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MARCH 2023
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THE END OF AN ERA It’s Zach’s Last
Family Spring Break!
Every year in this newsletter, I write to you about our family’s spring break trip to Florida. I’ve shared a lot of great stories over the years, ranging from visits to Disney to last year’s surprise trip to Fort Myers instead of our usual St. Pete. The annual journey from Illinois to Florida has been a family tradition since I was in high school, and Emilie and I love sharing it with our kids — but now, the era is coming to an end. That’s right: This spring break trip might be our last one as a family of four, at least for a few years! Zach is heading to college this fall, so his spring break week won’t line up with Nathan’s anymore. It seems like every month, our family has another “last thing” with Zach before college, but spring break might be the biggest one so far. It’s a bittersweet milestone. On the one hand, it’s sad to think that this era is ending. On the other hand, I did the same thing when I was his age! I skipped my family’s spring break trips during college and for the first few years of my career. Spending money on a beach vacation just wasn’t feasible until my PT career was established and our boys were in elementary school. I’m really excited about this year’s Florida adventure. We’re heading back to the hotel in St. Pete where
we typically stay, and I’m curious to see how things have changed there. For years, the hotel was family owned and operated, but recently, a big corporation bought the property. Hopefully, it still feels like the same place we’ve known and loved for so long! I’m also looking forward to spending time on the beach and hanging out with Emilie and the kids. My parents are joining us for Zach’s sendoff trip. We might turn it into a nostalgia tour and do one or two “blast from the past” activities. Over the years, we’ve visited Busch Gardens, explored Disney World, gone parasailing, enjoyed a manatee boat ride, survived a banana boat ride (never again — all I did was eat seawater!), and tried our hand at deep-sea fishing. “It seems like every month, our family has another ‘last thing’ with Zach before college, but spring break might be the biggest one so far.” I’ll never forget that fishing trip. I spent more than an hour clutching my pole and staring out at the water. I jiggled the line, cast, and recast, but no matter what I tried, the fish weren’t biting! Eventually,
our guide took pity on me. He reeled my line in, recast, and
almost immediately hooked a fish! I couldn’t believe it. The boys were ecstatic that we’d finally caught something. Of course, I got seasick on the ride home — it was the icing on my bad-luck cake. I don’t think another deep-sea fishing trip is in the cards this year, but we might go to Busch Gardens and set the boys loose on the rides they couldn’t try when they were younger. Looking back on those previous vacations, I should have known Zach would major in mechanical engineering one day. As a kid, he always spent our Florida trips building elaborate sandcastles or digging gigantic holes in the sand. I can’t count the number of times my PT brain kicked in, and I told him, “Zach, you’d better fill that hole in before someone steps in it and breaks their leg!” Even if our family Florida trips go on hold after this year, we’ll have plenty of reminders about the good (and bad) times together. Between the photographs and the big bowls of seashells in our living room — our house is full of them — and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Happy spring break!
–Mike Ulmer
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We all experience headaches now and then, and we usually consider them a mild problem, easily handled with over-the-counter medications. But when headaches become chronic, they can upend a person’s life. Perhaps surprisingly, physical therapy can help in many cases. After determining the type of headaches a person is experiencing, a qualified physical therapist can often construct a treatment plan to reduce the pain and improve a patient’s quality of life. Tension headaches are the most common cause of head pain, and many believe they are caused solely by stress or anxiety. But while your emotional state can undoubtedly contribute to the intensity of a headache, your neck muscles are the real culprit. Neck muscles just beneath the base of your skull can spasm when placed under stress by poor posture, osteoarthritis, or injury. The spasms initiate a tugging movement, which causes irritation and leads to a pounding or aching sensation in the head. The amount of stress on the muscles may seem small — like working at a computer or frequently looking down at your cellphone — but it can significantly impact your ability to comfortably complete daily tasks. A PAIN IN THE WHAT?
