CALDWELL 1906 Fairview Ave., Ste. 410 Caldwell, ID 83605 (208) 454-9839 Nampa, ID 83686 (208) 465-9418 THE ASCENT NAMPA - MIDLAND 130 S. Midland Blvd. Nampa, ID 83686 (208) 461-5057 NAMPA - SOUTHSIDE 3151 E. Greenhurst Rd.
OCTOBER 2018
MOVING PAST FEAR TO GET BACK TO WHAT YOU LOVE GETTING BACK ON THE BIKE
One of my favorite parts of my job is helping ease people’s fears about getting back to an activity they love. Last week, I was working with a patient who rides a Harley. He hadn’t been on his motorcycle all summer because he was worried that he wouldn’t have the strength to back it up due to the weakness in his legs. So we used a stool and pieces of equipment to create a structure that was about the same height as his bike. He could practice pushing it back and get comfortable with the motion again in a controlled environment. The next time he came in, I asked him if he’d gotten back on his motorcycle. “I haven’t yet,” he said, “but I thought about it.” For him, it was a big step — envisioning himself getting back on his bike.
At each of our clinics, we have the tools to recreate just about every situation that a patient is feeling scared about returning to. We have buckets full of equipment from every sport and physical activity. We call them our “buckets of fun,” and they’re filled with baseballs, bats, hockey sticks, bike gear — equipment for any activity that you are hoping to get back to. Our therapists are very creative when it comes to simulating every physical activity imaginable to help you feel better prepared and ease your fears about getting back to doing what you love. For some patients, it’s scary to think of getting back into the car after an accident or going back to work after falling. The mental hurdle of getting past an injury can be as challenging as the physical
hurdle. You might be physically okay to return to those situations, but feeling mentally ready to do them can take a little longer. It’s natural to have apprehension when you’re getting back into those situations. To help patients feel more confident, we gradually re-expose them to those situations. If they lack the strength or confidence, they address those weaknesses so they feel more prepared the next time that situation comes up. Our therapists aren’t just creative; they understand that it takes time to build that confidence back. We’ll work with you until you feel good about getting back on the bike. When it comes to being exposed to fears, there’s no better time to do it than Halloween. I remember one year, as a teenager, I chose a scary mask and a trench coat for my costume, and I think that creepy outfit combined with my height was a little intimidating to other trick-or- treaters passing me by! These days, I’m not so much in it for the scare as I am for having fun. When my oldest son was about 3, we dressed him as Batman, and I was Robin. Instead of scaring people, we gave them some good laughs. Here at work, our team also has a good time picking out a theme and coming up with costumes. Last year, I went as Richard Simmons — I think some of our patients were a little shocked to see so much of my legs! We’re still brainstorming our ideas for this Halloween. I guess you’ll have to wait and see what we decide!
Do you know what you’ll be for Halloween?
–Sean Weatherston
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Costume Safety Tips for Kids HEADLINE: BEST IN SHOW OR HALLOWEEN HAZARD?
