Vital Care PT February 2018

Vital Care PT February 2018

MONTHLY

FEBRUARY 2018 WWW.VITALCAREREHAB.COM V ital C are E mployee S potlight MEET KRYSTEN RITTER! (623) 544-0300

Hi everyone! My name is Krysten Ritter, and I am a physical therapy assistant at Vital Care Physical Therapy. I am so excited to share a little bit about my life with you! Although I have only been with Vital Care for about five months now, I feel like I’ve known the team and our patients for a lifetime. I graduated from Gateway Community College about seven years ago with my associates degree. Then, I immediately earned a job at a skilled nursing facility. Most of what I did was neuro-based, which was very interesting to learn and treat, but I was ready to move forward to expand my physical therapy skills and knowledge. Working at Vital Care has been a dream. Not only have I been able to develop my hands- on skills immensely these past few months, Vital Care Patients ENTER TO WIN Find the misspelled word in this newsletter and call (623) 544-0300 for your chance to win a $10 gift card! CALL 623-544-0300

sweethearts, and we’ve been together since we were 16 and 14 years old! We’ve been married for four years now, and we have a sweet 2-year-old son named Everett David. We also have a bloodhound named Luke Skywalker. As a family, we like to take Everett to the park and indoor playgrounds. He’s very active, so he loves being able to run around and burn energy. When Brad and I have a moment alone, we enjoy touring local breweries to find good beer and food. In my free time, I sell a makeup line called Younique. It’s a fairly new company that’s only been around for five years, and I’ve been selling for two years now. Since it’s a side job, I sell when I can, and I really enjoy the opportunity to meet new people and introduce them to a wonderful product. I am looking forward to getting to know more patients this year. Please don’t hesitate to say hello and introduce yourself the next time you are in. I hope you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day. We will see you soon! “I am incredibly happy to be working with a team of people who challenge, educate, and encourage me every day, and I can’t wait to see where this opportunity takes me.”

but I have also been given the opportunity to advance my education. In the near future, I plan on becoming certified in kinesio taping and lymphedema management so that I can be of more help to my team and treat a wider range of patients. I think one of the reasons I am so happy to be working at Vital Care is that I’ve had my eye on the clinic for a while. There is a reason why Vital Care has been so successful in Surprise, and I wanted to be a part of this stellar team for some time. I had actually been searching for a new job during the last three years of my employment at the skilled nursing facility, and at the very beginning of my job search, Vital Care crossed my radar. However, the timing wasn’t right, so I decided to stay at the facility and wait for another opportunity. Thankfully, my patience paid off, and I was able to interview for the assistant position that opened up this past summer. I am incredibly happy to be working with a team of people who challenge, educate, and encourage me every day, and I can’t wait to see where this opportunity takes me. Originally, I am from Phoenix, which is where I met my husband Brad, who works as a diesel mechanic. Brad and I are actually high school

Contest for past and present Vital Care PT patients only.

–Krysten Ritter

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I nvest in Y our G randchild ’ s E ARE 529 PLA

become more conservative as your beneficiary approaches college age. The downside with these sorts of plans is that there will always be risk involved; there’s no guarantee on investment returns. PREPAID TUITION PLANS States and some private institutions have 529 plans available that let you pay for your grandchild’s tuition up front, well before they are ready to head off to college. Some plans guarantee to cover a set amount of future tuition expenses in exchange for a lump sum or payment plan. Other plans allow you to buy “units” or “credits,” which translate to a fixed percentage of an institution’s tuition. Essentially, you pay the cost of tuition today rather than what it will cost by the time your grandchild goes to college. Prepaid plans are far less risky than savings plans, but they aren’t as flexible. They often limit options to state schools or select institutions, though most plans offer some form of reimbursement option if your beneficiary decides to attend another school. College just isn’t as affordable as it used to be. Knowing your options and finding a savings strategy early in your grandchild’s life can help ensure the avenues of higher education stay open for them.

There are many strategies out there for folks who want to invest in their grandchildren’s education. Different options may be more attractive than others depending on your income bracket and the needs of your family. Traditional strategies, like life insurance policies or paying for your grandchild’s schooling directly, only work if you have the capital. Furthermore, those methods can often negatively impact how much financial aid your grandchild qualifies for. Before you commit yourself to one of these paths, it’s worth exploring a third option: 529 saving plans. 529 plans are income tax-free savings plans specially designed to help you invest in a child’s higher education. In general, these are treated favorably by financial aid assessors, meaning you won’t hurt your grandchild’s chances of receiving government grants. There are two broad types of 529 plans: college savings plans and prepaid tuition plans. SAVINGS PLANS College savings plans use one or more investment portfolios to grow your grandchild’s tuition fund. Each portfolio contains a diversified mix of investments curated by the plan’s money manager. Most plans allow you to select from a menu of portfolio options that best fit your goals and risk tolerance. Many college savings plans start aggressive and then W ord on the S treet MARY AND MONA’S STORIES “Thanks to Kacey and all your team for helping me get stronger and get back to doing everyday activities. I really appreciate that I can continue the exercises I learn at home without fancy equipment. Thank you for the great care!” -Mona G. “I came in with serious pain in my hips. I was unable to stand or sit very long without pain. I had to quit walking in the mornings. I am now able to sit, stand, and walk again. Andrea gave me great, relaxing massages that loosened up the tight muscles. I will miss her massages. Thank you, Andrea.” -Mary M.

