OCTOBER 2019
620 Old West Central Street, Franklin, MA 02038 • 508-528-6100 • www.ProPTinc.com
The Professional Physical Therapy Spooktacular Eerie Tales From Our Team Members
In honor of Halloween, we’ve asked our team to share their creepiest experiences. For some added fun and mystery, we’ve obscured their real identities. You can guess whose tales these really are at the end of the article. “First of all, my dad and I are not the type of people to believe in spirits and ghosts and stuff. But one night, we were driving in the rain right by my house when, all of a sudden, there was this lady in a black hooded outfit standing in front of a mailbox. She started crossing the street, and my dad jacked on the brakes to stop. Had there been a real person, we would’ve hit her, but there was no bump, no crashing, nothing. She vanished, and I swear we both saw her.” – The Deadly Doubter “My parents’ house is about 150 years old. We don’t know much about the history, but none of our past or current animals will ever go to the basement. Our old border collie, Ginger, would just stay at the top of the stairs and not go down. Then, we got a German shepherd, Lucy, and she would not go down the stairs. My sister got a Labrador, Riley, and, you guessed it, she would not go down the stairs. Now, my bully mix will not go down the stairs! Even when you hold a treat or have their favorite toy, they won’t budge, which has led us to joke that it’s haunted.” – Haunted at Home “I used to work as a CNA in a nursing home that everyone said was haunted. I never believed in that sort of thing until I worked there. Things would happen that the elderly couldn’t have possibly had done — TVs and lights going on and off by themselves on the far sides of rooms and whatnot. There were weird, creepy noises, but nothing hostile, thankfully. In fact, it was almost fun after a while. The staff was always guessing what sort of crazy thing would happen on a given day.” – The " Night of the Living Dead " Nurse “I used to live in a very old apartment that was very clearly inhabited by ‘other forces,’ if you will. I’ve lived in over 20 homes throughout my life, and this place was unlike any other. I would see odd flashes of light and often have a feeling I was being watched or that I wasn’t alone in the house even when my family was out. It was something we were all aware of, but it never bothered us, so we let it be. One night, my dad (who
doesn’t care if ‘ghosts’ are real or not as long as they’re not causing harm or mayhem) was up late watching TV. The kitchen pantry door, which was next to the living room entry, was a locked cabinet. Out of nowhere, the pantry slowly unlocked itself, and the door began to open! My dad yelled over in that direction, ‘Hey, cut that crap out!’ Instantly, the door stopped opening, closed, and locked itself! After that, I felt a little bit less of a presence in the apartment. Guess they didn’t want my dad to come
looking for them!” – The Spirit Evicter
“I was staying at an inn on Nantucket with my daughter and her friend. We had the room in the attic. I was sleeping on the trundle bed — why they got the good bed is a mystery in its own right — when I saw a man in the doorway. He wasn’t frightening. He just stood there, pulled something out of his pocket, looked around, and left. Oh, and he had no feet and exited straight through the door. After he left, I went to bed. The next morning, my daughter asked me, ‘Who was the man in our room?’ Now, that was really weird. I had to go to the desk and ask the hotel staff if people had reported visions like mine before. The woman behind the desk, who suddenly grew very tight-lipped, wouldn’t confirm the man’s presence. All she would tell me was that, ‘it’s been said’ the inn had an extra, uninvited guest.” – The Invited Guest
Can you guess which story belongs to which team member? Match the alias to the author below. You can find the answer key on Page 4. 1. The Deadly Doubter 2. Haunted at Home 3. The “Night of the Living Dead” Nurse
A. Sue B. Tracy C. Ashlee D. Greg E. Sydney
4. The Spirit Evicter 5. The Invited Guest
Professional Physical Therapy | 508-528-6100 • 1
If you’ve ever picked up a health magazine while waiting at the doctor’s office, then you’re probably familiar with the term “free radicals” — at least enough to know that they get a bad rap from doctors and beauticians alike. But what are they, exactly? According to Live Science, free radicals are atoms with unpaired electrons that have split off from oxygen molecules in the body and started to “scavenge” for other electrons to pair with. That wouldn’t be problematic, except that these atoms tend to damage cells, lipids, proteins, and even DNA along the way, and that destruction has serious consequences. As Live Science puts it, “Free radicals are associated with human disease, including cancer, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and many others. They also may have a link to aging, which has been defined as a gradual accumulation of free-radical damage.” Unfortunately, it’s impossible to entirely avoid free radicals and the havoc they wreak. The process that forms free radicals, called oxidative stress, can be kick-started by a variety of different substances found in food, water, medicine, and even the air we breathe, according to the Huntington’s Outreach Project for Education at Stanford University. Unsurprisingly, these The Free Radical 411 How to Minimize Age-Inducing Atoms
substances are things already considered unhealthy, like alcohol, exposure to X-rays, ozone, fried food, chemical pesticides, air pollutants, and tobacco smoke.
