AUGUST 2018
620 Old West Central Street, Franklin, MA 02038 • 508-528-6100 • www.ProPTinc.com
A PreciousVacation My Family Heads to Yellowstone
a fun environment, learn some things, and see incredible sights. None of us has ever been to Yellowstone, so it will be an entirely new experience we’ll get to share together. The eruption of Mount Kilauea is a reminder of how precious, ever- changing, and powerful nature is. It’s our duty as inhabitants of this planet to be respectful and protective of nature. Whether a 10-hour hike sounds like a dream or a nightmare to you, we can all agree that the natural wonders of the world are worth preserving. America is full of innumerable breathtaking landscapes, but they’re not guaranteed to last forever. That’s another reason why taking the time to see and appreciate them is so important to me. I’m so excited to share the stories we bring back from one of our bucket- list destinations. Isn’t it funny how much our perceptions and perspectives change over the years? As a child, I would’ve told you, “We’re going to Yellowstone,” with a shrug of indifference. Today, it’s with enthusiasm that I tell you, “We’re going to Yellowstone!”
You’ve probably seen some of the videos of the eruptions on Mount Kilauea this year — rivers of neon-red lava, smoking oceans, and earthquakes caused by explosions. The Jaggar Museum at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park may have been lost forever due to damage from the earthquakes. I went to that museum as a child, and to be perfectly honest, I hated it. I wanted to spend my vacation having fun on the beach, not reading about a volcano in a museum. When I heard about the threats facing the museum, not to mention the people losing their homes and the ways the eruption is changing the landscape forever, I couldn’t help but feel a bit silly about my experience there. Had I traveled to the Jagger Museum and Mount Kilauea as an adult, I would’ve enjoyed it much more. As we get older, our appreciation for nature, history, and culture grows. Maybe that’s because, as kids, we feel like parks and museums are places our parents drag us to, rather than places we choose to visit. Our appreciation is forced. Whatever the reasons, I’ve talked to many people over the years who’ve expressed similar sentiments to me. You can lead a child to MoMA, but you can’t make them enjoy Picasso. The appreciation has to be something a person discovers on their own. This year, my family is taking a trip to Yellowstone National Park — a vacation that may have been a hard sell when my kids were younger. When I proposed the idea this year, however, everyone jumped at the chance. One of my daughters and her boyfriend live in North Carolina, so I don’t get to see them all that often. The trip is a chance to reconnect in
– Dr. Stacey Raybuck Schatz I hope you’ve had a chance to visit a special destination this year, whether here in New England or farther afield. Enjoy the summer while you can, because the seasons, like natural wonders, don’t wait for anybody.
Professional Physical Therapy | 508-528-6100 • 1
Want to Improve Brain Health? Grab a Sword!
OPEN OR CLOSED? The difference between an open-skill sport and a closed-skill sport lies in the dynamic nature of the activity. Going for a jog is great for your heart health, but your body is doing the same thing during the entire workout. This makes it a closed-skill sport. The same goes for swimming; you might have different strokes to choose from when you jump in the pool, but your brain is focused on repeating the action while doing your laps. Open-skill sports require players to respond to unpredictable circumstances in unpredictable ways. Fencing is a great open-skill sport because, while you have to learn the right way to hold the saber and move your body, you also have to think on your feet and react quickly to your opponent’s attacks. Researchers from the Foro Italico University of Rome believe that it’s the required adaptability that makes open-skill sports so good for your brain. You challenge your body with complex motor movements and your mind with fast decisions. In the study from PSE, the researchers reported that “the open-skill athletes used less brainpower to do the same thing than the closed-skill exercisers did.” WHAT’S THE BEST OPEN-SKILL SPORT? If fencing isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other great open-skill sports, including tennis, badminton, basketball, and racquetball. What are you waiting for? Swing by your local rec center and find out what open-skill sport will be your new favorite pastime!
Did you know fencing is
making a comeback? No longer just for
heartsick gentlemen of the Regency era, fencing is increasingly being taught in public schools, displayed in the pages of popular indie comics,
and practiced among seniors. Plenty of baby boomers are picking up swords, or “sabers” — and it’s not because they’re preparing to fight dragons. Exercise is important no matter your age, but some activities are more beneficial than others. Research published in the journal Psychology of Sport and Exercise (PSE) suggests activities defined as “open-skill sports,” like fencing, can do more to improve brain health than “closed-skill sports.”
Patient
of the Month
NELSON OSBORN THE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS FOUNDATION
The second is because of his hard work, determination, and dedication to his recovery. Professional Physical Therapy will be donating $100 to this foundation in honor of Nelson and all of his positivity and success in and outside the clinic.
Nelson chose the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation in hopes of helping to accelerate research and the advancement of treatment for people with multiple sclerosis. Nelson’s wife has MS, so this charity is close to his heart. We chose Nelson for Patient of the Month for a number of reasons. The first is how he greets everybody and is always able to get a smile out of anyone he talks to.
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YOU’VE WORKED HARD ALL YEAR…
LABOR DAY IS A CELEBRATION OF WORKERS, AND WE WANT TO CELEBRATE YOU.
We’ll be offering free exams for the entire week after Labor Day. We are closed on the holiday to celebrate our staff, but you can schedule your exam any time during the remainder of the week. Professional Physical Therapy is honored to provide treatment to America’s workforce. We wouldn’t be anywhere without labor, and we want to express our gratitude.
CALL OR STOP BY THE OFFICE TODAY TO SCHEDULE YOUR FREE EXAM.
