Take a look at our December newsletter!
CAMPUS COMMONS
Christmas is just around the corner and many people will gather around the TV in anticipation of the big day. Watching Christmas movies and television specials like “Christmas Vacation,” “Elf,” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” have become annual traditions for many families. Television shows also have memorable Christmas episodes worth watching this time of year. One of my personal favorites is the Festivus episode from “Seinfeld.” For those not familiar with Festivus, it was a holiday George Costanza’s father created after taking issue with the religious and commercial aspects of Christmas. They used an unadorned aluminum pole instead of a Christmas tree and never put presents underneath. Instead of saying grace or sharing sentimental thoughts, each person would tell everyone else the ways they disappointed them that year. The holiday would finally come to an end after a selected person pinned the head of the household in “feats of strength.” All in all, the celebration was absolutely ridiculous but is still hilarious to this day. That’s the thing with “Seinfeld”; it’s still funny even though many of the references are dated and technology has greatly advanced since then. That’s probably why my kids don’t enjoy it as much as I do. What made “Seinfeld’’ great was that every episode related to a large portion of the population. We could all compare all the main characters and side characters to people we knew. Of course, the show’s versions were over exaggerated, but that didn’t stop us from bringing that humor to our everyday lives. I’ve even briefly thought about selling a similar “SHOWS LIKE ‘SEINFELD’ ARE IMPORTANT TO OUR SOCIETY BECAUSE THEY GIVE US A REASON TO LAUGH, AND THERE IS NEVER ENOUGH LAUGHTER IN THE WORLD.” FIND SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU LAUGH FOR ME, IT’S ‘SEINFELD’
show to Hollywood about my experiences, but I’m pretty sure only other therapists would enjoy it.
Very few shows can make me audibly laugh out loud, but “Seinfeld” does it nearly every time. Episodes like “The Soup Nazi” and the episode where Kramer gets sunburned by the giant chicken sign outside of his window always make me laugh. The ideas are so outlandish but still maintain a level of relatability that other shows struggle to match. Shows like “Seinfeld” are important to our society because they give us a reason to laugh, and there is never enough laughter in the world. In our stressful day-to-day lives, it’s important that we find something we genuinely enjoy, something that allows us to laugh on a regular basis. For me, that’s “Seinfeld.” It’s hard to believe “Seinfeld” ended over 20 years ago when you watch it today. Though technology has changed and our culture has seen huge technological advances, “Seinfeld” is still just as relatable now as it was when it first premiered. The situations may have changed, but the way people react to each unique predicament is still the same. “Seinfeld” excelled at creating hilarious responses to things we have all dealt with. If you’re sitting around the TV this holiday season and are unsure what to watch, I implore you to give Seinfeld’s Festivus episode, “The Strike,” a watch. If you’ve never seen it before, you may find a new favorite show, and for those who have seen it, you will still get a kick out of Jerry, Kramer, George, and Elaine’s crazy antics.
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PHYSICAL THERAPY FOR YOUR NOGGIN Get HelpWith Vertigo, Dizziness, Headaches, and More! Picture a physical therapist in your mind’s eye. What are they doing? You probably imagined them stretching a patient’s arm, helping someone through leg exercises, or massaging away back pain. Are we right on the money? You’re also much more likely to fall and hurt yourself if you’re dizzy, which is dangerous because more than 32,000 older adults die due to falls every year.
Fortunately, PT can help you avoid that worst-case scenario. Depending on the cause of your dizziness, your PT may provide exercises to improve your balance, strength, and flexibility. Certain therapies can even target the network of nerves between your inner ear and eyes that keeps your vision steady. These will make turning your head less disorienting. RECOVER YOUR BALANCE AFTER A CONCUSSION. If you’ve been in a car crash, experienced a sports injury, or hit your head another way, a concussion might be causing your headaches, dizziness, or vertigo. These symptoms can often persist long after you see a doctor, but a PT can give you guidance on safe activities, working with you to restore your balance, strength, and endurance through a customized exercise program. Your therapist might also use manual therapy, massage, and electrical stimulation to reduce your symptoms. Not every physical therapist specializes in treating head injuries and conditions like a neurological physical therapist or vestibular physical therapist does. But even if your PT doesn’t offer these treatments, they can certainly recommend someone in the field! To learn more about the benefits of PT for your noggin, ask about them on your next PT or doctor’s visit.
All of these things are vital parts of the physical therapist’s toolbox, but they don’t give the whole picture. What most people don’t realize is that physical therapy isn’t just for body aches from the neck down. It can also treat head injury and ailments, neurological problems, and more! In many cases, the same techniques that ease your sore muscles and mobilize your joints can also help with headaches, dizziness, vertigo and even concussions. EASE HEADACHES WITHOUT MEDICATION. Physical therapy techniques like manual therapy and exercise have been proven to decrease the intensity, frequency, and duration of headaches. In some cases, PT can eliminate headache symptoms altogether! Your therapist will start by identifying the type of headache you have, then use targeted exercises (including eye exercises!) and other treatments to improve your mobility, reduce your pain, and help you kick medication to the curb. STOP DIZZINESS AND VERTIGO IN THEIR TRACKS. Dizziness and vertigo are terrible symptoms to live with. They can come with nausea, vomiting, anxiety, exhaustion, and even depression. These symptoms make it difficult to walk and do everyday tasks.
