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MARCH 2019 WOODLYN WORD
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Around the World on 2 Wheels
MY 6 MONTHS ABROAD
A lot of people talk about traveling around the world, but few are able to make that dream a reality. When I was 28 years old, I found myself in a strange place. I wasn’t married,
island before doubling back to the mainland and traveling by bus for two
weeks. There’s only so much biking you can do in Australia with the Outback being so hot and full of snakes. After Australia, Charlie and
had recently quit my job at Amtrak, and wouldn’t be starting my college classes to be a physical therapist until the
I flew up to Singapore before hitting Bangkok, Thailand, and Bali, Indonesia. After spending some time in Southeast Asia, Charlie and I eventually found ourselves in New Zealand, which proved to be the favorite part of my trip. The whole country is beautiful, and the people there were so nice. Charlie broke his bike, so we did a lot of hitchhiking, and people were always willing to pick us up and take us an hour out of their way. We drove all over the islands, went bungee jumping, and had the most incredible experience. To this day, New Zealand is my favorite place in the world. When I retire, I’m getting on the first plane back to New Zealand. After New Zealand, Charlie Brown and I parted ways. I went to Tahiti before jumping over to Mo’orea to bike and camp for a few days. Then, the last part of my trip was spent in Hawaii again, where I biked the Big Island and camped out on top of the volcano. When I came home, it was May, and I came very close to jumping on another plane and heading for Europe. But I knew I needed to get settled in before my courses at the community college started in September. Those six months really shaped the next years of my life. Keep in mind that I wasn’t staying in five-star hotels. I was camping out or paying a dollar a night to sleep in a shack south of Bangkok. I wouldn’t have changed anything about the experience, but I learned to appreciate so much of what we take for granted in the United States. Having instant access to safe drinking water and being able to flip a switch and turn on a light are luxuries so much of the world has to live without.
following fall. There were no responsibilities keeping me in one place, and I had a bit of money saved up. As I planned what I would do until my classes started, I thought about what it would be like to be the kind of person who bikes around the world. I set my mind to it and just said, “What the hell?” When I left, I told everyone I was going to Hawaii for a couple of weeks. I ended up traveling for six months. I have been biking all my life, but that was the first time I really camped. After buying a travel bike and camping supplies, I left home and made my way to Hawaii. When I got off the plane and went to get permits to camp in the national forests of Oahu, I spotted three
bikes outside the permit office. I started my trip by meeting three French Canadians from Quebec, who had already been on the road for six months. We hung out for 2 1/2 weeks, and I learned a bunch of stuff from them, both about the places they had been and some tips for making my own trip. After we parted ways, I stayed in Hawaii another week before making the leap to Australia. In Australia, I met eight other Americans on a nine-day bike ride. One of the people I met was a guy named Charlie Brown. We got along great and ended up traveling together for a few months. Charlie Brown and I flew over to Tasmania and biked the
“TO THIS DAY, NEW ZEALAND IS MY FAVORITE PLACE IN THE WORLD.”
-Jim Brennan
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Fire and Ice
WHEN DO YOU APPLY HEAT OR ICE TO AN INJURY?
