Treat Your Muscles Like You Treat Your Teeth! How to Keep Your Muscles ‘Clean’
calls “toothbrush exercises” for you. It’s smart to complete these several times a day, just as regularly as you brush your teeth. Apart from that daily maintenance, we recommend scheduling an annual musculoskeletal screening with our team. Think of this as a dental cleaning for your whole body. During the screening, we will chat with you about your toothbrush exercises and analyze your strength, flexibility, and posture to make sure your muscles, ligaments, and joints are healthy. If you haven’t visited Focus Physical Therapy yet this year, you’re probably behind on your STH. Check out the flier inside this newsletter to learn how to schedule your 2023 screening today, and spread the word to your friends and family. STH is important for young athletes, retired seniors, and everyone in between!
What is soft tissue hygiene, and why does it matter? Like your teeth and gums, your soft tissues (muscles, ligaments,
joints, etc.) need regular maintenance to keep your body healthy. We call this
maintenance “soft tissue hygiene,” or STH. STH is very important because it can prevent problems like muscle
pain and arthritis, along with serious health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and even some cancers.
How many times per day do you brush your teeth? Hopefully your answer is two or more. Most of us learn at an early age how important it is to take care of our teeth and gums. Brushing, flossing, and using tools like toothpicks and mouthwash can protect us from cavities and infections. However, in all of that focus on dental hygiene we often overlook another kind of health routine: soft tissue hygiene.
How can I maintain my STH? The best way to practice STH is by
exercising every day. If you’re not sure which exercises will be safe and effective for you, ask your physical therapist at Focus Physical Therapy. We can recommend what Julian
WINTER VEGETABLE SHEPHERD’S PIE
HAVE A LAUGH
Ingredients
• • • • • •
4 garlic cloves, sliced
•
6 1/2 cups potatoes, cut into large chunks
1 sprig rosemary
15-oz can diced tomatoes plus liquid
• • • • •
2 tbsp olive oil 2 onions, sliced
1/2 cup water
1 tbsp flour
1 1/2 cups frozen peas
2 large carrots, cut into rounds 1/2 cauliflower, broken into florets
Milk, to desired consistency
Directions
1. In a pot, boil potatoes until tender. 2. In a pan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened. Stir in flour and cook for 2 minutes. Add carrots, cauliflower, garlic, and rosemary and stir until softened. 3. Pour tomatoes into mix and add water. Cover and let simmer for 10 minutes, then remove lid and cook for 15 minutes until thickened. Stir in peas and simmer. 4. Drain and mash potatoes. Stir in milk to desired consistency. 5. Preheat oven to 375 F. Spoon hot vegetable mix into pie dish, then top with mashed potatoes. Bake until top is golden brown.
Inspired by BBCGoodFood.com
Focus Physical Therapy • Call 949.709.8770 • 3
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