COVID-19 & PHYSICAL THERAPY (Continued From Outside) Mental Health:
Patient Success Spotlight
Nutritional Health: 1.Load up on fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables provide your body with vital nutrients that support your immune system and overall health. If getting them fresh is a challenge, you can get what you need from the canned or frozen variety. 2.Limit sweets. When times get tough, the tough raid the cookie jar. But that short-term sugar high we get from sweets can compromise our immune systems and normal body functions. Do your best to satisfy your craving for sweets with fruit instead. And if you absolutely have tohave a cookie or your favorite ice cream, keep it to aminimum. One scoop tastes as good as two. 3.Plan your grocery shopping. Before you go to the store, make a list of exactly you want—including all those things that are good for you. This will ensure you’re eating well, and that you can shop quickly which limits your exposure to others.
1.Stick to a routine. At a time when nothing feels normal, put a little “normal” back into your life with a daily routine. Sticking to a daily routine has been shown to have a positive impact on mood and energy levels. This means anything from having your morning coffee at the same time every day, to always having an exercise break right before dinner. 2.Make time for things you enjoy. With more time on your hands, you can tackle that long- term personal project you’ve been neglecting. Or you can simply veg out and binge on your favorite TV series. Whatever you do, try to make it stress free. If listening to the news stresses you out, listen to music instead. 3.Remind yourself daily that this is temporary. This is not going to go on forever. It’s important to remind yourself of that, and to take things one day at a time.
John gets treatment at Bay State Physical Therapy Weymouth for chronic back pain and a work-related ankle injury. “Since I’ve been attending Bay State Physical Therapy, I’ve seen huge improvements in my ankle and back pain,” says John. “My physical therapist Lexi has been awesome and creates excellent workout routines that have really made a difference.” Since the COVID-19 outbreak, John has successfully made the switch to telehealth services. Lexi has been able to progress his exercises to build John’s strength and mobility, while reducing his pain. “The transition to telehealth couldn’t have been easier,” reports John. “The app is easy to use and has tutorial videos to help with exercises. Lexi is able to observe my exercises and critiques me on my form as if she was in the room with me.” The ability to continue his plan of care with telehealth services has been instrumental to his success. “Telehealth has made it possible to continue on my recovery right at home. I highly recommend using telehealth – it’s convenient and easy to use.”
1.Position your computer so that the top of the screen is level with your eyes. Get creative! Some ideas to raise the height of your computer include: WORKING FROM HOME ERGONOMICS Written By: Shannon Cantwell, PT, DPT of Bay State Physical Therapy: Weymouth
• Books • Notebooks
• Cereal boxes • Board games
2.Relax your shoulders & allow the weight of your arms to be supported. If the chair you’re using doesn’t have arm rests, sit close to your table or desk and rest your arms on the surface to prevent over working your shoulders. 3.Sit in a chair that gives your back support. If you feel you don’t have enough lower back support, place a small towel roll between the small of your back and the back of the chair. 4.Sit in a chair that allows your feet to rest flat on the ground with thighs supported and knees bent to about 90 degrees. If the seat of your chair is too low, add a pillow to increase its height. If the seat is too high, rest your feet on a stack of books or notebooks. Try your best to get up and move every 30 or so minutes to give your body and mind a break from work!
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To support our community during this challenging time, we are NOW OFFERING TELEHEALTH APPOINTMENTS TO ALL PATIENTS!
Click here to schedule a Telehealth Appointment >
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