When it comes to relieving pain, everyone has an opinion. Your mom might suggest taking pills and a nap, while your neighbor swears it’s best to walk it off. Meanwhile, yearly advancements offer more options — and opinions — for patients seeking relief. Among the plethora of available treatments, two remain constant — heat and ice. However, many people don’t know which to use, and unfortunately, the wrong decision can make your pain or injury worse. If you are unsure of which method is best for you, here’s the answer to your heating or icing dilemma. Heat: These treatments can come in several forms, such as creams, pads, and wraps. Many medical professionals suggest
using heat treatment for 30 minutes to four hours, depending on what is needed to fully relax the muscle. Heat often works best for chronic pain because it supports blood flow and loosens your muscles. Heat treatments can also be used to relieve stress and tension, but you should never use heat on an open wound or fresh injury. Ice: Cooling treatments can also be found in cream or wrap form, but a bag of peas or ice from your freezer will work just as well. Ice should be used in short bursts of time at a high frequency instead of one long use. Icing treatments are best for bruised wounds and minor injuries because the cold can reduce the swelling in your blood vessels — the cause of bruising — and expedite your healing
different rates throughout their lives. The first year of a dog’s life is closer to 13 years of a human’s life. It’s like how you aged a lot when you were a toddler, but probably didn’t change as much between the ages of 30 and 31. A dog’s mouth is cleaner than a human’s. We think this myth got its start because when dogs lick their wounds, they heal faster. But this has less to do with the magical healing properties of dog spit and more with the fact that licking removes damaged tissue and stimulates blood flow, which in turn promotes faster healing. That said, considering everything dogs do with their mouths, you shouldn’t let your dog lick any scraped knees this summer. Though there are a lot of incorrect dog myths, keep in mind that there are also a lot of things humans get right — like how much fun playing ball is! process. However, icing your chronic pain can be detrimental due to the stiffening reaction that decreases swelling. This is the opposite of the muscle relaxation you need for chronic pain relief. Eventually, heating treatments can be worked into a healing plan, but ice is a quick solution to a small problem. As with most treatments, what works for one person may not work for another. If icing an injury feels best for you and you see improvement, continue icing away your pain. Additionally, some patients find relief while rotating between cooling and heating. Regardless of your preferred method, it’s best to seek professional guidance in order to find a viable long- term solution. LET’S BURY SOME DOG MYTHS
FETCH OR FICTION
Hey there!
Mookie here, and I just spent the day playing ball with Dr. Brennan. Did you know dogs and humans have been playing ball for over 10,000 years? That’s when early man first befriended ancient gray wolves. But even though dogs and humans have been together for so long, there are still a lot of things man gets wrong about man’s best friend. Let’s set the record straight on a few dog myths. Dogs see in black and white. While it’s true that dogs have fewer cones in their eyes than humans do, we aren’t living in an old movie. A study from the University of California proved that dogs really do see color, just fewer colors than humans do. We see the world in shades of blues, grays, and yellows. My favorite color is dark blue, by the way. 1 ‘dog year’ equals 7 human years. There’s no scale for measuring how dogs age compared to humans because different breeds of dogs have different life spans. Plus, dogs, much like humans, will age at
– Mookie & Brice
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Here Are 3 Rules to Remember Before Planning a Trip Receiving Workers’ Comp Benefits?
Spring break is coming up soon and plenty of families will take advantage of the time off from school to get away for a while. The occasional vacation is good for the body, mind, and soul,
continue receiving workers’ comp benefits. You cannot stop looking for work. If you stop applying for jobs in order to take a weeklong vacation, you’ll forfeit your right to claim benefits. Don’t Overexert Yourself Your employer’s insurance company will look for any reason to cut off your benefits. This often includes hiring a private investigator to find “proof” that your injury is not as terrible as you claim it is. Vacations are a big red flag to private investigators. Don’t try to carry heavy luggage if you have been put on light duty. And if you have medical restrictions that say you must avoid strenuous activities, don’t sign up for Jet-Skiing, parasailing, or other such activities that would look bad to a judge. Relying on workers’ comp doesn’t mean missing out on the fun in life, but we strongly recommend talking with your workers’ comp attorney before making any travel plans. If you have to skip a vacation because you’re on workers’ comp and aren’t getting the treatment you need, remember that in the state of Delaware, you have the power to choose your own physicians. This includes physical therapy. At Woodlyn PT, we have experience working with patients who are going through workers’ comp and can gear their treatment accordingly. Give us a call at 302.366.7600 and learn how much better your recovery can be.
but if you’re receiving workers’ comp benefits, taking a little time away can cost you a lot. Since many of our patients are in the middle of a workers’
comp case or are recovering from an on-the-job injury, this month we want to highlight a few rules you must remember if you are going to vacation while on workers’ comp.
