Posted by Bud Ward on Mon, Jan 02, 2012 @ 12:42 AM
Our New Year Resolution: A New You
As we begin 2012, people start making new year resolutions. In our case, our new year resolution is all about you and what we can do to make 2012 a healthy and pain-free year for you.
As the premier providers of physical therapy in our community, we value your trust in us. Our goal is not only to maintain but also to improve the high standard of care you've experienced with us.
As part of our resolution, we are going to teach you how to live a healthy, pain-free life. Please pay close attention to this newsletter because it will help you set the stage for optimum health and wellness in the next 12 months. Your success is ours, and we are committed to your health and well-being.
Here are a few tips to help you stay injury-free in the new year:
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Consult a physical therapist to evaluate and, if necessary, improve your strength and flexibility.
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Learn the right techniques to lift heavy objects, including heavy backpacks and handbags.
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A physical fitness and injury assessment evaluation is the best thing you can do to keep yourself healthy and pain-free in 2012.
New Year Resolution Tips
Here are some ideas for new year resolutions. Please keep in mind that some of these suggestions may need to be modified depending on your individual needs.
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When lifting objects, I will use the correct technique (as instructed by my physical therapist) so that I can protect my back.
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As I perform my exercises, I will monitor my technique, breathing pattern, and range of motion during each repetition.
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I will maintain an upright posture and practice postural awareness exercises at regular intervals throughout the day.
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I will make it a habit to stretch at regular intervals while at work.
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I will follow the home exercise program provided to me by my physical therapist.
Physical Therapy & The New You
This is the time of the year when most individuals get gym memberships and plan to start regular workouts. It's also the time of the year when the body is least prepared for unsupervised, sudden exercise which can cause injuries.
Your physical therapist will teach you how to perform an exercise with the correct technique, breathing pattern, and range of motion. We will always answer your questions and help you exercise in a safe, progressive manner.
Don’t hesitate to contact us to ask for help with finding a routine that will work for you.
Now it’s your turn to make some new year resolutions for a healthy and pain-free year ahead!
From all of us to you and your family: We wish you a happy new year and hope you have a safe, pain-free, and injury-free year ahead in 2012.
Posted by Bud Ward on Mon, Aug 18, 2008 @ 09:05 PM
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines determination as a "firm or fixed intention to achieve a desired end." Over the weekend, we saw an excellent example of determination as Michael Phelps completed his quest for eight gold medals in this summer's Olympic Games. He set his goals, worked hard, stayed focused, and achieved the goals.
In sports, we often see such great displays of determination. However, there are many daily examples that we might overlook. As a father, I have watched my son show incredible determination to overcome many challenges. He was born with Down Syndrome and his primary challenge has been gross motor skills (crawling, walking, running, etc). He learned to walk at age 3 and soon after tried to run. Of course, he fell quite often in the early stages, but he was determined and never gave up. Now, he can throw a football, kick a soccer ball, or throw a round ball with ease. He can even hit a wiffle ball when pitched to him. In fact, he is a more consistent hitter than many professional baseball players - of course, I don't pitch 100mph fastballs.
As a physical therapist, I have seen outstanding examples of determination from my patients. Many of them have overcome significant impairments and functional limitations to improve their quality of life.
Some examples include:
- A 73 year old runner who became deconditioned when she stop training to take care of a family member who was ill. In relatively short time, she worked hard to regain her strength and her ability to race. The result: successful completion of a 5 mile race.
- An 85 year old overcame a sprained ankle to be able to return to dancing. The result: successful return to her line dancing class.
- A man who lost his lower leg in a motorcycle accident, worked very hard to return to riding. The result: 8 months after his amputation, he was riding a motorcycle again.
Whether you're an elite athlete or an average person, you can achieve your goals if you have determination.
Posted by Bud Ward on Wed, Jul 30, 2008 @ 10:00 PM
I first heard about Randy Pausch a few months ago when he was the subject of one of Diane Sawyer's specials. For those of you who don't know, he was a professor at Carnegie Mellon University who passed away last week from pancreatic cancer. Randy was born in Baltimore, MD and spent his childhood in Columbia, MD. He became famous because of the lecture he delivered at Carnegie Mellon's traditional "Last Lecture." During the presentation, he recounted many events in his personal and professional life that highlighted important messages that he wanted to convey. His style is a mix of comedy, honesty, humility, wisdom, and intelligence. He discusses the achieving childhood dreams, enabling the dreams of others, and how we might we might do both. Some of his key points include:
Decide if you are "Tigger" or "Eeyore"
Never lose the child-like wonder
Help others
Loyalty is a two-way street
Never give up
How to get people to help you
Show gratitude
Don't complain, just work harder
Be good at something: it makes you valuable
Find the best in everybody; no matter how long you have to wait for them to show it
Be prepared: "luck" is where preparation meets opportunity
Two other ideas that Randy presents are the "brick wall" and the "head fake." Brick walls are those obstacles in life the slow us down from achieving our goals. In his view, they give us an opportunity to show how badly we want something. When you come across a brick wall, you have to decide if you are going through it or if you will let it stop you from achieving your goals.
The "head fake" is indirect learning that happens without our knowledge. Childhood sports are a great example of the head fake. Kids learn how to play the sport as expected, but the head fake is that they also learn about teamwork, leadership, motivation, and other important life skills.
Dr. Pausch has inspired millions of people worldwide. I've included the full video of his lecture below. I hope that you find it inspirational as well. If you would like to learn about Randy Pausch click here.