Synergy PT's online newsletter for April 2018
THE SPECTATOR
APRIL 2018
A Choice for Better Care
“The choice is yours!” You may have heard us use this phrase recently, and we use it for good reason. Often, we hear from people who feel they have been blindly led down a medical path they did not wish to take. But when it comes to your health and the care you receive, the choice really is yours. It’s not uncommon for doctors to suggest “their guy” to patients. You go in with muscle or joint pain, and they refer you to a surgeon, a physical therapist, or another orthopedic specialist they’re familiar with. Giving you a referral is a great next step, but the lack of patient choice is far from ideal. Your doctor may matter-of-factly say, “See this person,” and nothing else. There is no conversation about alternative options. But you do have options, and there should be nothing keeping you from initiating a conversation with your doctor about them. Maybe you have had a good experience with Synergy in the past. You’ve considered scheduling an appointment, but you want to consult with your primary care provider first. Now is the right time to have that conversation. We collaborate with physicians within our community all of the time. We will be happy to collaborate with your physician to discuss the specific type of therapy they want for you. If your doctor suggests a different PT, but you’d feel more comfortable taking the recommendation of a trusted friend or
family member, you have every right to say, “I want to go to Synergy.” It’s that simple. But your options don’t end there. We’ve talked about it in past editions of the newsletter, but it’s worth bringing up again, especially if it saves people time and money: In most cases, you don’t have to have a referral from your primary care physician to start physical therapy. I’m talking about North Carolina’s Direct Access law. Just as you can make an appointment to visit your family doctor or dentist, you can do the same with your physical therapist. You may have to work out a few details with your insurance provider, but it’s generally a straightforward process. If you have questions about this, just give us a call! We can answer all your direct-access queries. One of our goals here at Synergy is to be your family physical therapist. It may sound like an odd concept, but our treatments can make a big difference to every member of your family. We recognize just how powerful physical therapy can be. Whether you struggle with back pain, a lack of flexibility, or balance issues, we can help. We’ve had conversations with folks who were unsure about physical therapy. Much of their trepidation came from bad experiences in the past. We ask, “Have you been to physical therapy before?”
And we hear that all-too-common answer, “Yes, but it didn’t work.”
The truth is, not all PT clinics are the same. On paper, they may seem to offer the same or similar services, but in practice, the way they offer services can be very different. Some patients may visit a single clinic, be unhappy with the results, and decide the whole practice of physical therapy is not for them. We hear stories like this all the time, but treatment should not be written off so hastily. We’re big believers in doing more for patients. From being hands-on with therapy to serving as educators on the “how” and “why” behind a treatment, we’re truly here to make a difference. You can’t be handed a list of exercises and expect results. The more involved we are from beginning to end, the better your results will be. Here’s the bottom line: When you need a physical therapist, you want the clinic that will serve you best. You want to be comfortable, and you deserve to really know and trust the people who are giving you care. This is why we tell people they have a choice. We’re here for you when
you choose us to be your family physical therapists!
– Kira Boyd
1
910.238.2259
Achieving Your Goals ... TOGETHER
An Action-Packed Workout in Half the Time HIIT It
Each interval in a HIIT workout is designed to push you to the max for a brief period of time — “short bursts of very hard work,” explains SELF magazine. Intervals may be as short as 20–90 seconds, enough time to make you breathe really hard (and burn a lot of fat) if you’re going all-out. Another key component of HIIT is resting between intervals so you can be ready to kick it up again in 20 seconds.
allow your body time to recover and get back up to speed for your next workout. In addition, consult your doctor before beginning a new workout program to make sure it’s safe for you. You can try this workout at home. Since there’s little to no equipment involved, HIIT can be a great workout to try at home. There are many HIIT programs you can follow on YouTube fitness channels or sites like Self.com. Invite a friend to join. If you prefer a group atmosphere, many gyms have classes that incorporate HIIT principles for a fast-paced fat-burning workout. HIIT may have health benefits beyond burning fat. A study by the International Journal of Epidemiology found that women who did intense activity for just 1–2 minutes a day reduced their risk for osteoporosis.
H IIT promises an effective workout in under an hour, and it ranked third in the American College of Sports and Medicine’s worldwide survey of top fitness trends from 2017. What’s HIIT all about? One of the biggest fitness crazes to take gyms and backyards by storm in the last few years, high-intensity interval training, better known as HIIT, packs a lot of punch into a short amount of time. Unlike weightlifting and grueling gym sessions, HIIT is designed to burn fat in a minimum amount of time.
Ready to do a HIIT workout of your own? Here are a few tips.
