TheraFit Newsletter
THE NEWSLETTER ABOUT YOUR HEALTH AND CARING FOR YOUR BODY
MELINDA KAY HANSON PT, DPT GETTING TO KNOW THE THERAFIT PHYSICAL THERAPY TEAM!
Kay is an Army Veteran serving in Desert Shield/ Desert storm. Her time in service is where she met someone who introduced her to the idea of a career in physical therapy. She graduated Cum Laude from Georgia State University in 1996 and received the “Clinical Excellence” award, chosen by her professors and clinical instructors. She completed her Doctor of Physical Therapy in 2011 from A.T. Still University in Mesa, AZ. Kay is a proud mother of 2 extraordinary daughters. Her eldest, Savannah attends Troy University and first year nursing student. Her youngest, Michaela, nicknamed and favorite name Lulu, is a pre-nursing student at UA. Kay attends St. Mary’s of the Visitation Catholic Church and an avid participate along with her girls at the Church of the Highlands. Kay and her daughters are former triathletes. Kay, her girls and her fellow therapists at TheraFit all are role models for others to push towards an active, healthy lifestyle. TheraFit’s Motto “Where Patients are Family” is supported by having a laid back but professional atmosphere. It is a place where your greeted by name, hugged, cared for, smiled at, laughed with, cried for and just loved. We continue to strive to help you even when you don’t feel like helping yourself. We continue to try to guide you towards the best physical version of yourself. It is a team approach and can only be done with a good medical team, honest effort, consistency, faith, and time. We welcome positive and critical feedback because our long-term goal is betterment and empowering us all.
M. Kay Hanson PT, DPT opened TheraFit Physical Therapy in November 17th, 2003. After working in home health for 7 years in the North Alabama area, she recognized a need for an outpatient physical therapy center in the Meridianville/Hazel Green area because people were traveling 15 plus miles to the nearest outpatient facility. This distance was a hardship for many of her elderly patients. She credits her final decision to leave her job and pursue private practice to her father in law and mother in law. She said they believed in her work ethic and pursuit of making people “better”. Kay reports God has given her gifts for the love of people and being a good diagnostician-seeing the details that may be causing physical pain outside of the obvious. Kay expanded TheraFit Physical Therapy in 2014 to Park City/Fayetteville, TN where she brought another choice for quality physical therapy. She believes TheraFit’s 15 years of success first and foremost is God’s guidance in her decisions even when she was the most unsure, the long-term wonderful staff, and the long-term patients that believed in TheraFit’s team approach for quality and personal care. Our patient’s personal testimonials to others have been the best marketing tool we could have ever asked for over the last 15 years.
INSIDE : • Overcome Back Pain
• Exercise Of The Month • Patient Success Spotlight
• How To Take Care Of Your Back
THE NEWSLETTER ABOUT YOUR HEALTH AND CARING FOR YOUR BODY NEWSLET TER
Back pain can hinder your day-to-day activities. Left untreated, it can even lead to long-term joint, spine and nerve damage. As one of the most common physical complaints, over 80 percent of the U.S. population will suffer from it at some point in their lifetime.The pain itself can hinder your ability to reach, lean, kneel, lift or bend. It can also hinder your time spent with friends and family. Direct pain aside, minor aches and cramps associated with a back pain problem can make you irritable—ruining your good time. What Causes Back Pain? A few things cause back pain. The American Physical Therapy Association covers each of these, but the following can contribute: • Spinal and core muscle weaknesses • Bad posture • Spinal muscle and tissue damage • Improper lifting form • Limited hip, spine and thigh muscle flexibility • Bad abdominal, pelvic and back muscle coordination Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t seek treatment when back pain arises. Before they know it, they have a big problem. They might assume nothing— except for medication—can solve their back pain problem. Medication might mask the pain, but it won’t cure the problem’s root cause. Back Pain Solutions You’re in luck: Back pain can be cured! PhysicalTherapy is the best starting point on your journey to wellness. A physical therapist at TheraFit Physical Therapy can assess your back and determine if you are appropriate to start a physical therapy program or if you need further medical evaluation and imaging. Most patients are appropriate to begin OVERCOME BACK PAIN AND GET MOVING AGAIN! I S BACK PAIN SLOWING YOU DOWN? INSIDE : • How To Take Care Of Your Back • Healthy Recipe
• Exercise Of The Month • Patient Success Spotlight
physical therapy. Our physical therapist will perform a response based mechanical assessment to classify your back condition and get you started on the correct movements right away. This needs to be customized to the patient. The good news is that with appropriate assessment and a guided exercise program, a majority of patients can rapidly reduce their back pain in a short period of time. These patients can also be taught how to prevent future recurrences of pain. A comprehensive program of education, exercise, and manual therapy will often produce excellent results and get you back to doing what you love. Back Pain Prevention A little prevention goes a long way. If you want to avoid future back pain, you can make sure you’re being good to your back. Lift Properly You pick things up constantly. Even if you’re lifting something light, make sure you’re facing the object. Squat, keeping your spine straight. Lift with your leg muscles, as this will reduce the pressure placed on your spine. Use Good Posture When you’re standing, imagine a string is attached to the top of your head—lifting you up. This will keep your hips, spine, shoulders and neck aligned. If you’re sitting, don’t slouch. Use StrengthTraining Your body has hundreds of muscles. These muscles protect and control your spine. By lifting weights, running and swimming, you can keep them strong. Train your core muscles. In doing so, you’ll easily control quick, lifting movements. It never hurts to visit a physical therapist, either. Get regular check-ups, and make sure your body is in good condition. If you have a history of back injuries, pain or minor aches, don’t hesitate to talk to a physical therapist at TheraFit Physical Therapy. You deserve a pain-free life, and your back will thank you.
www.therafital.com
SUPPORTED BRIDGE Lie on your back with knees bent and feet hip distance apart. Place your feet close enough so they can be touched by your fingertips. Inhale and lift the hips, place a block under the sacrum. Keep the chest open. Hold for 30 seconds and repeat 10 times. Strengthens Core www.simpleset.net EXERCISE OF THE MONTH Try this movement if you are experiencing back pain.
