The Physical Therapy Doctor - September 2018

The Physical Therapy Doctor - September 2018

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SEPTEMBER 2018

ON THE MOVE

REFLECTIONS ON A GREAT MENTOR A LESSON IN PERSEVERANCE

Well, the fall semester is upon us yet again, and my eldest son, Michael, is

some choice quotes from the other team. Needless to say, we were chomping at the bit for this rematch. I think we took the other team by surprise with our intensity, because we ended up winning that one! Wins were nice, but ultimately, they were really just a side effect of what Mr. McLaughlin was doing for us. As both a PE teacher and a coach, his No. 1 concern was always helping us to do

“Throughout my life, there have been times where a challenge seemed too great, but I persevered thanks to the lessons Mr. McLaughlin taught, both in class and on the court.”

headed into his first year of high school at the prestigious St. Francis Prep! As parents, we’re excited for him to go to a bigger school with lots of club and sports opportunities. As an alumnus of St. Francis myself, I’m proud my son is going to get the same great mentorship I received at his age.

The uniform has changed a bit since my school days. Back when I was a teenager I had to wear a tie and everything. My younger self would probably have been jealous of the simple polo my son gets to wear! Aesthetic changes aside, I was grateful to learn that one of my most influential teachers is still at the school, my PE instructor and basketball coach, Patrick McLaughlin. You would not have picked me out as a basketball player if you’d known me as a freshman. I was flat-footed, vertically challenged, and only 165 pounds. I wasn’t exactly the fastest guy on the court either. But I wasn’t the odd one out. The St. Francis JV basketball team at that time was pretty scrappy — as a prep school, we didn’t have a huge roster of top athletes to pull from. Yet somehow, Mr. McLaughlin pulled our little team together and made us winners. Now, this isn’t some “Hoosiers” story. We never went on to win state or anything like that. But no matter which of the city’s biggest schools we were going up against, Mr. McLaughlin always had us fired up to go out and play our absolute best. He got pretty creative with his sources of inspiration too. I remember one game in particular, where we were going to face a team we’d already lost to earlier in the season. When we came to school the morning of game day, each of us found a newspaper clipping in our locker telling the story of our team’s previous loss. Mr. McLaughlin had circled certain words the author had used to describe the game, as well as

our absolute best. That meant being tough at times, but he was never negative. He pushed us when we thought we couldn’t do something or when we thought a loss was a foregone conclusion. For our coach, pulling the best performance out of us was the real victory. Throughout my life, there have been times where a challenge seemed too great, but I persevered thanks to the lessons Mr. McLaughlin taught, both in class and on the court. It’s one thing to think you can’t do something, it’s another to rise to the challenge and give it your all. Win or lose, you’ll feel better having tried. Since my time on the court, Mr. McLaughlin has become Principal McLaughlin! At St. Francis’ orientation for parents, I was happy to see he was still capable of giving the stirring speeches I remember from the locker room. It’s great knowing that such an inspiring man is heading the school Michael will be attending. As both Michael and Matthew head back to school, I’m excited for them to find their own mentors, as I did at their age.

Here’s to all the great teachers out there,

–Dr. Robert Morea

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T H E P U L L M A N S T R I K E A N D T H E O R I G I N O F L A B O R D A Y HOW A RAILROAD PROTEST LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR A NATIONAL HOLIDAY

Today, Labor Day mostly means a day off and the closure of public pools. But when it was first created, it was a president’s desperate attempt to curb the tension after one of the most violent strike breakups in American history. In the late 19th century, the workers of the Pullman Company, which manufactured luxury train cars, all lived in a company-owned town. George Pullman, the owner, lived in a mansion overlooking houses, apartments, and crammed-together barracks, all of which were rented by the thousands of workers needed for the operation. For some time, the town operated without a hitch, providing decent wages for the workers while netting the higher-ups millions of dollars. But after the economic depression of the 1890s brought the country to its knees, everything changed. George Pullman slashed his workers’ wages by nearly 30 percent, but he neglected to adjust the rent on the company- owned buildings in turn. As a result, life became untenable in the town, with workers struggling to maintain the barest standards of living for themselves and their families.

(ARU). But Pullman, stubborn as he was, barely acknowledged the strike was happening, and he refused to meet with the organizers.

The tension increased when Eugene Debs, the president of the American Railway Union, organized a boycott of all trains that included Pullman cars. The strike continued to escalate until workers and Pullman community members managed to stop the trains from running. Eventually, President Grover Cleveland sent in soldiers to break up the strike. Violence ensued, with soldiers making a great effort to quell the strike at its core. By the time the violence ended, 30 people had lost their lives and an estimated $80 million in damages had been caused throughout the town. A few months later, President Grover Cleveland declared Labor Day a federal holiday. Many experts believe that this act was an effort to build rapport among his pro-labor constituents after handling the incident so poorly.

This month, as you fire up the barbecue and enjoy your day off, take a moment to remember the workers who fought for labor rights in our country.

In response, the workers began a strike on May 11, 1894. As the event ramped up, it gained the support of the powerful American Railway Union

SUCCE S S S TOR I E S !

Hear What Our Clients Are Saying!

