The Physical Therapy Doctor - June 2025

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718.747.2019

Hours of Operation: Monday–Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

June 2025

ON THE

MOVE

Be Kind, Rewind A LOOK BACK TO VCRS, BLOCKBUSTER NIGHTS, AND TANGLED TAPE

Did you know we have a day to celebrate VCRs this month? It sounds like a quirky holiday, but for those of us who lived through the glory days of shoulder-mounted camcorders and Friday night trips to the video store, National VCR Day is a trip down memory lane — quite literally. I still remember when my dad got one of the first VCR camcorders. That thing was massive — probably 18 inches long, bulky, and heavy enough to double as a gym workout. He’d haul it up to the Little League stands to record my games, looking more like a roving news reporter than a suburban dad. And back then, that was high-tech! Today’s kids have no idea what it took to capture a memory. One wrong move and you’d end up with a mangled tape — and bye- bye, baseball glory. Recording shows at home wasn’t exactly smooth sailing, either. If the president interrupted your favorite show with a surprise address, your recording was gone. Or maybe you misjudged the time, recorded the wrong channel, or (worst of all) taped over mom’s favorite TV show — the horror. And don’t get me started on the programming. You had to actually read the TV Guide or the back of Reader’s Digest to time things just right. If a baseball game went into

extra innings and your favorite show started late, that was too bad. That tape only held what it held. But it wasn’t all inconvenience and chaos. There was a certain magic in it all, especially when it came to video rental stores. Before Blockbuster monopolized the scene, we had little mom-and-pop places like Video Connection. I used to go with my boys, and picking out a Friday night movie was a whole thing. We’d all agree on one title, rent it for 24 hours, and actually watch it together instead of like today, where anyone can watch it on their own time. That sense of togetherness has taken a hit. You almost have to beg someone to wait and watch a show with you now. Blockbuster, of course, couldn’t see the writing on the wall. Netflix came knocking, offering a partnership that could’ve changed everything. But Blockbuster laughed them off. We all know how that ended. Netflix soared; Blockbuster crumbled. It’s crazy how quickly things change. Speaking of change, let’s talk old- school tech. I had a Walkman clipped to my belt. I thought it was the coolest, smallest thing ever. Then came iPods and streaming. I had a rotary phone, too, with a long cord you’d stretch into another room for “privacy.” And don’t forget the flip phone era, when we all

scoffed at the idea of an iPhone. “Who needs all that?” we said. Now, we’re walking around with full- blown computers in our pockets. At first, it was a luxury. Now, you can’t keep up if you don’t have one. Everything’s faster. Everyone expects answers immediately. Sometimes it’s great — like using AI to look up pretty much anything — but other times, it’s exhausting. When I think about the future, I say I’d never let a robot in my house, but hey, I said the same about the iPhone. Let’s face it: The ability to adapt is everything. Darwin nailed it — it’s not the strongest or smartest who survive, but the ones most responsive to change. Like it or not, life doesn’t let us stay still. So, we learn, change, and keep the fire burning. But sometimes, it’s still nice to rewind, figuratively, of course, and remember the days of clunky tapes, movie nights, and long phone cords. Those memories are worth hanging onto. –Dr. Robert Morea

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DON’T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU HEAR The Truth Behind Physical Therapy Myths

‘I don’t need to do anything extra outside my physical therapy appointments.’ Succeeding with your physical therapy treatment is a lot like succeeding in school. If you want to pass, you have to do your homework. We spend plenty of time with our patients each week, but we can’t do everything necessary in the limited time we get together. You have to take on some of the work to maximize your recovery and improve your ailments. If we provide you with exercises, stretches, or activities to do at home, avoiding them will only lengthen your treatment time. ‘I’ll just get a massage. It accomplishes the same goal.’ While a massage may be part of your physical therapy treatment plan, it’s not the only thing our physical therapists do to help you recover. You can’t just expect to come in for a massage and see progress. You have to pair it with some type of physical activity. Your physical therapist will put together an individualized plan for your unique situation. You can’t pick and choose what parts you want to do. ‘It’s too expensive.’ Many people believe that physical therapy is overpriced and too expensive to fit into their budget, but that’s not the case. Nearly all medical insurances offer some type of coverage for physical therapy services. Moreover, our team is not trying to get rich from your medical condition. We just want to help you feel your best! We try to keep services within your budget when possible. Keep in mind that the longer you push off physical therapy, the more severe your condition could become,