3 Major Benefits of Core Exercises
PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES BECOME EASIER. Nearly every physical activity becomes easier with stronger core muscles. Swinging a golf club, grabbing something from a high shelf, and bending over to touch your toes will be much simpler with stronger core muscles. Weak core muscles wreak havoc on a number of daily activities. Athletes will be more prone to injuries and fatigue if their core muscles are not strong enough. Poor posture and lower back pain also plague people with a weak core, and these issues could haunt you for years to come. SAVE MONEY AT THE GYM. People go to gyms because they usually offer a selection of weights and equipment not available in their homes. Most core exercises do not require any type of equipment or even a gym membership. They can be executed in your own house! Doing core exercises like sit-ups, bridges, and crunches are possible for anyone and are great if you don’t have the time or money for a gym membership.
Anyone who has tried to build muscle, lose weight, or develop a well-rounded exercise routine is probably familiar with core exercises. Sit-ups, planks, crunches, and leg raises are great ways to develop a picturesque six-pack, but many more benefits come with improving your core. Here are three of the best you can gain with core exercises. ENJOY BETTER BALANCE AND STABILITY. While people most often associate core exercises with their abdomen, they also strengthen the pelvis, lower back, and hips. Working these specific muscles is one of the best ways to improve overall balance and stability. Better balance helps with everyday activities like climbing stairs and also improves performance in various sports. A good exercise to improve your core and balance is to elbow plank on an exercise ball. This exercise requires no machinery besides an exercise ball, so it’s an option for many people.
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3 TIPS TO ENSURE YOUR PHYSICAL THERAPY IS SUCCESSFUL
ACCURATELY ANSWER QUESTIONS. When you’re first meeting with your physical therapist, it’s normal for us to ask about your medical history, reason for your visit, and goals for your treatment. When answering these questions, be as accurate and honest as possible. Knowing the background of your health will help your therapist set realistic goals for your treatment and allow you to both be on the same page. If you already have goals, let your therapist know what they are before treatment begins. KEEP YOUR APPOINTMENTS. You can’t get better if you don’t show up for your treatment. Once you and your physical therapist have discussed a regular treatment schedule, do your best to stay committed to it. Absences will only hinder your healing. If you skip sessions, your therapy may need to be extended, which means taking longer to get back on the road to recovery. While we may give you exercises to utilize at home, these do not take the place of the actual therapy. ASK ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE. As you proceed with your treatment, you may have questions about certain exercises, so don’t hesitate to ask about them! If your pain persists, you should also bring that up with your therapist. We can only see so much from the outside and need your help to truly understand how you’re feeling and what you’re thinking. Be vocal and don’t be afraid to ask any questions or raise any concerns.
Physical therapy is a necessity for many people who are recovering from surgery or have suffered an injury. It’s a key element to help relieve pain, decrease chances of worsening or aggravating an injury, and improve the overall quality of movement. It’s our goal to get our patients to reach their maximum potential, but we can’t do it by ourselves. It’s a team effort between the therapist and the patient to reach the patient’s desired outcome.
Here are three tips to get the most out of your physical therapy treatment.
TAKE A BREAK
Sloppy Joes
Opt for a little comfort food this December!
Inspired by JoCooks.com
INGREDIENTS
• • • • • •
1 lb ground beef
• • • • • •
1 cup tomato sauce 1 tbsp brown sugar 1 tsp yellow mustard
1 tbsp butter
1/2 onion, chopped
1/2 green pepper, chopped
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce 1 tsp Italian seasoning Salt and pepper, to taste
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup ketchup
DIRECTIONS 1. In a large skillet, melt butter and brown beef over medium heat. 2. Add onion and pepper, stirring occasionally. Cook for 4 minutes and add garlic.
3. Mix in remaining ingredients, then bring mixture to a boil. 4. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. 5. Serve on your choice of bun!
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425 University Ave. #140 Sacramento, CA 95757
INSIDE
THIS ISSUE
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Find Something That Makes You Laugh
Physical Therapy to Help Your Noggin
3 Major Benefits of Core Exercises
3 Tips for Successful Physical Therapy
Sloppy Joes
Reading to Your Children Reaps Benefits Galore!
d i n
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Even at a young age, reading to your children is an important tool to help them grow and learn while sparking their creativity. Your child will help develop their early literacy skills and ability to focus, plus increase their social skills and communication skills. When you begin reading to your child, they gain a greater understanding of the world, which allows them to make sense of the things they see, hear, and react to in their daily lives. But the benefits of reading don’t stop there. IMPROVING LANGUAGE SKILLS Reading to your child when they are an infant can help strengthen their language acquisition skills. If you continue reading as they get older, these skills will only grow. They begin to latch on to spoken communication. Improving their vocabulary and grammar skills through hearing the written word is even more effective than what they gain from everyday conversation. Why? Because the human brain comprehends written communication differently than spoken communication. PREPARING FOR SUCCESS IN SCHOOL According to a study by the American Academy of Pediatrics, more than 1 in 3 American children enter kindergarten without the necessary reading skills to succeed in school. But if you read to your children,
you expose them to new words and help develop their
listening skills as they listen to you read. You can also ask questions about their reading comprehension along the way to ensure they
understand what is happening in the story. These skills are vital to academic success.
IMPROVING YOUR RELATIONSHIP The best way to create a special bond with your little ones is simply by spending time with them, and reading to your child on a routine basis is a great way to do that. Plus, reading stories provides a positive and educational experience where they can talk to you and vice versa. This will help you learn more about your child’s developing interests so you can find new ways to encourage them to learn and explore their passions.
No matter which way you look at it, reading to your children provides a positive experience that will help them grow.
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