Don’t Miss Any Appointments If you are receiving workers’ comp benefits and have been required by a judge to see a physical therapist, orthopedic surgeon, or any other doctor or specialist, you cannot miss those appointments! Skipping a required
appointment can result in your benefits being cut off. And remember, rescheduling your appointments can also be viewed as a failure to comply with medical treatment.
Don’t Stop Looking for a Job Depending on your situation, you may be required to look for a certain number of jobs each week in order to
Beet, Mint, and Ricotta Hummus
The Word on Woodlyn
Inspired by Bon Appétit magazine
Ingredients
• 1 6-ounce beet (about the size of an adult fist), scrubbed • 1 15 1/2-ounce can chickpeas, rinsed and drained • 1/3 cup tahini, well-mixed • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice • 1/4 cup ricotta cheese
• 1 garlic clove, grated • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, or more to taste • 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper • 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander • Mint leaves, poppy seeds, and olive oil, for garnish
“Jim Brennan is a wonderful physical therapist who really cares about his clients. I give him and Ms. Jackie five stars for their services. I pray that his business continues to grow. Jim and Ms. Jackie, you’re the best!” —Leathia Cooper
Directions
1. Heat oven to 425 F. 2. Wrap beet tightly in foil. On a foil-lined baking sheet, roast wrapped beet until fork tender, about 60–70 minutes. 3. While beet is roasting, blend chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, ricotta, garlic, salt, pepper, and coriander until smooth. 4. Once beet is cool enough to handle, use a paper towel to remove beet skin. Trim root end and cut into small pieces. Add to blender or food processor, and blend until entire mixture is smooth. Add additional salt if desired. 5. Transfer to a shallow bowl, top with garnishes, and serve.
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
WOODLYNPHYSICALTHERAPY.COM • 302.366.7600 1082 OLD CHURCHMANS RD • NEWARK, DE 19713
Bungee Jumping in New Zealand 1 When Should You Heat or Ice an Injury?
The Wisdom of Retrievers 2
Should I Take a Vacation While on Workers’ Comp?
Beet, Mint, and Ricotta Hummus 3 How to Make Your Sailing Dreams Come True 4
Take Your Next Trip Offshore Set Sail for Vacation
Take a Day Sail
If you’re lucky enough to have been aboard a ship under full sail, chances are you know the thrill and serenity sailing can give you. If you’ve never been but have always wanted to know what it’s like to get out on the wind and waves, there are many great options available for beginners. Here are some ideas to inspire your next waterside vacation.
Many day-sail charters exist for those who want to go out a little farther than a dinghy would permit. If you’ve captained a boat and are familiar with the waters, you can apply for a bareboat
Start Small
charter. However, if you are inexperienced or simply don’t want a local guide at the helm, signing up for a day trip with a skipper and crew is a great option.
For those who dream of becoming a skipper one day, a great way to start is by sailing dinghies. These one-sail, beach-launch boats fit 1–2 people and can be rented at most water sports shops. If you want to make it a family experience, shops usually have 16-foot catamarans for rent as well. Catamarans have two hulls rather than one, making for a smoother, more spacious ride. If you’ve never sailed before, inquire about lessons. Most rental operations have instructors on hand who can show you the ropes. The great thing about sailing is that whether you’re in a 12-foot dinghy or a 60-foot sloop, the same basic principles, rules, and skills apply.
Do a Full Charter
Short of owning your own vessel, chartering a boat for multiple nights is the closest you can get to living out your nautical dreams. Some of the most beautiful destinations on earth — from the Caribbean Sea to the Mediterranean — are best experienced from the deck of a sailboat. Letting the sea guide you to amazing snorkeling destinations, remote cays, and bustling harbors is the stuff of real adventure.
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