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S RIGHT FOR YOU?

PHYSICAL THERAPY FOR VESTIBULAR DISORDERS Many people come to Vital Care Physical Therapy complaining of dizziness, vertigo, unsteadiness, and balance problems. A number of factors contribute to these symptoms, but a large percentage are caused by a problem with the parts of the inner ear and brain that help control balance and eye movements. This is known as the vestibular system, and if diseases or injuries damage this system, it can result in a vestibular disorder. Vestibular disorders are common and can affect people of all ages and walks of life. They are most often caused by head traumas, ear infections, aging, illnesses or diseases, medications, or strokes and brain injuries. Symptoms range from mild dizziness and unsteadiness to severe vertigo and can last seconds, minutes, months, or even years. Other symptoms include a spinning sensation, difficulty reading or concentrating, poor balance, disorientation, nausea and vomiting, headaches, sensitivity to bright lights and noises, or poor tolerance of crowds. One specific disorder, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, is caused by misplaced pieces of calcium carbonate material. These crystals occur naturally in the utricle of the inner ear, and when these crystals break off because of head trauma or infection, they can move to the semicircular canals of the inner ear and stimulate nerve endings, causing dizziness. Fortunately, vestibular rehabilitation is an effective treatment for vertigo and dizziness. Treatments vary widely according to diagnosis, but your specific program may include the following: balance retraining exercises; specific vestibular exercises; supervised therapy sessions to monitor progress and continually change the vestibular, visual, and balance systems; and repositioning maneuvers for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. If you are experiencing dizziness, vertigo, unsteadiness, or balance problems, give us a call at (623) 544-0300 to discuss your symptoms and book an appointment.

S weet and Z esty D etox S alad

INGREDIENTS

For the Dressing: • 1 large carrot, roughly chopped • ¼ cup rice wine vinegar • 2 tablespoons olive oil • 1 tablespoon finely chopped ginger • 1 tablespoon honey

For the Salad: • 3 cups chopped kale leaves • 2 cups chopped broccoli florets • 2 cups chopped red cabbage • 1 cup matchstick carrots • 1 cup chopped cilantro • ½ cup toasted slivered almonds • ⅓ cup sliced green onions • 1 diced avocado

• 1 tablespoon white miso • ½ teaspoon sesame oil • Salt and pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. To make the salad, add all ingredients to a large bowl; toss to combine. 2. To make the dressing, add all ingredients to a blender or food processor. Pulse until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper or add extra honey for a sweeter taste. 3. Drizzle dressing over salad and serve immediately.

Recipe inspired by GimmeSomeOven.com.

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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

(623) 544-0300 Fax: (623) 544-0239 www.vitalcarerehab.com

14545 W. Grand Ave. #108 Surprise, AZ 85374

THIS ISSUE I nside Employee Spotlight: Krysten Ritter PAGE 1 Protect Your Grandchild’s Future PAGE 2 Recipe of the Month Physical Therapy for Dizziness, Vertigo, and Unsteadiness PAGE 3

Exercise for 2? PAGE 4

FALL IN LOVE WITH FITNESS T hrough D ance

When you get ready to exercise, the last thing you probably think to wear is a bow tie or evening dress. If that’s the case, then it’s time to broaden your approach to fitness and step out onto the dance floor. The wide world of dance might hold the secret to exercise that you — and your partner — will actually enjoy! Whether you enjoy a romantic waltz, an intimate salsa, or a fun swing, dance promises a full-body workout. Your legs, glutes, back, core, and even arms are engaged when you feel the music. A study from the University of Brighton in England found that dance can burn 600 calories per hour, depending on the intensity of the dance, which is as much as running for an hour! In addition to toning your muscles, dancing also improves balance and coordination. Your brain is engaged as you memorize the steps and spins, a health perk you miss when you’re on the treadmill or lifting weights. Don’t have a partner willing to join you on the dance floor? No problem! Many dance classes anticipate having solo students and arrange for partners to cycle through, so everyone has the opportunity to practice. Of course, ballroom dance isn’t your only option for a fun workout. If relying on a partner isn’t your style, there are plenty of other dance genres you can groove to. Consider trying K-pop (Korean pop music), Zumba, hip-hop, ballet, tap, and even belly dancing, if you’re feeling adventurous.

With dance, exercise becomes an activity you look forward to. You no longer need to treat exercise as a dreaded chore week after week. Even if you have two left feet, remember that dancing is an acquired skill. With a willingness to learn, over time, you could dance circles around Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Get your groove on today and search for dance studios in your area, look for lessons at your local community center, or find instructional videos online and bust a move right in your living room. When it comes to dance, if you’re having fun and moving, you’re doing it right.

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