Four Corners Health & Rehab - June 2018

Check out our June newsletter!

PHONE: 352-243-4422

HOURS: MON-FRI 8AM-6PM

WWW.FOURCORNERSREHAB.COM

JUNE 2018

THE TWO BEST KIDS ANYONE COULD ASK FOR Celebrating Mollie and Noah for Father’s Day

O n Father’s Day, kids all over the country give their dads a pair of socks, “Free Hugs Anytime” cards, or fun little crafts they’ve made at school. And, of course, any parent enjoys getting a small token of appreciation from their children. But really, I think for most fathers, the best gift you could ever receive is to see your children succeed and pursue the things they love to do. As we come up on the holiday on the 17th, I’ve been thinking a lot about how lucky I am to have two kids who do just that, passionately involving themselves in all kinds of activities and making me proud every day. Just this year, my 15-year-old son Noah finally achieved his Eagle Scout rank after years of striving and working toward this prestigious designation. To get it, scouts not only need to get 21 merit badges with their own set of stringent requirements, but also organize and steer a huge service project for their community that takes months of intensive work. Last year, Noah approached his old elementary school with a proposal to build them an outdoor weather station classroom, to enable teachers to get young kids learning about the weather in a fun, hands-on environment. It had been something they’d wanted to do for years but hadn’t had the time or resources to

set up. He drew it all up, got it approved by the school, wrangled all the needed equipment, enlisted a bunch of volunteers to build it, and finally set the whole thing up from scratch near the playground. The entire process took 6–8 months and turned out awesome, with a big board, all kinds of cool weather instruments, and an entire structure for teachers to use for their lessons. I was so impressed with him throughout the process, and you can bet that when they finally gave him that medal at the scout ceremony, I was filled with pride. Meanwhile, my 13-year-old daughter Mollie has been deeply involved in her school chorus and theater. She’s loved singing since she was tiny and got involved in those activities really young. And now I get to enjoy seeing her onstage in all kinds of plays and musical theater productions. There was one time in particular when she had a solo. She got up in front of this huge audience and sang her heart out, completely rocking her performance. I’m a guy who’s petrified to even speak in front of a crowd, much less sing, so I’m always amazed to see her confidence and prowess onstage. I’ll sit there in awe and think, “How did I have any part in that?” For Father’s Day, my family and I are usually out on the beach, relaxing along the coast of Anna Maria Island with my

Noah

Mollie

folks from Chicago. It’s always a fantastic time, taking a week or so off just to relax in the sunshine, do some swimming, and just spend time together with the people we care about. But again, it’d be hard for me to be disappointed on the holiday — my kids have already made me the proudest father possible. -Luke Kron, PT Managing Partne

WWW.FOURCORNERSREHAB.COM | 1

PUBLISHED BY THE NEWSLETTER PRO WWW.THENEWSLETTERPRO.COM

IMPROVE COGNITIVE FUNCTION IN MINUTES How Meditation Helps You Maintain Brain Health

M editation has often been touted by New Age gurus as a way to find inner peace and stillness. But what if meditating could reduce the effects of aging on your brain? According to research, taking a few minutes out of your day to meditate may improve cognitive function. As meditation’s popularity has spread, so have studies of the practice. The results of 100 studies examining the cognitive effects of meditation all show evidence of improvements in psychological and cognitive functions. Some of the results are intuitive, such as how meditation helps us deal with stress. But other results are incontrovertible, such as scans showing that meditation causes structural changes in the brain. For people facing age-related changes like memory loss, the results of these tests are especially relevant. The studies point to evidence that meditation can strengthen certain areas of the brain — the prefrontal cortex, the hippocampus, and the amygdala — that weaken as we age.

