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JANUARY 2018
HELPING PATIENTS REALIZE Their New Year’s Goals
T hough I don’t usually set conscious New Year’s resolutions myself, January always signals an influx of new patients to the clinic, each of them taking the 1st as an opportunity to start their journey back to health. It’s crazy when you ask someone how long they’ve been living with a particular pain or issue and they reply “Oh, probably about three years now.” But it’s heartening to know that they’ve finally stopped putting off their recovery and are in the clinic to make a tangible change. Some cynics tend to smirk whenever somebody sets a resolution for their health, citing the statistics that show huge levels of failure for such sweeping goals. But I find that, if a patient comes into the clinic as part of their resolution, they tend to have great success. I don’t see a ton of patients “... it’s heartening to know that they’ve finally stopped putting off their recovery and are in the clinic to make a tangible change.”
who stop doing their exercises or showing up for their appointments by February like they might with a different kind of resolution. Maybe it’s the fact that they’re paying
money for the service, or more likely because they’re working directly with a therapist who will guide them
through the treatments that will have the greatest impact and hold them accountable along the way. Regardless of the reasons these particular resolutions succeed, the disruptor to recovery is obvious. The biggest obstacle that prevents people from getting back on their feet isn’t just their injury — it’s themselves. No, I don’t mean their lack of motivation, drive, or dedication to fixing their problem. Mostly I’m referring to people’s tendency to procrastinate before coming into the clinic in the first place, assuming that their issue will fix itself. Just like saying, “Oh, I’ll start that diet I’ve been wanting to try next week,” or putting off your jog until tomorrow, the longer a patient decides therapy can wait, the less likely they are to fix the issue at all. This is an even larger problem because many kinds of injuries worsen day by day.
My own goals for 2018 are a little simpler than New Year’s resolutions. I hope to expand the number of patients we see in their own homes, take our annual family trip up to Breckenridge this month or next month, and start doing monthly balance and fall prevention workshops here at the clinic. But right now, I’m just excited to see all the fresh faces that will show up in the next few weeks — all those people who have finally declared enough is enough and decided to take their health seriously. There are few things more satisfying than helping a patient who’s been living with a painful injury for years to return to the world pain-free and get back to the things they love to do. -Luke Kron, PT Managing Partner
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IS YOUR LIFESTYLE RETIREMENT READY? Why Rightsizing Makes for Better Life After Work
Clear Out Unneeded Goods
As you approach retirement, it’s important to make sure your lifestyle is tailored to fit the end of your working life. This concept, known as “rightsizing,” can make your savings last longer, which provides you with the freedom to enjoy your later years. Kathy Gottberg, author of “Rightsizing: A Smart Living 365 Guide to Reinventing Retirement,” defines the concept as “conscious choices for a better lifestyle that more closely fits your new needs in retirement.” The earlier you can begin rightsizing, the more prepared you’ll be for the days when you no longer have an income from work. For most of us, what really matters when we retire is spending time with loved ones and having memorable experiences. Nobody’s greatest regret is not having enough stuff. With that in mind, here are a few tips that will prepare you for a fruitful and fulfilling retirement.
If you’ve been in the same home for years or decades, you probably have more stuff than you need. Start by discarding anything that’s broken, damaged, or simply not getting any use. You should also make sure you’re not acting as a storage unit for friends or family members. If they don’t have the space for something, it shouldn’t be your job to hang on to it. Eliminating clutter will free up your space and allow you to treasure what you have. Once all of your children have left the nest, you’ll often find that you don’t need as many rooms. Selling your home and moving into one that isn’t half-empty will generate some extra cash and help you to live more efficiently. As an added bonus, you’ll often find that a cozier home Our shoulders are one of the most intensively used and intricate parts of the human musculoskeletal system. Unfortunately, they’re also one of the most commonly injured. While there are a number of potential ways to hurt your shoulder, there is perhaps no shoulder injury more common than a rotator cuff tear. As a joint with a wide range of motion, the shoulder relies on a complicated system of four muscles to keep stable, collectively known as the rotator cuff. With repeated overuse of the shoulder, or trauma from a fall or abrupt strain, the rotator cuff can become inflamed and irritated, eventually becoming damaged and torn. This can result in pain radiating over the top of the shoulder all the way down to the outer arm. Often, pain is accompanied by persistent shoulder weakness, and if the injury is serious, it can severely reduce your ability to move your shoulder at all. People with rotator cuff injuries usually struggle particularly when lifting their arm above their head. Move Into a House You Can Fill
increases happiness. The less time you have to spend on home maintenance, the more you can devote to the activities you love.
Change Your Mindset
Too often, we suffer from the urge to “keep up with the Joneses.” If our neighbor buys something, we want it too. But to really rightsize, you should resist the urge to meet other people’s standards. Retirement should help you make the most of your life, not anyone else’s. Before you make a purchase, especially a large one, ask yourself what’s motivating your decision. If it’s not going to make your life better, leave it on the shelf. Sometimes, surgery is required to fix a torn rotator cuff, but not always. To determine the best course of action, it’s recommended that you meet with an orthopedist or physical therapist to find out if your recovery can be managed without going under the knife. Regardless of whether you go through surgery or not, an experienced physical therapist will be a vital component of your recovery process. We can help you not only manage the symptoms of cuff tears, both chronic and acute, but prevent you from further cuff injury — a serious risk, following treatment for a tear. Treatment will range from exercises for increasing the range of motion in your shoulder to resistance band procedures for strengthening the muscles that support the rotator cuff. You don’t have to live with discomfort. Contact the experts at Four Corners Health & Rehabilitation today, and let us help you eliminate severe shoulder pain for good.