risks that Halloween costumes can pose. Here are important safety tips to remember when choosing the best Halloween costume. LOOK FOR FIRE-RESISTANT COSTUMES. Candles inside jack-o’-lanterns and other open flames are everywhere on Halloween night, so make sure your child’s costume isn’t a fire hazard. Most store-bought costumes are made from fire-resistant materials, but you should still check the labels on all costumes, wigs, and accessories. The same goes when you’re buying fabric for homemade costumes. And remember, fire- resistant is not the same as fireproof . While fire-resistant material takes longer to burn and can be put out quickly, it can still catch fire and cause serious injuries. Remind your child to use caution around open flames and avoid costumes with flimsy, hanging components, like flowing sleeves, long skirts, and capes. TEST MAKEUP FIRST. Halloween is a great time to have fun with face paint, and makeup is a good alternative to masks, Finding Altitude was another case of doing her research to find the perfect fit, and she was immediately intrigued by working with only one patient an hour. “That’s a pipe dream in Florida,” Elizabeth explains, where most clinicians see two or even three patients at once. “The prospect of focusing on one patient is really what attracted me.” Before taking the job, Elizabeth gave us a test run. “In my fashion, of course, I came and shadowed for a day. I saw how the office ran, how other clinicians interacted, and how patients liked it. I knew after the first hour that it was going to be a good fit,” Elizabeth says. Originally from Florida, Elizabeth and her husband, Matt, yearned to live out West, closer to the mountains. “We love the outdoors and traveling,” Elizabeth explains. When Matt was offered a job in Idaho, they eagerly made the move. On the weekends, you’ll find Elizabeth and Matt off on their next outdoor adventure, most likely to a national park. They tied the knot in Zion, where the scenery required little decoration. “Nature did all the work,” Elizabeth says of their wedding. It sounds like their future has much more of that in store. “Our goal is to visit all 60 national parks in our lifetime. We’ve been to 15 so far,” she says.
which can obscure a child’s vision. However, a lot of costume makeup isn’t approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Before letting your child cover their face in makeup from the Halloween store, test their skin for allergic reactions by putting just a little bit on the back of their hand first. PRACTICE PROP SAFETY. What’s a Jedi Knight without her lightsaber or a wizard without his magic wand? The right accessories can really bring a costume together, but it’s important that props — especially weapon props, like swords, knives, or guns — are not mistaken for the real thing. Choose props that are obviously fake, with round edges made from soft, flexible material. And if your child wants to wear their Halloween costume to school or some other event, check the rules on props beforehand to avoid any trouble. Halloween is a night for ghosts and goblins to come out to play, and with these tips, your kids can safely dress up and join in the fun.
For many kids, picking out a costume is the best part of Halloween. Will they be a spooky witch, a wildcat, or their favorite superhero? There are so many options! But in all the fun, it can be easy for parents to overlook certain
ELIZABETH’S PASSION FOR PT AND THE OUTDOORS EMBARKING ON A LIFETIME OF ADVENTURE
Over the summer, we welcomed another skilled PT who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our fantastic team. Although she’s a new face at our clinics, she’s no newbie to the profession. Elizabeth has been practicing PT for seven years after a job shadow in college revealed that this was the role for her. “When I started undergrad, I had in mind that I would go to vet school. I really loved animals and wanted to do something in the medical field,” Elizabeth explains. She soon realized she didn’t want to be in charge of putting animals down, so she switched majors and tried a number of careers on for size. “I did a lot of job shadowing and landed in a PT office. I fell in love with it,” Elizabeth reveals. She enjoys interacting with patients, something that comes naturally to her because of her extroverted personality. “I love that you get to interact with people for a full hour and get to know them,” she says.
We’re so happy to welcome Elizabeth to our team. Say hi next time you’re at our clinic — and share your favorite destinations in Idaho.
