Fyzical January 2019
Helping Our Nation’s Heroes Fyzical El Paso Makes a Pledge to Help Veterans
L
ast month, we announced that Fyzical El Paso will be regularly raising money and awareness for a local charitable organization. There are so many great groups in this community, and it warmed our hearts to know all of the good being done in El Paso. But the organization we wanted to help had to have a personal
connection to us and our mission of helping our patients live the healthiest and happiest lives they can. We wanted an organization that flew under the radar, because we wanted to help a group that could use some time in the spotlight. This month, I’m proud to announce Fyzical El Paso’s new dedication to Veterans Non Profit (VNP). This organization is 100 percent run by volunteers and began on a shoestring budget in 2015. This small, local group offers both a food and clothing pantry to give assistance to our nation’s heroes living on a limited income. A pet food pantry also offers veterans’ service dogs a guarantee of a next meal, and the group has partnerships with local barbers. We’re excited to see where this endeavor will go, and we already have some ideas in mind. There’s a half-marathon coming up this winter, and we will have someone running with a 20-pound metal plate and vest to raise awareness and fundraise for VNP. We also have local celebrity and health-related ideas in the works, as we continue to plan and organize the best way to help VNP. As readers will remember, I’m a devout patriot. I’ve always had tremendous respect for our nation’s veterans, and I’m proud of the military family I’ve married into. It’s incredibly devastating to me that we still have homeless, hungry, and jobless veterans in our nation. These men and women sacrificed time with their families, gave up parts of their lives, and endured mental turmoil for our sake. This is bigger than us; it’s time for us to step up for them. At Fyzical El Paso, we have a unique opportunity to provide expertise to our nation’s bravest men and women by offering them a small token of appreciation through our pain mitigation services. We often see veterans coming into our clinic for both service-
and non-service-related injuries, and we’re more than happy to help them. These patients have a strength us non-veterans can’t imagine, and there are some that are very memorable to us. A few months ago, we had an honorably discharged veteran come to us for care. He had to leave the service because of his multiple sclerosis. This was a devastating blow to a man who had decided to dedicate his career to the military, and in a matter of months, a diagnosis ripped that away from him. During his initial examination, he broke down to our physical therapist five different times. He told us he feels hopeless and worries that nothing can be done for him. But we know we can help him. It’s our mission to help our patients feel better as we work with them, encourage them, and lift them up. That’s exactly what we’ll do for this veteran. We know there’s plenty that can be done for him, and his sacrifice and dedication to our country makes him more than worth our dedication. That’s exactly the reason we chose VNP as a partner organization. We know we can alleviate a veteran’s pain, but we also want to help them when they feel lost and are looking for a job. We want to offer support and warmth when they worry where their next meal is coming from. We want to be part of a community that’s continuously there for them. We have the dedication to do this, and we hope you’ll join us.
–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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Mom Really Does Know Best 3 Wives’ Tales Proven True
The Common Cold “Make a face like that, and it’ll stay that way forever.” You may have heard something like this from Mom’s book of wisdom. Maybe you never disputed the idea that mother knows best. But as you grew up, it slowly became clear that hair doesn’t grow back faster and thicker if you shave it, cracking your knuckles doesn’t cause arthritis, and gum doesn’t stay in your stomach for months after you swallow it. After a whirlwind of wives’ tales over the years, many common claims have been put under scrutiny. Wives tales have been known as pseudoscience and blind intuition, but even as many were disproved, some surprisingly proved to hold weight. Here are three wives’ tales that have proven to be true.
lessens the likelihood of getting a cold, so if you feel a tickle in your throat, try a clove before you open the medicine cabinet.
Heartburn Means a Hairy Baby It’s hard to list wives’ tales without
bringing up one about pregnancy. Many are solely based on intuition, but a few that sound odd are legitimate. In 2007, a study done by Johns Hopkins attempted to debunk the myth that heartburn during pregnancy would mean a hairy baby at birth. Instead of proving it wrong, they found that 82 percent of women with severe heartburn during pregnancy gave birth to hairy babies. Turns out the hormones that cause heartburn in pregnant women also affect fetal hair growth. Joint Pain Predicts the Weather Did you ever look at your mom with skepticism when she would predict rain because her knees hurt? If so, you might owe your mom an apology, because there is a scientific connection. The drop in barometric pressure that’s common during storm weather causes pain in arthritic joints. “I saw the difference in my aunt,” Virginia says. “I love working with geriatrics. That’s my life passion, and so I thought, ‘If [aquatic therapy] could help them, I would love to look into this more.’” Virginia hopes to continue her education and promote the healing power of aquatic therapy at Fyzical El Paso. Regardless of where her next educational venture takes her, healing will always be Virginia’s passion. “It’s very rewarding when someone tells you, ‘Thank you for helping me live again.’ […] That’s why I do my job. If I can help, I will help,” Virginia says. “Sometimes we take little things for granted. When you can’t use a limb, you start to appreciate things in a different manner. You learn things from the patients. For me, that’s my favorite.” When she isn’t guiding patients through our pool, Virginia is often watching movies or supporting the Dallas Cowboys with her husband, Ruben. The couple has been married for 15 years, and football season is a busy time in their house.
Garlic Cures Colds For decades, moms have professed the healing properties of garlic, suggesting it can cure colds and
help the body fight sickness. It turns out they were absolutely right. Garlic has antiviral properties that strengthen the immune system and nutrients that help combat illnesses. The effects of garlic can actually be more effective than over-the-counter flu medications. Some studies show that regular consumption of raw garlic
Our Passionate Director of Aquatic Therapy Meet Virginia Lopez!
