Horizon PT - July 2020

physical therapy and rehabilitation July 2020

3600 Miller Road, Flint, MI 48503 • 810-620-8042 • horizonptflint.com

OVERCOMING CHALLENGES FROM EVERY ANGLE From All Sides The last several months have really put us all to the test. Though we are going through the same pandemic together, it’s obvious that we all experience it in different ways. These experiences reflect what our personal priorities are. Personally, I have to learn to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic as a business owner, a physical therapist, a husband, and a father. As a business owner, I had to act fast as COVID-19 began to impact the United States. Things were being shut down. While that was the right move for public health, it was incredibly stressful for workers and business owners alike. If people aren’t coming through the doors, then it’s hard to keep those doors open. There were many loans out there to help businesses, such as disaster loans and the PPP loan, and I applied for those as soon as I could. Going through the initial process of applying for those loans was really challenging. Every day, we were getting new information on how we were supposed to apply for the loan. The paperwork kept changing. One minute you could fill everything out online and the next we were told we had to download the paperwork and fill it out by hand. There was one day when I spent three hours working on the loan application only for it to be completely different the next day. It ended up being an easy, one-page application, but I had to jump through a lot of hoops to get there. Actually getting the loan was only half of our struggle. As a physical therapist, I had to figure out how to care for my patients during a pandemic, when everyone was staying in their homes. Some of the insurance companies finally began agreeing to pay for telehealth visits. This was helpful, but we had to first figure out how to offer telehealth visits to our patients, something we had never offered before. Being able to talk to my patients face to face and visually see what’s going on is good short term, but it’s not a permanent solution. Physical therapy is still a profession where we need to be able to get our hands on patients to really understand what’s going on. Throughout this whole process, I’ve made a point to communicate with my team. Things were uncertain for everyone. I didn’t want to

“I could not have been more grateful to have a partner who has had my back through the whole ordeal.”

leave them in the dark about what our plan was moving forward and what they could do to help us stay open. We all had to be on the same page if we wanted to come out of this thing together. A big priority was checking in on patients and seeing how people were doing while they couldn’t come in for their appointments. There was an understanding that a lot of folks wouldn’t feel comfortable coming into the office for a while. Any appointments we scheduled had to be based on when our patients felt comfortable enough to come in, not when we told them they had to come in. As I worked to overcome challenges at the clinic these past few months, I could not have been more grateful to have a partner who has had my back through the whole ordeal. My wife, Samantha, has been my rock. Our boys are still so young that they didn’t really notice anything different, so we didn’t have to explain the situation to them. While I was doing a lot of stuff at the office, Samantha was taking care of the kids and making sure they had everything they needed. I was so glad to have someone who could support me and make sure my children were getting what they needed during this difficult time. I was reminded again and again how fortunate I am to have Samantha in my life. This whole situation was challenging from every angle, but there was no running and hiding from it. I took a look at what needed to be done and did whatever I could do. Failure wasn’t an option. As we creep back to a sense of normalcy, I’m glad to see all that hard work paying off. Things have changed, but life is always about change. It’s a matter of how we make adjustments to what the new normal is and move forward. I’m proud to say that we’re still here, able to help patients get the physical therapy they need. 1 810-620-8042 -Dr. Jerome Adams

Published by The Newsletter Pro . www.TheNewsletterPro.com

By Making Your Own Sweet Treat! Whether you’re a fan of mint chocolate chip or just plain vanilla, nothing cools you down on a hot CELEBRATE NATIONAL ICE CREAM DAY

MAKE IT HOW YOU WANT IT. You can flavor your ice cream however you’d like, but there are a few basic ingredients that are necessary for most batches: milk, sugar, gelatin, and eggs. Dairy-based products like milk are the most common foundation for ice cream. Sugar adds the sweet, scrumptious flavor we all love, and gelatin aids in thickening the mixture. The eggs happen to be one of the most important ingredients because they give ice cream its classic texture while reducing the rate at which it melts. This ensures your ice cream remains in near “mint” condition as you enjoy it. Healthy Alternatives: Use bananas or almond milk for dairy-free ice cream. For vegan ice cream, use agar powder instead of gelatin and eggs. For those looking to avoid sugar, honey is a naturally sweet substitute. GET TO WORK! You’ll need to heat your ingredients on the stove prior to churning and cooling your ice cream. An ice-cream churner is the easiest way to create a perfectly smooth texture, but if you’re looking for an activity to wear out the kids, then have them shake their own ice cream! Simply place all your ingredients in a small baggie, close it up, and place that baggie in a larger one with ice cubes. Shake firmly for at least 15 minutes for homemade creamy goodness.

summer day quite like ice cream. It’s only fitting then that National Ice CreamDay lands on July 19 — right in the middle of the hottest month in the U.S.

Ice cream’s history stretches as far back as 500 B.C. when Middle Eastern royalty combined sweet flavors with ice for a cool treat. Ice creammade its way to North America in the 1700s, and it remained a dessert for the wealthy and famous for years. George Washington even spent $200 on ice cream throughout the summer of 1790. (That would be $5,611.20 in today’s dollars!) Thankfully, these days you don’t have to be rich to enjoy ice cream. In fact, you can even save money by making it

yourself! Celebrate National Ice CreamDay by creating this everyday treat using these tips.

