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March 2018
Thank you for your referrals! Thank you for the referrals! High- fives to all the people who referred someone! CRAFTON-INGRAM SHOPPING CENTER 37 FOSTER AVE. PITTSBURGH, PA 15205 TWO LOCATIONS: KENMAWR PLAZA 566 PINE HOLLOW RD. MCKEES ROCKS, PA 15136
THEMADNESS OF FANDOM BRACKETS, BASEBALL, AND BROKEN DREAMS
One of the joys of having a physical therapy practice is the chance to befriend so many sports fans. It’s a great communal experience, from chatting with patients about the Steelers, venting with staff about Robert Nutting, and of course, tailgating with everyone before a Penguins game. Sports bring our clinic together year- round, but March is when you really notice this bond. Whenever March Madness rolls around, we do an office bracket just for fun. But inevitably, the practice becomes very competitive. Normally, I feel lucky to have so many sports-savvy therapists and staff members. But as they build their highly strategic brackets, I can’t help but feel nervous. My own bracket strategy can be summed up in two words: “Go Mountaineers!” Is this wise? Probably not. But they’re my team, and I can never bring myself to short them. The way I see it, I’d rather be with them in a likely loss than against them when they pull off an unlikely win. Besides, my many years as a Pirates fan has acclimated me to disappointment. Amid the madness, March is inevitably when whispers of baseball get dialed up a notch. We’re mostly working while spring training games are being broadcast, but there are always a few clients who keep us in the loop. For fans like myself, “maybe this year” is the mantra of the month. With those unfortunate trades this year, things aren’t looking great for the Pirates, but I’m still optimistic change is on the horizon. I still remember where I was on game seven of the 1992 National League Championship Series. About 20 college friends and I were watching a small TV in a dorm room. Pizza boxes and cans were strewn everywhere. Despite being a low scoring game, we were confident. Alex Cole’s score at the top of the first had us riding high, and Drabek’s pitching was the best we’d seen all year.
DORIS WOLBERT CHERYL LAWRENCE DR. ROBERT YELLENIK FRANK CARRABBIA SUE DINES JENNIFER RAGO JANE ENGLISH LISA CONNOR SANDRA SABIN AMY MOLLY JIM & CLARICE TARBERT DARLANA SHERRELL DR. TERENCE PHILBIN TONYA WEMER AL SERETTI
By the bottom of the ninth, everyone in that dorm room thought we were going to the World Series. There was no way the Braves could come back from a 2–0 deficit — not the way Drabek was pitching. Then, the magic wore out. Double, single, walk. Bases loaded. Flyball, safe, 2–1. We leaned in close, not comprehending the comedy of errors we were witnessing. Then came the slide that was felt across Pittsburgh. The infallible Barry Bonds was beat out by Sid Bream and his bum leg. We were a room full of 20-year-olds, sitting in utter silence. Twenty-six years later, it seems like the Pirates are still haunted by that slide. I know I am. But I still pull for them every year. I was raised a Pirate fan, and I’m doing the same for my kids. That’s because fandom, in all its forms, can be a beautiful thing. Being able to come together as a community, both in celebration of a win and commiseration of a loss, builds bonds of trust and friendship. I see it all the time here at the office. As college basketball draws to a close and baseball begins, I wish you and your teams all the best.
We truly appreciate your referrals. They are the greatest compliment we can get.
ENTER TOWIN! Find the misspelled word in this newsletter and call 412-771-1055* for your chance to win a $10 gift card! CALL 412-771-1055 *CONTEST FOR PAST AND PRESENT HESS PHYSICAL THERAPY PATIENTS ONLY. CONGRATULATIONS TO LAST MONTH’S WINNERS:
LITA FUZE FRANCES AMBROZIC WALTER KAMINSKI SHARON LEWIS SCOTT LANG JOSEPH BAYER BURTON DODICK MARY BACKER ROBERTA CLAPPERTON SAM LONG ROSE PAULIN RITA EARNHARDT
Go Mountaineers, – George Hess
Kenmawr Plaza • 412-771-1055 | Crafton-Ingram Shopping Center • 412-458-3445 | 1
YOUR DINNERTABLE MIGHT BE THE KEY TO A HAPPIER FAMILY
CALL ALL HANDS ON DECK Mom or Dad shouldn’t be expected to cook by themselves for every meal. This is family time, after all, so call in the kids! Make sure their tasks are age-appropriate — leave sautéing vegatables to the high schooler and let your first-grader set out the cups instead. This is the perfect opportunity to teach kids valuable kitchen skills and to take some of the burden off your plate. Plus, if your kids are picky eaters, inviting them to be part of the cooking process can make them more inclined to try the finished product. DON’T STRESS YOURSELF OUT It’s okay if you’re too busy on a Monday to cook dinner. There’s always Tuesday. Or you can take a trip to your favorite family restaurant. Family meals should be fun, and that can’t happen if you’re stressed. Don’t feel pressured to make each meal perfect or to prepare a three-course dinner every night. Chicken and rice can get the job done as long as you’re all sitting around the table as a family. No matter how hectic your schedule may be, making family meals a priority is always worth the investment. Who’s in the mood for meatloaf?
The family dinner is a staple of years gone by. These days, the only time you see a family sit together and break bread seems to be at Thanksgiving. This is a shame, because regular family dinners are incredibly important! It’s a time to bond with your loved ones that can have
a positive impact on your kids’ lives. Even when schedules are busy, you can make family dinners fit into your agenda with these tips. BE FLEXIBLE ABOUT MEALTIMES Dinner doesn’t have to be at 6 p.m. on the dot. If Kamala has a
karate tournament in the evening or Peter needs to stay late at school for art club, why not break out the healthy snacks and make dinner happen a little later
or earlier? Plus, the meal you share as a family doesn’t have to be at dinnertime. If there’s time in the mornings, sit down for breakfast. If you have the opportunity on weekends or during a school break, grab lunch together.
“On July 15, 2017, as I was preparing for dinner, I became very dizzy and fell in my kitchen, fracturing my humerus near my shoulder area and causing a full thickness tear in my rotator cuff. I had surgery and discovered how painful and difficult this injury is to experience! I couldn’t shower by myself or dress myself. Getting in and out of my recliner was also impossible. Recuperation was a long journey, but the staff at Hess Physical Therapy walked each of these difficult miles with me and always encouraged me in maintaining a positive outlook. Everyone in the office was kind and helpful, including Pam and Debbie at the front desk; Dan, who gave me soft tissue massages; and
“In the winter of 2008, I hurt my back shoveling snow. After several doctors and several years, the issue was found, but the damage had been done. Long story short, I saw numerous chiropractors,
physical therapists, massage therapists, and pain management clinics over the past nine years trying to find some type of relief, and no one seemed to help. After hearing about active release techniques (ART), I thought I would give it a try. In a short period of time, I began to feel relief. The daily pain is now gone, and I would highly recommend Hess Physical Therapy and Dan for active release techniques therapy!”
Megan, who set me up to the electrical stimulation machines and occasionally helped me with my exercises. However, Jessica was my primary physical therapist and was always kind, gentle, and caring. She encouraged me to push myself and told me I could call her any time with any problems I might have. At first, I couldn’t even lift my arm to wash my hair, and I had a lot of pain. Now, I’m almost back to normal. What a wonderful group of caring and kind professionals. I feel very blessed to have been cared for by the Hess Physical Therapy team! My best wishes, and thanks to all of you, especially my main PT, Jessica! God bless you all!”
–Sally Delp
–Michael Malel
2 | Kenmawr Plaza 566 Pine Hollow Rd., McKees Rocks, PA 15136 • Crafton-Ingram Shopping Center 37 Foster Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15205
WHAT PATIENTS NEED TO KNOW BEFORE GETTING KNEE SURGERY
COLCANNON
[Inspired by foodnetwork.com]
When you think of St. Patrick’s Day cuisine, corned beef and green beer are probably the first things that come to mind. This year, consider adding colcannon to your March 17 menu. It’s basically mashed potatoes on steroids, and it’s utterly delicious.
