THE SURPRISING HISTORY OF THE SNOWMAN NOT JUST A CORN COB PIPE AND BUTTON NOSE
THE MIDDLE AGES Snowmen were a phenomenon in the Middle Ages. They were constructed with deep thought and great skill because, during a time of limited means of expression, snow was a free art supply that literally fell from the sky. These artistic feats were popular winter attractions for well-to-do couples who wanted to get their fix of temporary art. Snowmen were often created by famous artists, including 19-year-old Michelangelo who, in 1494, was commissioned by the ruler of Florence to sculpt a snowman in his mansion’s courtyard. THE MIRACLE OF 1511 In Brussels in 1511, during six weeks of subzero temperatures called the Winter of Death, the city was miraculously adorned with hundreds of snowmen. The spectacle told stories on every street corner — some political and some demonstrating anger with the church, many too risque to speak of. For the people of Brussels, this Miracle of 1511 was a defining moment of
Building a snowman is one of the most picturesque winter activities, which is why snowmen have become a wintertime cultural icon. A snowman appeared on the very first postcards, was the subject of some of the earliest photos, and even starred in silent movies. Frosty may be a happy snowman now, but his ancestors have a much more varied — and sometimes dark — history.
artistic freedom. But when spring came and the snow thawed, the Belgians were left with damaging floods. THE SCHENECTADY MASSACRE Not all snowmen have an innocent history. In 1690, former Fort Schenectady in upstate New York was home to a remote Dutch settlement, which was under the constant threat of attack. Soldiers guarded the gates at all times because they were frozen open, but during a blizzard, they left a pair of snowmen to protect the gates while they sought shelter. That’s when 200 French Canadian soldiers and Native Americans approached. Naturally, they were unfazed by the snowmen and ruthlessly invaded the settlement. Building a snowman seems like a simple and charming activity, but after learning about its surprising history, you might find those piles of snow seem a little more complicated and a lot more meaningful than before.
LEAVE BEHIND MISINFORMATION ABOUT PHYSICAL THERAPY As this year wraps up, most of us would probably rather leave 2020 behind and try again for a better year in 2021. If that’s the case, why not also leave behind some of the most common misconceptions about physical therapy and injury treatment? Misinformation abounds in the PT industry, and now
‘SURGERY IS THE ONLY WAY TO HEAL MY INJURY.’ Never rush to get surgery before really understanding the nature of your injury. It might not be necessary at all. Several studies have compared the effectiveness of physical therapy
is a great time to put some of those misconceptions to bed once and for all. You won’t ever have to wonder if these lies are true ever again!
‘THE BEST THING I CAN DO TO HEAL IS TO STOP MOVING.’ If something hurts when you move it, don’t move it, right? While that logic seems sound, sometimes pressing into the pain a little bit is the best way to help an injury heal. If you injure yourself, resting can help fight inflammation during the first 24–48 hours. Beyond that, however, prolonged inactivity can actually lead to a loss of strength, power, and aerobic capacity. ‘IF I’M IN PAIN, SOMETHING IS BROKEN OR OUT OF ALIGNMENT.’ Pain isn’t always the result of breaking something. Sometimes, patients who injured themselves years ago will have gotten used to moving to accommodate the injury and continue to move that way long after they’ve healed. Moving as if you’re injured when you’re healed can often become the cause of chronic pain. At Campus Commons, we can help patients find the source of chronic pain and correct it, even if it’s not the result of something broken or out of alignment.
and surgery on certain injuries and found that physical therapy was just as effective. At the same time, if you’re looking for a solution to back problems in particular, surgery isn’t a silver bullet. For example, according to research, 10%–40% of lumbar laminectomy surgeries fail to fix the problem. If you have questions about the physical therapy process or what we can do to help treat your injuries, give Campus Commons a call at 916‑927‑1333.
www.campuscommonsphysicaltherapy.com 2
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