Cervicogenic headaches are another common type of headache that originates in the neck, this time in the upper spine. Damage to the spine’s nerves, discs, and joints can cause pain that spreads upwards. While these headaches often start as occasional events, they can become more frequent with time. Since musculoskeletal issues cause these headaches, physical therapy can help relieve the strain. Depending on your specific condition, your physical therapist may work with you to improve your neck mobility, strength, or posture. With better spine alignment, tension and cervicogenic headaches typically become less frequent. Meanwhile, myofascial release therapy can help loosen your muscles to reduce the impact of a headache. Physical therapy cannot treat every type of headache, but it can probably help more than you imagine. For example, physical therapy techniques can help lessen pain during a migraine, and manual therapy may help treat cluster headaches. Your physical therapist will also refer you to another health care provider if physical therapy is insufficient to address the problem. In the end, you’ve got nothing to lose by trying physical therapy — except, perhaps, your chronic head pain. PT Can Treat Chronic Headaches
PATIENT TESTIMONIALS Getting Confidence Back
“I am pain-free after months of living with pain. My experience with Kinetic is even better than the last time. After having hip surgery in September 2021, Amanda did a great job of helping me recover, and I was encouraged to get the other one done in January, 2022. I could not be more pleased. I am pain- free after months of living with pain. Everyone at Kinetic
“I had a great PT experience! Mandie was so
knowledgeable and was able to pinpoint the source of my pain so that it could be corrected. This was a better experience than others by far. Personal attention was key here! I will recommend Kinetic to others.” –Mark Woodbury
was very encouraging and would tell me how great I was doing which really gave me encouragement. The most friendly, fabulous group of people ever!! I have told many people about how great Kinetic is and will continue to do so. Thanks for a great job!” –Janet Krueger
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WHAT EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ROTATOR CUFF ISSUES
Drew Brees. George Paul. The late Kobe Bryant. All of these men are (or were) elite athletes, but that’s not the only thing they have in common! All three have also suffered rotator cuff injuries, recovered, and got back to playing. ROTATOR CUFF BASICS: WHAT IS IT? Your rotator cuff is located in your shoulder. It’s essentially a band of muscles and tendons that holds the end of your arm bone inside your shoulder socket. If you make the same repetitive throwing motion or lift heavy objects over and over, you can pinch, strain, or tear your rotator cuff. It’s no surprise football players, basketball players, and weightlifters deal with rotator cuff problems regularly! According to
The Mayo Clinic, rotator cuff injuries are also common in “jobs that require repetitive overhead arm motions,” like construction, house painting, and carpentry. The older you get, the higher your risk of injury becomes. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF INJURY Shoulder pain is usually the biggest giveaway of rotator cuff injuries, but there are other symptoms, too. If your shoulder wakes you up at night, your arm feels weak, and/or you have trouble reaching backward, you likely have a rotator cuff injury. TREATMENT OPTIONS You might assume that a rotator cuff problem immediately requires surgery, but that isn’t always the case! In fact, many rotator cuff injuries can be managed with physical therapy, especially
strained tendons (rotator cuff tendinitis) and pinched tendons (shoulder impingement syndrome). Studies have shown that two techniques — exercise therapy and manual therapy — are effective ways to treat shoulder injuries without the potentially nasty side effects of surgery. Other options include medication and/or steroid injections to manage the pain. If you or someone you know is struggling with shoulder pain right now, a rotator cuff issue could be the cause. Consider Brees, Paul, and Bryant your inspirations — you can get back in the game, but you need to see a PT for help first! Our team will investigate and treat the underlying cause of your pain instead of slapping a drug Band‑Aid on it.
Sudoku
Baked Beans With Ground Meat
If you’re looking for a hearty comfort food this month, this recipe is for you! Use a lean meat of your choice to create this healthy dinner that will have your family begging for more.
INGREDIENTS • 1 tsp extra-virgin olive oil • 1 medium onion, chopped • 1 lb lean ground beef, turkey, or chicken • 2 15-oz cans navy beans, rinsed • 1 cup water
• 3/4 cup ketchup • 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard • 1/2 tsp garlic powder • 1/4 tsp salt • 1/4 cup chopped fresh chives for garnish
DIRECTIONS 1. In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, add oil, onion, and ground meat. Cook, stirring and crumbling meat with a wooden spoon until the onion has softened and the meat is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. 2. Add beans, water, ketchup, molasses, mustard, garlic powder, and salt, then bring to a simmer. 3. Reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring until bubbling and slightly thickened, 5–8 minutes. Garnish with chives.
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847-515-8970 www.KineticPTS.com
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INSIDE
The End of an Era PAGE 1
Chronic Headaches? Maybe PT Can Help! PAGE 2 Patient Testimonials: Getting Confidence Back PAGE 2 The Painful Truth About Rotator Cuff Injuries PAGE 3
Baked Beans With Ground Meat PAGE 3
The Best St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations in America PAGE 4
Feeling the Luck of the Irish? CHECK OUT AMERICA’S BEST ST. PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATIONS
As we inch closer to the beginning of spring, nature around us is coming back to life. Soon, the grass and trees will return to their typical green hue if they haven’t already. Luckily, you don’t need to wait until April to see an abundance of green again. On March 17, we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, and people across the country will dress in green to honor the occasion. Certain cities in the U.S. go big for St. Patrick’s Day. If you’ve never attended a St. Patrick’s Day parade or celebration, maybe this is the year. Below you’ll find a few cities with St. Patrick’s Day celebrations worth checking out. CHICAGO, IL Nobody does St. Patrick’s Day quite like Chicago, Illinois. The entire city gets a makeover! This year, on March 11, Chicago will host its St. Patrick’s Day parade, which includes dyeing the Chicago River a beautiful shade of emerald green. They’ll start tinting the river around 9 a.m., and the color will fade within six hours, so make sure you get there early! Chicago’s St. Patrick’s Day
Parade is also one of the biggest in the country. You’ll see floats, Irish step dancers, and much more.
NEW ORLEANS, LA Once Mardi Gras concludes, all eyes are on St. Patrick’s Day in New Orleans, Louisiana. The city hosts a parade on March 11, and it’s always quite a spectacle. You’ll see the makings of Irish tradition everywhere, including cabbage, onions, and potatoes, so keep your head on a swivel. You can also head to the Irish Channel neighborhood on March 11 to attend an all-day block party. Plenty of green beer will be available at this event, so come ready to celebrate! NEW LONDON, WI Let’s say you want to do something slightly toned down but still exciting for St. Patrick’s Day. Then, you’ll want to check out New London, Wisconsin, for one of the country’s most unique St. Paddy’s Day celebrations. Leprechauns will change the city signs from New London to New Dublin. The city also puts on an Irish funeral parody in its annual downtown parade.
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