Achieve PT's online newsletter for June 2018
recovery report recovery
Acton 411 Massachusetts Avenue Acton, MA 01720 (978) 263-0007
Bedford 191 Hartwell Road Bedford, MA 01730 (781) 275-4111 Sudbury 29 Hudson Road Sudbury, MA 01776 (978) 579-0009
june 2018
What Hockey and Father ’s Day Have i n Common Coaching My Kids to Success
hen I was just 5 years old, I followed in my brother’s
I want them to feel like I’m present in their lives — to know that, along with my 2-year-old, they’re pretty much the most important people in my life.
footsteps and joined a “learn to skate” program at the local ice rink. Before too long, I was picking up my first hockey stick and zooming around the ice, learning the basics of
the sport I would play for the rest of my life — well, most of the rest of my
life. I always did whatever my big brother did, so when he dropped the sport when I was about 9, I copycatted him and put it on the back burner for a while as well. As a result of that long break, I missed some of those golden years of skill development, as well as all kinds of opportunities I might have had in hockey. But when I returned to the sport years later, I found it was like I had never left. Now, every Friday morning at the crack of dawn — and sometimes on Sundays as well — I jump out of bed and drive a half hour to meet up with my men’s league hockey team. For almost five years, I’ve been playing with more or less the same guys, building up my skills and establishing a powerful camaraderie that keeps me coming back. It feels good to get a workout doing something I really love, taking time for myself to play a sport I missed for so many years. I’ve made a point to pass on the sport to my kids. I’ve coached both of my 9-year-old twins’ teams for more than three years now, having a blast helping them develop their skills while enjoying their time out on the ice. It’s a lot of work — the season lasts from the end of August all the way through April, and I spend four or five nights a week coaching, with four or five games each weekend — but to see my kids build lasting friendships with their peers and steadily improve their abilities really makes it all worthwhile.
There are highs and lows to the process. Every season, I challenge myself to learn how to be a better coach to these kids who are depending on me. At every turn, I try to make it fun, disguising complicated skill-development drills as fun games and activities. And whenever I can, I encourage them to be more creative with their skating and stick-handling, pushing them outside their comfort zone into that sweet spot where we learn the most. But honestly, one of my favorite things about hockey season is just driving my kids to games or practices. My twins are each on a different team, so I get a ton of one-on-one time with them in the backseat as we make the long commutes. I always make sure to ask them a lot of open-ended questions to get them to share and let me know what’s going on in their world: not “How was your day at school?” but “Who did you eat with at lunch today?” or “What’d you do today that showed you were a good friend?” With Father’s Day right around the corner, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about the things I do to connect with my kids. I just hope that when they’re all grown up, they’ll be able to look back fondly on these games and practices. Most of all, I want them to feel like I’m present in their lives — to know that, along with my 2-year- old, they’re pretty much the most important people in my life. I’m excited to watch them continue to develop as hockey players, but I’m even more excited to see what they accomplish as people in the coming years.
–Bob Thomas
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Think Outside the Box Unconvent i ona l Summer Jobs for Teens
As your teen becomes more independent, they may be interested in getting a summer job. Whether they want to save up for a big purchase or just have some extra spending money, summer jobs can solidify the importance of hard work and responsibility for your child. Plus, the earlier your teen starts, the sooner they can learn how to manage their money. Fast- food restaurants and clothing stores are popular first jobs, but encourage your teen to think outside the box and try one of these creative money-making opportunities. ONLINE SURVEYS AND REVIEWS Companies are eager for consumer feedback, and they are willing to pay for it. Sites like Swagbucks and MySurvey offer members the opportunity to complete tasks like taking surveys, writing reviews, and watching videos to redeem rewards in the form of cash or gift cards. Teens can also preview up-and- coming music as reviewers on Slice the Pie. Sites like these require quite a bit of work for a relatively small wage, but they can be the perfect first job for a child who wants to try earning a few bucks for the first time. Teens under the age of 18 will require parental consent. VIRTUAL STOREFRONTS If your child has a flare for arts, crafts, or anything else DIY, encourage them to set up an Etsy shop. There are no
membership fees, and after Etsy’s 3.5 percent cut, sellers receive their profits via PayPal. Minors aged 13–17 must have a parent or legal guardian manage their Etsy account. PETSITTING AND HOUSESITTING If your teen is trustworthy and responsible, there’s no reason they can’t work for neighbors, friends, and family. Most professional petsitting and housesitting services require their sitters to be over 18, but Care.com allows teens 14–17 to register as “Teen Providers” with parental consent. Depending on where you live and how much experience your teen has, they can expect to earn $15–30 per visit, and they may be able to ask for more to stay overnight. Help your teen get the word out by posting on social media. Most importantly, keep your teen safe by helping them screen clients and teaching them what information to share. Summer jobs are a great way for teens to earn extra cash and learn responsibility. The next time your teen asks you for money to go to the movies, encourage them to earn some spending cash of their own. Who knows? They might actually treat you to a movie sometime!
