Take a look at our November newsletter!
physical therapy and rehabilitation
November 2023
3600 Miller Road, Flint, MI 48503 • 810-620-8042 • horizonptflint.com
FAMILY MAGIC IN DISNEYLAND A Journey of Laughter, Love, and Unexpected Thrills
When my wife and I scheduled the boys for basketball camp in Orange County, California, this summer, we decided to make the most of the trip. We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to take the kids — or ourselves — to Disneyland. My parents, sisters, and their families also joined us for the trip, making the journey extra special. We didn’t have the opportunity to take a lot of family vacations when I was growing up, so it was meaningful for us to all be able to go together. We spent a lot of quality time in each other’s company, enjoying food, new experiences, and laughter. The rides were a lot of fun, and I particularly enjoyed the virtual reality ones. Of course, everything had a theme, and all the different Disney characters had their own rides. For example, we rode go-karts based on the movie “Cars.” An indoor ride themed around “The Little Mermaid” was
When my older son tells his friends at school about his summer vacation, he usually doesn’t even mention Disneyland. His story is that he got to fly in an airplane, ride in a minivan, and stay at a house with a pool! The boys’ cousins were thankfully a bit more excited about the theme park, and the important thing is that we all had a good time. I have two pieces of advice for anyone else planning their first trip to a Disney park. The first is to plan on spending more than you thought. No one expects anything inside Disney to be cheap, but I still experienced some sticker shock. Everything is so expensive! But my top recommendation is to have a plan. Before you go, decide which attractions you want to see and ride and where and when you’ll eat. Not only do the restaurants cost a small fortune, but they’re also overrun with people. Getting everywhere takes time, too. You have to take a shuttle from the parking lot to the park, and once you’re inside, you spend most of your time walking. We probably could have made more of our time there if we had a plan of attack upfront.
a particular treat because it was air-conditioned. It’s sweltering in Disneyland in July, so that attraction felt like a huge relief. The most memorable Disney moment must have been the evening fireworks over Cinderella’s castle. It’s a magical experience that makes you feel like you’re a part of a movie — a true highlight of the trip. Ironically, while we tend to think of Disneyland as designed for kids, I think the adults got more out of it. Children are easy to please, and it doesn’t take much to get them excited. For my sons, the trip’s highlights were the pool and jacuzzi at the house my family rented. They spent as much time in the water as possible and came back home a few shades darker.
Despite those lessons learned, I’m grateful my family could enjoy a reset. My family is full of hard workers, so spending days relaxing and not doing much can be difficult for us. I’m so glad we had the opportunity to slow down together and make some memories we’ll remember forever. -Dr. Jerome Adams
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WALK YOUR WAY TO BETTER DIGESTION
THE POST-MEAL WALK: WHEN AND HOW LONG IS BEST? You gain the most digestive benefits if you walk right after eating. Waiting too long afterward may only minimally aid your digestive process. Be sure to get moving as soon after your meal as possible! As for frequency, ideally, you should go for a stroll after every meal. However, to get started, try going for a walk after dinner. You can increase your number of walks as you get accustomed to the exercise. Ten minutes is all you need to reap the benefits of walking after eating. While you can walk longer if you’d like, 10 minutes is doable even with a busy schedule. Plus, if you walk for 10 minutes after every meal, that’s 30 minutes of exercise daily! Take your dog with you or stroll with your headphones, listening to your favorite podcast. How you walk is up to you, but no matter what, you’re doing your mind and body a huge favor!
We all know the after-lunch slump leaves us counting the minutes to our next nap. But research shows that sleeping or lying down after eating isn’t the best for health (no matter how good it feels). When you do this, you’re not allowing your body the time it needs to digest your food properly, and you may experience various digestive issues, such as acid reflux and heartburn. So, is walking the best activity to do after eating? The answer is yes! Walking is a light movement that can help your food move through your stomach and intestines, making digestion smoother. Not only can walking help improve your digestion after eating, but this simple exercise can also bring many other benefits:
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Regulating blood sugar levels Managing blood pressure Reducing the risk of heart disease
Boosting your mood Improving sleep quality
Of course, regular exercise improves your overall health significantly, even if it’s just a quick walk around the neighborhood!
CLIENT SUCCESS STORIES “Dr. Adams and his staff are the epitome of excellence. Their attention to the needs and care of their patients is unmatched. They’ve established a very welcoming atmosphere from the time of entering the building until you leave. I loved the camaraderie, whether you were the patient, the doctor, assistant or receptionist; it was like no one was a stranger. Great staff, great therapy, good people, good conversations, lots of laughter, AND good music make “This place surpassed all of my expectations. The doctors, PTAs, and front desk associates are so friendly, knowledgeable,
and helpful. I have historically never liked exercise, but I looked forward to coming every week. Although I hope not to have to go through PT again, I’d happily return if needed!”
