Achieve PT's online newsletter for May 2018
recovery report recovery
Acton 411 Massachusetts Avenue Acton, MA 01720 (978) 263-0007
Bedford 191 Hartwell Road Bedford, MA 01730 (781) 275-4111 Sudbury 29 Hudson Road Sudbury, MA 01776 (978) 579-0009
May 2018
My Jour ney to a L i fe l ong Career i n Phys i ca l Therapy B ack when I was 13, my 8-year-old little brother broke his femur — one of the strongest, most durable bones in the human body. It was an agonizing experience for him, putting him in the hospital for I can’t remember how long and forcing him to spend months in a body cast Today, I oversee the vision and strategy of From Injury to Inspiration
the clinic, ensuring that the people we serve not only feel better physically, but feel well cared for on a deep personal level.
afterward. Then, once he finally escaped from the cast, he went straight into physical therapy. But even after his therapists got him through the pain and he was back living his life like a kid is supposed to, his troubles weren’t over. A few years later, totally unrelated to his other injury, he was diagnosed with Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease on the other side of his body. It’s a disorder that occurs mostly in adolescents when blood flow is interrupted from the ball- and-socket joint of the hip. Over the coming years, he underwent multiple surgeries, returning to physical therapy after each of them. Though his condition caused him no shortage of pain and functional impairment, I saw firsthand the very real impact that his physical therapists had on his life. No matter what my little brother was going through, his team of experienced professionals guided him through the recovery process and got him back to doing the things he loved. From then on, I developed a growing curiosity about physical therapy as a career, wondering how gratifying it would be to help patients just like my brother return to their favorite activities. In my senior year of high school, long after my brother finished his treatment, I took a job as an intern at the same clinic to see what PT was really about. It was incredible to see the injured patients who were unable to do the simple
tasks we take for granted. Walking, bending down to pick things up, and even sleeping through the night had become serious undertakings for many of our patients. But by the time their treatment graduation day arrived, they were so appreciative of the transformation they underwent with the help of their therapists. Within just a few days on the job, I knew physical therapy was the right path for me. Though I’m no longer a practicing physical therapist myself, I am realizing my lifelong dream by empowering my talented team to help an even larger network of patients through Achieve Physical Therapy. Today, I oversee the vision and strategy of the clinic, ensuring that the people we serve not only feel better physically, but feel well cared for on a deep personal level. Early on in my physical therapy career, I had a patient with a nasty knee injury who told me it was his dream to run a full marathon. He was clearly downtrodden by this new setback, worried that he might never be able to achieve his goal. Over the following weeks, we worked intensively to build up his flexibility and leg strength to the point where he could return to training. A few months later, he sent us a picture of him crossing the finish line with an exhausted, ecstatic expression on his face. The photo was accompanied by an incredibly kind note thanking us for helping him realize one of his loftiest dreams. To me, that is what physical therapy is about: helping people do what they love without worrying about a debilitating injury. It’s difficult to express just how grateful I am that I get to facilitate that transformation every day of the week with so many amazing people by my side.
–Bob Thomas
1
Experience the Difference at Achieve.
PH: (978) 263-0007
Road Trips Don’t Have to Be Painful Tr y Games , Aud i obooks , and Podcas t s to Pas s the T ime
Summer is right around the corner, which means you’ll soon pile the whole family into the car, ready to brave the road for a vacation. Everyone knows that riding in the car for hours can be torture. But with a little creativity, you can turn the worst part of a long trip into a fun event.
