Synergy PT's online newsletter for March 2018
THE SPECTATOR
MARCH 2018
Step Into Spring on the Right Foot
I t’s that time of year once again. Spring is in the air and people are feeling spring fever. The weather is just about perfect for going out to soak up the sun — and get a little exercise. For a lot of us, however, jumping into an outdoor activity can take a little conditioning. It’s not necessarily something you want to leap into without preparing yourself to avoid strain and injury. Without the right conditioning, you can be left with minor aches and pains. Whether you go for a brisk walk, a light jog, or a more strenuous activity, having to deal with any aches and pains can be discouraging. They can slow you down and knock you off track. A problem we see as physical therapists is that when people experience aches and pains, they wait too long to address them. Sometimes pain does go away on its own. It’s easy to assume that it will — we’ve all experienced a pain that comes and goes. But when it doesn’t go away, or if it lingers for an unusually long time, that’s a sign of bigger issues. Your level of function can deteriorate, which can also lead to other health issues.
What was once a small problem can snowball into a big problem.
What you can do is use pain to your advantage. That may sound odd, but pain serves a very important function. It comes down to the fact that pain is information. Pain is your body telling your brain that something is “off” or wrong. When you go for a jog or workout, and then experience pain afterward, a physical therapist can identify the potential problem. When it comes to pain in the muscles and joints, a PT is trained to hone in the true source of that pain. From there, we can help you eliminate the pain and restore functionality. This is one of the reasons why complimentary screenings are really beneficial. When you experience an odd ache or pain, you can come in for an obligation-free screening. Sometimes, people worry that if they see a PT for pain, we’ll make them stop doing their favorite activities, or at the very least, have them scale back their activities (such as biking, jogging, or swimming). The truth is, our job is
to help support you in exercise and movement. The last thing we want to do is restrict you. Physical therapy is all about support. We’re here to help you get back out there doing what you love, and doing it safely. This spring as you take off on your next adventure, don’t let pain stand in your way. If you have questions or concerns, or if you are already experiencing aches and pains, give us a call. We’re ready to help and to get you conditioned for all your favorite spring activities.
Kira Boyd
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910.238.2259
Achieving Your Goals ... TOGETHER
How a Balanced Media Diet Bolsters Child Development Wait — Screen Time Is Good for Kids?
account is the content of the electronic media.
allowing them to apply the lessons of technology to real life, and even after that, the APP recommends that media consumption should be limited to “high- quality programming, such as the content offered by Sesame Workshop and PBS.” But for kids ages 5 and up, parents should avoid banning screen time outright, but function as their child’s media mentor. Instead of decrying time spent building complex structures in “Minecraft” as hours that could be spent on the soccer field, we should set expectations and boundaries to ensure that children can deepen their experience of the world through media, not hamper it. The problem starts not with the screen itself, but when the consumption of media becomes problematic, replacing regular face-to-face interactions and physical activity. But with a balanced media diet, kids can have the best of both worlds.
If a child spends two hours a day bingeing episodes of “The Big Bang Theory” or screaming obscenities into a headset while playing “Call of Duty,” it’s going to negatively impact their experience of the world along with their mental and physical health. But not all content is created equal. In the past, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended strict limits on electronic engagement for kids, following the old line of thinking that any kind of screen time would be better spent climbing a tree or running in the backyard. But in October of 2016, they offered new recommendations for parents. For infants and young toddlers, the research still sides pretty heavily against the use of iPads and television. Before 18 months of age, a child lacks the cognitive capabilities
I f you Google the effects of screen time on children, you’re sure to be bombarded with horror stories. Numerous articles claim that, beginning in infancy, the more time a child spends in front of a TV, phone, or computer, the worse their developmental outcomes will be. At first glance, the research is utterly conclusive. It seems we should throw out every TV in our house, smash our kids’ smartphones, and usher our children into the great outdoors as soon as possible. But what most of these studies fail to take into
TESTIMONIAL
All of our testimonials are special and mean so much, and this week we are featuring an athlete from the community who has a lot of ties to Synergy. He stopped in to tell us some great news regarding his academic and athletic careers. He has a lot to look forward to. Here’s what he had to share: “My time at Synergy was great. Everyone here really cares and wants you to get better. My last time here, I worked through a shoulder injury, and without the help of Synergy, I don’t think I would have had the success that I did. Without that success, I wouldn’t have gotten the attention of Wisconsin-Lutheran College. WLC is a small school, but it has everything I want academically, and the coaches really want me there. I attribute some of what made me appealing to these coaches to working hard both at Synergy and in high school. My experience here does give me a bit of a head start as I pursue my degree in exercise science.” –Errick Brooks 2 www.synergyptnc.com
All About Cold Laser Therapy Feel the Chill
No, you won’t really feel a chill. It’s simply a name we use for a type of laser to differentiate it from the standard “hot laser,” which is used for tasks like precision cutting. Cold lasers are often used to heal nerve endings and cell degeneration. Cold lasers operate by firing light at a specific wavelength, which is much shorter than the wide wavelength of a standard laser. The light emitted by a cold laser mimics the healing power of UV light generated by the sun, and it speeds up the cell’s natural recovery process.