A Pain-Free Tomorrow OUR PAT I ENTS SAY I T BEST

“I suffered from back problems for about two years before I started going to Horizon Physical Therapy. Dr. Adams is always hands-on to make sure you are getting the proper care you need. This therapy is helping me get stronger! If you need some place to go get therapy and want real help, Horizon PT is the place. I thank Dr. Adams and his staff for everything!”

“I am incredibly impressed with the staff at Horizon Physical Therapy. They are kind, courteous, and very dedicated to your health and well-being. I came in with intensive pain in my lower back and problems with sciatica. I started to feel better immediately! I even feel so much better that I have joined a gym. I also am no longer on pain medication! I would recommend Horizon for all of your physical therapy needs!”

–Mathew Hinkle

–Dorothy Hester

horizonptflint.com

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE

Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Over 24 million children and adults in the United States live with diabetes. Current trends indicate that one in three children born today will be diagnosed with diabetes in the future. Diabetes is becoming more common, and we must take massive action to combat the condition. Struggling to control your diabetes? We can help! While there is no cure for diabetes, there are strategies that can help you manage your diabetes and live a healthy life. The first step is to regularly monitor your blood sugar. Develop a habit of testing regularly, taking the right amount of insulin before meals, and eating a healthy snack when your blood sugar is low. It is also important to embrace lifestyle habits that help regulate your blood sugar. Regular exercise can help reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and help improve blood sugar control for folks who have diabetes. Exercise can also help reduce the risks of complications associated with diabetes, including these: Start Managing Your Diabetes Now

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Skin disorders

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●Foot problems

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Neuropathy/nerve damage

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Leg ulcers

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Depression

Exercise isn’t limited to running 5 miles or lifting weights at the gym. Any kind of moderate physical activity can be considered a healthy workout. You could go for a walk outside, dance, swim, or enjoy a bike ride with your family. By finding a workout you enjoy, you’re more likely to develop a healthy exercise routine. While exercise is important to help manage diabetes, make sure you talk to your physician before starting a new exercise routine if you have diabetes. Exercise can impact your blood sugar and cause it to drop or rise very quickly. Make sure you know the warning signs and have a plan to keep yourself safe while working out. Stop letting your diabetes control your life. Call Horizon PT now at 810-620-8042. Our experienced team can help you create a safe exercise plan to manage your diabetes and live a healthy, fulfilling life.

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Heart disease

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Kidney failure

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Stroke

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Blindness

No-Churn S’mores Ice Cream

Have a Laugh

Inspired by GrainChanger.com

Ingredients

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14 oz sweetened condensed milk

2 tsp vanilla extract

10 graham crackers, crushed 1 chocolate bar, chopped 2 cups whipping cream, chilled

Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, graham crackers, and chocolate. 2. In a separate bowl, use an electric mixer to beat whipping cream until peaks form, about 3 minutes. 3. Fold whipping cream into the condensed milk mixture. Transfer ice cream to a freezer-safe container, cover, and freeze for at least 8 hours. 4. Serve and enjoy on a hot summer day. It’s especially delicious in a waffle cone!

810-620-8042

3600 Miller Road Flint, MI 48503

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

THIS ISSUE Inside

Make Adjustments, Move Forward

National Ice Cream Day Prompts Homemade Creations

Our Patients Say It Best

Stop Letting Your Diabetes Control You

Homemade S’mores Ice Cream

What to Wear to Physical Therapy

T I PS FOR STAYING COMFORTABLE AND HEAL ING FASTER WHAT SHOULD I WEAR TO PHYSICAL THERAPY?

When your doctor refers you to a physical therapist after an injury, you may be wondering what you should wear to your appointments. If you’ve never been to physical therapy before, it’s natural not to know what to expect —much less what to wear while you’re there. Here are a few tips to help you ensure maximum comfort and a speedy recovery. DRESS FOR COMFORT In physical therapy, you’re going to be moving around a lot and doing many different stretches and exercises. That means you’re going to want soft, loose-fitting clothing, like what you might wear to the gym or while lounging around at home. Don’t wear your work clothes. Clothes that allow you full range of motion, like sweatpants, gym shorts, workout T-shirts, and tank tops are all good choices. Even though they’re not always loose-fitting, yoga pants and leggings will also work. Basically, when choosing your outfit, ask yourself, “Can I move easily and comfortably in this?” If the answer is yes, then it’s probably good to wear to your next physical therapy appointment.

ACCOMMODATE YOUR INJURY Depending on the nature of your injury, some wardrobe choices might be better than others. Part of a physical therapist’s job is to observe how your muscles and joints move in order to identify the best way to heal your injuries. So if you’re suffering from a knee, ankle, or

lower leg injury, opt for shorts over sweats. If you’re working on a shoulder injury, wear a tank top instead of a T-shirt. Choosing clothes that accommodate your injury will make your physical therapist’s job easier, which, in turn, helps you heal faster. WEAR PROPER SHOES The most common type of footwear for physical therapy is a good pair of exercise sneakers. Avoid dress shoes, boots, sandals, flip-flops, or any other nonexercise shoes. You’ll want to wear something with good support since your physical therapist will probably have you moving around a lot. Any other kind of shoe might leave you with more aches and pains than you had before you came to your appointment.