Take a look at our September newsletter!
theptdoctor.com
718.747.2019
Hours of Operation: Monday–Friday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
September 2022
ON THE
MOVE
A HOBBY FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY WHY BASEBALL CARDS RULED MY CHILDHOOD
Buried somewhere in my garage is a big cardboard box stuffed full of baseball memorabilia. My mom handed me the box some time after I finished PT school. I don’t remember exactly how the conversation went, but it was probably something like, “Here you go, Robert! All of this stuff is yours to haul around now — have fun!” I didn’t mind one bit. That box is full of good memories. I have all of my favorite baseball gloves in there and whole books of baseball cards! If 10-year-old me could see those cards, he’d think I was the coolest guy in the world. While growing up in the ‘70s and ‘80s as a third-generation Yankee’s fan, baseball was still America’s pastime and I was all about it. I played all summer long. When I wasn’t running for the first base hubcap on my street, pitching in Little League, or rounding up my friends for stickball at PS128, I enjoyed walking to the Pipe and Paper news store on Metropolitan Avenue for a new stick bat or something even better. Pipe and Paper seemed like a little kid’s dream. It had everything: stickball bats, tennis balls, comics, and — most of all — baseball cards! My brother and I could buy a pack of five cards for 15 cents. I always tore into mine hoping to find a Willie Randolph card (he was my favorite, being a fellow New Yorker and all) or one of the other Yankees. The holy grail was a Don Mattingly card, although I remember unwrapping a Hank Aaron flashback card one afternoon and feeling like a million bucks. On top of the cards themselves, every five-pack came with a stick of gum. Nice! My brother and I started collecting as small kids, and we got better as we got older. We even got our mom involved! At one point, we stopped buying the five-packs exclusively and started buying whole seasons. Mom liked to snag two sets: one we could look through and one we weren’t allowed to open. I think she must have kept those packs because they aren’t in my box! I hope she hasn’t cashed them in yet — I’d like to be there to see how good of an investment we made.
Collecting baseball cards didn’t just become a family hobby; all my friends got in on it, too. We spent hours comparing our cards, arguing about whose Reggie Jackson card seemed in better condition and whether a turned-down corner was worse than some water damage. I had a bunch of books with little plastic windows to keep my cards mint, and the pages in the back were for duplicates. When I found a double, I’d trade or haggle it with a friend and hopefully score a card from my list. Those baseball cards are pretty special. Last time I cracked open the box in my garage, I couldn’t resist flipping through them all, but when I dug deeper, I found something else that hit me hard — a three-fingered baseball glove. I probably collected a dozen gloves over the years, but that one is my favorite, even though the edges are so stiff I had to use it as a catcher’s mitt. I’ll tell you the whole story of that glove, but you’ll have to wait for our next newsletter! “The holy grail was a Don Mattingly card, although I remember unwrapping a Hank Aaron flashback card one afternoon and feeling like a million bucks.”