Unfortunately.” The rules are simple. The first person starts by saying, “fortunately,” and mentioning something good about the road trip or the destination. The next person (moving clockwise) then follows by saying something “unfortunate” about the previous person’s statement. Take turns with every passenger in the car. If someone stumbles, they get a strike; three strikes and you’re out. The last passenger standing wins. We get it. Sometimes passengers don’t want to play games. Occasionally, they’d rather relax or take a nap. However, your listening material doesn’t have to be limited to Dad’s favorite music. Instead, consider listening to a family-friendly audiobook or podcast, which can make the longest and most boring parts of your trip an entertaining or educational experience. Almost any popular book is available in audio form, but it can be hard to find an enjoyable podcast. “Transistor” is a science-focused podcast that explores subjects kids and adults will find fascinating. Or if you’re looking for something fictional, try “Storynory,” in which the narrator tells fairy tales and legends from all over the globe. PLAY AN AUDIOBOOK OR PODCAST
PACK A TRAVEL GAME
When the excitement of the family vacation starts to wear off, keep the peace and entertain your kids with a travel game. Many board game manufacturers offer travel-sized versions that are easy to pack and play in the car. Before your next road trip, consider purchasing digital Yahtzee, which packs all the fun of the classic game without the dice, or IQ Fit, a logic game with over 100 challenges. Both games cost around $10 and can provide hours of entertainment.
INCLUDE THE WHOLE FAMILY
Once the travel games no longer pique anyone’s interest, try an activity that can be fun for the whole family: a traditional road trip game. If you have a car full of storytellers, try “Fortunately,
As temperatures climb and the sun finally starts to show its face around New England, thousands of runners from across the area are getting outside and hitting the pavement. Unfortunately, so many active runners means a lot more injuries. In fact, according to The New York Times, some studies indicate that “as many as 90 percent of runners miss training time every year due to injury.” Luckily, many of these injuries are treatable with a round of physical therapy. Here are two of the most common ways you can hurt yourself while running — and how we can help. As you run, your kneecap (patella) glides back and forth along a structure called the femoral groove, a track in your femur cushioned by cartilage. But if anything in that complicated process goes wrong, your patella may begin to slide to the side of the femoral groove, rubbing and grinding against your femur and causing persistent pain. Usually, the pain is at its worst when you climb hills or stairs, stand up after a long period sitting down, or — of course — go for a run. If Runner’s Knee (Patellofemoral Pain)
left untreated, this relatively mild condition can worsen, eventually resulting in patellar tendinitis or even arthritis.
Plantar Fasciitis
The plantar fascia is a thick, sturdy band of ligament tissue that connects your heel to your toes on the bottom of your foot, supporting that ever-important arch. Unfortunately, it’s not too difficult for this structure to become irritated, inflamed, or even torn, causing stabbing pain all over the bottom of your foot. Pain may come and go, but it will usually hurt the most when you first step out of bed each morning or stand up after resting for a while.
treatment plan. We will alleviate your pain and increase your strength while helping you gain flexibility. With improved range of motion in the affected area, we can prevent further injury. In many cases, you can expect to be back in your running shoes after just a few sessions. If you’ve been sidelined by injury and are eager to get back to training, give the experts at Achieve Physical Therapy a call at one of our three locations. We can get you in for a free consultation within just a few days, and you’ll be back on your feet in no time.
How Physical Therapy Can Help
No matter your issue, we can provide you with a detailed diagnosis, followed by a comprehensive
2
www.AchievePTonline.com
Sprained Your Ankle? Phys i ca l Therapy Can He l p
Have you ever injured your ankle by doing something simple, like stepping off a curb or kicking a soccer ball? Don’t be discouraged. Ankle sprains are among the most common injuries people face, and they can happen anytime and anywhere. There’s a good reason why ankle sprains are so common. You might not consciously think about something as simple as standing or walking — these motions are second nature to most of us. But when you really think about it, your ankle
What you might not realize is that once you’ve injured your ankle, there’s a good chance that you could injure yourself again. This is what physical therapists strive to help you prevent. Their goal is
The rehabilitation process should be taken at a slow and careful pace, one that you’re comfortable with and that won’t push you beyond your physical capabilities. Your physical therapist will work with you to stretch and strengthen your ankle with a number of exercises, beginning with resistance exercises and eventually progressing to weight-bearing exercises. Keeping an open line of communication with your doctor and physical therapist will help you toward a speedy recovery. Ankle injuries can be tough to get through, but if you work with the professionals and take things slow and steady, you’ll be back up on your feet in no time.
not only to work with your ankle after the injury to get it back to normal, but also to strengthen the muscles around it to avoid future injuries.
supports most of your weight, which is why injuring it is so commonplace. According to the American Physical Therapy Association, 23,000 people in the United States will suffer from a sprained ankle, and 45 percent of that number are sports-related injuries.
