Massabesic Health Resources October 2018

www.mhrpt.com • (207) 247-3216 OCTOBER 2018 Massabesic Monthly

FROM THE DESKS OF Jim Stevenson & Hayes Sweeney

EVERY DAY IS A HOLIDAYWHENYOU CELEBRATE OCTOBER’S ODD HOLIDAYS!

1. International Day for the Elderly

16. Boss’s Day

17. National Pasta Day

2. NameYour Car Day

18. No Beard Day

3. National Boyfriend Day

19. EvaluateYour Life Day

WEIRD,WACKY FITNESS FADS T hat P eople A ctually T ried

4. National Golf Day

20. Brandied Fruit Day

5. WorldTeachers’ Day

21. Count Your Buttons Day

6. World Card Making Day

Since the turn of the century, fitness culture in America has exploded. According to the International Health, Racquet, and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA), the fitness industry in this country went from $11.6 billion in 2000 to $27.6 billion in 2017. Along the way, more than 50 million Americans became gym members. Given how popular gym culture and fitness have become, it’s no surprise that researchers and experts are devoting untold time and energy to exploring the science of working out. But it wasn’t always that way. Just a generation ago, many top athletes regarded lifting weights as detrimental. “The coaches and trainers were against it,” recalls bodybuilder Eddie Giuliani. “They said it slowed you down. It was no good. Doctors were all against weightlifting because they said it was bad for your heart. It gave you high blood pressure. Everybody was wrong.” When a new discipline or field of study arises, there are inevitably businesses willing to take advantage of an uninformed public. The fitness industry is no exception. It produced plenty of hilarious products that were sold under the guise of helping people get in shape. Here are a few of the strangest workout fads in history.

22. National Nut Day

7. Bald and Free Day

23. TVTalk ShowHost Day

8. AmericanTouch Tag Day

24. National Bologna Day

9. Leif Erikson Day

25. Punk for a Day Day

10. TakeYour Teddy Bear toWork Day

26. Frankenstein Friday

11. It’s My Party Day

27. National Tell a Story Day

12. Moment of

Frustration Day

28. Plush Animal Lover’s Day

13. International Skeptics Day

HAWAII CHAIR

29. Hermit Day

For decades, late-night TV has been the best place to find less-than-reputable health products. Even among the illustrious pantheon of Shake Weights and Leg Magic X’s, the Hawaii Chair stands out as one of the most absurd “fitness” devices ever devised. The product promised to engage your core while seated, using a “2,800 rpm hula motor,” whatever that means. “If you can sit, you can get fit,” said the Hawaii Chair’s slogan.

14. National Dessert Day

30. Mischief Night

31. Halloween

15. White Cane Safety Day

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POWER BALANCE BRACELETS

it’s fondly remembered for its uniquely ‘80s aesthetic and its wealth of unintentional comedy.

Really, it made you look like a gyrating fool while offering almost no health benefits. Ironically enough, studies have shown that the amount of time many Americans spend seated each week is a serious health risk. While standing and variable desks are gaining popularity, don’t expect the Hawaii Chair to make a comeback anytime soon. Rock-hard, six-pack abs have become a symbol of a well-sculpted body, so there have been plenty of nutso-crazy products and schemes designed to target that area of the body. From belts like the Slendertone to books like “Zero Belly Diet,” there are dozens of ab fads to choose from. The most iconic, though, has to be “8 Minute Abs.” Featuring a buff, spandex-wearing host named Jaime Brenkus, “8 Minute Abs” was a VHS-based program that promised to take you from flab to fab in just eight minutes per day. The craze was so popular that it inspired spinoffs like “8 Minute Buns.” Today, 8 MINUTE ABS

One of the funniest subcategories of fitness products are those that claim to improve your performance through little more than magic. In the case of Power Balance bracelets, that magic was called “holographic technology.” Simply by wearing this bracelet, the company claimed, you would become more agile and lithe. Of course, independent studies put the lie to Power Balance’s claims in a hurry. However, the company is still in business today, albeit with a very different marketing strategy.

WII FIT

So much of the Nintendo Wii’s world- conquering success looks improbable in hindsight. It was a game system that was equally suitable for preschools and assisted living homes. It was built on the promise of motion controls, which only worked well for a couple of games. Oh, and it was also marketed as a home fitness machine. Debuting in 2008, “Wii Fit” and its sequels used an electronic balance board to provide guided exercise routines and rudimentary statistical feedback. At the time, it felt like a revolution. But just a few short years later, after Fitbit and other tech-centric fitness products emerged, it felt like a relic. While “Wii Fit” was more scientifically grounded than most fitness fads, today you’re most likely to find one of the balance boards at your local thrift store.

PRANCERCISE

There are no words to describe this one. Just go look it up on YouTube. You won’t be disappointed.

Physical Therapy May Be the Solution You’ve Been Looking For

Options Beyond Pain Medication

WHEN TO TALK TO A PHYSICAL THERAPIST

affected part of the body. Instead of relying on prescription drugs, a physical therapist helps relieve pain through education, hands-on care, and movement.

If you go to your doctor with pain, chances are they’ll prescribe you pain medication. While pain medication can help in certain situations, such as acute pain, cancer treatment, and end-of-life care, in others, it’s not always the only solution. Relying too heavily on medication for chronic pain can lead to bigger problems. To manage long-lasting pain, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, highly recommends seeing a physical therapist.

Pain that lasts less than 90 days is considered acute; anything over that is chronic. When a condition becomes chronic, it’s recommended that you speak to a physical therapist about the pain you’re experiencing instead of continuing pain medication. The CDC guidelines note that non-opioid therapies are “preferred” for chronic pain and state, “Clinicians should consider opioid therapy only if expected benefits for both pain and function are anticipated to outweigh risks to the patient.” Suffering from pain doesn’t have to be part of your life, and there are other solutions than relying on medication.

