Newsletter for Wood Associates Physical Therapy
THE NEWSLETTER ABOUT YOUR HEALTH AND CARING FOR YOUR BODY NEWSLET TER
HOWYOU CAN STAY ACTIVE AND BECOME BETTER BALANCED
There are a million and one tips that are passed down generation to generation about the key to a long and successful life. Some say the secret to a long and happy life is to focus on family; others say it all comes down to finding the right career. Whatever choices you make in your life, and whatever your values are, there are several fundamental truths that are almost always accurate: To stay healthy, you must stay active, and to stay happy, you must stay balanced. (continued inside)
WE ARE OPEN &WE’RE TAKING PRECAUTIONARY STEPS
www.woodassociatesphysicaltherapy.com
THE NEWSLETTER ABOUT YOUR HEALTH AND CARING FOR YOUR BODY NEWSLET TER
HOWYOU CAN STAY ACTIVE AND BECOME BETTER BALANCED
(continued from outside)
INSIDE : • It’s Never Too Late To Be More Active • Direct Access To Physical Therapy
• Exercise Of The Month • Avoid Aches & Pains In The Garden
Staying active and staying balanced in many ways go hand in hand. Staying active refers to the amount of activity that you engage in daily. This of course can refer to how much time you spend at the gym, but it can also refer to how many steps you take in a day, how often you find yourself running around the office, and how frequently you head out to the backyard to run around with your children or your dog. Balance in many ways works on the same principles. There are some activities that you do every day because you have to do them — work often falls into this category, as do household chores. But what about the activities that you simply love to do? What about the activities that you enjoy? Think about the last time that you sat down with a book that you loved and made yourself a cup of tea or coffee and really enjoyed the moment. Perhaps it isn’t reading that you wish you had more time for, but instead it is a garden that has grown weeds as it has been neglected. It could be a project at your home that you have looked forward to completing or an old car that you’ve wanted to fix up. There are special hobbies and interests that appeal to each of us, and spending time with those hobbies can help you live a more balanced life.
Alongside with the task of becoming more mentally balanced with the things that you spend time with in your life is the challenge of becoming more physically balanced. There are certain markers that typically indicate trouble with maintaining balance, such as frequently tripping and falling or feeling dizzy when standing too long. But even if you are not having fundamental issues with your ability to stay balanced in this way, you may still have difficulty with whole-body balance. Yoga is a great form of exercise to use to improve your ability to balance, as yoga helps to strengthen core muscles and improve coordination. You can improve your physical balance by: • Increasing muscle strength • Improving stamina • Improving core strength • Practicing balancing techniques
Read More About How PT Can Help Inside!
www.woodassociatesphysicaltherapy.com
LUNGE Start by standing with feet shoulder-width-apart. Next, take a step forward and allow your front knee to bend. Your back knee may bend as well. Then, return to original position, or you may walk and take a step forward and repeat with the other leg. Keep your pelvis level and straight the entire time. Your front knee should bend in line with the 2nd toe and not pass the front of the foot. Exercises Hips www.simpleset.net Try this simple exercise to help you feel better! EXERCISE OF THE MONTH
IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO BE MORE ACTIVE
In addition, taking steps to ensure that you are getting a full night of rest, that you are exercising regularly, and that you are eating a healthy diet are all strong components to ensuring you are well-balanced. Think about the percentage of time that you spend working during the week. For most people this number is well over 40 hours per week! Then consider how much time is spent driving to and from work and around town on errands, and then consider the time spent doing things you have to do at home, like the dishes or the laundry. Then really think about how much time you are spending doing the things that make you feel better — including those hobbies that you love, but also being active and engaging with the people you care about. Part of becoming a more balanced person means finding ways to spend your time more wisely and taking more time for yourself as needed. It’s Never Too Late You don’t need to grow up as an athlete to enjoy exercise as an adult. There is no point in your life where it is too late to start being more active than you currently are. There are plenty of ways to incorporate light activity into your lifestyle, such as: • Taking a walk in the evening with your family • Wearing a pedometer and trying to take more steps every day • Joining your local community center and using the pool to swim laps several times a week • Engaging in light weight training at home before work • Taking a yoga class These are just several examples of how you could incorporate more activity into your lifestyle without making many large changes to your way of life. If you feel that your physical health or an old injury is holding you back from being active, contact us. Working with a physical therapist can help you achieve improved balance and a healthy lifestyle.