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Reducing swelling caused by bruising or inflammation of joints to improve joint mobility Minimizing scar tissue formation after tissue damage due to trauma, cuts, scratches, burns, or surgery Increasing metabolic activity to help your body release specific enzymes, increase oxygen to blood cells, and encourage more effective immune responses Improving vascular activity by stimulating lymph and blood circulation to allow the tissue to maximize circulation Strengthening the immune system by increasing levels of white blood cell activity
Is cold laser therapy safe?
The use of cold laser therapy is FDA- approved, and it’s used for a number of different medical applications. You’ll find cold lasers used in dermatology, pain management, and sport medicine. Additionally, cold laser therapy is not painful or uncomfortable. Chances are you won’t feel a thing during treatment. At most, you may feel a slight tingle. The use of a cold laser works as a great addition to many therapies or as a stand-alone service. Some instances when cold laser therapy is not appropriate include when pregnant or breast- feeding, carcinoma, fever (greater than 100.4 degrees F), hemorrhages, or with a pacemaker. Your therapist will help determine if treatment is an option.
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How are cold lasers used?
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Relieving pain as a result of increased endorphin release
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Creating shorter healing times, which may be less than one-third to one- half as long as treatment without the laser therapy
Zesty Zucchini
Laughter Is the Best Medicine
ENCHILADAS For a lighter take on enchiladas, go carb-free by swapping tortillas for zucchini! Ingredients
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4 large zucchini
1 tablespoon olive oil or ghee
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2 teaspoons chili powder
1 large onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced
3 cups cooked, shredded chicken
2 cups shredded cheese
2 teaspoons cumin
1 cup prepared enchilada sauce
Instructions
1. Heat oven to 350 F. In a large skillet, heat oil. Add onion, garlic, cumin, chili powder, and salt to taste. Stir to combine. Add chicken and 1 cup prepared enchilada sauce. 2. Use vegetable peeler to thinly slice zucchini. Lay out three slices, slightly overlapping, and spoon chicken mixture on top. Roll the zucchini “tortilla” and place on baking sheet. Repeat until all zucchini and chicken is used.
3. Cover the enchiladas with remaining sauce and sprinkle with cheese. Bake 20 minutes, and enjoy!
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Adapted from delish.com.
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
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Start Your Next Adventure on the Right Foot
When Screen Time Is Good for Kids Testimonial What You Need to Know About Cold Laser Therapy Go Carb-Free for Dinner
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Are You Keeping Up With Your Goals?
Keeping UpWith Your New Year’s Resolutions
March is the month of springtime and rejuvenation. It’s also the time when most people have forgotten about the resolutions and goals they set earlier in the year. Have you neglected or given up your goals? If you have, you are far from alone. Most people let their goals fall to the wayside at least by March, if not long before. It comes down to four simple reasons.
hobby, but they don’t define their goals any further. Vague goals aren’t really goals at all. The best way to stay on track is to be as specific as possible. Understand what you need to do to accomplish your goals. Make sure you have access to the appropriate resources that will help you make progress. Resources come in all forms. Look to the people around you for accountability — your family, friends, neighbors, or colleagues. If you don’t want to involve anyone else, keep a notebook or diary to track progress. Or if you are learning a new skill, such as a foreign language for a trip next year, the resource you need may be an app on your phone. When you bring specific goals together with the necessary resources, achieving your dreams becomes more possible than
ever before. You just have to take steps to avoid falling into the mistakes listed above. Set attainable concrete goals, track your progress, and check in with someone to keep you accountable. Since it’s been a few months, take a moment to review how far you’ve come since January. What do you need to do to make 2018 your best year yet?
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They set goals that were out of reach or unrealistic.
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They had zero accountability.
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They set abstract goals.
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They didn’t track progress.
Setting goals is the easy part. A lot of people say they want to lose weight, eat better, learn a new skill, or try a new
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