Health Maters PT's online newsletter for December 2017
A Legacy of Generosity
CONTINUING MY PARENTS’ HOLIDAY TRADITION
M
y dad immigrated to the United States from Mexico as a young child. As he grew older, he had a knack for working on cars. Soon, he and my mother
were running their own little repair shop, Yandell Auto Service, right here in El Paso. Though he was an expert mechanic, the operation was what you might call “low-budget.” My mom literally had to hold the shop light over my dad’s shoulder while he worked in the dim garage. The business steadily expanded, but my dad always strove to maintain a lasting, personal relationship with all his customers. I’ve heard from so many people that when you had your car fixed at Yandell Auto Service, you were always treated like family.
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Those parties just encapsulated everything about my parents. They were so much more open than anyone I’ve ever known, embracing strangers like they were family. I still have friends today who remember them for all they did — people who attended the party as little kids with their grandparents years back. These days, we try to continue that family tradition on a smaller scale. We get together for a nice meal on Christmas Eve with my wife and two sons, a few friends, and a neighbor or two. Then on Christmas Day, we head over to my sister’s to meet with her, my nephews, nieces, and cousins. She makes mole from a recipe written in my mom’s own handwriting, and we all spend some time catching up and reconnecting. This year, I’m excited and honored to host the gathering at our house. Though my parents passed away a few years ago, they live on in these celebrations. They gave me absolutely everything, so it’s important to me that we’re able to pay tribute to them at least this one day a year. I try to impress upon my nieces and nephews that the success and abundance in their lives grows from the incredible roots that were planted by my mom and dad. I’m truly moved to be able to pass along their generosity of spirit in this small way and share precious moments with the people I love most.
For my mom and dad, that welcoming, giving attitude wasn’t limited to the business. Every Christmas, they would throw a massive party at their house and invite everyone they knew, from family to friends to customers. People who had just had their carburator
Over 100 people would be milling around in their big two-story house, laughing, eating, and coming together for the holidays. It was an absolutely incredible event.
cleaned would stop by with their kids, hang out, and chat with the enormous group of people in attendance. My mom and sisters would make delicious mole and turkey and all kinds of food for the festivities. Over 100 people would be milling around in their big two-story house, laughing, eating, and coming together for the holidays. It was an absolutely incredible event. One of my fondest memories from those annual parties is the image of my grandfather handing out presents to every kid who happened to stop by. It didn’t matter if you were our cousin or just the child of a customer, my grandpa had a small gift for you, wrapped by my sisters the night before.
–Louis Zuniga
NORTHEAST 4758 Loma Del Sur El Paso, TX 79934
EAST 8111 N. Loop El Paso, TX 79907 915-593-4985 M-TH 7am-6pm F 8am-12pm
WEST SIDE 4646 N. Mesa El Paso, TX 79912
915-755-0738 M-F 7am-6pm
915-313-6331 M-F 7am-6pm
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Which Charity Should I Donate To?
At the peak of the holiday season, many Americans find themselves overcome by a spirit of generosity and goodwill. Many people go beyond finding the perfect gift for friends and family and give their time or money to a charitable organization, seeking to make the holidays a little better for those worse off than themselves.
scrutinize a charity’s rating, spending habits, category, and much more. When examining a charity, they
look for all kinds of red flags, such as if they spend more than one-third of their budget on administrative costs or if they aren’t
But with thousands upon thousands of charities to choose from, how do we ensure our dollars are truly going to the best possible cause?
forthcoming about their operations and expenditures. If you’re unsure of where to donate, check out their list of “Charities With Perfect Scores.” If you want to provide humanitarian aid, Direct Relief (DirectRelief. org) is a well-known charity, and it has a perfect rating of 100 on Charity Navigator. They provide medical treatment in resource-poor communities. If you’re more inclined to protect the environment, check out The Conservation Fund (ConservationFund.org), which seeks to preserve natural resources while fostering economic development in America. Education-minded donors should look up Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO-usa.org), another organization with a perfect 100 from Charity Navigator. They strive to provide robust education for underserved communities. There are thousands of excellent charities to donate to, and many of them are probably right in your backyard.
