Take a look at our July newsletter!
JULY 2023
KaizenSeattle.com | 206-524-6702
BELIEVE YOUR EARS Why Listening Is an Essential PT Skill
Providing patients with the physical therapy they deserve requires more than education and proper technique. Helping people faithfully perform the correct exercises to treat their condition is only about half of what this work requires — that’s why we meet so many patients who have previously visited other PTs who fell short. In honor of World Listening Day on July 18, I want to discuss the other half of the puzzle. Every patient comes to us with a problem, and it requires far more than a few words to get to the bottom of it. We ask people questions about what they’re experiencing, and they respond by telling us their stories. Our job as physical therapists is to listen to what they say. We only know what our patients feel if they tell us — because all back, knee, or shoulder pain is different. A paint-by-numbers approach assigns strengthening exercises and stretches and hopes for the best. But a treatment that gets to the heart of the issue requires more specificity. The physical therapists at Kaizen PT always strive to put themselves in the patient’s shoes. Only when we understand where, how, and when it hurts can we provide the best care. I’ve always thought it goes back to the Golden Rule: Treat others how you want to be treated. Our patients are not numbers; they’re human beings. Each one has a unique life story and set of needs. We can’t input a generic treatment plan and expect health to come out the other side. Appropriately treating any condition requires listening to the individual. We commonly hear complaints about how doctors don’t listen to their patients. It’s not entirely the doctors’ fault, but the problem seems to be getting worse. Insurance companies and health care systems have forced practitioners to spend less time with patients. They don’t have time to listen and rely on less personalized approaches. We try to take the opposite path here and let patients talk as much as they need to. Listening to our patients can make all the difference in their outcomes. A case of a particular patient with chronic knee
pain still sticks with me. She had no history of injury or trauma, but any movement that involved squatting, lunging, or using stairs was agonizing. She had visited multiple PT clinics and tried several treatment plans, but nothing seemed to help.
This patient was originally from India, and she still had family living there. She visited often. As she talked about her trips, she said something about toilets that caught my attention. I asked about her travels and learned she was visiting a rural area with floor-level squatting toilets. She’d felt some weakness in her knees using them in the past, so she tried to build up her strength before trips by doing 400–500 squats a day. That is far too many squats! Worse, she used an incorrect form that put too much pressure on her knee joints. I helped her develop a plan that would build her strength without doing damage. She still did squats, but the focus was on quality rather than quantity. Within weeks, she had improved significantly. Now, they don’t train you to ask about toilet seats in physical therapy school. I would never have considered such a question without listening carefully to the patient’s story and adopting a holistic view of her pain. By taking a step back, I could see the entire picture and find the appropriate treatment. We should all strive to talk a bit less and listen a bit more, and I’m very proud to say the team here does that well. I’ve found that patients will generally tell us everything we need to know to treat them. But first, we have to listen. –Dr. Colin Sisco
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Simple Stretches for Immediate Relief Leave Back Pain Behind
If you've picked something up, fallen, slept, stood, walked, or done anything wrong and hurt your lower back before, you're not alone. According to the World Health Organization, "Low back pain [is] the single leading cause of disability in 160 countries" and affects roughly 1.71 billion people. Low back pain can be extremely frustrating to live with. Not only is it painful, but it can also be impossible to predict or avoid. Luckily, a physical therapist can create a treatment plan that targets the lower back and works with your body to improve mobility and reduce pain over time. And while you should always follow the program your physical therapist provides, you can perform a few stretches at home to find some relief. Prone Press-Up With this stretch, getting in the correct position is vital. It requires you to lie flat on your stomach, so if that is difficult
for you, place a pillow under your belly and use that as your starting position. 1. Lie on your stomach with your feet hip-distance apart and your hands pressed flat to the floor next to your chest, similar to a pushup position. 2. Using only your upper body, push down on your hands and lift your head and chest while keeping your shoulders pulled back. 3. Continue until your arms are nearly straight, with only a slight bend at the elbow. 4. Lower yourself back down and release the pose. Cat/Cow Pose Stretch These two stretches work well together, so feel free to use them consecutively. Cat Pose: 1. Start on your hands and knees with your hands slightly in front of your shoulders.
2. Press down on your hands and round your spine toward the ceiling. Allow your head to drop, forming a sideways "C" shape. 3. Hold this position for a few seconds before releasing and returning to the hands and knees position. Cow Pose: 1. Start on your hands and knees with your hands slightly in front of your shoulders. 2. This time, push your back toward the ground, forming a "U" shape. Lift your chin and chest at the same time.
3. Hold this position for a few
seconds before returning to your neutral hands and knees position.