–Dr. Robert Morea
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Many people know you go to a physical therapist if you've sustained an injury, but did you know physical therapy can also treat diabetes? Here’s how PT can make a diabetic patient’s life better, one session at a time. What is diabetes, and how does it develop? When we consume certain foods (candy, fruit, bread), our body will break it down into glucose — an important energy source for living organisms. Diabetes is a condition where your body isn’t producing enough insulin, which is a hormone that regulates the amount of glucose in your blood. Without insulin, your body can develop high blood sugar, or hyperglycemia. That’s why diabetes can have such a dramatic effect on your health — if high blood sugar goes untreated, it can damage your nerves, blood vessels, tissues, and organs. These issues can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, and may even lead to eye damage, kidney damage, and non-healing wounds. Many diabetic patients will experience common symptoms such as tingling or numbness in their hands or feet, fatigue, blurry vision, increased hunger, and other side effects. The good news is that these symptoms can be mitigated — and, believe it or not, physical therapy can be a great way of managing these symptoms. Fight Smarter, Not Harder How Physical Therapy Fights Diabetes
You can fight diabetes with fitness. Diabetes can develop at any age. When it does, many physical problems can develop alongside it, including weakness, loss of endurance, obesity, balance problems, and even chronic pain. Not to mention, diabetes typically leads to less physical activity overall — which can cause many other health issues. This may create a bit of a paradox for some diabetic patients. Physical activity and exercise have been proven to be effective ways to lower high blood sugar levels. Yet, by the time a diabetic patient comes to see a physical therapist, the patient may be very limited in the types of movements they can do. Attempting exercise without guidance can cause injury and worsen the patient’s health. Thankfully, physical therapists are movement experts! They can help patients discover new techniques to exercise in safe, enjoyable ways. These, in turn, will help patients take control of their symptoms again. Diabetes rarely affects two people in the same way, and it often requires highly customized treatment plans. However, depending on a patient’s abilities and their likes and dislikes, a physical therapist may recommend exercises such as walking, cycling, swimming, aerobic dance, or even yoga. Attending a yoga class is a great way to get your balance back. It’s not as physically exerting as other forms of exercise, since yoga trains the body over time. It can also provide major mental health benefits. If you suffer from diabetes, know that nobody has to fight it alone. With a physical therapist on your side, you can fight anything, including a disease that can be as exhausting as diabetes. We’ll have your back. Just give our offices a call.
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Is the MIND Diet Right for You?
Thanks to all the medical research on Alzheimer’s and dementia in recent years, we know diet and aging cognitive function are linked. However, all of the information out there might seem overwhelming and even vague. What do we know for sure? What changes in your diet can make the biggest impact on your brain health? According to the National Institute of Aging — which operates under the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services — experts have suggested the MIND diet is the ideal diet for empowering your brain. Here’s why. Why Diet Affects Dementia Risk It turns out that your brain will experience changes years before the first symptoms of Alzheimer’s appear. This suggests a possible window of opportunity to delay or even prevent dementia symptoms. Between medications, lifestyle changes, or a combination of these interventions, researchers are looking for many possible ways to do this.
A healthy diet plays an important role in these efforts. For example, it’s possible that certain diets affect biological function, such as oxidative stress and inflammation, which underlie Alzheimer’s. Alternatively, diet can also work more indirectly against Alzheimer’s by affecting other dementia risk factors, such as diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. Thankfully, you can throw a “single stone” to decrease these risk factors. Research shows a Mediterranean diet is directly linked to a lower risk of dementia and other symptoms of cognitive decline. What’s MIND? The DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) was designed to lower blood pressure. The Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet is a variation on that diet. However, whereas the Mediterranean and DASH diets welcome all vegetables and fruits of any kind, MIND focuses on plant-based foods linked to dementia prevention.
On a MIND diet, you’ll eat six servings a week of leafy green vegetables, plus at least one serving of any other vegetable a day. Berries, whole grains (three servings a day), fish, poultry, beans, nuts, and olive oil are other important foods for a MIND diet. You’ll also avoid red meat, cheese, sweets, butter/ margarine, and fried or fast foods. Research shows the Mediterranean diet may include nutrients that protect the brain through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. We hope you can take advantage of these benefits and try the MIND diet for yourself!
No-Fuss Chicken and Rice Soup Fall is almost here, so it’s time to break out the soup! Your family is sure to love this recipe — it’s a classic.
TAKE A BREAK!
DIRECTIONS
INGREDIENTS
• 2 tbsp olive oil • 1 onion, chopped • 2 garlic cloves, minced • 3 carrots, sliced • 3 celery ribs, sliced • 2 chicken bouillon cubes • 1/2 tsp dried parsley • 1/4 tsp pepper • 4 cups chicken broth • 4 cups water • 1 1/4 lbs bone-in, skinless chicken thighs • 1 cup uncooked white rice • Salt, to taste
1. In a large pot over medium-high heat, warm the olive oil. Add the onion and garlic and sauté for 5 minutes. Add the carrots and celery, then sauté for 1 more minute. 2. Add the bouillon, parsley, pepper, chicken broth, and water. Stir, then add the chicken thighs. 3. Cover and simmer on medium-low for 30 minutes, then add the rice. Stir, cover, and simmer for 15 more minutes. 4. Remove the pot from the heat and transfer the chicken to a large bowl. Shred the meat and add it back to the soup. Discard the bones. 5. Stir, salt, and serve!