You can have too much of a good thing. While there are many benefits to this workout, it shouldn’t be your only exercise, and doing it too often will actually prevent you from making progress. Trainer and exercise physiologist Franci Cohen recommends trying HIIT three days a week with moderate cardio days between to
What Our Patients Are Saying
“I was referred to Synergy by my orthopedic doctor to help reduce pain in my hip caused by scoliosis. Before treatment, I had severe pain when performing daily activities like walking and climbing stairs. After working with Liz for a short time, my pain began to decrease. Within two months, it was completely eliminated. I am overjoyed to have the pain removed from my daily life and feel like I am armed with enough instruction on home exercise to keep the pain away for good! I highly recommend Synergy! The entire staff is amazing and really makes you feel at ease.” –Nema Triplett
2
www.synergyptnc.com
What Kind of Stretch Is Best for You? Dynamic or Static
There’s nothing quite like a good stretch. It gets muscles moving and is a necessary part of warming up before exercise. One of the biggest mistakes people make while exercising is skipping the stretch. This kind of warmup helps you prevent injury and get more out of your exercise. But here’s the thing: Not all stretches are created equal. Some types of stretching are better suited for certain activities. One common type of stretching is referred to as the static warmup. A static stretch works to lengthen the tissue for an extended amount of time, generally about 30 seconds. The goal is to release tension in the muscle and prevent any tearing, strains, or other injuries to the tissue.
Another type of stretch is known as the dynamic warmup. This is what most athletes do before working out. Picture football players doing agility drills, lunges, trunk rotations, and jogging. These movements are generally low-impact and help to increase blood flow and activate the central nervous system — two key components of getting ready for physical activity.
Dynamic stretching helps decrease injury while increasing performance. Static stretching, while important after a workout, is not the best warmup. It can decrease central nervous system activity and blood flow. These are good components for post-workout recovery, but counterproductive for what you want out of a warmup. The next time you prepare to work out, play sports, or engage in some physical activity, try the dynamic warmup. Incorporate shoulder rolls, lunges, trunk rotations, and jumping jacks into your routine. Find what works best for you. If you have any questions or concerns, or you’re not sure where to start, let us know. A physical therapist can guide you to the best warmup and exercise outcome.
This is the kind of stretch most of us learn in middle school PE.
MINT
Laughter Is the Best Medicine
Pea Soup With the beautiful spring weather, peas will soon be ripe enough to slip out of their pods. In honor of the season, this recipe pairs peas and pearl onions with mint to make a refreshing soup. Ingredients
• • • •
3 pearl onions, diced 3 tablespoons olive oil
•
3/4 cup fresh mint, plus more for garnish
6 cups fresh or frozen peas 5 cups vegetable stock
• • • •
1 tablespoon agave nectar
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt to taste
Pistachios for garnish 1. Place pot on stove over medium heat. Add olive oil. Add onions and cook until translucent. 2. Add peas and stock. Cook until peas are just tender and still bright green. Remove from stove and allow mixture to cool for 5 minutes. 3. Put the mixture in a blender. As you blend, add mint, agave, lemon juice, and salt. 4. Once blended, pour into a bowl, garnish with mint and pistachios, and serve! Instructions
This soup can be served hot or chilled.
3
Adapted from mynewroots.org
910.238.2259
Achieving Your Goals ... TOGETHER
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
233 E. Bell Fork Rd. Jacksonville, NC 28540
IN S I DE
1 2 3 4
When the Choice Is Yours
What HIIT’s All About Our Patients Say It Best
The Best Kind of Pre-Workout Stretch Spring Greens Soup
Have You Tried This Natural Healing Remedy?
EARTHING: Sleep Like You’re on Vacation
Have you ever fallen asleep on the beach after swimming in the ocean? If you have, you know it’s the most restful and relaxing sleep imaginable. You might have thought it was just the result of warm sunlight and vacation vibes, but research suggests you may have been experiencing the effects of a practice called “earthing.” Earthing, sometimes referred to as “grounding,” helps bring our bodies into a natural balance. The theory states that our bodies naturally develop a positive charge. As leading nutritionist Dr. John Briffa explains, “During the normal processes of metabolism, the body generates what are called ‘reactive oxygen species,’ which are commonly referred to as ‘free radicals’ ... Free radicals lack sparks of energy known as ‘electrons.’” When a molecule lacks electrons, it gives off a positive charge.
An unbalanced positive charge contributes to inflammation, which can then cause many chronic diseases, including heart disease. You should balance your natural positive charge with a negative charge. How can you safely expose yourself to a negative charge? Just let your skin touch the earth. Earth gives off a mild electric charge, with plenty of electrons to balance out our overabundance of free radicals. There has yet to be a large-scale scientific study about the benefits of earthing, but current research is promising. One study published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found earthing helps reduce blood viscosity, which is a major factor in cardiovascular disease. Another study in the Journal of Inflammation Research showed that earthing might speed up healing.
Firsthand accounts from individuals who practice earthing often report lower stress levels, increased energy, and better sleep. Many people who practice earthing make it a point to walk outside barefoot on grass, soil, or sand at least once a day. You have to be careful where you walk, as you don’t want to get cut on sharp rocks or broken glass. An alternative to walking barefoot is to use an earthing pad, which can imitate the negative charge of our planet inside your home. Earthing is quickly gaining a following in the health community. If you are looking for a natural way to improve your overall health and sleep better, why not try taking a walk? Just remember to leave your shoes behind.
4
www.synergyptnc.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker