Fyzical Therapy July 2018

Fyzical Therapy's online newsletter for July 2018

That Summertime Vibe Looking Back on the Summers of My Youth

n the middle of July, when that heavy Texas heat reaches its apex, I always find myself looking back on those days when the summer sun meant no school, endless possibilities, and no responsibilities — well, no responsibilities until I got into high school and picked up a summer job the instant I could (I took to it wholeheartedly). But whether I was goofing off or working with my nose to the grindstone, it’s always been one of my favorite seasons here in El Paso. When I was little, summer vacation was almost busier in some ways than the days we spent in school. My friends and I would pack the days from dawn till dusk with activities. Every morning, I’d scarf down my breakfast, climb aboard my bike, and pedal my way to the houses of the rest of the crew to pick them up. We’d start by discussing what new trouble we’d get into that day. Would we head to the local pool and get in an overly heated splashing war? Would we pack up our tennis rackets and meander over to the high school to play a few sets? Or would we just wander all over town on our bicycles, using our imaginations to find adventures around El Paso? Whether we were organizing pickup basketball games or just sitting around laughing together, we always kept busy. It was certainly a simpler time for kids back then. The only thing we had to worry about was getting back home in time for dinner. As I got a little older, I was eager to try my hand in the working world. My parents never had to convince me to go out and spread my resume around; I just did it of my own volition, probably following the lessons of my hardworking mother and father. Right after I turned 16, I took a job running athletic leagues for young kids for the Parks and Recreation Department. That was an incredible first gig for a young kid. In the evenings, I would run a baseball league over in Phoenix Park, right near where the HealthMasters clinic stands today. We’d hire underprivileged kids from around the area to be my helpers, running the snack shack, chalking up the baseball diamond, and just generally

doing whatever needed to be done. And somehow, at age 16, I was the administrator of the whole thing. I’d keep score during the games and do my best announcer voice over the loudspeaker. And on the weekends, I’d run basketball leagues in the gyms. It’s funny; I’ve had a job every summer since the moment I turned 16, but that first job probably stuck with me the most. To this day, I still have people who played in the baseball league or the competitive girls’ softball league recognize me, or coaches will stop me in the street to say hello. After a lifetime spent in the wonderful city of El Paso, I still never tire of the summer when it rolls around. This month, for the Fourth, I’ll probably have a few friends over for a cookout, grill up some fajitas, and just relax and hang out. It’s hard to beat the vibe that comes as the kids get out of school and everybody relaxes a little.

–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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Learning That Doesn’t Feel Like School

Mentally Stimulating Activities for Summer

Every summer, parents across the country have to deal with the same delicate problem. They want to make sure their kids continue to learn without feeling like they’re being assigned tasks. After all, summer homework is every child’s worst nightmare. Luckily, you don’t have to rely on math problems and book reports to keep your child’s development from taking a two-month vacation. Here are a few mentally stimulating activities that are as educational as they are fun. For Little Ones: Homemade Bubbles Bubbles fascinate young children, so why not spend a day making your own solution and experimenting by blowing different types of bubbles? The formula is simple: 1 part dish soap (Dawn or Joy work best) to 10 parts water. Optionally, you can also include 1/4 part glycerin. The process of making the solution will teach ratios and finding creative ways to blow bubbles fosters problem- solving skills and creative thinking. For Teenagers: Family Dinner Party Cooking teaches so many important skills: math, science, nutrition, concentration, cultural understanding, following The Fyzical Therapy Balance and Hand Centers team prides itself on being the friendliest, most skilled, most passionate bunch of physical therapists around. For us, treating patients and getting them back to doing what they love is more than a job. We get genuinely invested in our patients’ recoveries, learning their stories and struggles while helping them achieve the best outcome possible. You’d certainly be hard-pressed to find a physical therapist more compassionate and talented than Roy Kohn, who’s been around our clinic since 2010. He’s remarkably dedicated to finding solutions for his patients, working with a characteristic patience and understanding that puts everyone at ease. When asked about his favorite part of being a physical therapist, he laughs and says, “Man, I gotta pick just one?” He pauses for a minute and continues: “Everybody will tell you that they like helping people, because that’s what the health care field is. But it really is rewarding being able to facilitate getting people where they need to be. It makes me feel like I have some real worth.”

directions, creativity, time management, and more. Even better, it doesn’t feel like learning; it feels like fun. Encourage your older children to take the reins for preparing regular meals

throughout the summer. You can pick guiding themes, like “a trip to Mexico” or “pasta party,” but let them choose the recipes and prep the meals on their own. For the Entire Family: An Educational Field Trip Field trips always inspire excitement in students, and you’ll find the same goes for your family members. You can tailor your destination to the interests of your kids for maximum engagement. If you have a family of art lovers, head to a museum for some inspiration and discussion. Kids who prefer the outdoors will enjoy a nature walk or hike. You can bring along a field guide to identify flora and fauna. These trips may not pack the thrill of a water park, but they’re fun in an entirely different way.

Meet Roy Kohn

The Friendliest PT in Town

physical therapy, equipping himself with a wide array of new techniques and strategies to help his patients. “I love learning, which is lucky, because in this field, you’re never gonna learn everything

there is to know,” he says. “There are some people who will sometimes tell their patients, ‘You just can’t get better’ — I don’t want to accept that. It’s simply a question of getting the right information.” Outside of the clinic, Roy spends as much time as possible with his wife and extended family. In addition, he admits that he and his wife are probably “a little overly obsessed” with playing “Pokémon Go” and exploring the area for rare catches. For the Fourth of July, he plans to get everyone together at his place to swim in the pool and do a little cookout. He says they might then head across the state border to Chaparral, New Mexico, to shoot off some fireworks. The next time you’re at the Fyzical Therapy Balance and Hand Centers clinic, make sure to say a quick hello to Roy! He’s one of the most welcoming guys you’re likely to ever meet, and we’re glad to have had him on board for these last eight years.

