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718.747.2019
theptdoctor.com
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
September 2020
ON THE
MOVE
SOAP SUDS, TUNA SALAD, AND POSITIVITY A STROLL DOWN MEMORY LANE FOR NATIONAL GRANDPARENTS DAY
What’s your favorite memory of your grandmother? I bet something immediately came to mind. For me, when someone asks about my grandma, the first thing that pops into my head is the way she washed my hands. I know that sounds a bit funny, but it was a little ritual she had with me and my brother whenever we visited as kids. My grandparents lived up in the Pocono Mountains, so my brother and I were always running around outside, playing in the woods, and getting dirty. When we came in, Grandma would be bustling around in her apron, making lunch in the kitchen. She’d say, “Come wash your hands, boys!” and we’d head over to the sink. Leaning in from behind, she’d help us scrub our hands with soap. Then, she’d squeeze them, ringing them out like a towel! As an 8-year-old, I always thought it was hilarious, and the memory has stuck with me all of these years. My grandma passed away a decade ago, but I will remember those trips to the Poconos when National Grandparents Day rolls around on Sept. 13. My mother, brother, and I would pile into the car and head northwest, swinging through Manhattan on the way to pick up my dad. When we got there, it would be a full weekend of family Boggle and Scrabble games, filching Grandpa’s black licorice, and eating Grandma’s delicious tuna salad sandwiches. She always made the best tuna fish salad, like only a grandmother could. She chopped the celery up really finely and mixed it in to give every bite a perfect crunch.
As much as I loved her cooking, the thing that really stands out to me about my grandma in retrospect is her personality. She was practical, steady, and comforting. No matter what happened, she always had the attitude that everything would be all right, and that conviction only got stronger as she aged. A lot of people become more worried and afraid as they get older, but not her — she got wiser. She’d been through wars, political battles, and societal upheavals before, so she knew we’d survive whatever life threw at us. That was the biggest lesson I learned from her. When my grandmother passed, my grandpa moved to Long Island, where he’s still living today. He’s in his 90s now, but I remember when he was younger and spry. On our visits, he’d pull out his baseball gloves and play catch with us on the gravel roads near the house. The way the house sat on the mountain, if you missed the ball, it would roll down the hill and just keep going forever! We played Zim Zam together, too, which is basically tetherball but with a tennis ball attached to a cord, and a racket used instead of bare hands. Now, as a physical therapist, I have a different perspective on that time with my grandparents. I can see that those games of catch weren't just fun for us — they were great exercise for my grandpa and probably helped keep him young. Exercise is the best way for people to stay limber as they age, and it's something I work on all the time with my patients. Exercising the right muscles with the correct amount of resistance helps my patients stay active with minimal-to-no
pain. People are always coming to me, saying, "What can you do? I have arthritis and it's not going to go away. I have to face facts. I am just getting older and this is part of old age." Well, some of that is true. Everyone is getting older, but the whole truth is that not everyone has pain at an older age. If fact, studies of random people — who are older than 70 — reveal that about 80% of them have some kind of arthritic degeneration in their back or neck, regardless of pain or lack thereof. So that means there are a lot of people out there living with arthritis who don't have pain! How is that possible? The fact is that there are soft tissue structures like muscles, tendons, and ligaments that can be optimized, and that is where the pain is. You can continue living with arthritis, and physical therapy can help mitigate its effects by improving your posture, increasing your strength and flexibility, and combating inflammation and pain. However, a lot of people still get depressed about their diagnosis and live restricted by that label. I rather people follow my grandma's method: Everything will be okay, then proceed to do what needs to be done. You'll be able to move better and enjoy your life more. If you're a grandparent battling arthritis, give our team a call today. We can make sure you're able to have fun with your grandkids, just like my grandparents did with me and my brother in the Poconos. –Dr. Robert Morea 718.747.2019 ▪ THEPTDOCTOR.COM ▪ 1
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AND HOW YOU CAN STOP IT HOW STRESS CAN LEAD TO INJURY