“I’m pain-free much longer and can sleep much better”

“I am ready to get back to golf, tennis, biking, and skiing”

“The staff is fabulous and very skilled. My therapist is excellent. He understands my body and is the primary reason I am doing so well. I’m pain-free much longer and can sleep much better. I feel 85 percent better.” –CHARLES A. H.

“I now feel 95 percent better! Before physical therapy, I could not do much of anything. Now I am ready to get back to golf, tennis, biking, and skiing — all of the activities that I love! My experience with everyone was great. I had a lot of questions about what to expect in terms of time frames, and Jenove was very helpful and answered all of my questions.”

–JIM M.

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THE MOST COMMON SOCCER INJURIES

Sudoku Train Your Brain With

What to Look For and How to Prevent Them

Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the world. Unfortunately, as with any sport, players sometimes get injured. Leg, foot, and ankle injuries are the most common, but head, neck, and wrist injuries are not unusual. With the new school year starting up, students will be eager to dive into the soccer programs, which can lead to some worried parents. Fortunately, if you and your student know what to watch for and how to avoid the most preventable injuries, they’ll be less likely to seriously hurt themselves this year. • Strains and sprains These injuries are common for soccer play- ers, especially in the ankles and knees. They occur at or near a joint when an individual stops or moves suddenly. • ACL tear The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) stabilizes the knee. If a player makes a sudden move or a quick change of direction can cause an ACL injury. • Fractures Broken bones can happen in multiple ways. Landing incorrectly might cause a hairline fracture in one spot, while col- liding with another player could result in many different fractures throughout your body. Your bones can also become weak from overuse (repetitive blows on the same spot), resulting in a stress fracture. • Tendinitis When your tendons become inflamed, it’s referred to as tendinitis. This can happen when your tendons stretch or constrict quickly, creating microtears on the tissue, which then becomes inflamed. Knowing and understanding these injuries is the first step toward preventing them come game time. Additional training and condition- ing, as well as proper training in the mechanics and techniques of the game itself, are the best ways to avoid getting hurt. Soccer demands a lot of your body. Being healthy and fit, and knowing how to move in the midst of a game, can help lower your chances of injury. And of course, make sure to warm up before games and practices, and wear appropriate gear. Even if you take every step necessary to avoid injury, they can still happen. Physical therapists can help you regain the strength and full movement you need to get back to your favorite sport. If your student athlete gets injured, our clinicians at the Physical Therapy Doctor can help. Call our number at the bottom of the page to learn how we can help you get back onto the field!

Recipe of the Month:

Inspired by Bon Appétit Magazine

BEANS AND GREENS RIGATONI

This hearty pasta is perfect for the start of fall. With protein from cannellini beans and a heaping portion of kale, it’s the rare pasta you can enjoy without guilt.

INGREDIENTS

• • •

12 ounces rigatoni pasta 1 bunch Tuscan kale, rinsed 1 15-ounce can cannellini (white kidney) beans 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided

•

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

• •

Juice of 1 lemon

Salt, for pasta water and to taste

•

•

2 ounces fresh grated Parmigiano-Reggiano (optional)

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large stock pot, boil 6 quarts of liberally salted water. On another burner, heat a large skillet to medium-low. 2. Add pasta to boiling water and cook for 3 minutes less than the package recommends. 3. While pasta is cooking, add beans, red pepper, and 1 tablespoon of oil to skillet. Cook until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. 4. Add cooked pasta, kale, and 1 cup pasta water to skillet. Toss vigorously as kale cooks, about 4 minutes. 5. Transfer to bowls, top with a squeeze of lemon, sprinkle with cheese or salt, and serve.

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INSIDE

Reflections on a Great Mentor Why Labor Day Is Indebted to the Pullman Strike Hear From Our Clients Beans and Greens Rigatoni The Most Common Soccer Injuries Get a Head Start on Next Spring’s Garden

Prepare Your Garden

CHICKEN WIRE After you’ve planted your bulbs, there’s a risk that uninvited guests will dig them up. There are a few ways you can ensure that your bulbs remain undisturbed throughout the fall. One way is to place chicken wire over your bulbs after they’ve been planted. This keeps rodents from digging them up and allows the plants to grow through the gaps in the wire. KEEP YOUR GARDEN TIDY Once you’ve harvested your best fruits and vegetables, go back through and harvest the rest, even if you don’t plan to eat them. Make sure your garden is clear of old vegetables, fallen leaves, and weeds. Leaving decaying plants in or on top of the ground can spread diseases into the soil and attract unwanted pests to your garden. HEALTHY SOIL Pulling up weeds and all of your vegetables can help keep the earth free from rotting plants, but there are other steps you can take to ensure that your soil stays full of nutrients. Pick up a kit to test the pH levels of your soil. Most gardens thrive in soil with a pH of 6.5. Add compost to your soil supply now to give it time to break down during the winter months.

With fall just ahead, it’s a good time to think about your spring garden. For a beautiful garden next year, begin preparing this fall. Here are a few ways to get a head start! PLANTING BULBS If you want beautiful flowers in April, you should start planting bulbs now. Many flower bulbs need to be in the ground before winter settles in; this helps activate the bulbs’ biochemical process that allows them to bloom. Getting the bulbs into the ground before it freezes allows their roots to grow deep enough to protect them from the biting winter weather. Among the flower bulbs you should plant soon are tulips, daffodils, irises, and hyacinths.

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