GOING BEYOND THE EXERCISES
4 A ctivities T hat C an H elp E xpedite R ecovery
Though the best part of our day here at Vital Care Physical Therapy is working with patients on their individual exercises, we understand that rehabilitation is significantly less enjoyable when you’re recovering from a painful injury. So, even though you can count on
us to formulate tailored exercise regimens to help you recover as quickly as possible, we also want to help expedite your healing process as much as we can to get you back to the life you led prior to your injury. To that end, here are five additional activities to keep in mind between appointments with us. 1) FOCUS ON WEIGHT Excess weight, especially in the mid-section, can put a strain on your back or hips and cause you more pain overall. Try to stay within 10 pounds of your ideal weight to avoid aggravating an existing injury and to prevent future ones from occurring. 2) MAINTAIN GOOD POSTURE People with poor posture put excessive strain on their back. Bad posture can lead to flare-ups of back, neck, or sciatic pain, so try these remedies to improve your posture: Take frequent standing breaks, and don’t forget to sit in a straight-backed chair with your head up, especially during those long days at work. 3) STRENGTHEN YOUR CORE While it might seem strange, weak abdominal muscles can be a major source of back pain. If your abdominal muscles can’t hold you upright, your back is forced to overcompensate. Start doing regular abdominal exercises to strengthen your core, and you’ll notice a difference. 4) AVOID HIGH HEELS Even though high heels look great, they put you in an awkward standing position because they shift your center of gravity and strain your back. In short, they do much more harm than good. If you’re not wanting to get rid of your shoe collection, try to stick to 1-inch heels — or less, if you can. Keeping these four points in mind will help increase your speed of recovery and decrease the chance of further injury. If you have questions about any or all of them, don’t hesitate to give us a call!
ROASTED RADISHES WITH RADISH GREENS
Radishes start showing up in droves during the spring and summer months, but all too often we only eat the bulbs raw on salads and discard the greens. This recipes bucks both of those trends, with the radishes being roasted alongside their green tops. INGREDIENTS
• 3 bunches radishes with greens attached • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil • Salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 500 F. While heating, trim radishes and wash greens. Pat both dry using a paper towel. 2. In a large ovenproof skillet, heat oil over high heat until shimmering. Season radishes with salt and pepper, add to skillet, and cook until lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Transfer entire skillet to oven rack and roast for 15 minutes. 3. Once removed from oven, return skillet to stove. Over medium heat, stir in butter and add greens. Cook until they are wilted, about 2 minutes. 4. Finish with lemon juice and additional salt if desired. Serve immediately.
Inspired by Food & Wine magazine
www.VitalCareRehab.com | 3
Made with FlippingBook Annual report