Asparagus and steak is a classic pairing. Skirt steak packs a ton of flavor without the high price point of other cuts, and this is the best time of year to buy asparagus. So what are you waiting for? Let’s get grilling!
INGREDIENTS
• • •
1 1/2 pounds skirt steak 2 tablespoons canola oil
• • •
2 teaspoons crushed red pepper
Salt and pepper to taste
1 pound asparagus
Grated pecorino Romano cheese
DIRECTIONS
1.
Heat grill to high. Season room-temperature steak with salt, pepper, and 1 tablespoon oil. Any oil with a high smoke point, such as canola, will work. Trim bottom inch of asparagus. Season with salt, pepper, and remainder of oil. Cut steak into four portions and grill for 3–5 minutes per side, depending on desired doneness. Skirt steak is thin and will cook quickly.
4.
Let steak rest for 10 minutes. While it’s resting, grill asparagus for 6 minutes, turning once. Sprinkle cheese and crushed red pepper on asparagus. Serve alongside steak.
5.
2.
BLOOMING GARDENING MAY DAY SPRING
MAYO GEMINI MOTHERS DAY TAURUS
EMERALD LILY NIGHTINGALE WARM
3.
3
Experience the Difference at Achieve.
PH: (978) 263-0007
411 Massachusetts Avenue Acton, MA 01720 (978) 263-0007 www.AchievePTonline.com
inside This Issue
Page 1
CEO Bob Thomas on His Journey to Physical Therapy
Page 2
How to Make Your Road Trip a Breeze Injured While Running? We Can Help
Page 3
How to Handle a Common Injury
An Easy and Delicious Recipe
Page 4
Mass Sports Hall of Fame No. 1: Bobby Orr
Mass Sports Hall of Fame No. 1: Bobby Orr
How the Bruins Defenseman Revolutionized Hockey Forever
here’s no denying that Boston is one of the most important sports capitals in the world. Many of its storied teams
Orr seemed born to play hockey from the outset. At age 8, he was already playing the sport in his hometown of Parry Sound, Ontario. His coach at the time put him in as a forward, but they quickly (and wisely) recognized that his excellent technical aptitude and speed would make him the ideal defenseman. In these early years, Orr was known for honing his skills on school rinks and parking lots from dawn until long past dusk, practicing with pucks he’d hollowed out and filled with lead. At the ripe age of 14, he secured a contract with the junior league Oshawa Generals and began competing against players who were as much as six years older than him. Over the following four years, despite his slight size and youth, he crushed the junior league, and by age 18, he was signed to the Boston Bruins. There, he carved an unprecedented path through professional hockey, changing the sport forever. With his insane skating skills and aggressive technique, he
turned his traditionally defensive position into an explosive offense.
have had the privilege of featuring some of the greatest athletes of all time. To celebrate the tradition of stellar athletes in Boston and the greater Massachusetts area, we’ll cover athletes from the Bay State each month in the Achieve Physical Therapy newsletter.
Bobby Orr is known for a nearly endless list of accolades and personal successes, but it was “The Goal” he scored in the 1970 Stanley Cup playoffs that truly cemented his place in history. After a give-and-go with Derek Sanderson during overtime, he slammed the puck into the net and
leapt into the air, resulting in the most iconic photograph in all of hockey — a moment immortalized in a bronze statue outside the Boston Garden.
For our first edition, it was difficult to pluck just one athlete from the pantheon of incredible competitors from throughout Massachusetts history, but we’d be remiss if we neglected one of the greatest hockey players of all time. Perhaps no Boston athlete inspires more passion and misty- eyed wistfulness in his fans than the legendary defenseman for the Boston Bruins, Bobby Orr.
4 www.AchievePTonline.com
Published by the Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online