North County Water & Sports Therapy Center May 2019

‘HEY, ALEXA!’

3 WAYS A VIRTUAL ASSISTANT CAN HELP GET YOUR KIDS READY FOR SCHOOL

Even though parents and kids everywhere are getting close to celebrating the last day of school this year, school day mornings are difficult no matter what season it is. Do you feel like you’ve run a marathon by 9 a.m. every day? Rest assured that you’re not alone. Mornings are often the most hectic and stressful part of a parent’s daily schedule. Fortunately, there is an inexpensive and popular device that can help take some of the pressure off your morning routine and get your kids to the bus on time: Amazon’s virtual assistant, Alexa!

ALARMS OF

pack lunches or grab homework, and then all you have to do is ask, “Alexa, what are my reminders?” She will run down the list, so you can hit the road early without the nagging feeling that you left something behind. MAKE IT A GAME “Out the Door” is an interactive Alexa game that turns getting ready for school into an adventure for younger children. Each day, kids are given a new superpower and have to defeat a different creature as they complete “missions,” which include tasks like brushing their teeth and getting dressed. It makes the process of getting ready for school exciting and gives kids an incentive to fulfill their responsibilities. If you don’t already have an Echo Dot, you can find them at most major retail stores. Make your mornings less stressful by starting with “Hey, Alexa” and going from there.

ALL KINDS You can place an

Echo Dot in your kid’s room and set an alarm that wakes them up

to the weather report, a standard alarm sound, or their favorite tunes. You can also program Alexa to turn on a compatible bedside lamp so they wake up to light instead of sound, which offers a more calming way to wake up. If your kid decides to catch a few more z’s and ignore their alarm, you can use some of Alexa’s other features, like Drop In and Intercom, to start a two-way conversation or send announcements to all the kids’ rooms in the house. REMINDERS AND LISTS Alexa can also help you check off items from your family’s morning to-do lists to minimize the chaos of weekday mornings. You can create reminders to

PATIENT SUCCESS STORY

LYNDA’S PT EXPERIENCE

There is no greater compliment we can receive than one that comes from a patient. Every aspect of our practice prioritizes patient care above all, so plaudits from the people we serve mean the world to us. One of our recent patients, Lynda Clark, was kind enough to relay her experiences working with Dr. Tori Williams. Here, in her own words, is Lynda’s story. I came to PT after knee surgery with the goals of removing scar tissue and increasing my mobility. After the surgery, I wasn’t able to perform normal activities, like housework, walking the dog, or playing with my grandchildren. My therapy has improved my mobility to the point where I don’t notice my knee at all anymore. The most important things I learned were how muscle strength helps my knee health and not to be afraid of pushing to gain strength. During every exercise, Dr. Tori explained how the exercise helped, what muscle group it targeted, and how it applied to everyday situations. That piece is what motivated me to work hard.

within the confines of our office. If you can’t translate what you do in therapy to the real world, it’s not much use at all. We always guide our patients with an eye toward improving their quality of life. As Lynda mentions, it’s more practical that way, and it increases the patient’s engagement in the process. Dr. Tori, thanks for providing exceptional care to another of our wonderful patients. We think it’s fair to stop saying you’re new at this point. You’re too good at your job to be considered a rookie anymore.

–Lynda Clark

Thank you for the kind words, Lynda. Your last sentence brings up an excellent point about the physical therapy process here at North County Water & Sports Therapy Center. Our goal is never for a patient to excel only

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