Campus Commons PT - February 2020
CAMPUS COMMONS
YOU NEVER KNOWWHERE YOU’LL FIND THE ONE PATIENT-LY WAITING FOR LOVE
When I first started my career, I never expected a physical therapy clinic to mean anything more to me than a place of work. But two decades ago, a physical therapy clinic is where I met my wife, Tiffany. She came into the clinic one day to see about a problem she had with her neck. She had been in the front row at a Tim McGraw concert, and one of the fiddlers actually fell off the stage and landed on top of her and two of her friends. She had been having neck problems ever since, which led her to my clinic. At the time, I was a relatively new PT in my mid-20s just trying to find my feet in the profession. I wanted to remain focused on my career. And yet, every time Tiffany came in for her appointment, I noticed how she always laughed at the jokes I made. Nobody thought I was as funny as she thought I was. Today, not even Tiffany finds me as funny as she first did when she was my patient. All that to say, I knew something was up. Some of the staff caught on as well, and I would get a couple of sly winks from them every time Tiffany came in for her appointment. However, since she was my patient, I needed to remain professional. So I was pretty quick to dismiss those winks.
After working with Tiffany for a few months, I was not able to help with her neck problems. I ended up discharging her, and I won’t lie, it bummed me out to see her go. But, a few days later, she called me and asked if I wanted to go to lunch. Since she was no longer my patient, I happily accepted, and that lunch was our first date. It wasn’t until later that I learned, after her first appointment with me at the clinic, Tiffany went home and told her mom that she was going to marry her physical therapist. I have no idea how serious she was when she said that, but it’s impressive in hindsight how soon she recognized our connection. “AFTER 19 YEARS, I STILL FIND IT A LITTLE IRONIC THAT MY FAILURE TO HELP HER AS A PHYSICAL THERAPIST IS WHAT STARTED OUR RELATIONSHIP.” A year and a half after our first date, we got married. After 19 years, I still find it a little ironic that my failure to help her as a physical therapist is what started our relationship. I guess all I can say is that I’m thankful she loves me despite my imperfections.
There are probably a lot of people out there who will be wondering this Valentine’s Day when or where they’ll meet their spouse. I speak from experience when I say you just never know. When I was in my mid-20s, before I met Tiffany, I was going out with friends on the weekends and meeting new people constantly. I always expected to meet my wife in one of those settings. I never expected to meet her in my workplace, and I certainly didn’t expect her to be one of my patients. After 19 years together, I’m so happy I said yes to that lunch date.
–Mark Eddy
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SCIENCE WANTS YOU TO STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES THE BENEFITS OF SPENDING TIME OUTSIDE
In a 2008 survey conducted by the National Trust in Britain, children were more likely to correctly identify a Dalek from “Doctor Who” than a barn owl. Likewise, a 2010 Kaiser Family Foundation study of 8–18-year-olds in the U.S. found that the average youth spends more than 53 hours a week engaged with entertainment media. These statistics, coupled with growing concerns that children are spending less time outdoors, are leading to terms like “nature deficit disorder” and global initiatives to get kids outside.
Why is contact with the outdoors so important? Researchers are answering this question by studying the benefits of time spent in nature. One benefit is that outdoor time helps kids understand boundaries and learn how to assess risk. As naturalist, author, and broadcaster Stephen Moss puts it, “Falling out of a tree is a very good lesson in risk-reward.” Not to mention, time in nature may help improve focus for hyperactive kids. In one national study of youths by the University of Illinois, participants’ attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms were reduced after spending time in a green setting versus a more urban one. This may be due to the fact that natural environments call upon our “soft fascination,” a less exhausting type of focus than what is required by urban environments. Emotional benefits were discovered too, including reduced aggression, increased happiness, and improved self-esteem.
Beyond just getting outside, the type of contact we have with nature also matters. Visits to nature centers and watching “Planet Earth” are two ways to experience the outdoors. But research points specifically to the importance of free play in the natural world: unstructured outdoor time when children can explore and engage with their natural surroundings with no curriculum, lesson, or activity to complete. Ever notice how kids are fascinated by the simplest things? A child visits a rose garden, but before they even get to the flowers, they become captivated by a leaf on the ground or an ant crawling on their shoe. Children are born naturalists. These are the moments we need to recapture. Take a page out of that kid’s book, and as the saying goes, stop and smell the roses — or leaves or ants — with no checklist and no plan, just time spent playing outside.
ASKING YOUR PHYSICAL THERAPIST THE RIGHT QUESTIONS CLASS IS IN SESSION! It can be helpful to view your physical therapy sessions like attending a class for bettering your daily physical health. After all, you’ll often need to do “homework,” adjusting your habits or approaches to exercise in order to recover. And much like in a classroom, your physical therapist doesn’t have to be the only one asking all the questions; an open dialogue is best for retaining pertinent information about your condition. condition, giving you an idea of how well-backed their
predictions are for your recovery. This can only contribute to your understanding of how to get better effectively. If motivation is a struggle for you,
seeing the big picture of what you’re going through can help make your exercises feel more important and like a higher priority.
‘WHY AM I HURTING?’
‘WILL YOU BE MY THERAPIST? WHO WILL BE TREATING ME EVERY TIME I COME IN?’
Future injury prevention is just as important as recovery, and knowing the details of why the injury occurred in the first place can help. It’s also essential to gain a clear understanding of your condition and why certain exercises will help alleviate the pain and aid your healing process. “What will you teach me that will keep this from being a problem again in the future?” can also be a good question to ask.