T oday, more employees work in offices than ever before. But with so many people sitting for long periods at their desk staring into a bright computer screen, we’ve also seen a steady uptick in work-related injuries. While manual laborers often suffer from back problems or bad knees, as an office employee you’re more likely to succumb to a host of injuries we call repetitive strain injuries (RSI). An RSI can manifest in a number of ways, from a back that aches terribly whenever you sit in your office chair, to carpal tunnel syndrome developed after years of typing all day long. As with any kind of injury, the best way to battle pain is preventing the injury in the first place. But how can you do that when you’re forced to work at the office 40-plus hours a week? The first thing you should do is optimize the ergonomics of your workstation. Start with your chair. Make sure it fully supports your back and minimizes awkward postures. Sit with your buttocks all the way back on the seat and your feet flat on the floor, with your knees bent at a 90-degree angle. Ensure your The Prefrontal Cortex Your prefrontal cortex thins with age, which is associated with decreased cognitive function in your later years. However, meditation may reduce this age-related thinning. Dr. Sara Lazar, a neuroscientist specializing in the effects of yoga and meditation on cognitive and behavioral function, reports that long-time meditators don’t show a decline in the thickness of the prefrontal cortex. The Hippocampus Your hippocampus helps you process and form new memories, and it’s very sensitive to stress. In fact, research shows that your hippocampus will shrink in response to stressful situations and chronic stress. The remedy? Meditation. Dr. Lazar’s study showed a positive correlation between meditation and a higher concentration of gray matter in the left hippocampus. The Amygdala Often called the fear center of the brain, the amygdala is triggered by stressful

wrists are straight and are supported by a wrist pad in front of your keyboard. When it comes to those bright screens glaring in your eyes all day, viewing angles are vital. Use monitor risers to put the top third of the screen naturally level with your eyes. If you need to squint, use the zoom function on your applications to make things easier to see. If needed, adjust the brightness of your monitors to reduce eye strain. After everything’s set up comfortably, don’t just sit there all day working away. Make sure to get up from your workstation every hour or so to stretch, take a quick walk, or get a drink of water. These motions may feel like a waste of time, but studies show they can work wonders for your long-term health. Of course, sometimes workplace injuries happen despite all of our best efforts. If you’re suffering from persistent pain in your wrists, neck, back, or legs while you’re sitting in your work chair, don’t suffer in silence. Call the experts at Four Corners Health & Rehabilitation at 352-243-4422 and take the first step toward eliminating pain for good! situations. But unlike the hippocampus, which shrinks in response to stress, the amygdala has been shown to become denser. In one study, people who attended mindfulness meditation classes showed a smaller stress response in brain scans compared to those who did not attend the classes. Meditation may help to decrease the density of the amygdala and therefore increase your ability to handle stress. Of course, in addition to these benefits, there’s a good chance that five minutes of meditation each day will simply make you feel better. People who meditate report an increase in overall well-being. Why not give it a try?

Don’t Get

Injured at Your Desk

THE KEY TO PREVENTING PAINAT THE OFFICE

2 | 352-243-4422

NONPHYSICAL BENEFITS OF PHYSICAL THERAPY It’s not uncommon for physical therapy (PT) to focus on the strictly physiological aspects of your health; after all, the word “physical” is right there in the name. But while PT is an incredible recovery tool, it provides a number of other benefits that are often overlooked. therapy, you push your body to its limits, and the natural effects of exercise will help you sleep better. You’ll also sleep better once pain no longer keeps you tossing and turning at night.

Stress Relief Stress caused by an injury can derail your body’s homeostasis, piling up and creating a catastrophic landslide in your life. By actively participating in regular physical therapy, your mindset will change, and the stress caused by your injury will gradually begin to decrease. Confidence Boost Perhaps the most substantial nonphysical benefit of PT is what it does for your confidence. When you’re on the path to recovery, you don’t have to feel vulnerable anymore. You are in control of your destiny, and that will give you the peace of mind and confidence to achieve your goals.

Emotional Well-Being The emotional impact of PT cannot be overstated. An injury can cause feelings of helplessness, fear, and uncertainty, which can suffocate even the most iron- willed individuals. After a major surgery, it feels defeating to wake up every day with severe limitations. PT helps you take proactive steps toward recuperation, putting the power back in your hands. Sleep Quality Before pursuing physical therapy, many patients experience varying levels of sleep deprivation. This can lead to a slew of other health complications and a decrease in quality of life. When you start physical WITH SUDOKU TAKE A BREAK

proper movement and work through an injury. But if you stick with it and follow your physical therapist’s instructions, you’ll come out the other side feeling better physically and emotionally.

