Take a look at our June newsletter!
JUNE 2023
6358 EDGEMERE BLVD. EL PASO, TEXAS 79925 915-562-8525
11855 PHYSICIANS DR. EL PASO, TEXAS 79936 915-855-6466
Harry and I are thrilled to introduce you to our new physical therapist, Rajeshwari Soni, in this month’s newsletter! She moved from New York City to El Paso to treat our patients. We’re happy to have her because not only is Raji incredibly kind and knowledgeable, but she’s also one of the rarest PTs in Texas. According to the American Physical Therapy Association, only 8 (out of > 16,000) Physical Therapists in Texas are Board Certified in Electrophysiology, meaning they are board certified to perform electromyography and nerve conduction studies (EMG/NCS or "nerve tests") - and Raji is one of them. With her expertise, our team will be able to identify the cause of your pain even more quickly and treat it in record time. If you have a friend or family member who would benefit from PT, please help us spread the word. Meet a Very Special(ized) PT! Raji’s Certification in EMG/NCV Testing Sets Her Apart
–Bonnie Koster
That year, my grandfather suffered a heart attack, and I took him to his physical therapy appointments at the hospital before and after his surgery. It was my first time stepping into a physical therapy clinic and watching PTs with different specializations work. The way they helped my grandfather fascinated and inspired me! Around that same time, I came across this quote: “Doctors add days to patients’ lives, but PTs add life to patients’ days.” I’ve never forgotten it. To this day, those words push me forward. I’m constantly seeking to deepen my knowledge and become more efficient and effective. The more I learn, the more life I can add to your days. I think that’s the best gift anyone can give! –Raji Soni RMSK, MSPT, ECS
Hello fellow Texans! My name is Raji, and I’m happy to be back in the Lone Star State. It’s far from my original home, but it still feels like home. As you may have guessed from my name, I grew up in India and earned my bachelor's in physical therapy there. Due to the great support of my parents and family, I moved to Denton, Texas, in 2008 to pursue my master's degree. I landed at Texas Woman’s University — and immediately fell in love with this state’s culture, weather, food, space, and people! Unfortunately, after I graduated with my master’s in kinesiology with a major in biomechanics, I had to move to New York City for a job opportunity I couldn’t refuse. That cold, busy place was home for me, my husband (Rishabh), and our daughters (Simran and Kiara) for 12 years. But I always dreamed of coming back to Texas. Finally, I’ve returned to where I wanted to be all along. My family truly loves life in El Paso. We enjoy spending time outdoors, so we’ve used every spare minute here to soak up the sun and explore the mountains. Everyone we meet on the trails is friendly, just like my Spine & Rehab Specialists' clinic patients. Speaking of my patients, it has been a great pleasure for me to use my board certifications of electromyography and nerve conduction velocity (ECS), musculoskeletal ultrasound (RMSK), and point of care ultrasound (POCUS) to help diagnose their problems. As you can see, I’ve collected many certifications over the years. My passion for learning new PT skills dates back to when I was a 12th-grade student living in India.
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USING PHYSICAL THERAPY TO TREAT CONCUSSIONS Take a Head-On Approach
In the past, when individuals believed they'd experienced a concussion or started to have concussion symptoms, they visited the emergency room or a medical professional to get a diagnosis and receive treatment. The treatment was rarely extensive. The doctor almost always said to rest. Some may have prescribed a painkiller, but they concluded that rest is the best medicine. Even if symptoms persisted, they would recommend more rest, but now, we’re discovering we can do more to help those who've experienced a concussion. A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that occurs when the brain is violently shaken. Concussions have garnered more attention in recent years due to their prevalence in popular American sports. In the 2022 NFL season, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered two significant concussions and a smaller one. Many questioned whether the Dolphins organization and the NFL handled the situation correctly, likely leading to new concussion protocols in the future. It’s not just athletes who are at risk for concussions, either. Anyone can get one if they have an accident while driving or slip and fall and hit their head. Other than taking the necessary safety precautions while driving, playing sports, and performing everyday activities, there’s not much you can do to prevent a concussion.
However, if you get one, you can do a few things to speed up recovery — like attend physical therapy. Rest will still be a large part of your recovery plan, but we’ll explain why rest is so important. Often, concussions cause an individual to experience muscle weakness or a decrease in physical endurance, but we’ll help you reduce these feelings with an exercise program fit for your needs. Sometimes, an individual might experience dizziness or a lack of balance after a concussion. We can recommend and teach you various exercises to improve your balance. We’ll also inform you about different stretches, strength and motion exercises, and eye exercises to reduce the frequency or intensity of headaches. We put all of this together so you can recover from your concussion quickly and return to your favorite activities. A concussion is a serious brain injury and should be treated as such. Suppose you ignore or fail to notice your symptoms and continue participating in physical activities. In that case, you risk suffering another concussion or experiencing second-impact syndrome, which can leave you with permanent brain damage or worse. If you’ve recently hit your head and are experiencing headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, light sensitivity, memory loss, confusion, or emotional symptoms, visit your doctor to see if you have a concussion. If your doctor diagnoses you with one, we’ll be here to help you on the road to recovery. Do not ignore the symptoms!
