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(928) 440-3106 | www.ProofPT.com
LETTERS OF PROOF
August 2021
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A BREAK FROM NORMAL, EVERYDAY LIFE
WHY I LOVE WOODWORKING
Hobbies are a great way to express yourself in ways that you can’t necessarily do in your work. They’re a break from normal, everyday life that can help you de-stress and bring you joy — not to mention any other benefits that might be specific to your hobby of choice. In this newsletter, I’ve talked a little about my mountain biking, but I have another hobby that people are sometimes surprised to learn about: woodworking. Woodworking initially appealed to me because it indulged my creativity. I loved taking a simple piece of wood and turning it into something both aesthetically pleasing and functional. I started woodworking when I was a teenager by sometimes helping my dad with carpentry-related projects around the house. I also took woodshop classes for three years in junior high and high school. I actually still have some of the pieces that I made in those early days of woodworking, including a solid oak cutting board, a stool, and a wooden bowl. Today, woodworking is one of the main hobbies that I pursue in my spare time — mostly on the weekends but also maybe on some weeknights if I have time. Usually, if I’m working on a project, it’s something that we need around the house. A few months ago, I finished a big, midcentury modern TV cabinet, and hopefully by the time you’re reading this, I’ll have also made a couple of side tables to match it, along with a modern coffee table for our downstairs living area. I also do a lot of lathe work, making wooden bowls. We use some of them ourselves, but I can also potentially sell them and give them to people as gifts. Over time, I’ve gotten better woodworking tools, and my woodworking skills have improved as well. As it goes with any hobby, though, I still make mistakes and experience setbacks on my projects. When I made our new TV cabinet, I messed up the measurements on a few different parts and had to redo them. Sometimes projects don’t turn out like I want them to. So, I stay flexible, and I think that’s one of
the main qualities I’ve gained from woodworking that has permeated other areas of my life.
Another way I would stay flexible when biking was to just willfully get lost. There were so many trails to follow, with only about a third of them on the map. That could get frustrating sometimes, not knowing the exact route, but a flexible mindset led me instead to think, “Okay, I’m good. What can I learn from this experience?” Similarly, as a physical therapist, when a patient is not progressing like I think they should, I try to stay flexible so I can pivot and find alternative solutions to help them heal. The best hobbies not only give you a psychological outlet, but they also give you skills you can use in other areas of your life. Whether it’s woodworking, mountain biking, photography, or something else, I hope you can find ways to enrich your life with the hobbies that you love! -Dr. Jordan Williams
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WANT TO GET THE MOST FROM YOUR HEALTH CARE? TRY THIS UNDERUSED TOOL
Are there alternatives to consider? Sometimes, the most common treatment isn’t necessarily the best one for you. If you’re hesitant to take a new medication because of the side effects, for example, ask about alternative medications or therapies. Be prepared that some alternative treatment options may require a greater commitment to lifestyle changes to see results. Follow-up question: Asking “Why do you recommend this procedure/medication over the other options?” will help you understand the factors your doctor has considered when making their recommendation to you. What results can I expect, and how long will it take? This is an often-overlooked question. Say you tell your doctor you have back pain, and they recommend physical therapy. You may be expecting to be pain-free ASAP, while they may think that a successful treatment will yield increased mobility and reduced pain over the course of a few months. It’s important to be on the same page about what to expect and how long it will take to see improvements.
When you’re sitting in your doctor’s office feeling unwell — your pain compounded by anxiety from researching your symptoms — it’s easy to assume the worst. You may be worried about whether your insurance will cover necessary medications or procedures and wonder if there are any good options that will actually help. These worries are normal and understandable, but there’s a rather simple way to ease your mind. To feel empowered to make the right health care decisions for yourself or your loved ones, you need to gather information, and that starts with asking good questions. What are the benefits and the risks? To make an educated decision about your health care, you need to know the good, the bad, and the ugly of treatment options your practitioner presents. Since you want to get better, it’s easy to remember to ask how suggested procedures or medications will help. But don’t forget to ask about the downsides, risks, or potential complications.
Pro tip: To humanize the situation and help you understand how to think through a given decision, ask your provider: “What would you tell your family member about the benefits and risks of this procedure if they were considering it?”
A healthy dose of curiosity may be all you need to get more from your health care and feel confident in your decisions.