That said, there is one molecule that is stable enough to stand up to and reduce free radicals: the antioxidant.
According to a study published by Pharmacognosy Reviews, antioxidants can “donate an electron to a rampaging free radical and neutralize it, thus reducing its ability to damage.” Synthetic antioxidants exist but can sometimes have harmful side effects, so scientists advise protecting yourself by avoiding free radical triggers like alcohol, processed foods, and red meat, and ingesting natural antioxidants in the form of berries, stone fruits, olives, onions, garlic, and green and black teas. Herbs and spices like cinnamon, basil, turmeric, and fenugreek can ratchet up your antioxidant levels too. While it can’t guarantee immortality, the right diet can certainly help you stave off aging and disease, so why not start today?
Patient
of the Month
CINDY RODRIGUEZ KIDS IN NEED OF DEFENSE
“I chose Kids In Need of Defense because I work as a volunteer translator for this project, and it is an organization that is very dear to me since it works with children who want to be a part of the future of this country.” –Cindy Cindy had a major injury and has been recovering here at ProPt. She has made a great recovery so far. Cindy has been a joy to work with and always has a positive attitude and brings joyful energy to the clinic. Cindy’s hard work and attitude is the reason we chose her for our patient of the month.
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Do you suffer from arachnophobia (fear of spiders)? How about pteromerhanophobia (fear of flying)? Or maybe mageirocophobia (fear of cooking)? We all have fears both big and small. But one thing you definitely SHOULDN’T be afraid of is lasers, in particular, our LightForce Class IV medical therapy laser. In fact, if you have algophobia (fear of pain), our laser can help expedite your healing and get you back to feeling your best. October 2019 marks our second anniversary of offering cutting-edge laser therapy to patients. To celebrate, we’re offering eerily good deals on laser therapy and a chance to have a free trial. Turn over this insert for more details.
SEMI-ANNUAL SALE
HAVE NO FEAR; THE LASER IS HERE. Laser therapy with the LightForce Class IV laser, when used in conjunction with other physical therapy methods, can help you heal faster and return to your favorite activities sooner. Laser therapy is all natural, noninvasive, and pain-free. It may seem like something supernatural straight out of “Stranger Things,” but it’s actually just hard science. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN LASER THERAPY, CALL OUR OFFICE TODAY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR 50% OFF PACKAGES DURING THIS SEMI-ANNUAL SALE ON LASER THERAPY TREATMENT.
Professional Physical Therapy 620 Old West Central Street Franklin, MA 02038 508-528-6100
The DevilsYou Don’t Know
Unseen Habits Hurting Your Health
EXCESSIVE SITTING While the oft-hyped refrain “sitting is the new smoking” is overblown, there’s no denying that spending excessive time off your feet is bad for your health. Recently, a study in the American Journal of Public Health concluded that sitting more than 8 hours per day increases the risk of premature death and many chronic diseases by anywhere from 10–20%. That may not be tobacco- level dangerous, but it’s certainly not optimal. POOR QUALITY OF SLEEP You’re probably aware that you should be getting 8 hours of sleep each night, but the quality of sleep matters just as much as the duration. If you sleep enough but still wake up tired, consider having your dentist screen you for sleep apnea.