Professional Physical Therapy 620 Old West Central Street Franklin, MA 02038 508-528-6100
3 Food Rules to Follow For Smarter Shopping and Healthier Eating
“DON’T GET YOUR FUEL FROM THE SAME PLACE YOUR CAR DOES.” It’s very easy to grab something cheap and snackable when you’re on the go, but it’s much harder to find something that’s good for you. While springing for a bag of chips every once in a while is harmless, you don’t want to rely on quick-stop foods for a major portion of your diet. Food at gas stations, even when it looks natural, is usually packed with additives and preservatives. “AVOID FOOD PRODUCTS THAT MAKE HEALTH CLAIMS.” This one may sound counterintuitive, but it’s a valuable piece of advice. Think for a second about the items in your grocery store that market themselves as healthy. Odds are they’re just “healthier” alternatives of mass-produced and heavily processed foods like cookies and instant meals. Broccoli, on the other hand, doesn’t need to advertise that it’s nutritious. To read the rest of Pollan’s guidelines, pick up a copy of “Food Rules.” We promise you won’t regret it.
Eating healthy is hard, particularly when our grocery stores are stocked with snack foods that offer almost no nutritional value. Michael Pollan, a UC Berkeley professor and food expert, understands the challenges facing people who want to eat better. To help shoppers navigate the aisles with an eye toward improved nutrition, Pollan wrote a book called “Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual,” which is divided into easy, actionable tips. While we don’t have space to cover all 64 of them here, we wanted to share some of our favorites with you, along with explanations of how they’ll help you shop smarter, eat healthier, and feel better. “EAT MOSTLY PLANTS, ESPECIALLY LEAVES.” Too often, we think of meat and vegetables as rivals, when they’re actually complimentary. Pollan doesn’t argue that everyone should become a
vegetarian. Instead, he encourages people to focus on increasing their plant intake. A plant-based diet offers a wealth of health benefits without asking you to forswear meat entirely.
SUCCESS STORIES
“I came to the shoulder workshop at the insistence of my husband. For four years, I had lost the strength and motion in both shoulders. Unable to raise my left arm above my shoulder height, I had resolved that this was how it would always be. After my evaluation, I began coming to PT twice a week. With the support of Dr. Patt, Sue, Amber, Sarah, and Gaby, I stuck it out. I also had 10 laser treatments, which were amazing at easing the pain. I have never been more grateful to a team of dedicated professionals for bringing me full circle and back to a physical state of wonderment!”
Summer Grilled Halibut If you’re tired of grilling hamburgers at this point in the summer, try using your grill for something a little different. This easy halibut recipe is a great change of pace.
Inspired by Bon Appetit magazine.
Ingredients
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4 boneless, skinless halibut fillets, about 5 ounces each 1/4 cup olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
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1/2 cup hearts of palm, drained Basil leaves, for garnish
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Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
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1 lemon
–Janella Swartz
2 pounds mixed tomatoes, sliced
“When I was first evaluated, I had difficulty looping my belt and reaching overhead. Physical therapy has allowed me to be able to do these simple tasks with little effort and a lot less pain. Many thanks to the whole staff at ProPT. The staff was extremely professional but lighthearted, which made the process really enjoyable.”
Directions 1. Lightly oil grill grates and heat grill to medium.
2. Grate 1 teaspoon lemon zest onto halibut fillets. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
3. Grill halibut, turning just once, for about 5 minutes on each side.
4. In a mixing bowl, combine tomatoes, hearts of palm, juice from lemon, and oil. Season with salt and pepper.
–Scott Moran
5. Garnish salad with basil. Spoon salad over grilled halibut. Serve.
Professional Physical Therapy | 508-528-6100 • 3
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www.ProPTinc.com 620 Old West Central Street Franklin, MA 02038 508-528-6100
Thank you for being part of the Professional Physical Therapy family!
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Cross 1 Item off the Bucket List Fence Your Way to Better Brain Health Patient of the Month 3 Rules for Healthier Eating Summer Grilled Halibut Sleep Better and Feel Great
HOW TO ACHIEVE A MORE RESTFUL NIGHT’S SLEEP
to sleep quality. Light from these devices is disruptive to your brain’s suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which helps regulate your circadian rhythm, and screen time before bed can throw off normal SCN function. Put your excuses for staying up too late to bed. Say no to “one more episode.” And all those emails? They can wait until tomorrow. Not getting enough quality sleep is harmful to your mental and physical health. When you get into the habit of following these three tips, you’ll find yourself feeling rested and refreshed in no time.
of going to bed then. The more consistent you are, the better your sleep will be.
A good night’s sleep is one of the most important things you can do for your mind and body. One study published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research found that the quality of your sleep is much more important than the quantity — that is, if you want to feel rested. And we all want to feel rested. So, what can you do to improve the quality of your sleep and get the rest you need? Listen to your body. This, above all else, is crucial to a good night’s sleep. Your body knows when it’s time for bed. Generally, you want to go to bed when you feel tired, whether that’s at 8 p.m. or 1 a.m. Whenever your body tells you it needs rest, you should make a habit
Wake up naturally. Jolting yourself awake with an alarm or radio isn’t doing your brain and body any favors (it can be stressful on the body and even elevate blood pressure, which is not good first thing in the morning). If you do need an alarm, consider a wake-up light. Wake-up lights mimic the sunrise, slowly brightening the room, waking your body in a natural, gentle way. Kick the screen habit. You’ve heard it before, and you’ll hear it again: Looking at an electronic screen — a TV, computer, tablet, or smartphone — before bed is detrimental
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