Everyone knows that physical therapy is designed to help patients overcome injury and return to their normal lives, whether that means being able to go up and down the stairs again or return to playing sports at a high level. But when it comes to sports-focused physical therapy, there are other benefits to be gained in addition to recovery. Here are two of the most compelling. At the start of any sports-therapy evaluation, athletes go through a thorough functional assessment. This includes a battery of tests and measurements in which the athlete mimics the skills and movements necessary for their specific sport. This allows therapists to not only determine the precise cause of injury and dysfunction, but to pick up on weaknesses, strength imbalances, balance issues, or any other area of improvement to be targeted with treatment. EVALUATION
sport. These focus on training the key skills for the patient’s sport of choice.
PREVENTION
Once treatment is finished and the athlete is back to baseline, ready to participate in sports again, we don’t just send them on their way and hope for the best. We work with the patient to determine the best path forward, continuing the rehabilitation program and equipping them with the knowledge and exercises to prevent injury in the future. This way, the athlete can feel confident that they have all the tools necessary to successfully maintain the gains they’ve made during treatment and actually end up primed for greater success in the coming years. If you’ve been sidelined by injury and are struggling to recover and return to your favorite sport, it’s easy to get discouraged. But it’s
important that you do everything you can to continue doing what you love and repair your injury for the long haul. Give the experts at Achieve Physical Therapy a call at (978) 263-0007 and take the first step toward a full recovery.
Once treatment begins, the sports physical therapist will choose from a huge list of protocols tailored to each specific
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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. 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
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
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. Physical therapy may feel daunting in the beginning as you teach your body to relearn 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, 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
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.
homeostasis, piling up and creating a catastrophic landslide in your life. By actively participating in regular physical therapy, your mindset will
SLEEP QUALITY Before pursuing physical therapy, many patients
This Father’s Day, spice up your wings with this zesty recipe that’s sure to please the whole family.
INGREDIENTS
• • • • •
4 pounds chicken wings
• • • •
1 lime, halved
1 stick unsalted butter, softened 1 1/4 tablespoons Thai red curry paste
Extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup honey
Chopped cilantro for garnish
1/4 cup soy sauce
DIRECTIONS
1. 2.
Heat oven to 425 F.
3.
Blend butter, red curry paste, honey, and soy sauce in a large mixing bowl. Toss wings in butter mixture. Squeeze lime juice on top, transfer to serving plate, and garnish with cilantro.
CAMPING FLIPFLOPS HAMBURGER JUNE
LEMONADE PICNIC POOL SMORES
SUNSCREEN SUNSHINE SWIMMING VACATION
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.
4.
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
411 Massachusetts Avenue Acton, MA 01720 (978) 263-0007 www.AchievePTonline.com
inside This Issue
Page 1
On the Ice With Bob Thomas
Page 2
Unique Job Ideas for Teens
2 Hidden Benefits of Sports Physical Therapy
Page 3
Physical Therapy Is More Than a Physical Journey Father’s Day Chili Lime Chicken Wings
Page 4
Mass Sports Hall of Fame No. 2: Bill Russell
Mass Sports Hall of Fame No. 2: Bill Russell
A Legend On and Off the Court
efore the 1950s, basketball was a ground-based game. There were no otherworldly liftoffs from the hardwood, no shots dramatically slapped from the air, and no rim- rattling slam dunks blasted into the hoop by players seemingly unbound by the laws of gravity. The game was dominated by shortish men who were quick
family’s poverty and the loss of Russell’s mother to disease when he was only 12, his father refused to buckle beneath the weight of discrimination, instilling in Bill and his brother Charlie a firm work ethic and passionate ambition. In junior high and high school, Russell didn’t find much luck in the sport that would make him famous. It wasn’t until the University of San Francisco offered Russell a basketball scholarship that he really got a chance to explore his potential. There, he grew to a towering 6 foot 10 and perfected his then-unorthodox style of play, leaping into the air to viciously block shots, psyche out his opponents, and snatch rebounds with uncanny consistency. Alongside fellow players K.C. Jones and Hal Perry — the first trio of black starters ever in college basketball — he led the team to the 1955 and ’56 NCAA titles.
pages, from his Olympic gold medal to his Medal of Freedom awarded by Barack Obama in 2011. But Russell would rather his fans focus on him as a person rather than his athletic accomplishments.
“We foolishly lionize athletes and make them heroes because they can hit a ball or catch one,” he once said. “The
only athletes we should bother with attaching any particular importance to are those ... whom we can admire for themselves and not their incidental athletic abilities.” There’s no doubt that Russell is a member of that hallowed pantheon.
on their feet. Almost all of them were white, a product of the pervasive racism of the 20th century — that is, until Bill Russell came along and upended the paradigm, redrawing the boundaries of possibility not only in basketball, but in the lives of black people across the country. Long before Bill Russell led the Boston Celtics to 11 NBA championships, he was a gangly little kid growing up in Monroe, Louisiana, and later Oakland, California, steeped in the daily racial injustices of his environment. Despite the
Soon, Red Auerbach drafted him to the Boston Celtics, and Russell got to work. His list of accolades could stretch many
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