The monsters in scary movies come in two forms. First, you have the big bads who look bad and act worse. The second, and perhaps scarier, type of monsters are the ones we can’t see. They haunt the area outside the frame, a vague and constant threat to the characters in it. The same goes for the ghouls who seek to harm our health. We all know that drinking liters of soda or smoking cigarettes will wreak havoc, but there are also countless little behaviors you don’t even realize are making you feel less than your best. In honor of Halloween, let’s shine a light on a few of these ghastly habits. SKIPPING MEALS In an age when our lives are busier than ever before, it’s easier for meals to vanish. While that may seem like not a big deal, it actually has adverse effects on your health. It won’t lead to lower calorie consumption because people tend to overcompensate throughout the day. Irregular eating also creates metabolic changes that mess with your glucose levels, which can be especially dangerous for people with diabetes.
Once you bring these monsters out into the light, you’ll have a much easier time slaying them.
SUCCESS STORIES
“Before PT, I was experiencing a lot of neck and back discomfort and tension on a daily basis. Now, even though I still have my moments, I see myself getting closer to resuming my regular activities. Everyone I have worked with here has been so supportive and friendly and made my journey one where I felt confident. I had a great team behind me. The front desk was amazing.”
Leftover Candy Snack Mix This recipe from Momofuku Milk Bar chef and “Master Chef” judge Christina Tosi makes great use of those extra Halloween goodies. It’s a quick and easy way to both elevate and get rid of unwanted leftovers.
–Dharmista Patel
Ingredients
“Prior to physical therapy, I experienced sharp pains in my right shoulder. I couldn’t rotate my shoulder fully. I had trouble holding a pan while cooking, washing dishes, etc. I also had trouble sleeping on my side because of the pain and soreness from my shoulder. Coming to physical therapy provided a road map for my recovery, and allayed my fear about my shoulder injury, as the team did a great job in helping me understand the injury.” –Kevin HsuCollette
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2 cups mini pretzels, coarsely broken
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1/3 cup dry milk powder
6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted 12 oz mini candy bars, such as Snickers, chopped into 1/2 - inch pieces
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1/4 cup light brown sugar 2 tbsp granulated sugar
Directions 1. Heat oven to 275 F. 2. In a large mixing bowl, fold together pretzels, sugars, milk powder, and butter. 3. Spread mixture on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 20 minutes. 4. Let cool for at least 30 minutes and mix in candy bar pieces before serving.
Professional Physical Therapy | 508-528-6100 • 3
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
www.ProPTinc.com 620 Old West Central Street Franklin, MA 02038 508-528-6100
Thank you for being part of the Professional Physical Therapy family!
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Eerie Tales From Our Team Tips for Fighting Free Radicals Patient of the Month Are These Scary Habits Affecting Your Health? Leftover Candy Snack Mix Be All You Can Bee
And Give Honey a Second Thought BE ALL YOU CAN BEE
Because most bees are pollinators, they play a crucial role in helping plants reproduce. Without the bees playing their part in this natural process, approximately 30% of the world’s crops won’t flourish. Fortunately, you can help strengthen the bee population in a few ways from your own home.
First, try to avoid purchasing any commercialized honey products of questionable quality and provenance. Instead, look for raw local honey at a farmer’s market. That way, you can meet the beekeeper to determine if their honey-rendering practices are sustainable. Then, by purchasing their product, you are helping fund their hive and enrich the local bee population. You can also plant a garden full of bee-friendly plants, like honeysuckle, strawberries, sunflowers, and cosmos, to give the bees in your community more pollen sources. Additionally, if you notice dandelions growing in your garden, leave them. They are a great food source for bees, especially in early spring before other plants have started blooming. While honey has many excellent health properties, bees are far more vital to the world’s sustainability. Do your part to help their population by researching, spreading awareness, and thinking before you shop for honey.
The health benefits of raw organic honey, which include soothing sore throats, lowering cholesterol, and treating skin wounds, have been embraced by many members of the holistic health community for decades. But with the rapid decline of the bee population in recent years, humans’ use of honey has become more controversial. According to the New York Bee Sanctuary, bees (not just honey-makers) are disappearing for several reasons, but one of the most unfortunate contributors is the honey industry. In order to mass-produce commercial honey products, many factories have resorted to industrialized beekeeping practices, which have been deemed unethical by animal activist groups because they strip hives of their honey storage, starving the bees through the winter months. This practice, along with soil contamination and a viral infection spread by mites, led to the devastating loss of 40% of all bee colonies last year.
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