Atlas Physical Therapy

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June 2017

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YOUR PT NEWSLETTER

Homer, Achilles, and Education What I’ve Learned From ‘The Iliad’

You might be wondering why the story of Achilles reminds me of physical therapy, but I think the connection is instructive. Your body is not a series of disparate parts, but rather a connected system. When you are suffering from back pain, you can feel its effects all the way from your head to your toes. If you have an injury, an Achilles’ heel, you cannot ignore it, no matter how strong or fit you are. Greek mythology is full of stories that still inspire us to this day, and the story of Achilles is among the most memorable. It’s a reminder that no matter how powerful we are, we are not perfect. Education is about improvement, and one of the surest ways to improve is by identifying where you are weakest. I don’t think I’ll ever be content with the amount I’ve learned. Whenever I notice an Achilles’ heel in my knowledge, I educate myself in order to improve upon it. – Sam Dimitrakis

and to read it in the most faithful version connected me to a cultural tradition thousands of years old. There’s one character from “The Iliad” who actually serves as a potent metaphor for the work I do as a physical therapist: Achilles. Achilles is the main character of the epic and the hero of the Trojan War. For a large portion of the poem, Achilles refuses to fight on behalf of the Greeks, and the Trojans begin to amass an advantage. Eventually, though, Achilles is stirred to battle and ends up slaying Hector, Troy’s greatest warrior. Even the strongest of heroes, however, are not without weakness. As a boy, Achilles’ mother Thetis dipped him into the river Styx, granting him invulnerability against injury. She submerged all of his body except for one heel. Achilles died when an arrow pierced his heel, hitting the only patch of flesh that could suffer a mortal wound. This story gives a name to both the Achilles tendon and the phrase “Achilles’ heel.”

“The foundation of every state is the education of its youth.” Whenever I think about the importance of education, this quote from Greek philosopher Diogenes pops into my head. The power of learning cannot be overstated, and my mind is always returning to things I studied decades ago. I feel lucky that I had a family and teachers who valued intellectual curiosity and urged me to pursue my passions. I certainly wouldn’t be where I am today if not for the time I spent in classrooms. One thing I remember vividly from my years at school was reading “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey.” Homer’s two great epic poems are the most central texts of ancient Greece, and they are a staple of curricula across the world. When I was in school, we had to read them in ancient Greek, which bears essentially no resemblance to the modern language. It was definitely tough, but it was also incredibly rewarding. The fact that people still read Homer today speaks to the beauty and power of his work,

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Audiobooks Inspire a Love of Stories in All Ages Summer Reading for Busy Families

Grandma always told you not to stare down at your shoes, because the best way to go through life is with your head held high. These days, that advice is better than ever, but it’s got nothing to do with a sunny disposition. No, we’re talking about text neck , a common injury that’s the result of our national obsession with cellphones. We’re always leaning over little screens at work, at home, out at dinner, and even in the car — although hopefully just as passengers! And all that hunching is bad news, Dr. Dean Fishman says. “For every 1 inch of forward head posture Summer reading lists are always popular, but most families rarely have time to have dinner together, let alone sit still reading for hours. Luckily, the ever-growing popularity of audiobooks means you don’t have to wait for school to start again for your kids to get back into literature. Here are a few great audiobooks you can introduce to your family this summer. For the Long Road Trip “The Bad Beginning” (A Series of Unfortunate Events) by Lemony Snicket, read by Tim Curry When a terrible fire destroys the Baudelaire mansion, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny find themselves orphans and are sent to live with the terrible Count Olaf. Convinced their awful new guardian is only after their fortune, the Baudelaires must use their intelligence and skills to

For Something Entirely New “The Wild Robot” by Peter Brown, read by Kate Atwater When lonely robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she finds she’s trapped on a wild island. Struggling to survive and befriend the island’s hostile animal inhabitants, Roz must eventually face her mysterious past, which threatens to tear her home apart. This brand- new book is a stunning tale about the environment, technology, and the wonder of being alive. These are just a few of the many titles your family can enjoy this summer. Find even more by visiting Audible.com or checking the audiobooks catalogue on iTunes.

away from neutral, the weight of your head increases by 100 percent,” he says. Obviously, your head doesn’t actually get heavier; Dr. Fishman is talking about the working load that your neck has to deal with. The farther you lean, the harder the neck works — and the more you risk injury. Most of us look at phones at a 60-degree angle. That’s like balancing a 60-pound weight on your head. Unsurprisingly, pain, strained muscles, and other injuries can result. But even scarier are the potential effects this has on developing bones, like those of stick together and (maybe) overcome their sad circumstances. Fans of the Netflix series will love to hear the story that started it all! Who knew such an unfortunate series could mean fun for the whole family? For Family Bonding “Half Magic” by Edward Eager, read by Words Take Wing A beloved family favorite since it was first published in 1954, “Half Magic” tells the story of siblings Jane, Mark, Katharine, and Martha, who discover a magic wish- granting coin. They soon realize the coin only grants half of what they wish for, and an unplanned vacation to the Sahara, followed by chaos in King Arthur’s court, is just a one of the hilarious misadventures this family must overcome together.