Get Treatment Before It’s Too Late Poor Balance? As the only species on Earth that walks upright with a vertical spine, our human bodies are constantly performing an intricate balancing act as we navigate the world. At every moment of the day, our brains are interpreting the disparate signals from our vestibular system to ensure we move without falling. Since it happens behind the scenes, it’s easy to take balance for granted. Unfortunately, most of us never think about our ability to balance until we injure ourselves, at which point it may already be too late. If you or someone you love suffers from poor balance, it’s important to do everything you can to address it early. Especially in the elderly, a sudden fall is extremely dangerous, as it can lead to everything from permanent bone damage to potentially deadly surgery. It may seem obvious, but it’s best not to hand your credit card info to an anonymous organization soliciting your aid. The IRS has little regulatory power over most charitable organizations since they don’t typically pay taxes. As a result, it’s all too easy to be defrauded. “Never give a gift where you didn’t initiate the communication,” advises TimMeisenheimer, a certified financial planner. Calls can be a red flag, as charities who employ telemarketers are much less likely to receive the entirety of your donation. If you’re donating online, he also advises you to check that there’s a “https” at the beginning of the URL, which indicates a secure connection. But the best way to avoid shady scammers is to research the charity before you hand over your cash. One helpful resource is CharityNavigator.org, a charity-screening website where you can
program, we can help individuals of any age regain their balance and learn to safely navigate without the risk of injury.
When treating those with vestibular or other balance issues, physical therapists are equipped with a wide array of possible treatments to address the patient’s specific issue. However, treatment almost always involves a set of exercises tailored to the patient’s abilities. Therapists may use one of many special techniques designed to calibrate the patient’s vestibular system and resolve
dysfunction. At the same time, they can “reteach” the patient’s brain and body how balance is supposed to work. In addition, therapists will walk patients through exercises
that increase range of motion and strength to problem areas, thereby increasing stability. In general, therapists will do everything they can to restore balance and coordination. If you or someone you know is at risk of a stumble or fall, don’t hesitate to contact the Health Masters location nearest you today and take the first step toward safety and comfort.
Luckily, the physical therapists at Health Masters are here to help. Using our comprehensive balance rehabilitation
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LOW BACK PAIN AND SCIATICA WORKSHOP! In the past few months, have you:
At the workshop, you’ll learn everything you need to know about your back pain, including: 1. The single biggest mistake low back pain sufferers make that forces them to take medication, get injections, or even resort to surgery. 2. The three most common causes of lower back pain. 3. Three simple strategies to eliminate back pain for good, and get back to normal! Don’t let back pain stop you from doing what you love. Call 915.313.6331 today to register for our free workshop, and take the first step toward living a pain-free life!
1. Missed work due to sciatica or back pain? 2. Missed out on a family vacation or activity you love because you’re afraid of aggravating your sciatica? 3. Found yourself worrying more about your pain, numbness, and tingling than you do about your day-to-day life? 4. Tried EVERYTHING, and just want to return to normal? If you answered “Yes!” to any of these questions, HealthMasters owner Louis Zuniga would like to invite you to our upcoming FREE Low Back Pain and Sciatica Workshop!
December 9 at 10am 4758 Loma Del Sur El Paso, TX 79934 Call CHRISTY today at 915-313-6331 and she’ll happily set you up!
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Here’s what two of our wonderful patients are saying about the workshop:
“Amazing results. From being stuck and hunched over to great movement! I was convinced I was going to require back surgery, and I am now fine! HealthMasters are the BEST at what they do, 110 percent!” -Victor Sloan
Achilles tendon, and ankle. For these same reasons, I was given shots of cortisone to alleviate the pain, and the doctor suggested temporarily immobilizing my foot with a boot. Taking this matter into my own hands, I decided to seek an alternative. I walked into HealthMasters, and after a few sessions of physical therapy, I could not believe how the pain and limitations minimized, and soon vanished. Now I can keep on traveling, walking, and hiking with no problem! I give HealthMasters 5 stars, and completely recommend it before dealing with surgery.”