Quiet Your Mind, Improve Your Health WHY MEDITATION IS A MUST FOR OLDER ADULTS
Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years and offers many benefits. The best part is that it's accessible to anyone; you don’t need special equipment or a membership to practice, just your mind and body! While meditation is great for everyone, meditation can be particularly powerful for older adults due to its emotional and cognitive perks. Here are some key benefits you can expect. Less Anxiety For some, anxiety can be a response to a specific life event, such as a health scare or losing a loved one.
Anxiety often involves worrying about the future, and meditation helps alleviate it by pushing you to focus only on how your body feels at that precise moment. Focusing only on the now is an excellent way to help combat those intrusive "what if" and "when" thoughts. Reduced Chronic Pain It's not uncommon for people to experience pain as they age. And while meditation can't treat the cause of the pain, it can help reduce the amount of pain you feel. According to a study from The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, 89% of participants reported that meditation helped them cope with their chronic pain, drastically reducing their overall pain levels. Better Memory
memory as they age, but it doesn't make the experience any less stressful or frightening. Meditation helps to boost memory as it increases blood flow to areas of the brain in charge of attention and executive function. By giving these areas of the brain more "power" through increased blood supply, they can work more efficiently to help you retain and recall information. If you don't know how to start, close your eyes and focus on counting your inhalations 10 times before restarting. You can set a timer or continue as long as you feel comfortable. You can also find several guided meditation apps if you need a bit more help. It only takes a few minutes to complete a meditation exercise and begin reaping its incredible health benefits!
For others, anxiety can appear later in life for no apparent reason. Regardless of why it starts, anxiety is both uncomfortable and harmful to your health.
It's normal for older adults to experience some lapse in
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HEALTHY JOINTS MATTER Safeguard Your Movement for Years to Come
Our knees, wrists, elbows, shoulders, and hips are integral parts of our bodies — all joints connecting our bones. After years of pressure plus wear and tear on our joints, they risk wearing down and developing conditions such as osteoarthritis, a common degenerative joint disease seen in older adults. However, aging isn’t the only thing that can adversely affect our joints. Sometimes, overuse of a particular joint can cause pain, discomfort, and eventually limited mobility. Here are four tips to incorporate into your daily routine to keep your joints healthy, lubricated, and mobile. Sit up straight.
your joints, mainly your knees, ankles, and hips, increasing your risk of joint damage and complications. Get moving. Staying active and building strong muscles and bones provides the stability and support your joints need to thrive. Dynamic stretching and low-impact exercises strengthen your joints and keep them in optimal shape. Remember, the more you move, the easier it becomes. Practice safety first. When performing activities that may place more demand on your joints, rely on padding and protection. For example, wear knee and wrist pads if you go roller skating or ice skating! If your wrist is sore or injured,
Did you know your posture plays a significant role in the health of your joints, even your knees? Standing and sitting up straight helps reduce unnecessary pressure on any part of
a brace will protect it and provide the support it needs to heal. Even if you’re gardening outside and kneeling often, be sure to kneel on a soft pad or area to safeguard your knees. Protection is always key! Maintaining a safe and active lifestyle is the key to keeping your joints healthy for years to come. Take care of your joints now so they can care for you — no matter your age!
your body and protects your back, hips, knees, shoulders, and neck. It also helps to prevent injury to the surrounding muscles. Maintain a healthy weight. If you allow your body to become overweight, you inevitably slow down and move less. The extra weight also places more strain and pressure on
TAKE A BREAK!
Grilled Steak Salad With Peaches
Inspired by Delish.com
DIRECTIONS
INGREDIENTS
1. In a large resealable plastic bag or baking dish, combine steak, vinegar, garlic, and brown sugar. Marinate 20 minutes at room temperature. 2. Remove steak from marinade, coat with vegetable oil, and season generously with salt and pepper. 3. On a grill or pan set to high heat, cook steak until desired doneness. Rest 5–10 minutes, then thinly slice against the grain. 4. In a small bowl, whisk olive oil and lemon juice to make dressing. Season with salt and pepper. 5. In a large serving bowl, add arugula, peaches, blue cheese or feta, and steak. Drizzle with dressing and gently toss.
• 1 lb skirt steak, fat trimmed • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar • 1 clove garlic, minced • 1 tbsp light brown sugar • 1 tbsp vegetable oil • Kosher salt • Black pepper • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil • 1 large lemon, juiced • 6 cups baby arugula • 2 ripe peaches, thinly sliced • 1/3 cup crumbled blue cheese or feta
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
206-524-6702 KaizenSeattle.com
5025 25th Ave. NE, #201 Seattle, WA 98105
1. The Secret Skill Every Physical Therapist Needs INSIDE THIS ISSUE 2. No More Achy Breaky Back! Meditate Your Way to a Healthier You 3. Take Care of Your Joints Grilled Steak Salad With Peaches 4. Summer Fun Without the Burn
PROTECT YOUR SKIN WITH THESE SIMPLE TIPS Don't Get Burned!