Horizon Physical Therapy stand out and 100% the best place to start your healing journey. Thank you again, Dr. Adams and Taylor (PTA), for getting this shoulder right.”
–Katie K.
–Regina D.
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TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR HEALING YES, YOUR HOME EXERCISE PLAN MATTERS! HOW ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IMPROVES PHYSICAL THERAPY RESULTS
could cause setbacks or additional injuries by exceeding your therapist’s recommendations. If you want to push yourself, discuss it with your PT first. TAKE NOTES Keeping a log of your improvements and symptoms will help your therapist assess your progress and make necessary treatment modifications. Record your pain levels and when you experience them. Further, keep track of how your exercises feel. If doing your homework hurts, your therapist needs to know. Writing down these details and bringing them to physical therapy will ensure you don’t forget any concerns between sessions. ASK QUESTIONS A patient must understand their treatment to get the most out of it. So, speak up if you are confused about a particular exercise, uncomfortable with your homework, or frustrated with your progress. A competent physical therapist wants you to feel good about treatment and will happily answer questions. It’s also crucial to be honest during the process — even if you must confess that you didn’t do your homework. Only by having the whole picture can your PT give you the care you deserve.
Physical therapy is a partnership, and a patient can only hope to get out of their treatment what they put in. A positive experience requires your dedication to the process. If you want to optimize your recovery, we recommend following these steps to help your therapist provide the best possible care. SET GOALS Almost everyone who enters physical therapy wants to feel less pain or move better — but it helps to be more specific than that. If you wish to hold your grandkids, return to playing tennis, or move up and down the stairs independently, your PT needs those details. They will tailor your treatment to what you want to achieve. Goals also help you better measure your progress! FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS Your physical therapy homework isn’t optional. Failing to perform at-home exercises is the top reason patients don’t make the progress they want. Homework will ensure you continue to progress during the days you’re not working directly with your physical therapist and help you maintain the gains you made during appointments. But be careful not to overdo it. You
Tasty Apple Pie
Have a Laugh
Just like Grandma made!
Ingredients
• • • • • •
2 9-inch unbaked pie crusts 6 cups thinly sliced peeled apples
1 tsp cinnamon
3/4 cup granulated sugar 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
2 tbsp butter
Directions 1.
Preheat oven to 425 F. 2. Place 1 pie crust in a 9-inch pie plate.
3. In a large bowl, combine apples, cinnamon, sugar, and flour. 4. Spoon mixture into pastry-lined pie plate and dot with butter. 5. Cut remaining crust into 1/2-inch-wide strips, then arrange strips in a lattice design over top of pie. 6. Trim, seal, and flute edges. 7. Bake for 35 minutes or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly.
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3600 Miller Road Flint, MI 48503
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
THIS ISSUE Inside
Kids at Heart: The Adams’ Summer Trip to Disneyland
The Power of Post-Meal Walking
Client Success Stories
4 Steps to Optimize Your Recovery
Tasty Apple Pie
Explore the Instinctual Call of Crisp Autumn Leaf Piles
THE SCIENCE BEHIND WHY DOGS AND HUMANS CAN’T RESIST LEAF PILES
IRRESISTIBLE SEASONAL SCENTS Our sense of smell doesn’t even come close to dogs’ incredible scent skills. While we have 5 million scent receptors, dogs have anywhere between 125–300 million! This means they can smell countless other scents we can’t, and autumn may bring some exciting aromas your dog hasn’t experienced in a while. The result? They’ll dive right into a leaf pile and get sniffing! MARKING TERRITORY
Whether it’s your boisterous toddler or rowdy pup, a perfect pile of autumn leaves might be too good to resist! You probably remember the days when you also jumped into a crunchy orange leaf pile without a second thought. But why do humans and dogs love jumping into huge piles of leaves? The main (and most obvious answer) is because it’s fun! For kids, dogs, and even some adults, jumping and rolling around in the fall leaves is a satisfying form of play that releases energy. While this may be the simple reason for humans, there are a few more reasons your canine companion can’t resist a tower of leaves. INSTINCT TO DIG
Another scent factor could be your dog wanting to claim a particular leaf pile. We already know dogs use their scents to mark territory, and rolling in a beloved pile of leaves is a way to infuse their scent. After diving head first into some leaves, they leave
Digging is a dog’s favorite pastime that dates back to their wolf ancestors. Just as natural as sniffing and barking, digging is an ingrained behavior for dogs, and they want to follow their instincts the moment they see a leaf pile. Whether they’re digging in to rest in the cool leaves or demolishing the pile entirely, your dog is just doing what dogs have always done.
their scent behind so other animals can smell them and know that the leaf pile has already been claimed! Whatever the case, jumping into a pile of leaves is completely normal — and fun! — for both humans and dogs.
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