While it’s pretty intuitive that physical stressors can cause physical injuries, you might not know that mental and emotional stress can also lead to musculoskeletal injuries that require physical therapy. That’s right — a lack of sleep, a busy workweek, and other stressful life events can make you more prone to injury. Why is this, and how can you prevent the stresses of everyday life from causing you bodily harm? When you experience stress, your body does a few things that naturally put you at an increased risk of injury. First, stress causes your nerves to function inefficiently. Second, stressful situations lead to higher levels of cortisol in the body, a hormone that inhibits muscle repair and immune system function. If you’re always dealing with stressful situations, then you’re constantly leaving your body open to physical injury. You can prevent injuries with all sorts of physical means, but if you fail to address your mental and emotional health, you’ll still be at a heightened risk. While you might not be able to prevent every stressful situation from ever happening, you can control how you react when one does occur. A few simple things you can do to prevent mental stress are to get enough sleep, maintain a healthy diet, and drink plenty of water. If any of these basic stress inhibitors are absent from your daily routine, focus on incorporating them in to alleviate
some of your stress. That said, practicing simple breathing exercises or another form of meditation can also be helpful, especially if you’re looking for a physical way to mentally unwind after a stressful day. While learning about how much stress hurts you can be even more stressful, you can find some peace knowing that with a few simple changes to your routine, you can prevent your stress from causing physical injury.
DO WHAT YOU LOVE AND KEEP YOUR BODY MOVING
HOW HIIT BENEFITS PEOPLE OF ALL AGES
High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is one of the best ways to burn fat, build muscle, and give yourself a better chance at a longer, healthier life. HIIT workouts are characterized by brief periods (30 seconds to a few minutes) of high-intensity exercise, followed by periods of low- or moderate-intensity exercise. However, what makes these workouts truly remarkable is just how much they can benefit people in every age group. According to Mayo Clinic research, HIIT workouts provide unique benefits to the body on a cellular level. The brief, vigorous exercises actually increase your metabolism and improve the health of mitochondria, the powerhouses that create energy within the cells. By energizing your cells, you can actually reverse the decline in muscle health that
occurs as people age. Energizing cells through HIIT benefits everyone, but these workouts can be of particular benefit to those over age 65. Seniors experience diminishing returns on energy produced by their bodies at a cellular level, and HIIT has been shown to reverse that process even in advanced age. HIIT workouts also have many other advantages for people of all ages. The exercises don’t necessarily require any equipment, and you can even see results from adding high-intensity intervals to daily walks. Those with health conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, can still participate in HIIT. In fact, Healthline reports that HIIT workouts can reduce heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar. However, the biggest draw to HIIT exercises is just how much of a timesaver they are. A few minutes of high-intensity movement can be just as beneficial as roughly 45 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise. You can incorporate HIIT exercises into whatever activities you enjoy, such as walking, cardio exercises, and strength training. If you’re affected by weak joints, you can incorporate HIIT into lower impact exercises, such as swimming or cycling. If you want to feel energized while doing the things you love, then HIIT just might be something you want to try. Just remember to keep a steady pace and don’t overdo it!
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FOODS FOR A FASTER RECOVERY THE NUTRIENTS YOU NEED DURING PHYSICAL THERAPY
Attending your physical therapy appointments and doing your at-home exercises as instructed by your PT are crucial parts of your recovery process. However, they’re not the only important steps you should take. What you eat can affect how quickly and well you heal just as much as your dedication to your exercises. By incorporating a few of these foods into your diet, you can heal faster and come back stronger than ever before. Omega-3 Fatty Acids There are three phases to the healing process: inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. While you might think that inflammation is a bad thing, it’s actually a normal and necessary part of healing. That said, you should still try to reduce inflammation, as it can be harmful in excess. Foods containing omega-3 fatty acids do wonders to control inflammation. Plus, our bodies can’t make omega-3 fatty acids naturally, so we have to get them from what we consume. Foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids include
Protein-Rich Meats, Nuts, and Dairy Products When it comes to the proliferation and remodeling stages of healing, healthy sources of protein are the way to go. Lean meats like poultry and fish are easy sources of protein, but if you don’t eat meat, you can also get protein from beans, eggs, nuts, and dairy products. Protein-rich foods will help heal muscles and bones and prevent muscle atrophy. It’s incredible what the body can do with just a few intentionally consumed superfoods!
fatty fish, olive oil, avocados, pecans, walnuts, and almonds.