HEALTHY RECIPE Cilantro Lime Chicken & Avocado Salsa INGREDIENTS
• 1.5 lb. boneless chicken breast • 1/4 cup lime juice • 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro • 1/2 tsp ground cumin • 1/4 tsp salt
• For Avocado Salsa: • 4 avocados, diced • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, diced • 3 tbsp lime juice • 1/2 tbsp red wine vinegar • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes • 1 garlic clove, minced
DIRECTIONS
Add 1/4 cup of lime juice, olive oil, 1/4 cup of fresh cilantro, ground cumin, and 1/4 tsp of salt to a small bowl. Whisk until mixed. Add chicken and marinade to a large ziplock bag. Let chicken marinate for at least 15 minutes. Preheat grill to medium-high heat (about 400°F). Place chicken on grill and grill each side for 4-6 minutes, until chicken is no longer pink. Remove and let sit. For avocado salsa: add avocado, 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, 3 tbsp lime juice, red wine vinegar, red pepper flakes, garlic clove, and salt to a small bowl. Gently toss to mix. Top the cilantro lime chicken with the avocado salsa and serve.
CALL US TODAY IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING ANY PAIN
AVOID ACHES & PAINS IN THE GARDEN Common gardening activities, such as digging, planting, weeding, mulching, and raking can cause stress and strain on muscles and joints. This is especially true for senior citizens and people who are normally sedentary. Different body areas such as the shoulders, neck, back, and knees can be vulnerable to injury during gardening. These tips can help prevent injuries: • Warm up before you garden. A 10 minute brisk walk and stretches for the spine and limbs are good ways to warm up. • Change positions frequently to avoid stiffness or cramping. • Make use of a garden cart or wheelbarrow to move heavy planting materials or tools. Be sure to keep your back straight while using a wheelbarrow. • If kneeling on both knees causes discomfort in your back, try kneeling on one and keep the other foot on the ground. Use knee pads or a gardening pad when kneeling. • If kneeling or leaning down to the ground causes significant pain in your back or knees, consider using elevated planters to do your gardening. • Avoid bending your wrist upwards when pulling things or using gardening tools. Instead, keep your wrist straight and use your shoulder muscles to pull and lift. • End your gardening session with some gentle backward bending of your low back, a short walk and light stretching, similar to stretches done before starting. Author: Andrea Avruskin PT, DPT Enjoy these garden photos submitted by the Wood Associates Physical Therapy community:
Did you know that the State of Massachusetts is one of many states that allow direct access to physical therapy? You do not need a prescription or referral to start physical therapy. This was done to help combat the opioid crisis and encourage the use of physical therapy as a safe and effective alternative for treatment of acute and chronic pain and injuries. A PHYSICIAN REFERRAL IS NOT NEEDED FOR PHYSICAL THERAPY IN THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS! Direct Access To Physical Therapy
Discover How To Live Pain Free!
At Wood Associates Physical Therapy, you will receive hands-on therapy treatments by a friendly, caring health expert during focused and individualized sessions.
1. CALL AND TALK TO YOUR THERAPIST
2. DISCOVER WHY YOUR PAIN HAS COME BACK
3. GET YOUR CUSTOM RECOVERY PROGRAM (617) 864-4200 CALL TO SCHEDULE TODAY! NO PRESCRIPTION NEEDED
www.woodassociatesphysicaltherapy.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4woodassociatesphysicaltherapy.com
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker