess golfers.

Included:

During your exam, you can expect …

• A full-body movement screening

• A full swing assessment

• A written assessment and plan for future progress

• An exercise regimen for day one of your program

Please call 408-973-7700 to schedule your consultation with one of our specialists.

How:

Start the summer on a golfing high note! Our team can help you get there. Call 408-973-7700 today. If you have a general question about your golfing abilities or to see if we can help you, email Ben Turner at [email protected].

Call our office to register at 408-973-7700.

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optmsaratoga.com

[email protected]