Pain in the Neck Cellphones Can Be a

children. While studies are still ongoing, there are real reasons to believe that spinal deformation may result from childhood smartphone and tablet use. The solution is simple: Change the angle at which you view your phone. A screen at eye level is much less stressful on your neck and back than a screen in your lap. Tablets can be propped up with cases designed for exactly that purpose — mimicking the angle at which we view laptops — and you’ll be better off in the long run. And if you already have text neck, those current injuries should be treated with physical therapy.

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CommonQuestions Corner In this month’s “Common Questions Corner,” we’re going to take a look at the history of physical therapy. The field has grown tremendously, and it’s now of the war. It was called the American Women’s Physical Therapeutic

The History of

Physical Therapy Therapy Association (the name it still bears today). In the following decade, membership reached 15,000. How Big Is Physical Therapy Today? In the early 1900s, physical therapy was a niche pursuit that very few universities offered. These days, there are over 200 accredited physical therapy programs in the United States, and the field now includes specializations like orthopedics, electrophysiology, and manual therapy. The popularity of physical therapy as a treatment method shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects a 34 percent

Association and began with 274 charter members, all of whom were women. The next year, the name was changed to the American Physiotherapy Association (APA), and men began to be admitted. The first APA code of ethics was created in the 1930s. By the end of the decade, APA membership was up to roughly 1,000 therapists. What Caused Physical Therapy to Explode in Popularity? The two largest factors contributing to the exponential growth of physical therapy were the polio epidemic and World War II. By the end of the 1950s, the association was renamed yet again, to the American Physical

universally recognized as a science. We get a lot of questions about how physically therapy has evolved, and we want to address some of those here. When Was Modern Physical Therapy Established? During World War I, physical therapists were known as reconstruction aides. These aides were civilian women tasked with getting wounded soldiers back on the battlefield, and they are the earliest precursors of modern physical therapists. Mary McMillan led the formation of the first professional association for physical therapists in 1921, shortly after the end

growth in the number of physical therapists over the next 10 years.

Alevropita Recipe

(Greek Egg, Feta, and Herb Tart)

Ingredients

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 425 F. 2. Grease a baking sheet with butter. Lay 2 sheets phyllo, overlapping slightly, on baking sheet; brush with some melted butter. 3. Whisk milk and eggs in a bowl. Stir ricotta, feta, oregano, thyme, and chile flakes in another bowl. 4. Pour half the egg mixture over phyllo; dot with half the cheese mixture. 5. Repeat, layering remaining phyllo, butter, egg mixture, and cheese mixture. 6. Bake until bottom is golden and filling is just set, about 35 minutes. 7. Heat oven broiler. Broil until golden and crisp, 1–2 minutes. 3 www.AtlasPhysicalTherapyNJ.com • 973-325-7212

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more • 4 sheets phyllo dough • 1 ½ cups milk • 5 eggs

• 1 pound ricotta, drained • 12 ounces crumbled feta

• 1 tablespoon finely chopped oregano • 2 teaspoons finely chopped thyme • ½ teaspoon crushed red chile flakes

(Recipe from saveur.com)

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Inside This Issue 1 2 Homer, Achilles, and Education Audiobooks Your Family Will Love Cellphones Can Be a Pain in the Neck Common Questions Corner Alevropita Recipe (Greek Egg, Feta, and Herb Tart) 3

Paradise From an Eruption

The Island of Santorini

similar to sauvignon blanc. The wines of Domaine Sigalas are beloved the world over, and the estate is a beautiful property overlooking the Aegean. Of course, fine wine requires great food, and there’s no shortage of that on the island either. La Maison, situated high atop the island’s caldera, features a modern take on Greek cuisine served alongside a panoramic view. If you’re in the mood for a more traditional meal, The Good Heart is an excellent option. Located in Akrotiri, the restaurant is welcoming, humble, and unfailingly delicious. Santorini has so much to offer that it is the ideal destination for everyone from couples looking for a romantic getaway to families who want something a little more adventurous than Disney World. The island is the perfect combination of tourist-friendly and authentically Greek.

Its popularity, though, takes nothing away from the immense beauty of the island. Travelers in search of breathtaking views, incredible architecture, and a robust culinary scene will find it the perfect vacation destination. The geography of Santorini is the product of a huge volcanic explosion 3,500 years ago. The Minoan eruption, one of the largest in recorded history, created incredible cliffs and black sand beaches. It is also the genesis of the legend of Atlantis, the fabled lost city of gold. Another byproduct of the eruption is the fertile volcanic soil left in its wake. The earth of Santorini is particularly suited to the growth of grapes, making the island one of Greece’s premier wine-producing locations. If you’re a wine lover visiting Santorini, be sure to venture to Domaine Sigalas. The estate is regarded as Greece’s top producer of Assyrtiko, a white varietal

Of all the Aegean Islands, Santorini is probably the most well-known and high- profile travel destination.

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