Summer is in full swing, which means the sun's rays are shining bright for most of the country. In fact, the average UV index, or the intensity of ultraviolet light, across the U.S. is 7 or above on a scale of 13. To put that into perspective, a UV index of 3 is strong enough to damage the skin. However, just because the UV index is high doesn't mean you have to hide inside — you just need to practice a bit of safety when you’re outdoors! To protect you and your family during the hottest months of the year, here are three ways to keep your skin sunburn-free. Use sunscreen whenever you're outside — even when it's cloudy. Many think sunscreen is only necessary at the beach or near a pool. However, the sun's harmful rays will always reach your skin, no matter what you're doing outside. Also, remember that while
clouds may look like they're blocking the sun, UV rays easily penetrate them and water like an ocean, lake, or pool. That's why sunscreen is essential whenever you're outside, even for just 20 minutes on a cloudy day. Choose a broad-spectrum sunblock that is at least 30 SPF and protects against both UVA and UVB radiation. Reapply every two hours, and if you’re swimming or playing in the water, reapply every hour! Choose your outside time wisely. The sun's rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., so your skin is much more susceptible to damage during this period. If you can, save outdoor tasks (like yardwork) for early morning or late afternoon. If you are planning to spend some time outside within this time frame, it's best to do so in the shade.
You can also use the shadow rule: If your shadow is shorter than you are, the sun's rays are strong enough to damage your skin, so it's time to find shade. Pick the right outfits. If possible, choose darker-colored, long-sleeved shirts and pants made with tightly woven fabrics like canvas or synthetic materials such as nylon. Then, protect your face, neck, and ears with a wide-brimmed hat and cover your eyes with 99% to 100% UV-absorbent sunglasses. These types of clothing and accessories block more of the sun's rays from ever reaching your skin and minimize your risk of a severe sunburn.
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HAVE YOU CLAIMED YOUR COPY OF COLIN SISCO’S BOOK?
A special offer for present and past clients of Kaizen PT, chock-full of natural treatment secrets for your lower back pain and sciatica. “Back to Normal” Natural Treatment for Back Pain and Sciatica
Free Lower Back Pain and Sciatica Workshop at Kaizen PT! In this book, you'll discover: • The No. 1 mistake back pain sufferers make • How to know if physical therapy can help your back pain and sciatica • The three common causes of back pain and sciatica • The top three exercises for stenosis and arthritis • The three best exercises for herniated discs BACK PAIN AND SCIATICA WORKSHOP reveals how to naturally heal back pain and sciatica for good. Do you... * Suffer with back pain or leg pain when you stand or walk? * Have pain when you sit for long periods such as driving or at restaurants? * Get pain, numbness or tingling into your butt, groin or down your leg? * Does your back ever "go out" if you move the wrong way? * Afraid your pain will get worse if you don't do anything? If you answered YES to any of the above questions or have a stubborn spouse who is in denial - this workshop may be a life changing event for you. This FREE Workshop is for you if you have... * Missed work due to sciatica or back pain. * Lost out on a family vacation or activities you love because you're afraid of aggravating your sciatica. * Found yourself worrying more about your pain, numbness and tingling rather than living your life. * TRIED EVERYTHING and just want to get Back to Normal. To reserve your seat at our next workshop, go to kaizenseattle.com/workshop PLUS, you'll get to read real-life stories from clients who've been treated right here at Kaizen PT.
Colin Sisco Kaizen Physical Therapy PLLC
BACK TO NORMAL Natural Healing Without Medications, Injections and Surgery
BEFORE WE COVER HOW TO CLAIM YOUR COPY, TAKE A SNEAK PEEK AT THE INTRODUCTION TO “BACK TO NORMAL.”
Continued on Back ...
WHY READ “BACK TO NORMAL”? ... continued from Front
This book was written for YOU.
The purpose of this book is to help YOU live a happier and healthier life. Inside, you will find tools and information to give you a better understanding of the human body and a better understanding of your own body. As many say, “Knowledge is power.” The more knowledge we have about something, the better we can control that area of our life. The more knowledge you have about how your body works, the easier it will be to live a healthier life. If you’re suffering with back pain and sciatica and feel like everyone else gets to live life and have fun while you’re sitting on the sideline ... You should read “Back to Normal.” Use it. Gain knowledge. Take control of your body. Happy healing! Introduction
Physical Therapist –Colin Sisco
P.S. This book was written by Colin Sisco specifically for back pain and sciatica sufferers who are looking to heal naturally. If at any time you are reading this book and have questions, you can email him at colin@kaizenseattle.com .
We’re giving away more copies of “Back to Normal.” Why? Because you are the reason Colin published this book.
To claim your copy, call Kaizen PT at 206.524.6702 and schedule an appointment this month! We will run this until we give away another 100 copies, so call today! Appointments are first come, first served. This offer is limited to the first 100 people who call, so don't wait!
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