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PHYSICAL THERAPY CAN HELP YOU
DON’T LET FEAR OVERWHELM YOU
After you’ve been injured in a car accident, playing a sport, or even slipping on your driveway, you won’t be so keen to repeat the experience. You might feel anxious, scared, or even angry when placed in that difficult situation. Pushing past this natural self-defense mechanism is challenging, but it’s necessary to get back to your normal life. While therapy may seem intimidating, the ultimate goal of every physical therapist is to help you return to the state you were in before you were injured. There are many common misconceptions when it comes to physical therapy. One of them is that it will hurt or you will be in even more pain after therapy. But that is not the physical therapist’s goal; the actual goal is to get you back to enjoying your everyday life. And therapists will work with your limitations and set individualized goals that align with what you need and where you want to go. Two opportunities to address your lower back and sciatica pain: LOWER BACK AND SCIATICA PAIN WORKSHOP Caldwell Clinic, 10/9 at 7 p.m. LOWER BACK AND SCIATICA PAIN WORKSHOP Nampa Midland Clinic, 10/16 at 7 p.m. temperatures cool down and we get ready for winter in the Treasure Valley. Unfortunately, not everyone has the warm clothing they need. That’s why Altitude PT is partnering with local elementary schools to get items to kids who need it. MIDLAND CLINIC — PARTNERING WITH IOWA ELEMENTARY Needs are new socks and underwear (childrens small WINTER CLOTHING DRIVE It’s the time of year when the
Recovering mentally from an injury is often harder than recovering from the injury itself. Professional athletes, daily runners, or someone walking down their driveway to pick up their mail can experience life- altering injuries in an instant. How do you overcome that? It’s not easy — recovering mentally and physically after you’ve been hurt takes time and effort, but it can be done with the help of physical therapists who understand the mental and physical trauma an injury can cause. physical therapists are willing and ready to help you take back your life. Fear can be commonplace after an injury, but don’t let it keep you from getting better. Call our offices today to see how we can help you regain the confidence you need to return to living your life. It’s essential for you to know that you aren’t alone after an injury and that
TAKE A BREAK
GET WITH ALTITUDE PT FOR 2 OCTOBER WORKSHOPS AND THE WINTER CLOTHING DRIVE
to size 8), new and gently used shoes (kids sizes 1–6), hygiene products, and non- perishable snacks. SOUTHSIDE CLINIC — PARTNERING WITH ENDEAVOR ELEMENTARY Needs are new and gently used shoes and coats, warm clothing (childrens sizes), hygiene products, and non-perishable snacks. CALDWELL CLINIC — PARTNERING WITH WILSON ELEMENTARY Needs are new socks and underwear (especially sizes 5–7), new or gently used children’s pants (especially sizes 5–7), new or gently used blankets. We have a donation box at each clinic where you can drop your items off. We are collecting during the entire month of October. Thank you for your generosity and helping those in need!
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(208) 454-9839
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
1906 Fairview Ave., Ste. 410 Caldwell, ID 83605
(208) 454-9839 www.altitudept.com
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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Taking on Our Fears What Parents Need to Know About Halloween Costumes Meet Our Team Facing Fear After an Injury Workshops and Clothing Drives! The Surprising Origins of Trick- or-Treating
THE HISTORY OF TRICK-OR-TREATING WHY THERE ARE KIDS ON YOUR PORCH ASKING FOR CANDY
which commemorated the dead and the goddess of fruit and trees (not at the same time); the Celtic Samuin or Samhain, a new year’s party thrown at the end of our summer; and the Catholic All Saint’s Day, designed to replace Samuin and divorce it from its pagan origins. Long before there were young’uns on your porch dressed as Thanos with candy- filled pillowcases in hand, the Celts believed that Samuin marked an overlapping of the realms of the living
By the 11th century, people were dressing up as saints, angels, and the occasional demon instead of spirits. Eventually, costumed children started tearing through town begging for food and money and singing a song or prayer in return — a practice called “souling.”
But when did they start dressing up as Minions? Starting in the 19th century, souling turned to
“guising,” which gave way to trick-or-treating in mid-20th- century America, and the costumes diversified. So put on some clown makeup and a big smile,
As Halloween looms and you load up your grocery cart with candy, you may ask yourself, “Why do I provide these spooky gremlins with a sugar high every Oct. 31, anyway?” Well, when your doorbell starts ringing around 6 p.m. this All Hallows’ Eve, you can thank the Celts for this tradition of candy and costumes. Halloween itself is a kind of mishmash of four different cultural festivals of old: two Roman fêtes,
and the dead. To trick the spirits leaking into our world, young men donned flowing white costumes and black masks — a great disguise when ghosts were about. The Catholic Church was never a big fan of these pagan traditions, so they renamed it “All Saints’ Day” and gussied it up in religious garb.
scoop up a handful of sweets, and scare the living daylights out of ‘em — ‘tis the season!
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