Virginia Lopez worked as an administrative assistant for 15 years, but she always had a passion
for helping others. So, after nearly two decades of putting her dream aside, Virginia enrolled in college to
become a physical therapy assistant.
“I had to relearn how to learn. I had to relearn how to take a test. Your brain is not the same 20 years later,” Virginia says. “I almost quit, if it wasn’t for my husband. He kept on pushing me, saying, ‘You’re smart enough to do this. Take your time.’ If it wasn’t for him, I would’ve gone back to where I was working. He stood by me during the late nights I had to go to school. We made it through.” In February of 2012, Virginia began her dream job at Fyzical El Paso, but from a young age, she understood the power of physical therapy. Her aunt was in and out of hospitals for years. Virginia watched as physical therapists did aquatic therapy with her aunt, and she saw improvement in her aunt’s mobility. Because of this, Virginia sought certification in aquatic therapy in 2017, and she is now our aquatic therapy director.
We love watching you cheer on your patients, too, Virginia! Our clinic and our patients are lucky to have you.
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Needle Little Help? How Dry Needling Can Relieve Your Pain
Pinpointing the cause of your pain can feel a lot like searching for a needle in a haystack. Luckily, treatments for injuries have evolved to include options like physical therapy and massages, but there’s also a little-known treatment option that has been helping patients find life-changing relief. A practice called dry needling just might be the treatment to target your pain. What does it treat? Soft-tissue pain accumulates as trigger points in the muscle near tightened skeletal tissue. These points will not only give you palpable pain, but they can also wreak havoc on your muscular and nervous systems, increasing the possibility for more injuries, trigger points, and pain recurrence. At Fyzical El Paso, we’ve seen recent and wonderful success in treating plantar fasciitis with dry needling, but this technique also helps fight tendinitis, muscle strains, hip and back pain, dental and jaw discomfort, chronic knee and wrist pain, post-surgery side effects, shoulder injuries, and more. Dry needling can also be used to supplement other forms of treatment. How does it work? In a dry needling process, trained professionals prick a patient with thin, small needles to cause a twitch reaction in the muscle. This
prompts the release of pressure and promotes relaxation in specific trigger points. Tension in the muscles, tendons, and joints will release, and nerves and blood vessels will regain full functionality.
This process is similar to a massage, but dry needling is more accurate and can relieve deeper pains. Most patients also notice the similarities between dry needling and acupuncture, but the two differ. Acupuncture is an effective practice based in Eastern medicinal principles, and the process is done by pinning generic acupuncture points. Dry needling is more specific to each patient, and a medical examination is imperative to this technique. Does it hurt? Because the needle is so thin, most patients will not feel pain during treatment. However, once the specific trigger point is located, the muscle twitch can create some discomfort. Following the treatment, patients have reported soreness for a day or two, which is similar to that of post-exercise pain, but staying active can help alleviate this pain.
To learn how dry needling can help you mitigate your pain, visit www.fyzicalelpaso.com .
Have a
Citrus and Avocado Salad
LAUGH
INGREDIENTS
•
1 blood, cara cara, or navel orange, sliced 1/8-inch thick and deseeded 1 Meyer or regular lemon, sliced 1/8-inch thick and deseeded 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• • • • • •
1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 bunch arugula
•
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves 1 avocado, cut into wedges Salt and pepper, to taste
•
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 425 F.
juice. Season with salt and let sit for 5 minutes.
2. In a rimmed baking sheet, toss citrus slices with 1 tablespoon oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast citrus until lightly charred and caramelized, about 10–15 minutes. Let cool.
4. Add citrus, arugula, and mint to onion mixture. Drizzle with remaining oil, season with salt and pepper to taste, and toss thoroughly.
3. Meanwhile, in a large mixing
5. Add avocado, combing very gently to not crush avocado.
bowl, combine onion and lemon
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INSIDE This Issue
Partnering With a Local Nonprofit
3 Wives’ Tales That Are True
Meet Aquatic Therapist Virginia Lopez!
Using Dry Needling to Alleviate Pain
Have a Laugh
Citrus and Avocado Salad
The Best Skiing Destinations in the World
3 of the World’s Greatest Winter Sport Destinations Who’s Ready for Some Powder?
The sound of the first carve through fresh powder is the anthem of all winter sports enthusiasts. Here are three of the world’s best places to experience that powder you’ve been craving all year. Breckenridge, Colorado John Denver’s anthem “Rocky Mountain High” is about the freedom he felt here. Where there are great mountains, there’s even better snow. The ski resort boasts five peaks, 187 trails, 34 lifts, four terrain parks, and a renowned cross-country trail. After a day on the slopes, head into the town of Breckenridge for dining and activities that ditch the glitz and glamour of Vail or Aspen and take you straight to the heart of fun. Whistler, British Columbia, Canada A destination that looks like a cross between a Nordic paradise and Olympic-level runs, Whistler is filled with true magic, winter activities, and a town that captivates the senses. When you see the mountains of British Columbia, you’ll understand why they
hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics. The location’s beauty is only part of your stimulating experience, because every curve of fresh powder makes your pupils dilate. Once you’re done flying down the hill where Bode Miller took the bronze, head over to the winter wonderland of the old Olympic Village for a cozy night in a picturesque town. St. Anton, Austria If you want a great location for next year’s Christmas card photo, there’s no better place than the Tyrolean Alps. Nestled in a valley between perfectly molded mountains, the Austrian landscape provides a beautiful backdrop for your winter excursions. The densely wooded areas and the bright reflection of the snow frame the vibrant town that’s just waiting to be explored. When you’re ready for world-class runs, hop in one of the 11 gondolas and zip down the hills that hosted the 2001 Alpine World Ski Championships.
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