Not long after securing his doctorate in physical therapy, Roy decided to pursue a vigorous fellowship in orthopaedic manual

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A Revolution in ACL Recovery BFR for Knee Injuries

If you’re like us, you’ve spent the past month savoring every moment of the World Cup you can. The World Cup is the greatest sporting event in the world, and because it happens only once every four years, it feels precious. That infrequency, though, also makes missing the tournament due to injury all the more crushing, which is exactly what happened to Brazil right back Dani Alves this year. He tore his ACL playing for his club team, Paris Saint-Germain, this past May and had to forgo his spot on the squad for Russia 2018.

When an athlete suffers an ACL tear or other major knee injury, one of the toughest hurdles they face is rebuilding the strength in their leg. The muscles and tendons regrow through a process called hypertrophy. In the past, creating a hypertrophic response required lifting increasingly heavy weight. The problem is, those recovering from injury have a big strength imbalance across their legs, so lifting heavy weight is a risky proposition.

BFR rehab offers an alternative to playing the guessing game every time you increase weight or resistance. Instead, it uses high-tech FDA-approved tourniquets to intermittently interrupt venous blood flow. These constrictions generate lactic acid and collagen at an increased rate, allowing you to get all the benefits of heavier weights without the danger of repeat injury. All of this is achieved with only minimal short-term side effects, most notably minimal muscle soreness. It’s using science to improve our outcomes. High-level athletes all over the world are experiencing the benefits of BFR rehab for knee injuries, and now you can too. Call our office today to find out if this cutting- edge treatment is right for you.

Sadly, ACL injuries are an all-too-common occurrence for soccer players of all levels. Due to its reliance on lateral movement and split-second changes of direction — think Messi jinking past a string of defenders — soccer puts a lot of stress on the knees of the men and women on the field. Minimizing the risk of ACL injuries and shortening rehab time are major concerns across the sporting world. Recently, blood flow restriction (BFR) rehabilitation therapy has provided therapists with a cutting-edge way to treat knee injuries.

Take a BREAK

Paleo Balsamic Pork Chops

This flavorful take on pork chops is the perfect centerpiece for your meal. You can serve the chops alongside a simple salad, charred asparagus, or any other summer veggies you want. INGREDIENTS

• • • •

4 boneless pork chops 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar 3 tablespoons raw honey 2 cloves garlic, minced

•

1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

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1 teaspoon fresh thyme

Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oven to 400 F. 2. Generously season pork chops with salt and pepper. 3. In a saucepan, combine balsamic vinegar, honey, garlic, red pepper flakes, and thyme. 4. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer gently for 5–6 minutes. 5. On high heat in an oven-safe saute pan or skillet, sear the pork chops for 1–2 minutes on each side.

6. Brush chops with half of glaze and transfer to oven. 7. Roast 6–8 minutes. 8. Remove from oven and brush with another coat of glaze. Let cool 5–10 minutes and serve.

Inspired by paleoleap.com

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4758 Loma Del Sur El Paso, TX 79934

INSIDE This Issue Louis Zuniga Looks Back on Summers Growing Up

Summer-Worthy Learning Opportunities

Meet Roy Kohn, D.P.T.!

Shorten Recovery Time Through BFR Rehab

Paleo Balsamic Pork Chops

Must-See Swimming Holes of the World

Exclusive Spots You Must See to Believe Secret Swimming Holes of the World

Summertime is for swimming, but why settle for a community pool when you can have access to the most beautiful swimming locales in the world? These three exclusive, little-known spots are sure to

you see this swimming hole. When limestone bedrock collapses, a sinkhole called a “cenote” is formed. The unearthed water from the natural aquifer balances a color palette of earth tones with the most majestic shades of blue you’ll ever behold. The calling cards for these bodies of water are the Blue Eye and the Black Eye. Both offer unforgettable experiences, but the price of entry is a hefty sense of adventure. You’ll need a full set of scuba gear to get to either hole. The Baths, Virgin Gorda A day in the Caribbean is like living every moment inside a beautiful pastel painting. The elegance of this location in the British Virgin Islands will make you feel like you’ve been transported into a cathedral. The large boulders and natural rock formations create shallow caves that will captivate your eyes as you wade through the water in wonder. When you exit, you’ll witness the sight that gives this beautiful spot its name. A handful of 40-foot granite boulders form private pools as if that was what they were made for.

take your breath away. Hali’i Falls, Hawaii

With its spiral staircase of waterfalls, this remote jungle location offers up more than one unique spot to take a plunge. Visitors never fail to be awestruck by the deep blue-green hue of each pool created by the four cascading waterfalls. Hali’i means “to spread out,” which is precisely what each waterfall does, showcasing a serene experience unlike any other. But the beauty of this one-of- a-kind experience is only outdone by its exclusivity. To reach these pools, you’ll have to hike through dense forest, deep marshes, and wide-open pastures of sugar cane. Dos Ojos, Mexico The Spanish translation of the name for this magical system of caves is “two eyes,” and you’ll want to have yours checked after