Antioxidant-Rich Fruits and Vegetables Along with omega-3 fatty acids, the antioxidants from fruits and vegetables can also go a long way in reducing inflammation. Broccoli contains vitamins A, C, and K, as well as folic acid and several different minerals. ( Pro Tip: Cook your broccoli to maximize these nutrients!) Citrus fruits and peppers have high levels of vitamin C, and peppers have high levels of beta- carotene as well. Additionally, turmeric and garlic work wonders during the healing process.
EASY STUFFED SWEET POTATOES
TAKE A BREAK!
Inspired by EatingWell.com
INGREDIENTS
• 4 medium sweet potatoes • 1 15-oz can black beans, drained and rinsed • 2 medium tomatoes, diced • 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp cumin • 1 tsp coriander • 3/4 tsp salt • 1/4 cup sour cream • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
DIRECTIONS
1. With a fork, prick each sweet potato a few times. Microwave the potatoes on high 12–15 minutes, or until cooked through. 2. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the beans, tomatoes, olive oil, cumin, coriander, and salt. When the potatoes are done, microwave the mixture on high for 2–3 minutes. 3. Cool potatoes slightly, then cut each potato open lengthwise. Pull the halves apart to create space to spoon the warm bean salsa inside. 4. Add a scoop of sour cream to each potato, garnish with cilantro, and serve!
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Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. theptdoctor.com
1. A STROLL DOWN MEMORY LANE FOR NATIONAL GRANDPARENTS DAY 2. HOW MENTAL STRESS CAUSES PHYSICAL INJURIES HOW HIIT BENEFITS PEOPLE OF ALL AGES 3. THE NUTRIENTS YOU NEED DURING PHYSICAL THERAPY EASY STUFFED SWEET POTATOES 4. 3 ONLINE WORKOUT PLATFORMS YOU SHOULD TRY INSIDE THIS ISSUE
FEEL THE BURN FROM YOUR LIVING ROOM 3 ONLINE WORKOUT PLATFORMS TO TRY RIGHT NOW
Your living room might not be the most conducive environment for a good workout. But as the world continues to grapple with the effects of the coronavirus, working out at the gym, or any other public facility, is out of the question for many of us. Fortunately, you can still work up a sweat from home with the right workout videos for a fraction of the cost of a monthly gym membership. Here are a few worth your time and money! Alo Moves Alo is one of the most prominent outfitters for yoga lovers everywhere, but the workout routines offered through Alo Moves go beyond just yoga and meditation. Whether you’re new to working out or a seasoned fitness buff, you can find thousands of workout routines to follow along with on AloMoves.com. You can even download
routines to your phone and follow along with them in your backyard or at the park, all for just $20 a month. P.volve While P.volve only has around 200 workouts available through its online platform right now, new videos are being added every week. If you’re looking for resistance-based, high- intensity, low-impact workouts, this is the platform for you. You can customize a workout plan based on which body parts you want to strengthen and even buy optional equipment to use at home. Get access to the entire fitness library for a monthly fee of $20 or save by paying an annual fee of $135 at Pvolve.com. Tone It Up Tone It Up is more of a fitness community than a workout program,
but the website still offers a variety of both free and paid workouts plus a paid nutrition plan. Try high-intensity interval training (HIIT), cardio, a total- body workout, or one geared toward specific body parts, like abs or glutes. Through the Studio Tone It Up app, which costs $15, you can get additional workouts delivered to you weekly. Even if they’re not what you’re used to, doing these online workouts can ensure you don’t lose the fitness you’ve worked so hard to gain. Try one of them today!
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