-Diego Gonzalez
“Before coming to HealthMasters, I was hopeless about my lower back condition, since the doctors I visited in Mexico and here in the U.S. told me with confidence that the only path to take was surgery. Due to my last two vertebrae being misaligned, the pain in my lower back was intense, radiating along my waist, and even down to the sole of my left foot,
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READ THIS BEFORE YOU GET SURGERY
Anyone who’s been active in sports probably knows someone who has injured their ACL or has experienced the injury themselves. According to Beaumont Health, there are over 100,000 ACL ruptures per year in the United States alone, and that’s on the low end of most estimates. It’s no coincidence that one of the most important ligaments for leg stability is also one of the most commonly injured when playing sports.
analyzed the post-treatment outcomes of 118 young adults who had experienced an ACL tear. There were 59 participants who received ACL surgery within the first four to six weeks after their injury, followed by a physical therapy regimen. Thirty participants received physical therapy first, followed by surgery two to 56 months later. Twenty-nine participants received only physical therapy.
An ACL injury, beyond being incredibly painful, can put a damper on all kinds of physical activities requiring stable knees. It’s unlikely that the injury will heal without proper treatment, so it’s best to address the problem early on. Most regular doctors, upon seeing a torn or ruptured ACL, fall into old ways of thinking and immediately recommend surgery as the only treatment option. But recent research shows that patients who delay surgery in favor of physical therapy may end up with better long- term results.
In general, the findings showed that patients who delayed their surgery, and those who underwent physical therapy treatment alone, fared measurably better than patients who immediately went under the knife. Though such research is still in early stages, and this particular study worked with a relatively small sample size, it’s evident that doctors’ tendency to suggest immediate surgery to every ACL patient needs to be more closely examined. Most patients with a damaged ACL should, at the very least, turn to physical therapy first before resorting to more drastic measures.
In a study published last May in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, researchers
Have a LAUGH
Christmas Star C OO K I E S
INGREDIENTS
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2½ cups blanched almond flour (not almond meal)
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½ teaspoon Celtic sea salt ¼ teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon ¼ cup coconut oil, melted
5 tablespoons agave nectar or honey
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large bowl, combine almond flour, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon. 2. In a small bowl, mix coconut oil, agave, and vanilla. 3. Mix wet ingredients into dry. 4. Roll out dough between 2 pieces of parchment paper until ¼ inch thick. 5. Refrigerate for 1 hour. 6. Remove top piece of parchment paper and dust dough with almond flour. 7. Cut out cookies with a small star cutter. 8. Using a metal spatula, place stars on a parchment-lined baking sheet. 9. Bake at 350 F until edges are lightly browned, 5–8 minutes.
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INSIDE This Issue
A Legacy of Generosity
Which Charity Should I Donate To? Treating Balance Issues Consider Your ACL Treatment Options Christmas Star Cookies
Christmas Trees Are German?
The Unclear Origin of CHRISTMAS TREES When you brought home this year’s Christmas tree, you and the family most likely spent an evening decorating it with lights, store- bought and homemade ornaments, a star or angel topper, and maybe even tinsel. If you’re more traditional, you may have even included a popcorn string. But have you ever wondered why we started decorating our Christmas trees in the first place? While the origins of the Christmas tree are uncertain, we’ve used the evergreen fir to celebrate winter festivals, both pagan and Christian, for thousands of years. The tree has represented many things, including the winter solstice, Saturnalia, and everlasting life with God. During the 1500s in Germany, people brought full pine trees, called paradise trees, into their homes to celebrate the Name Day of Adam and Eve on December 24. The families decorated the tree with apples and gingerbread. Before long, glassmakers began crafting small ornaments to hang on the trees. In Victorian times, trees were even decorated with candles! Over time, paradise trees evolved into Christmas trees. In the 18th and 19th centuries, when many Germans immigrated to the United States, they brought the tradition with them. However, the practice
of decorating a pine tree with apples didn’t quite catch on.
Then, In the winter of 1841, Queen Victoria of England requested a Christmas tree at Windsor Castle for her husband, Prince Albert, who was of German descent. The
Queen thought the tree would be a nice gesture, and the London News published a story about the royal Christmas tree in 1848. The tradition quickly spread throughout Europe and North America. When Christmas trees first rose to prominence in the United States, they were often decorated with homemade ornaments, while many German- Americans continued to use apples, nuts, and marzipan cookies. Popcorn joined later, dyed bright colors and interlaced with berries and nuts. Electricity brought lights, making it possible for Christmas trees to glow for days on end. And with that, Christmas trees quickly became an American tradition.
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