Synergy Therapeutic Group - July 2018

1110 N. CEDAR COURT CARBONDALE, IL 62901

PHONE: (618) 529-4360 FAX: (618) 529-4560

12 SOUTH DIVISION STREET DU QUOIN, IL 62832

PHONE: (618) 542-8950 FAX: (618) 542-8746

Health & WWW.SYNERGYTHERAPEUTICGROUP.COM

JULY 2018

Wellness

THERAPEUTIC GROUP

THE NEWSLETTER ABOUT YOUR HEALTH AND CARING FOR YOUR BODY

THE POWER OF PHYSICAL THERAPY

S ince I started in the field in 2012, physical therapy has been a consistently rewarding career, full of opportunities to make a real difference in people’s lives. I can’t imagine anything I’d rather do than guide my patients toward a full recovery, helping them to achieve goals that they may not even have realized were possible before coming into the clinic. But I didn’t always know I wanted to work in physical therapy. It took a pretty serious life event to put the profession on my radar and to make me realize all the incredible things that PTs and PT assistants could do with their expertise. Way back in 2006, after undergoing a liver transplant, my mom went through extensive rehabilitative physical therapy. I was by her side throughout the process and watched as she diligently went through all the stretches and exercises the therapists had prescribed to aid in her recovery. Day by day, week by week, I watched as her condition steadily improved, in an incredible, drastic transformation back to health. When my mom first started her physical therapy, she wasn’t even able to walk in a circle around her hospital room without collapsing from exhaustion. As her daughter, it was hard to watch her struggle, but I was just glad that she was okay and that the surgery had gone so well. And over the following months, with the careful guidance of her PTs and PTAs, she improved by leaps and bounds. First, they got her to walk around the room with her walker. Before too long, she was pacing back and forth along the hallway a couple of times a day. Then, she found herself able to walk across the entire floor without much of a problem. Soon, she was discharged and was back at home with a whole new set of challenges. For one thing, she couldn’t get up the stairs just yet. But for her, the most challenging part was outside the house. On my parents’ property, there was a beautiful, single- acre pond, and my mom always loved relaxing by the water and watching the wildlife in the sunshine. But when she first got Why We Do What We Do

back home, she was too fatigued to walk down the hill to the water.

She continued to work with the physical therapists, and diligently stuck to her stretching and exercise regimen. When she was strong

enough to get down to the water, my dad installed a bench in the perfect spot, so that she could sit down and rest before making the trek back up to the house. After so much struggle and dedication, it was moving to see her finally able to make it down to her favorite spot beside the water, giving her the freedom to go and watch the ducks whenever she felt like it. And I knew that, in addition to her undying perseverance, she had the amazing team of PTs and PTAs that had worked with her to thank for that. Today, I feel lucky to have the opportunity to help patients just like my mom every day at Synergy Therapeutic Group. Over the years, I’ve witnessed countless patients return to the things they love to do after receiving treatment. Whether that means they’re able to put on their pants without worrying about falling over, or finally pick up their grandkids without debilitating pain shooting up their back, it feels amazing to be a force for good in my patients’ lives. That, along with the incredible team I work with here at Synergy, is what keeps me coming into the clinic each morning, eager to guide my patients down the road to a new, pain-free life. – Claire Bernhardt

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THESE MALLS WERE MADE FOR WALKING The Exercise Venue That Will Keep You Cool and Fit If you’re young at heart and looking to stay (or get) in shape this summer, consider taking a trip to the mall. No, not to pick up some hot new exercise product or dietary supplement, but to walk a few laps. Safe and convenient, “mall walking” has become one of the biggest trends in senior fitness. Cool in the Summer, Warm in the Winter This time of year, heatstroke can be a real concern when exercising outside. But that doesn’t mean you have to be a homebody. Because malls are spacious and climate-controlled, they make great year-round walking venues, especially when summer temperatures spike. You don’t even need to put on sunscreen! Rest Stops Abound While the average American shopping center isn’t as scenic as the Appalachian Trail, they are far more convenient. Replete with bathrooms, cool drinking water, and plenty of benches, the mall lets you focus on exercising and removes all of the “what ifs?” that come with aging. Most malls are also outfitted with EMT kits in the event of a medical emergency.

Squeeze in Some Shopping It is still a mall, after all. Why not check a few items off your shopping list or reward yourself with a new pair of sneakers? Getting things done as you exercise makes the experience that much more rewarding. Just remember not to overdo it. Carrying too many shopping bags can place undue stress on your back — and your wallet. You Won’t Be Alone Today, malls are the second-most popular places to walk in America, after neighborhoods. Mall walking has become so big that many communities and senior living centers have put together official groups to stride together. Your local mall may already open early to accommodate walkers. So if you’re looking to make friends in an active, fun-loving community, do some research. Chances are there’s a mall-walking club near you!

SECRET SWIMMING HOLES OF THE WORLD

Exclusive Spots You Must See to Believe

Dos Ojos, Mexico The Spanish translation of the name for this magical system of caves is “two eyes,” and you’ll want to have yours checked after you see this swimming hole. When limestone bedrock collapses, a sinkhole called a “cenote” is formed. The unearthed water from the natural aquifer balances a color palette of earth tones with the most majestic shades of blue you’ll ever behold. The calling cards for these bodies of water are the Blue Eye and the Black Eye. Both offer unforgettable experiences, but the price of entry is a hefty sense of adventure. You’ll need a full set of scuba gear to get to either hole. The Baths, Virgin Gorda A day in the Caribbean is like living every moment inside a beautiful pastel painting. The elegance of this location in the British Virgin Islands will make you feel like you’ve been transported into a cathedral. The large boulders and natural rock formations create shallow caves that will captivate your eyes as you wade through the water in wonder. When you exit, you’ll witness the sight that gives this beautiful spot its name: A handful of 40-foot granite boulders form private pools as if that was what they were made for.

