February 2018
ELITE Physical Therapy Lagniappe (318) 443-3311
www.elitephysicaltherapy.us
Mardi Gras, Valentine’s Day,
and the Biggest PT Meeting of The Year
This time of year in Louisiana, Mardi Gras takes center stage. From the balls and parades right here in central Louisiana to the raucous festivities in New Orleans and Lafayette to the Courir de Mardi Gras in Eunice and Mamou, it’s a statewide celebration. Go out on the town this month and you’re sure to see some signs of the events. Here in central Louisiana, there are a lot of Mardi Gras activities, including multiple krewe balls, the night parade in Pineville, the Taste of Mardi Gras, the Classic Cars Parade, and the Children’s Parade, all culminating on Feb. 11 with the Alexandria Krewe Parade. You can check out the Alexandria Mardi Gras Association website for a full list of events. If you haven’t experienced Courir de Mardi Gras, it’s worth learning more about this unique event. Head to the Historic Liberty Theatre in Eunice on the Saturday before Mardi Gras and you’ll get a history lesson and be treated to the best Cajun food — boudin, cracklins, and everything you love about Cajun Creole. All weeklong, Eunice puts on festivities, with food and music at the center of it all. There’s nothing quite like watching the participants of the Courir Mardi Gras wind their way through town, dressed in colorful masks and costumes, many on horseback, collecting ingredients for a giant pot of gumbo that they will enjoy later. Even beyond the legendary ceremonies of Mardi Gras, February is filled with events this year. Mardi Gras will be immediately followed by Valentine’s Day, which happens
to fall on Fat Tuesday this year. Later in the month is a meeting that is important for us physical therapists: the Combined Sections Meeting (CSM). This year, CSM takes place in New Orleans, and we’re excited to learn from thousands of other professionals and showcase the city to visitors. CSM brings in about 12,000 physical therapists from all over the country to connect, collaborate, and learn. It’s the largest event for PTs in the country, and it’s a great opportunity to learn from the best the physical therapy industry has to offer. It’s also a great time to network with PTs from all over the country. It’s not every day we get to share New Orleans’ famed hospitality, food, and fun with such a large audience. The American Physical Therapy Association is now 100,000 members strong. Sharon Dunn, one of Louisiana’s own PTs, is currently the president and will be presiding over CSM. We’re proud that a representative of our own state gets to fulfill this important role.
Typically, when we think about this month and Valentine’s Day, we think of our loved ones, but it’s also a good time to show your friends and family you care by making small gestures. You might give a handmade card to your spouse, offer to watch a friend’s children, or invite your family over for a home-cooked meal. It doesn’t have to cost a lot to be meaningful. Here at Elite PT, February will be a busy and fun month for us, and we hope you enjoy it, as well. Our patients are special to us, and we look forward to being here for you. We’re here to help.
Happy Mardi Gras, happy Valentine’s Day and have a great February!
–Bart Jones
Elite PT • (318) 443-3311 • 1
Teach Children Generosity Through Autonomy Forced Sharing Is Not Caring
depending only on their whim and how dramatically I beg for my turn. I am in constant competition to get what I need. If I make my parent miserable, I’ll get what I want.
One of the most common principles of early childhood education is teaching children to play well with others, and oftentimes, this includes teaching them to share. While this aspect of education seems like a no-brainer to some, others have started to question the importance of sharing. In fact, this movement is taking the internet and nation by storm, one blog and social media post at a time, and it’s gaining traction with parents and preschools alike. According to Laura Markham, clinical psychologist at Columbia University and author of “Peaceful Parent, Happy Siblings,” “Forcing children to share doesn’t teach the lessons we want them to learn.” During preschool, kids are learning to meet their own needs, and rather than teaching kids to speak up for themselves, forced sharing teaches them the following thoughts.
When we teach kids that they can use an object for as long as they’d like and that they can give it to the other child when they are finished, we are teaching them the following thoughts.
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I can ask for what I want. Sometimes, I get a turn soon, and sometimes, I have to wait.
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It’s okay to cry, but it doesn’t mean I get my way.
Forced sharing undermines children’s ability to lose themselves in play while also plaguing their relationships with other children with constant competition. In the end, neither child gets to experience true generosity from their peer. So, what should be taught? Markham says children need to be given the tools to handle sharing situations. “We do want our child to notice when another child would like a turn, and to ensure that child gets a turn,” she said. “And when someone else has something that our child wants, we hope that she’ll be able to control her impulses and use her words to work out an arrangement so that she can use the object in the future.”
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I don’t get everything I want.
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I don’t have to whine and convince my parent that I need a turn, because I know I will get it. When I give my toy to my sibling, I feel good inside. I’m a generous person. According to Markham, this helps your child learn patience and empathy, which may leave them better equipped to handle bigger situations in the future. Forced sharing may seem positive in nature, but the harmful competition it creates may rob children of the chance to be truly generous and communicate their feelings and desires.
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If I cry loud enough, I get what I want.