Inspired by RecipeTinEats.com
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718.747.2019
theptdoctor.com 212-73 26th Ave. Bayside, NY 11360
Hours of Operation: Monday–Friday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
1. Are Baseball Cards Still Cool? 2. Physical Therapy vs. Diabetes 3. What’s the MIND Diet? INSIDE THIS ISSUE
No-Fuss Chicken and Rice Soup
4. Balance Training Key to Quality Movement
5 EXERCISES TO IMPROVE BALANCE Find Your Balance
Though we may not always think about it, balance is essential to just about everything we do in our daily routines. From simply getting out of bed, leaning over to tie our shoes, or even walking to the mailbox, we need good balance to keep ourselves steady while performing normal tasks. Know why balance is important. Balance is the ability to control your body’s position, whether stationary or moving. It is a key component of fitness that many people neglect while developing their fitness regimen. Balance training is a great way to help your body recognize where it is and control movements in a given space. When the body knows where its limbs are in space — known as proprioception — it is able to produce smooth, controlled movements with fewer risks of injuries.
Reaction time and agility are also improved with balance training. The body learns how to quickly correct itself but not overcompensate and has the ability to quickly change direction effectively and efficiently. Though balance training is important for everyone, it is especially important for those who have problems due to illness, weakness, or dizziness. It allows them to overcome stiffness or unsteadiness and to develop an awareness of body segments and how to align them.
Consider trying the following exercises:
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Standing with your weight on one leg and raising the other leg to the side or behind you. Putting one heel right in front of the other foot, as if you were walking a tightrope.
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• Standing up and sitting down from a chair without using your hands. • Walking while alternating knee lifts with each step. • Stretching and gentle movement as part of yoga or tai chi. Balance is essential to living a healthy, functional life. It’s important to incorporate balance
These exercises help with balance.
Balance training involves exercises to strengthen the muscles that help keep you upright and improve stability. These types of exercises can be done as often as you like or even every day.
training into your fitness regimen. That way you can decrease the risk of injuries and help move freely and confidently.
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FREE BALANCE SCREENING WITH SUNG CHO, OT
When: Wednesday, Sept. 21 Time: Call 718.747.2019 for an appointment Where: The PT Doctor clinic
• Are you afraid when you walk? • Are you doing less because you feel unsteady on your feet? • Have you missed out on family gatherings or activities you love because you’re afraid of falling? • Are you tired of doing less? • Are you tired of depending on others? • Do you want to walk better, without a cane or a walker?
LEARN WHAT YOU CAN DO TO IMPROVE YOUR BALANCE AND REDUCE YOUR RISK OF FALLING BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE.
The Physical Therapy Doctor 212-73 26th Ave. Bayside, NY 11360 718.747.2019 ThePTDoctor.com
A NEW TREATMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH PARKINSON’S DISEASE
LOCATED IN OUR PT DOCTOR CLINIC!
We are learning every day that there are ways in which people with Parkinson’s disease can enhance their daily quality of life and even build impressive power, strength, flexibility, and speed! By exercising with physical therapists and coaches who know the ropes, you can fight your way out of the corner and start to feel and function better.
Boxing works by moving your body in all planes of motion while continuously changing the routine as you progress through the workout. These sessions have proven
that anyone, at any level of Parkinson’s, can actually lessen their symptoms and lead a healthier, happier life. This program is covered by most health insurance plans, including Medicare. START NOW! IT’S BETTER THAN STARTING LATER! Call today for a free session !
The Physical Therapy Doctor 212-73 26th Ave. Bayside, NY 11360 718.747.2019 ThePTDoctor.com WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 14 TIME: Call 718.747.2019 for an appointment WHERE: The PT Doctor Clinic
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