IT’S NOTYOUR ONLY OPTION
INGREDIENTS • 3 pounds potatoes • 2 sticks butter • 1 1/4 cups hot milk • 1 head cabbage, cored and shredded INSTRUCTIONS
• 1 pound cooked bacon, chopped into small pieces • 4 scallions, finely chopped • Parsley, for garnish • Salt and pepper, to taste
Knee osteoarthritis is one of the most prevalent causes of disability in the world, affecting more than an estimated 250 million people across the globe and over 10 percent of Americans at some point in their lives. If you expand this number to include tears of the meniscus, it increases to 1 in 4 people over 50 years of age. Pain from knee osteoarthritis or meniscal tears can differ in important ways, but the fact remains that both problems can result in a debilitating condition that will diminish the sufferers’ quality of life. It’s no surprise, then, that so many patients turn to their doctors for advice on treating osteoarthritis or a tear in their meniscus. It often seems that surgery is the only option for a substantial recovery. But an array of new research indicates that surgery is rarely the best course of action for these particular conditions. Just last year, the respected British Medical Journal released new recommendations strongly steering physicians away from advising their patients to undergo arthroscopic surgery for either knee osteoarthritis or meniscal tears. Instead, they suggest noninvasive treatment methods like watchful waiting, weight loss if overweight, and physical therapy. Over the last few years, a number of studies have come out questioning the efficacy of surgery for this condition. While it’s true that arthroscopic surgery generally does result in positive outcomes for patients, they’re virtually identical to the outcomes of noninvasive exercises and treatments in the long run. Essentially, this means that expensive, painful, and potentially dangerous surgery, which forces patients off their feet for weeks, may be easily avoided. Issues as widespread as knee osteoarthritis or tears of the meniscus can be corrected in other ways. Still, a substantial number of doctors rush to surgery as the only option for their patients, perhaps because they’re unaware or disagree with these 2017 recommendations. Of course, it’s important to trust your physician and listen carefully to the advice they give, but you should consider every possible alternative. Taking a few months to see if conservative treatment will solve your knee problem can save you thousands of dollars and a lot of pain and struggle.
1. Steam potatoes for 30 minutes. Peel skins and mash flesh thoroughly. 2. Chop 1 stick of butter into small cubes and add to warm potatoes. Once melted, slowly add milk, stirring constantly. 3. Boil cabbage in water. Add 2 tablespoons of butter to tenderize. 4. Add cabbage, bacon, and scallions to mashed potatoes, gently stirring to combine. 5. Serve garnished with parsley and a pat of butter.
“Everyone here at Hess Physical Therapy is so sweet. I wouldn’t even think about going anywhere else. When I came here, I could hardly walk. But thank God for Sean, my physical therapist. The staff got me moving in the right direction, and I am going to come back here when I get my other knee replaced. I also came here when I had my back rehabbed,
and each experience has been wonderful. I would like to thank all of the sweet people, especially Sean, for taking good care of me!”
–Brenda Harvey
PERFECT ATTENDANCE WINNER! Congratulations to Nadine Cross, winner
of our monthly drawing for patients who make all of their scheduled visits. Congratulations, Nadine! Enter to win!
Kenmawr Plaza • 412-771-1055 | Crafton-Ingram Shopping Center • 412-458-3445 | 3
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
KENMAWR PLAZA 566 PINE HOLLOW RD., MCKEES ROCKS, PA 15136
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Why I’m Still a Pirates Fan
Page 1
What Every Parent Needs to Know About Family Dinners Testimonials
Page 2
Page 2
Colcannon
Page 3
New Evidence Comes Out Against Knee Surgery
Page 3
Page 4
The 3 Best Places to See Beautiful Flowers
EARTH’S MOST BEAUTIFUL FLOWER DISPLAYS Spring is here, which means flora will soon be in full bloom. Flowers can be an easy pick-me-up or a great way to add color to your home, but some people take their flower obsession to the next level by planning botanical-themed vacations. Here are some of the most impressive gardens and flower displays in the world. NETHERLANDS Holland, most famous for its tulips, always draws visitors at the first sign of spring. One of its most famous destinations, Keukenhof, located in Lisse, is among the world’s largest flower gardens. The park is 79 acres and boasts approximately 7 million flowers each year. This colorful garden is open annually from mid-March to mid-May, but mid-April is the ideal time to see the tulips.
OTHER LOCATION: CRAFTON-INGRAM SHOPPING CENTER 37 FOSTER AVE., PITTSBURGH, PA 15205
ANZA-BORREGO DESERT STATE PARK Desert lavender, flowering cacti, pygmy poppies, and rock daisies are just a few of the many wildflowers decorating Anza- Borrego Desert State Park. The various native species are often seen weaved together to form a colorful carpet over any barren patch in the park, which is located just two hours from San Diego. In addition to flowers, visitors often spot bighorn sheep. Wildflower blossoms vary in intensity each year, but they typically begin to bloom in late February or early March.
Next time you’re planning a spring trip, consider visiting one of the world’s most beautiful flower displays. No green thumb required.
WASHINGTON, D.C. Besides the monuments and historic buildings, one of the biggest attractions in Washington, D.C. is the cherry tree blossoms. Travelers who visit the Tidal Basin during the spring can witness 3,000 trees, which were a gift from Tokyo in 1912, flaunt their beautiful pink blossoms. The best time to see the spectacle is from the end of March through the end of April.
4 | Kenmawr Plaza 566 Pine Hollow Rd., McKees Rocks, PA 15136 • Crafton-Ingram Shopping Center 37 Foster Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15205
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