Physical therapy may feel daunting in the beginning as you teach your body to relearn

FATHER’S DAY CHILI LIME CHICKEN WINGS

This Father’s Day, spice up your wings with this zesty recipe that’s sure to please the whole family.

DIRECTIONS 1. Heat oven to 425 F. 2. Rinse wings under cold water and pat dry. Season liberally with salt and pepper, and drizzle with olive oil. Roast on a baking sheet for 25 minutes or until skin becomes crisp and brown. INGREDIENTS • 4 pounds chicken wings • 1 stick unsalted butter, softened • 1 1/4 tablespoons Thai red curry paste • 1/4 cup honey • 1/4 cup soy sauce

• 1 lime, halved • Extra-virgin olive oil • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper • Chopped cilantro for garnish

3. Blend butter, red curry paste, honey, and soy sauce in a large mixing bowl. 4. Toss wings in butter mixture. Squeeze lime juice on top, transfer to serving plate, and garnish with cilantro.

Solution on page 4

WWW.FOURCORNERSREHAB.COM | 3

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

627 8TH STREET CLERMONT, FL 34711 PHONE: 352-243-4422 HOURS: MON-FRI 8AM-6PM WWW.FOURCORNERSREHAB.COM

SUDOKU ANSWERS (PAGE 3)

INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1 2 3 4 LUKE KRON CELEBRATES HIS KIDS’ SUCCESSES HOW MEDITATION CAN HELP THE AGING BRAIN PREVENTING PAIN AT THE OFFICE PHYSICAL THERAPY IS MORE THAN A PHYSICAL JOURNEY FATHER’S DAY CHILI LIME CHICKEN WINGS WHAT TO DO AROUND CLERMONT IN JUNE ENJOY THAT

CLERMONT SUNSHINE Local Events From Around the Area This Month

SENIOR BUS TRIP TO LEU GARDENS Where: Bus departs from Clermont Arts and Recreation Center When: Monday, June 4; bus departs at 9:30 a.m. and returns at 4 p.m. Admission: $10 If our active, 55-plus patients are looking for something exciting to do this June, you can’t beat the Senior Bus Trip out to the beautiful Leu Gardens in Orlando. This gorgeous attraction sports more than 50 acres of carefully curated grounds, including some of the most impressive horticulture you’ll see in all of Florida. Check out the bamboo, palm, vegetable, butterfly, and floral gardens, and explore the sprawling, meandering paths that crisscross the area.

RED, WHITE, AND BOOM! Where: Waterfront Park When: July 4 from 6-10 p.m. (fireworks at 9:15 p.m.)

For registration and more information, contact the Arts and Recreation Center at 3700 S HWY 27, or call 352-394-3500. DOWNTOWN CLERMONT FARMERS MARKET Where: Historic Downtown Clermont When: Every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Whether you’re a Clermont resident or from anywhere in Lake County, you can’t go wrong with the Clermont Farmers Market every Sunday. There’s no better opportunity to get out into the sunshine while exploring some fantastic local produce, food, crafts, and fun. Take the trolley to get the whole experience, or simply walk the streets and take in the fantastic energy that hits the city whenever the market comes to town.

Come on down to the picturesque Waterfront Park to celebrate America’s independence the best way we know how: fireworks! The event includes all kinds of activities for people of all ages — even a live Journey tribute band. With free shuttle service, delicious food vendors from around the area, and free admission — all capped off by an excellent fireworks show — this is a no-brainer for your 4th of July celebrations.

4 | 352-243-4422

PUBLISHED BY THE NEWSLETTER PRO WWW.THENEWSLETTERPRO.COM

Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

www.fourcornersrehab.com

Made with FlippingBook Annual report