While it’s not always possible due to scheduling conflicts, a consistent PT will help improve your recovery process. Having different therapists or aides try to handle your condition can lead to mix-ups and confusion. Try to keep your appointments on the same days and at the same times each week, and make sure you’re seeing the same person each session. Stay curious! Asking the right questions can help make your recovery process smooth and keep you well-informed, ensuring the injury doesn’t occur again in the future.
‘DO YOU COMMONLY TREAT MY CONDITION?’
Also, “What are some obstacles or mistakes people with my condition often make? How long will it take for me to get better?” Your physical therapist can offer their expertise and explain how it relates to your
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RUNNING TO SUCCESS DEVELOP LONG-TERM HEALTHY RUNNING HABITS FOR 2020
For novice or aspiring runners, stretches and muscle therapy exercises might seem secondary to their training — but, in actuality, it’s a substantial part of it. Active runners have a 56% chance of getting injured. Thus, avoiding injury to sustain a healthy workout is important! Here are some tips that the field of physical therapy wants our runners to know.
York City. Make sure you stretch in multiple different directions, since you’re trying to avoid repetitive movement injuries. You’ll not only reduce your injury risk without losing your workout, but you’ll also feel better than if you had only spent the hour running.
WEEKLY WORKOUTS
STARTING OUT
But those aren’t the only exercises to keep in mind. Running utilizes the whole body, even if the legs are the most overworked. Keep your workouts well-rounded with core exercises and strength training. Not only can it improve your overall fitness, but strength in your core and hips, flexibility, and coordination all are factors that affect your running and the likelihood of obtaining an injury. Through gait analysis and training, physical therapists can help pinpoint weaknesses in a runner’s form and muscles, making well-educated recommendations to correct them, such as whether your shoe choice is correct for you. To avoid long-term pain and injury in your running routine, make an appointment with Campus Commons PT today.
A new running regimen can be exciting progress toward a healthier self, but new runners ought to be careful; going on 5–7 runs per week can be too harsh on their joints. The transition into a more intense regimen should always be gradual. Replacing added runs with biking, swimming, or time on an elliptical can help ease initial joint stress during the transition.
HOW TO WARM UP AND RECOVER PROPERLY
If you have an hour to train, always set aside 10–15 minutes “for warming up with dynamic stretching and recovering by foam- rolling overused muscle groups such as your quads,” says Andrew Fenack, a physical therapist at Finish Line Physical Therapy in New
TAKE A BREAK
APPLE CIDER CHICKEN AND BRUSSELS SPROUTS
Inspired by Food Network
INGREDIENTS
• • • • • •
1 lb Brussels sprouts, halved 2 gala apples, cut into wedges 1 red onion, cut into wedges
• • • • •
4 boneless chicken breasts
1 tsp rosemary leaves, finely chopped
2 tbsp butter, divided 2/3 cup apple cider 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
2 sprigs rosemary
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil Salt and pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 450 F. 2. On a baking sheet, toss Brussels sprouts, apples, onion, and rosemary sprigs in olive oil, salt, and pepper. 3. Roast vegetable and fruit mixture until tender, about 25–30 minutes, flipping halfway. 4. Season chicken with salt, pepper, and chopped rosemary. 5. In an ovenproof skillet, heat 1 tbsp butter. Add chicken and cook 6 minutes on one side. Flip and cook 2 more minutes. 6. Pour cider onto chicken. Roast in the oven for 12 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and let it rest on cutting board. 7. Return skillet to stove on medium-high and simmer sauce until reduced by half. 8. Swirl remaining 1 tbsp of butter with vinegar, salt, and pepper. Slice chicken and divide among plates with roasted vegetables and serve.
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INSIDE
THIS ISSUE
1 2 2 3 3 4
Patient-ly Waiting for Love
Stop and Smell the Roses
Asking Your PT the Right Questions
Advice for Your New Running Regimen
Apple Cider Chicken and Brussels Sprouts
The Effects of Love on Your Physical Health
e l t THE SECRET TO LIVING A LONGER, HEALTHIER LIFE
HEALTHIER IMMUNE SYSTEMS
The human brain is an incredibly powerful organ. It solves complex problems, recalls forgotten memories, and triggers a dizzying array of emotions. But its most incredible power is the effect it can have on the rest of the body. When it comes to love, well, our brains certainly love it, and our bodies reflect that. Human beings thrive on a sense of connection and belonging, and studies have shown that love actually has positive effects on a person’s physical health as well as mental. The security and commitment felt in a loving relationship are shown to reduce stress by stunting the production of cortisol, the body’s stress-inducing hormone. Less stress means lower blood pressure, a healthier heart, and a lower risk of stroke, especially in men. LESS STRESS
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University found that calm, happy people can fight common colds and the flu more easily than those who are anxious or depressed. The physical benefits of love even go as far as healing wounds quicker. Small injuries inflicted on a wide test group at Ohio State University Medical Center healed nearly twice as fast on people who experienced consistent warmth and care than those who experienced hostility. In fact, the latter group needed almost a full additional day to achieve the same amount of healing as the first group.
a 58% higher risk of mortality. Further bolstering that claim is the Harvard Health Blog, which claims happily married participants experience better health as they age when compared to peers in unhappy partnerships. In fact, the blog asserts, “People in stressful, unhappy marriages may be worse off than a single person who is surrounded by supportive and caring friends, family, and loved ones.” So, it seems the results are in: Loving someone is a healthy lifestyle choice. Even having a strong network of friends and family boosts your odds of living a long life by 50%. So, get out there and make the healthy choice for yourself and those around you by leading a life full of love.
LONGER, HAPPIER LIVES
Being surrounded by love may even save your life. A statistic from the National Health Interview Survey states that single people face
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