MYTHS ABOUT PHYSICAL THERAPY

You may have heard that physical therapy is painful or that a center will only accept someone who has been injured, but that’s not true. Physical therapy works with a patient’s range of motion and limitations to heal and restore their body’s proper function. The PT’s goal is to relieve your pain, not create it. Patients include older people experiencing age-related wear and tear, athletes, and individuals hurt in accidents. Physical therapists specialize in restoring mobility and relieving pain as well as detecting and diagnosing problems before they become worse.

THE BENEFITS OF PHYSICAL THERAPY

When you suffer from chronic pain and take pain medications to cope, you’re not solving the problem. The pills only mask the pain, but the issue remains. A physical therapist works to resolve the problems causing the pain and manage pain by strengthening the

2 • www.mhrpt.com

The Monsters Some Believe Are Real 3 of the Weirdest Cryptids in Pseudoscientific History

THE BUNYIP When European settlers began edging into the territory of Aboriginal Australians, they heard whispered, frightened tales of a man-eating “water spirit” that lived in the lakes and rivers of the area. Descriptions of the creature varied wildly. The monster was alternately described as an enormous starfish, an alligator-like creature with the head of an emu, or a massive bulldog-faced beast. But accounts held one thing in common: The monster claimed the lives of any who dared camp near its watery domain. THE LOVELAND FROG One night, near Loveland, Ohio, a man reportedly beheld a trio of bipedal frog- people slapping their webbed feet along the side of the road. If that wasn’t enough, one even had a magic wand, which shot sparks as the man ran off. Apparently, not all mythical beasts are bloodthirsty monsters; some are a little more Kermit than Cthulhu.

There are people who would have you believe that monsters live among us all year long. These individuals, referred to as cryptozoologists (or just “wishful thinkers” by their skeptics), believe a hidden animal kingdom exists just beyond the edge of mainstream biological science. Here are three of the weirdest, almost-certainly imaginary “cryptids” to ever capture the human imagination. THE JERSEY DEVIL According to legend, the 1.1 million-acre Pine Barrens of southern New Jersey are home to more than just birds and deer. The story goes that when one Jane Leeds gave birth to her 13th child, she was dismayed to add yet another kid to her responsibilities. She cried out, “Oh, let this one be the devil!” Shortly after the child was born, the boy was transmogrified into a twisted creature with the malformed head of a goat, leathery wings, and a thrashing, forked tail. After slicing the midwife with its ragged claws, the beast flew up the chimney and fled into the trees. Hundreds of years later, the beast is still said to creep the backwoods on its cloven hooves, glowering from the blackness with shining, red eyes.

Take a Break!

Paleo

PUMPKIN COCONUT SMOOTHIE

This meal-in-a-glass smoothie will cure your craving for a pumpkin spice latte. It’s packed with nutrients and fall flavor. If you’re the type of person who uses your blender more than your pots and pans, you’ll definitely want to add this recipe to your rotation.

Ingredients

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1 frozen banana, sliced

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1 cup coconut milk

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1 cup ice

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1/4 cup organic pumpkin purée 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice (or substitute with cinnamon and ginger)

•

Directions

1. In a blender, combine all ingredients.

SCARY STORIES SPOOKY TRICKORTREAT ZOMBIE

HALLOWEEN HALLOWS EVE

CAULDRON COSTUME DRACULA GHOST

2. Blend on high or on smoothie setting until smooth.

HAUNTED PUMPKIN

3. Transfer to a cold glass, garnish with pumpkin pie spice, and serve.

Inspired by cookpaleo.com

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Massabesic Health Resources

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If you’ve ever had a friend or loved one suffer a debilitating injury, you know how powerless you can feel to help. You want to make a difference, but in the face of severe medical challenges, it can be hard to know how. It’s important to remember that, while you may not be able to have a direct impact on your loved one’s physical recovery, there are concrete actions you can take to support them in ways doctors can’t. Traumatic injuries can make many aspects of day-to-day life difficult or impossible. Simply making dinner or taking their kids to school may now be herculean tasks for your loved one. Offering to be a volunteer driver or preparing a home-cooked meal can give that person a much-needed breather. Taking the time to help your friend with everyday tasks is more than just a practical gesture — it INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Desks of Jim Stevenson and Hayes Sweeney PAGE 1 Fitness Fads FromDays Gone By PAGE 1 Physical Therapy vs. Pain Medication PAGE 2 3 of the Weirdest Cryptids in Pseudoscientific History PAGE 3 Take a Break PAGE 3 Paleo Pumpkin Coconut Smoothie PAGE 3 Ways to Support a Recovering Loved One PAGE 4 SUPPORT THEIR EVERYDAY LIFE.

GOING BEYOND ‘GET WELL SOON’ 3 Meaningful Ways to Support Recovery

lets them know they don’t have to bear the burden of their injury alone.

SUPPORT THEIR EMOTIONAL RECOVERY.

People faced with injuries, disabilities, and illnesses can feel emotionally isolated from their friends and loved ones. They may feel that others won’t understand their pain or that they should put on a brave face and not complain. You can’t force your friend to talk about their issues, but simply being there to listen to what your friend is going through makes a world of difference. Having someone who is willing to listen without judgment can provide a salve for emotional hardship.

individuals they feel are responsible for their injuries. While you may not be able to represent your friend’s legal interests in these situations, you can introduce them to someone who can. Referring your friend to a personal injury firm you trust can help them chart a path toward just compensation for their injuries.

SUPPORT THEIR RIGHTS.

Sometimes an injury can leave your loved one tangled up in disputes with opportunistic insurance companies or