As social media becomes more common, more people are sharing their opinions than ever. After watching a few reels or clips about specific topics, you start to see similar topics that the site’s algorithms feed you, reducing the diversity of thought on the subject(s). The problem is that you may not appreciate all sides of an issue if you don’t get all the relevant information. This is how confirmation bias can take hold, promoting the spread of rumors, myths, and misinformation throughout our communities. Most of us are no strangers to misinformation and rumors; we see it almost daily while scrolling through social media. How often have you read someone’s post and scoffed to yourself, thinking, “There’s no way someone believes that.” Yet, people believe some of the most ridiculous ideas because social media algorithms influence what they see, and misinformation becomes more prevalent. Many Americans associate misinformation with propaganda and politics, but it also sneaks into our daily lives. We see it in the physical therapy world almost every week. Someone read something online or heard about a scary experience from a friend and is cautious about proceeding with treatment. Let’s debunk and dispel some of the most common physical therapy rumors and myths. ‘It will hurt too much.’ When a doctor refers patients to physical therapy, it’s usually because they are experiencing some type of pain or discomfort. Yet, some believe physical therapy will worsen their pain in the short term and is not worth the

effort, even if it provides relief in the long run. However, we aim to make you as functional as possible while managing any pain you experience. We want to reduce your pain! While you might experience additional soreness during your first few appointments, it’s part of the healing process.

which, in turn, leads to more expensive treatment options. Don’t let misinformation and myths sway your opinion about physical therapy. If you have any concerns or questions, reach out to us directly. We’ll give you information you can trust!

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FREE Lower Back & Sciatica Pain Workshop HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED BACK PAIN, SCIATICA, OR ARTHRITIS IN THE PAST 30 DAYS?

DOES THE PAIN INCREASE WHEN YOU STAND OR WALK? OR MAYBE THE PAIN INCREASES WHEN YOU GO TO GET UP AFTER SITTING FOR TOO LONG? If you answered “YES” to any of the above questions, you may qualify to attend our FREE Lower Back and Sciatica Pain Workshop TUESDAY, JUNE 24 AT 6 P.M. At this workshop, you will learn...

• The Three Most Common Causes of Lower Back and Sciatica Pain: one that is kinda tricky because it doesn’t show up on an MRI or X-ray but can be identified in the clinic by our expert physical therapists. • A Sure-Fire Way to Choose the Right Treatment for What’s Causing Your Pain DATE: Tuesday, June 24 @ 6 p.m. LOCATION: PT DOC Physical Therapy Clinic (212-73 26th Ave., Bayside)

PRESENTER: Dr. Robert Morea, PT, DPT, OCS, MTC Limited seating so call 718.747.2019 now to save a seat!

SIMPLE SUMMER GARDEN PASTA

TAKE A BREAK!

INGREDIENTS • 4 cups cherry tomatoes, halved • 4 cloves garlic, minced • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil • 1 tsp red pepper flakes (optional, to taste) • 1 tsp kosher salt • 1/2 tsp black pepper

Inspired by TheKitchn.com

• 1 lb angel hair pasta • 1 cup fresh basil • 2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese • Cooked, chopped chicken for serving (optional)

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large bowl, combine tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper and toss until well coated. 2. Cover and let the mixture sit at room temperature while the pasta cooks. 3. Add pasta to a pot of boiling water and cook per package directions until al dente. 4. Drain the pasta, reserving 1/4 cup of the pasta water to add to the tomato mixture. 5. Coarsely chop the basil leaves. 6. Add the pasta, Parmesan cheese, and chopped basil to the tomato mixture and toss again until combined. 7. Serving suggestion: Add cooked, chopped chicken for more protein!

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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

718.747.2019

212-73 26th Ave. Bayside, NY 11360

theptdoctor.com

Hours of Operation: Monday–Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1.

Before Streaming Took Over

2.

4 Physical Therapy Myths Debunked

3.

FREE Lower Back & Sciatica Pain Workshop

Simple Summer Garden Pasta

4.

Meet Procrastination’s Worst Enemy

THE ZEIGARNIK EFFECT COULD BE THE KEY TO YOUR SUCCESS Take a moment to reflect on your high school years. Were you the student who completed all your assignments around for over a century. The next time you procrastinate, try using the Zeigarnik Effect to your advantage. Procrastination Got You Down?

them, try breaking them down into smaller steps. Each time you accomplish one of the smaller tasks, you gain motivation to continue your project. If you need to step away from your desk for more than a few minutes, write down the unfinished task. Doing so will keep it at the top of your mind, ensuring you return later to finish. This strategy shifts your mindset and increases productivity while avoiding the stress of starting something new.

well before the deadline? Or were you the student waiting until the last second to get started? Maybe you thought you could still do it in time with a passing grade, or perhaps you didn’t know where to begin. Regardless of the reason, you procrastinated. Many people associate procrastination with schoolwork, but you can procrastinate about work, household chores, and even fun experiences like vacation planning. Those who struggle with procrastination have likely tried countless strategies to improve their efforts, from adjusting their environment to utilizing time management applications. However, we often overlook one strategy that’s been

The Zeigarnik Effect is a phenomenon wherein people remember unfinished tasks better than completed ones. Here’s how it works: When you have tasks you need to do, don’t commit to finishing them in a day or assigning yourself a deadline. Instead, commit to doing them for five minutes.

Once those five minutes have passed, you can step away from the task. However, oftentimes, you continue working because you’ve found your flow and don’t want to leave it unfinished. If you continue to leave your tasks unfinished after starting

Unfortunately, procrastination can be a roadblock to a happier, more fulfilling life. So, if other strategies have failed you previously, try the Zeigarnik Effect!

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