Summertime is for swimming, but why settle for a community pool when you can have access to the most beautiful swimming

locales in the world? These three exclusive, little-known spots are sure to take your breath away.

Hali’i Falls, Hawaii With its spiral staircase of waterfalls, this remote jungle location offers up more than one unique spot to take a plunge. Visitors

never fail to be awestruck by the deep blue-green hue of each pool created by the four cascading waterfalls. Hali’i means “to spread out,” which is precisely what each waterfall does, showcasing a serene experience unlike any other. But the beauty of this one-of- a-kind experience is only outdone by its exclusivity. To reach these pools, you’ll have to hike through dense forest, deep marshes, and wide-open pastures of sugar cane.

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Physical Therapy, Before and After Pregnancy

YOU DON’T HAVE TO ACCEPT THOSE ACHES AND PAINS

There’s nothing that transforms the human body quite like pregnancy. The growth of your baby fundamentally alters the structure of your hips and your posture, often resulting in strain on the back, pelvis, neck, and shoulders. In some cases, the alterations in pelvic alignment can be so drastic that they lead to painful muscle spasms and severe difficulty walking. This discomfort is often labeled “normal,” and it’s true that approximately 50 percent of women experience strained or irritated ligaments in their lower backs due to pelvic realignment. But just because it’s a common issue doesn’t mean that pregnant women, or those who’ve recently given birth to a child, have to accept this pain as a fact of life. In fact, physical therapy has been shown time and time again to be a powerful tool for pain management both before and after pregnancy. With our experienced physical therapists, we can create a treatment program tailored to your precise needs, allowing you to mitigate pain and giving your body the relief it needs. Our treatment program may include exercises and stretches to increase GET BACK TO L I V I NG YOUR L I FE

muscle strength and mobility, massage to relieve stress and reduce muscle aches and pains, relaxation techniques, and other strategies to ensure your body is in the perfect shape to bring your child into the world and take care of them after they arrive.

At every step, we’ll be careful to cater to your needs, never pushing you beyond your limits.

All kinds of issues may arise with pregnancy, from intense lower back pain to hip pain, perineal pain, numbness in the hands and wrists, leg cramps, serious headaches, and postpartum depression. A thorough physical therapy program can help you address each of these, focusing on those areas that are unique to you and your body. For many mothers, childbirth will be the most powerful experience of their entire lives, but that doesn’t mean it has to be excruciating from conception to long past delivery. Call the experts at Synergy Therapeutic Group at (618) 529-4360 today and let us give your body the tools it needs to be as comfortable as possible throughout the process.

LEARN HOW TO MANAGE BACK PAIN AND SCIATICA WITHOUT MEDICATION, INJECTIONS, OR SURGERY.

WATERMELON SALAD

SIGN UP AT WWW.SYNERGYTHERAPEUTICGROUP.COM/WORKSHOP . YOU MUST REGISTER TO ATTEND THE WORKSHOP. ONLY 20 SPOTS AVAILABLE! WORK YOUR BRAIN

This simple, delicious salad is the perfect summer refresher. In under 30 minutes, you’ll have a dish that will inspire rave reviews at your next summer cookout.

INGREDIENTS

• 8 cups seedless watermelon, cut into 1-inch cubes • 1/4 cup fresh lime juice

• 1 pinch of cayenne pepper • 1/2 cup mint leaves, torn • Salt to taste

DIRECTIONS

SOLUTION ON PAGE 4

1. In a large mixing or salad bowl, toss watermelon with lime juice and cayenne pepper.

2. Gently fold in mint leaves. 3. Sprinkle with salt and serve.

Inspired by Food & Wine magazine

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WWW.SYNERGYTHERAPEUTICGROUP.COM (618) 529-4360 1110 N. CEDAR CT. • CARBONDALE, IL 62901

INSIDE PTA Claire Bernhardt Shares Her ‘Origin Story’ 1 The Exercise Venue That Will Keep You Cool and Fit Must-See Swimming Holes of the World 2 The Power of PT for Pregnant Women Watermelon Salad 3 Hear From Our Clients! 4 THERAPEUTIC GROUP SUCCESS STORIES

“I broke my hand sparring with a Golden Gloves champion. I swung my right hand to hit him with a hook, and because I did not have wraps on, I broke it on his shoulder. I impacted his shoulder with my fourth knuckle and sheared the sides off my fourth metacarpal at the bottom. I went through surgery and had pins sticking out of my hand for six weeks. After the pins were removed, I needed

“Before coming to Synergy, I had tried PT, chiropractic, massage, injections, and was on the verge of surgery. It was recommended that I have my S.I. joint fused, though no one had really given me an answer as to the exact cause of all my back pain. When I came to Synergy, my pain was consistently an ‘8’ out of ‘10.’

“I was severely depressed due to the constant pain and lack of answers or any real relief. Since my time at Synergy, my pain has been reduced to a ‘3,’ and I have confidence that I will become pain-free. I only take pain medicine once daily, mainly in the morning, whereas before it was around the clock just to function. “My mood has improved and I have regained hope that I can have a pain-free life. My health insurance did not cover my treatment; however, it has been worth every penny paid out of pocket for the relief. I had already spent so much for very minor relief, if any. Synergy was/is money well-spent.” –Lindy P.

occupational therapy to regain my strength. Since I broke my hand up in Chicago, my doctor did not have any contacts down here, so I had to research what therapy center would be good for me. After finding Synergy, I was a patient for three months and was able to regain my flexibility and strength. I am able to do everything I was able to do before thanks to Synergy.” –Mitchell D.

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