How to Take Care of Your Back
1. Make Good Posture A Habit When you are standing, feel that the weight in your feet is going through your arches. Stack your knees over your ankles, your pelvis over your knees, and your shoulders over your pelvis. Let your head be in a relaxed position without your chin poking forward. Good posture doesn’t mean holding yourself up like you’re in the army. You should be comfortable, though it might still take time to get used to a new posture, even if it’s a better one. While sitting, make sure you’re using the backrest without your shoulders slouching or your head far forward and your feet are on the floor. 2. Lift Properly Picking things up is a normal part of our day. Even if you pick up something light, your back muscles have to lift the weight of your upper torso and control that movement. Make sure you always face what you need to pick up, squat keeping your spine straight and push with your leg muscles. This helps reduce the excessive pressure on your spine. 3. Stay Flexible Flexibility is key to maintaining a healthy back. By keeping your body flexible, the normal forces of movement and lifting can be distributed across the spine, rather than focused on a few segments, which can then fail. An easy stretching routine every day can keep you feeling great and put a spring in your step. 4. Stay Strong You have hundreds of muscles, which control the movement of your spine. Major muscles that support the spine are called your core and include your abdominal, pelvic, spinal and hip muscles. By keeping your core muscles strong, you support your spine and have the ability to easily control lifting, quick movements, bending and a lot more. 5. Physical Therapy Our physical therapists are experts in evaluating spine and body movement. Byhavinga regular checkup, youcanmakesureyourbody is ingoodcondition to tackle the activities you love. If you have a history of back pain, injury or are currently experiencing aches and pains, we can analyze your problem and construct a treatment program that will work best for your individual problem. With soothing hands-on therapy and targeted exercises, we can help you return quickly to feeling your best. Even if you suffer from severe pain, we can help you get out of pain and living the life you deserve. Call us today to schedule an appointment.
No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Balls HEALTHY RECIPE
INGREDIENTS • 2 cups of old-fashioned rolled oats • ½ cup of ground flax seed • 1 tablespoon of black chia seeds • 1 teaspoon of cinnamon • ½ cup of raw honey • ½ cup of peanut butter • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract • 1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder • ½ cup of dark chocolate chips
INSTRUCTIONS 1. Add rolled oats, ground flax seed, chia seeds, cinnamon, honey, peanut butter, vanilla extract, and vanilla protein powder to food processor. 2. Pulse until ingredients are blended (about 7-9 times). 3. Add mixture to a large bowl, add in chocolate chips. Stir to combine. 4. Form energy bite mixture into 1” balls and place on parchment paper lined baking sheet. 5. Cover and place in refrigerator for 2 hours. 6. Serve!
CALL US TODAY IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING BACK PAIN
3 Healthy Tips For The New Year
Patient Success Spotlight
1. Shop Well For Yourself - It is more important then ever to stock your kitchen with healthy foods. Have healthy snacks handy. The more convenient they are, the more likely you are to eat them. Instead of thinking about what you shouldn’t eat, promise to eat your 3 to 5 servings of vegetables each day. 2. Schedule Your Exercise - Your schedule will be very hectic this year, like every year. Schedule your workouts just as you would any other appointment. It’s okay if you can’t make it to class, but make sure that you get some activity in at least three days per week. 3. Hydrate - Keep your water bottle with you at all times. You should be drinking eight, 8-ounce glasses of water each day. One handy trick is to buy a 64 ounce water jug. Fill it up in the morning and know that you need to finish it by the end of the day.
“I hate to think how long I would have been hurting if Kay had not been so knowledgeable...” “I would recommend Therafit Physical Therapy to anyone who needs therapy! I went in for therapy because I had been told for TWO YEARS that all my pain was caused by disks in my back. On my first visit with Kay she knew my problem was in my hip not my back. She asked for an X-ray of my hip and less than 3 weeks later I was back for therapy after a total hip replacement. I hate to think how long I would have been hurting if Kay had not been so knowledgeable and ask for the x-ray. The entire staff in Park City is wonderful. They really do treat you like family!” - Martha P.
Meet The Staff
Coupon Corner!
“THE MANY EMOTIONS THAT YOU FEEL AT THERAFIT PHYSICAL THERAPY!”
THERAFIT FITNESS FIGHT THE HOLIDAY WEIGHT GAIN WITH A $5 OFF COUPON The average person will gain up to 5 lbs over the holiday months. WE OFFER 2 CONVENIENT LOCATIONS
Top Row (left to right): Dawn Beard, Ashley Vaughan, Kaleigh Patterson, Kay Hanson, Nicole Reese Bottom Row (left to right): Colleen Durham, Carly Howell, Angel Purser, Donna Ostrzycki
PARK CITY, TN 931-557-5030
HAZEL GREEN, AL 256-829-9544
CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION
Call to schedule. Good Until February 28th
www.therafital.com
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