TORN ROTATOR CUFF? We Can Help
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CHOOSING GOLF EQUIPMENT THAT WILL PREVENT INJURY
For many, playing golf is the perfect blend of relaxation, intense challenge, and focus. But it can also be a source of persistent injury. You’d be surprised to learn just how many patients we see in our clinic who suffer from back or shoulder pain from spending hours on the links. Often, these injuries arise simply because the patient is using ill-fitting or inappropriate equipment. Here are a few tips on how to get gear that will prevent damage to your body and allow you to focus on tightening up your short game. SHOES There’s a lot to think about with shoes, like budget, brand, and whether you should have spikes or dimples on the bottom. But your primary consideration should always be shoe fit and comfort. After all, you’re going to be trekking around in your new pair for hours. SUDOKU
Avoid buying shoes online, unless you’ve tried on an identical pair in the store. The best way to ensure an ideal fit is to enlist the help of a golf equipment professional. Checking for a fit that feels firm without being tight, especially in the middle of the foot. Allow about a half an inch between the tip of your big toe and the end of the shoe. CLUBS With their wide variability, it’s difficult to recommend the best clubs, but one thing’s for certain: you should select your clubs with the assistance of a golf professional. They’ll help you find the right grip, size, length, and weight for your needs. GOLF BAG If you’re going to be carrying your golf bag any distance, make sure you have one with straps for both shoulders. If you already have a single-strap bag, alternate which shoulder you carry the
bag on every once in a while. Note that pushable carriers are better than those that must be pulled. WATER This is the one most people forget. On average, you’ll be walking about 8 km across 18 holes of golf. Adequate hydration before, during, and after your golf session will delay fatigue, improve your endurance, prevent muscle cramps, improve concentration, and assist in muscle recovery. It may seem unnecessary, but trust us, it’s an absolute staple out there on the green!
HAVE YOU FALLEN IN THE PAST?
In our years of practice we have worked with hundreds of people with balance problems or history of falling to regain their balance and get back to the activities they enjoy. Since this is such a common problem in our community we are hosting a BALANCE AND FALL PREVENTION SEMINAR to educate people on this issue and what they can do. LOCATION: 1529 SUNRISE PLAZA DRIVE, CLERMONT, FL 34711 DATE: Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2018 TIME: 10:00 a.m. COST: FREE CALL 352-243-4422 TO REGISTER. SPACE IS LIMITED TO THE FIRST 30 PEOPLE THAT REGISTER. ANYONE WHO PRE-REGISTERS FOR THE EVENT BY JAN. 5, 2018, WILL RECEIVE 3 EXTRA DOOR PRIZE TICKETS.
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627 8TH STREET CLERMONT, FL 34711 PHONE: 352-243-4422 HOURS: MON-FRI 8AM-6PM WWW.FOURCORNERSREHAB.COM
INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1 2 3 4 GUIDING PATIENTS TOWARD HEALTH IN 2018 ARE YOU READY FOR RETIREMENT? WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR SEVERE SHOULDER PAIN IS YOUR GOLF EQUIPMENT HURTING YOU? HAVE YOU FALLEN IN THE PAST? THE TIME IS RIGHT FOR NICARAGUA
ESCAPE TO NICARAGUA The Country That Has Something for Everyone
to explore the rainforests surrounding the Río San Juan or get lost in the quirky-yet- beautiful architecture of Granada, there’s something for everyone in this tropical wonderland. One must-see destination is the Cerro Negro volcano. Just a baby at 150 years old, it’s one of the most active volcanoes in the region. It only takes about an hour to scale its smoking, black gravel surface, and the verdant forests surrounding the peak are a sight to behold. Adventurous travelers can board down the side, reaching ludicrous speeds as they teeter and try not to fall. In fact, it’s almost impossible to travel anywhere in the country without seeing an “I boarded a volcano” T-shirt. If relaxing on a pearlescent beach is more your speed, take a short boat trip out to the Corn Islands. There, you can amble around
the small towns bordering the shockingly blue Pacific, visit a number of laid-back seafood restaurants, get scuba certified for a fraction of the price anywhere else in the world, or just read your book as you swing in a hammock by the waves. You can also visit the gorgeous, alabaster Our Lady of Grace Cathedral in “new” Léon. The biggest church in all of Central America, this unique Baroque and neoclassicist structure was built in 1814. Visitors can climb onto its roof (as long as they don’t wear shoes) and bask in the view of surrounding volcanoes (including Cerro Negro). If you’re planning on heading to Nicaragua, it’s best to do it soon. Neighbor Costa Rica often overflows with tourists, and instead of wading through the crowds there, many travelers are catching on to what Nicaragua has to offer.
After the hectic holiday season, many of us feel like we need another vacation just to unwind. Luckily, January and February are two of the best months to travel. Flight prices plummet and crowds thin out after the Christmas rush. If you’re looking to escape the dreary winter weather, there’s no better place to visit this season than Nicaragua, the “Central American country that has it all,” as Condé Nast Traveler puts it. Whether you’re looking
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