BY GOING BACK TO SCHOOL STAY SHARP AS YOU AGE
learning entirely new-to-them subjects, like how to speak a foreign language, use a new piece of technology, or make art. Convinced of the benefits but not sure where to turn to learn? Try these two sources. Most colleges are designed with the traditional, 20-something college student in mind, which may not appeal or be a great fit for adults in their 50s, 60s, and beyond. But many universities are starting to cater to an older crowd with lifelong learning programs. One example is the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Washington (UW). UW’s program offers a full course schedule on subjects in the arts, sciences, and current events taught by qualified faculty and provided at an affordable rate. There are over 100 such programs at universities across the U.S. Have a longtime dream to write children’s books? UC San Diego Extension has a certificate program for that! If you’re looking to dive into a single subject or perhaps you’d like to continue working in retirement or shift gears later in your career, certificate programs are a great option. No previous education is required. Most certificate programs are open to all, typically run for less than a year, and easily accommodate part-time learners. Celebrate your years of hard-earned wisdom but commit to keeping your brain young by going back to school this fall.
While you may be happy for the years of wisdom you’ve gained since being in your 20s and 30s, you might be missing the mental sharpness you once had. Why not have the best of both worlds? Scientists have found that the human brain changes with age — neurons fire more slowly, for example, and short-term memory recall can be more challenging — but that we often underestimate our capacity to continue learning as we grow older. Negative stereotypes about aging can reinforce these beliefs. However, new research is showing that older adults who’ve committed to immersive study of a new subject show brain function akin to someone 30 years younger. This goes beyond the tired advice to do a crossword puzzle or work a sudoku puzzle every day. The participants in this research study were
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IS THIS GOOD FOR ME? APPS TO HELP YOU MAKE SMART FOOD CHOICES
Switch It Up FoodSwitch is a mobile app developed by an international health advocacy group, The George Institute for Global Health. Even packaged foods that purport to be healthy can have high levels of salt, sugar, and saturated fat. While valuable information appears on nutritional labels, they can also leave you more mystified than empowered. In that case, simply open the FoodSwitch app, scan the bar code of the item you’re interested in, and get instant nutritional information and options for healthier alternatives. Each item gets a Health Star Rating from .5–5, making it easy to understand where the item falls on the health spectrum and how it compares to other brands. If that item doesn’t meet your dietary needs, let FoodSwitch recommend an alternative. In a Snap If you’re already a dedicated Snapchat user and don’t want to add another app to your phone, you’re in luck. Snapchat has recently implemented a scanning technology powered by the nutrition-tracking app Yuka. While it has similarities to FoodSwitch, the format Snapchat uses lays out the nutritional pros and cons of each item and gives each item an overall rating on the traffic-light system. Green means good to go, yellow means proceed with caution (moderation), and red means reconsider or only eat this item rarely.
Sometimes going grocery shopping can leave you feeling more like a detective than a human just trying to feed yourself and your family. Sleuthing down the snack aisle brings up questions about whether gluten-free means “good” and whether no added sugars means “nutritious.” The foundation of healthy snacking includes fresh fruits and vegetables, but how can you make smart (or smarter) choices when buying packaged snack foods? New smartphone apps mean the answer is just one bar code away.
With these two apps, you can put down your magnifying glass and pick up your smartphone. Making healthier snack choices is right at your fingertips.
TOMATO AND WATERMELON SALAD (YES, REALLY!) Inspired by BonAppetit.com
TAKE A BREAK!
Bon Appétit magazine calls tomato and watermelon “soul mates,” and they’re right! This surprising gourmet salad will be a hit at your next barbecue.
INGREDIENTS
• 1 tsp peppercorns, coarsely crushed • 1 tsp coriander seeds, coarsely crushed • 1/2 tsp cumin seeds • 1/2 tsp turmeric • 1/4 cup coconut oil
2. Combine the watermelon, tomatoes, and feta on a large platter or in a bowl. Drizzle with cooled turmeric oil. Now, simply sprinkle with sea salt and enjoy! • 4 cups seedless watermelon, rind removed and cut into 1/2-inch cubes • 2 heirloom tomatoes, cut into 1/2-inch cubes • 8 ounces feta cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes • Sea salt, to taste
DIRECTIONS
1. In a small saucepan, sauté spices and herbs in the coconut oil for 3 minutes over medium heat to create turmeric oil. Take the pan off of the heat, then let it cool.