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Parents are in charge of who gets what and when, and it’s arbitrary,
Client Testimonial
“I started at Elite Physical Therapy in October 2017. I was having problems walking. After a few visits to PT, it was determined that I had a serious problem. X-rays showed that I was bone-on-bone in my right hip. I had a complete hip replacement on Nov. 17, 2017. I came back to Elite Physical Therapy and started the exercise program taught by the very professional staff. They were very sincere in their mission. Today, Jan. 11, 2018, I have progressed to the point that they are releasing me to continue my exercises at home, with the understanding that if I need anything at all, I would come back, which I definitely will.” -Joseph “Jimmy” Faught
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Make Use of Your Direct Access
Have a Laugh! Now, with direct access, you can receive our services without that step. However, that does not mean we aren’t a part of the medical team. If we see something that concerns us that falls outside the scope of physical therapy, we can refer you to the appropriate provider. We have a great relationship with many physicians and In our April 2017 newsletter, we introduced the concept of direct access to physical therapy services. Since that time, many former and new patients have accessed our services this way. Our direct access bill became law just over two years ago, and most insurance companies in Louisiana are now reimbursing for these services. If you’re unsure whether your insurance company will reimburse, ask us. We are more than happy to help you find out. Before we had direct access, all patients had to receive a referral from their physician to work with a physical therapist. This often created a delay in getting the necessary treatment. It was a lengthy and sometimes frustrating process.
other providers and can help you get seen as soon as possible.
If you are having problems with your back or neck, or if your knee problem flares up after every run, you now have direct access to get these painful issues addressed. We’ll be able to assess what’s bothering you and let you know your options, whether your best course involves physical therapy or another type of treatment. Don’t wait until your pain turns into something worse. Contact us here at Elite PT; we’re here to help!
Over the last several months, we have seen patients use direct access for overuse injuries; back or neck pain; hip, knee, ankle, shoulder and elbow pain; and other issues we can treat with physical therapy. At Elite PT, we perform a thorough evaluation of your condition to identify imbalances, weakness, tightness and other issues. Then, we use the appropriate treatment approach to address your problems. This might include some of the following:
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Manual therapy techniques for soft tissue and joint problems
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Custom exercise programs for your specific condition or problem
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Trigger point dry needling
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And other specialized techniques to help you get you better
Sweet and Zesty Detox Salad
Ingredients For the Salad: •
For the Dressing: •
1 large carrot, roughly chopped
3 cups chopped kale leaves
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1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
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2 cups chopped broccoli florets
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2 tablespoons olive oil
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2 cups chopped red cabbage
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1 tablespoon finely chopped ginger
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1 cup matchstick carrots
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1 tablespoon honey
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1 cup chopped cilantro
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1 tablespoon white miso
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1/2 cup toasted slivered almonds
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1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
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1/3 cup sliced green onions
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Salt and pepper, to taste
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1 diced avocado
Directions 1. To make the salad, add all ingredients to a large bowl; toss to combine. 2. To make the dressing, add all ingredients to a blender or food processor. Pulse until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper or add extra honey for a sweeter taste. 3. Drizzle dressing over salad and serve immediately.
Elite PT • (318) 443-3311 • 3
Recipe inspired by GimmeSomeOven.com.
3446 Masonic Drive Alexandria, LA 71301 (318) 443-3311
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www.elitephysicaltherapy.us
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Inside THIS ISSUE
• Celebrations Abound in Louisiana • Sharing Isn’t Caring When It’s Forced
• Hear From One of Our Clients • Get Direct Access to Physical Therapy
• Whip Up This Winter Salad in a Flash! • Have You Heard of Ruby Chocolate?
Sample These Chocolate Facts
Chocolate lovers, rejoice! After 80 years, a new variety of chocolate has finally graced the world: ruby chocolate. This naturally pink chocolate, created by Swiss chocolatier Barry Callebaut, is not milky like milk chocolate, sweet like white chocolate, or bitter like dark chocolate. Instead, Callebaut describes the flavor of his confection as a “tension between berry fruitiness and luscious smoothness.” Unfortunately, while ruby chocolate sounds like a wonderful treat, it is not yet available to consumers. So, as you wait for ruby chocolate to be stocked in your local grocery store or candy boutique, satisfy your chocolate cravings with some sweet facts about your favorite treat. Imposters! The names of certain chocolates can be very misleading. German chocolate cake, for
example, is not named after the country of Germany. It’s actually an American dessert that was first baked in 1852, named for its creator, Sam German, and originally called “German’s chocolate cake.” White chocolate also suffers from a mistaken identity. Made primarily from cocoa butter, white chocolate does not contain any cocoa solids, which means it’s not technically chocolate. What’s in a Name? The ancient Mayans are credited as the first people to grow and consume chocolate. However, the word “chocolate” comes from the later Aztec civilization. The Aztecs loved a bitter, spicy beverage made from cacao beans called “xocoatl.” And since we’re on the topic of words, the scientific name for the tree that grows cacao beans, Theobroma cacao, is a Greek word, which translates to “food of the
gods.” This just proves cocoa connoisseurs were right all along — chocolate really is divine.
A Sweet Deal Speaking of the Aztecs, their civilization loved chocolate so much that cacao seeds were used as a form of currency in Mesoamerica. During the American Revolution, chocolate was still accepted as payment, sometimes used in soldiers’ rations in lieu of wages. Even today, chocolate remains a valuable commodity. The chocolate industry is worth around $110 billion a year. Humans have enjoyed the sweet pleasures of chocolate for thousands of years. And with so many chapters of candy history left to explore, namely ruby chocolate’s
eventual entrance, it’s clear the treat won’t go out of style any time soon.
4 • www.elitephysicaltherapy.us • Elite PT
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