2 • www.spinerehab.net
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The Intermittent Fasting Phenomenon SEPARATING HYPE FROM HEALTH BENEFITS
There always seems to be a new dieting fad every couple of months, but one that has stayed around longer than expected is intermittent fasting. Many of us couldn’t imagine
Regardless of which type of intermittent fasting you attempt, you’ll likely notice many benefits within the first few months. Studies have shown that it can improve your
fasting for days on end, but intermittent fasting provides the benefits of fasting without asking us to wait days between meals. Intermittent fasting is a term used to describe eating patterns with differing amounts of fasting. There are three main types. The first and most common type is time-restricted eating, and it’s one of the easiest intermittent fasting diets to stick to daily. Time-restricted fasting has users decide on an eating window lasting between four and 12 hours. If it isn’t during your eating window, you’re actively fasting. The next is the 5:2 diet, which calls for two full
cholesterol levels and help you maintain proper blood sugar levels. Many studies have shown that those who practice intermittent fasting have no problem shedding weight and also keeping it off. Many users report losing 3%–7% of their body weight within eight weeks of fasting. Studies even found intermittent fasting can lower the risk of breast cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and other serious conditions. Does this all sound too good to be true? That’s because it likely is. The Journal of the American Medical Association looked at 108 studies conducted on the alleged
days of fasting each week, with a regular eating schedule for the other five days. Finally, there’s alternate-day fasting, in which users alternate between fasting one day and eating normally the next.
health benefits of intermittent fasting and found that only six were supported by solid evidence. That doesn’t mean the health benefits don’t exist; we just need more research before saying intermittent fasting is as beneficial for our health as its users claim it to be.
DIRECTIONS Need a quick, healthy snack? Check out this protein-packed yogurt bowl. Cherry Chia Greek Yogurt Bowls
TAKE A BREAK!
Chia Seed Jam We suggest making the chia seed jam in advance and storing it in the refrigerator so you can quickly assemble these yogurt bowls all week.
Inspired by HungryHobby.net
INGREDIENTS
Chia Seed Jam • 2 cups fresh sweet cherries, pitted • 3 tbsp chia seeds
Using a potato masher, mash down the cherries. Place a small pot on high heat and add the cherries, chia seeds, honey, and water. Bring the mixture to a boil, then turn down the heat and let simmer for 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Allow jam to cool before using or refrigerate. Greek Yogurt Bowl In a small serving bowl, mix the Greek yogurt with vanilla extract. Top the Greek yogurt with 2 tbsp cherry chia seed jam, hemp seeds, granola, and a few additional cherries, if desired.
• 2 tbsp honey • 1/4 cup water
Greek Yogurt Bowl • 1 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract • 1 tsp hemp seeds • 1 tbsp granola
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
915-562-8525 | www.SpineRehab.net 6358 Edgemere Blvd. El Paso, Texas 79925
1. Meet Raji — Our New Specialized PT! 2. Bounce Back From Your Concussion 3. Fasting Is the Most Lasting Diet Fad Cherry Chia Greek Yogurt Bowls 4. Don’t Let CrossFit Intimidate You INSIDE THIS ISSUE
What do you hope to accomplish when you start a new exercise routine? Many of us aim to become stronger, lose weight, or improve our overall health. What if there was a way to accomplish those goals in six weeks of training? That’s what CrossFit does when properly performed. For those unfamiliar, CrossFit is a form of high-intensity interval training that combines elements of weightlifting, gymnastics, and metabolic conditioning. It was designed in 2000 to help athletes improve their cardiovascular and respiratory endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, coordination, and agility. Since then, many gyms have become fully dedicated to CrossFit programs and classes. Walking into a CrossFit gym or class for the first time can be intimidating. For years, the thought was that CrossFit was intended for bodybuilders and athletes only, but anyone can benefit from these activities if they make a dedicated effort. When you initially begin CrossFit, the best results occur through two or three exercises per week. If you’re already in THE POWER OF CROSSFIT GET IN BETTER SHAPE WITHIN 6 WEEKS
great shape, you can benefit by increasing your frequency, as long as you maintain a rest day between each workout day. If you fail to leave yourself enough recovery time, you’ll overwork your body and become susceptible to injuries. It doesn’t take long to see results once you start a CrossFit program. Many CrossFit classes include some form of weightlifting and resistance training, which will help you build muscle and grow stronger. Since these exercises are often high-intensity, you’ll burn even more calories than you would during a standard workout. Many of the activities will increase your heart rate, which improves cardiovascular health. CrossFit has risks, but you can have a safe and enjoyable workout by taking proper precautions. Don’t push yourself too hard; stop the activity if you notice pain. CrossFit training can be incredibly rewarding and beneficial when done right!
4 • www.spinerehab.net
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