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(928) 440-3106 | www.ProofPT.com
460 N. Switzer Canyon Dr., Ste. 400 Flagstaff, AZ 86001
1. WOODWORKING: HOW THIS CREATIVE OUTLET TAUGHT ME FLEXIBILITY 2. HOW TO GET THE MOST FROM YOUR HEALTH CARE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL LATER IN LIFE 3. APPS THAT HELP YOU SNACK SMARTER TOMATO AND WATERMELON SALAD (YES, REALLY!) 4. THE BENEFITS OF SOUND BATHS INSIDE THIS ISSUE
As is the case with many self-care trends like yoga and meditation, what’s old is new again. The latest relaxation practice with ancient roots to make waves in modern times is sound baths. Celebs from Charlize Theron to Laurence Fishburne say they help promote relaxation and reduce stress. Kendall Jenner, who’s been public about her struggles with anxiety and sleep paralysis, also swears by the practice’s healing powers and has even started creating her own sound baths and sharing them on Instagram. While you can create a sound bath experience at home, most practitioners “bathe” at in-person sessions with “sounders” — those who create the soundscape. These sessions typically last 45–60 minutes. The idea behind the sonic experience is that bathers sit or lay in a relaxing position while gently focusing on the sounds they are immersed in. Sounders commonly use singing bowls, chimes, gongs, and other instruments to create a meditative and relaxing vibe. In fact, sounders say the vibrations of some instruments facilitate relaxation by literally changing the brainwaves. Health practitioners put it differently, saying that the practice MEDITATION NOT WORKING FOR YOU? TRY A SOUND BATH
promotes a parasympathetic autonomic nervous system response, aka a stress reduction response. Either way, the practice is a nice alternative to standard sitting meditation, which often focuses on the breath and can be difficult, especially for new practitioners. While there hasn’t been a lot of medical research done to test the efficacy of the practice, it is becoming a more widely used supplemental treatment for stress, anxiety, addiction, and post-traumatic stress disorder. If you get the chance to experience one yourself, try to approach it with an open mind and open ears. You just might be surprised.
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Is Your Pain Holding You Back? Check out these stories of patients who didn’t let pain stop them from returning to the activities they love. Give us a call today so we can help you be pain free too! R
“I am grateful for the help, knowledge, and sincere care from the entire staff here at Proof Physical Therapy. I will always recommend: ‘Best Physical Therapy I have ever seen!’” – Thomas M. “I am biking and running daily, and as always, I leave with a better understanding of my physiology and actions I can take for further improvement and maintenance. Proof rocks!” – Meghan R.
“After dealing with severe foot pain for over a year and being
misdiagnosed by another doctor, I am pain-free in only three months. Now I can hike for miles pain-free! Thank you, thank you Dr. Jordan and Amanda!” –Sheri W.
“In no time, I was back on my feet going to music festivals and concerts, ready to go back flipping off into the sunset back to Vietnam! With much gratitude and adoration, thank you!” –Denise S.
“I have been pain-free for the past two months, and I appreciate Dr. Jordan and Amanda for their approach, patience, and professionalism they show to every client. I’d highly recommend their office to anyone!” –Ksenia H.
“I am able to ski all day, hike with ease, and go about my daily life pain-free. Thank you for helping me get back to 100%!”
“Proof has an awesome staff full of knowledge. I doubt anywhere in Flagstaff can compete.” –Kody R.
–Nicholas W.
Celebrating Patient Success
“Now I am running multiple times a week, biking, standing for as long as I want, and my past injuries haven’t prevented me from taking on any task! I am so thankful for Amanda and Jordan!” –Tatum F. “Jordan and Amanda were very quick to understand my issue while providing deft solutions that eased my pain. Overall, my experience has been educational, and I feel equipped to maintain my health moving forward.”
“Jordan and Amanda have worked with me to clear up the tendonitis in my wrists that has bothered me for years. The healing process has been much shorter than the developing process! I can now open jars and lift heavy things without losing my grip. I am so grateful!”
“After my first session, I already felt relief. I couldn’t believe it! After each session, my pain went down. I loved the environment here, had lots of laughs and am sad to be ‘graduating!’” –Macyn H.
–Shannon C.
– James F.
“Proof worked through the pain with me and had me back up and going quickly. From there, I saw steady improvement and strengthening until I was back to my normal level of activity. The back feels great, and I am looking forward to an active summer.” –Nick H.
“Within a few visits, I could feel the relief. In hindsight, I wish I would have bypassed the months of Chiropractor, X-rays, and MRIs. I would like to send a special thank- you to Dr. Jordan and Amanda for your caring compassion and fixing my back and arm.” –Donna D.
“I feel this has been very helpful and will use what I have learned. Staff is excellent, they care about you and don’t just stick you in the corner and let you go. Other experiences with physical therapy in the past with other providers were the same routines every day.” –Daniel D.
460 N. Switzer Canyon Dr., Ste. 400 Flagstaff, AZ 86001 (928) 440-3106 www.ProofPT.com
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