We “Mustache” you a question…
Which Mustache is your favorite? Please Comment.
We sometimes get a little silly at work. It keeps things interesting for sure, but this was a particularly special occasion. In honor of Brett Frank’s 38th birthday we celebrated it with Mustache Friday. However, there are a few things we are serious about:
1. Getting our patients better. The mental paycheck on helping another person is priceless to us and we work hard for every patient every day.
2. Our ministry of healing. As with any talent we invest our talents in you. I believe we provide the best Orthopedic outpatient care in the world and we would love the opportunity to show you why.
3. Serving others. Everyone is serving someone. Who are you serving today? A servants heart is what we at First Choice Physical Therapy are all about.
4. Fun…Fun…and more Fun. Life is more vibrant when you’re having fun and laughing. Laughter has not been called the “best medicine” for nothing. We hope that we have brought a smile to your face today with our silly Friday antics.
To your good health,
Dr. Wade Rinehart, PT, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy
First Choice Physical Therapy
Panama City Living Magazine article
Our PTA, Simon Haussmann, and his wife Robin are found in a photo that shines God’s love and their love for Him and each other on page 46 of the January/February 2014 issue of Panama City Living Magazine. We proud of the character and life choices of all of our First Choice Physical Therapy family. It is very cool that members of that family have been singled out in the magazine and interviewed “About Love And Faith”. Click here to read the article on the magazine’s web site.
Great quote, Vicki!
Good one, Vicki! My favorite from a list of quotes Vicki recently sent us.
“Most people do not listen with the intent to understand. Most people listen with the intent to reply.” Stephen R. Covey.
I thought that quote was right on target and describes very well a skill our Doctors of Physical Therapy show everyday. They listen intently to our patients every visit. You can see in their eyes that they want to understand what the patient has to say about their pain or physical condition. After they get that information from the patient, the reply comes easily and naturally from their years of experience and their continuing education.
Come visit us and see how our Doctors of Physical Therapy can help you. While you are here we know you will also be very impressed with our efficient and caring front office staff!
“Most people do not listen with the intent to understand. Most people listen with the intent to reply.” Stephen R. Covey.
I thought that quote was right on target and describes very well a skill our Doctors of Physical Therapy show everyday. They listen intently to our patients every visit. You can see in their eyes that they want to understand what the patient has to say about their pain or physical condition. After they get that information from the patient, the reply comes easily and naturally from their years of experience and their continuing education.
Come visit us and see how our Doctors of Physical Therapy can help you. While you are here we know you will also be very impressed with our efficient and caring front office staff!
Superman broken?
It has come to me that I am not Superman after all. All my life I have lived with the Superman mentality that I can do anything, I can’t get hurt, and just react, don’t think, you can do it. However, recent events have rendered me “broken”. For the first time in my life I have been knocked down and unable to do what I wanted to.About one week ago, I injured my mid back. Now, in my usually manner, I didn’t pay any attention to the stabbing pain and thought the best treatment was to suck it up and push through it. That method has always worked for me and kept me going through years of minor aches and pains with football, so it had to work this time.
On Monday, I proceeded to run 3 miles, at the end of which, my back didn’t feel better, but rather worse. I tried to ignore the pain the rest of the day and figured I’d feel better in the morning. Tuesday, I woke up with a sharp pain in my back and could barely stand up straight, but as stubborn as I am, I figured as long as I could get moving it would go away and I’d feel much better. The pain did ease up by lunch time so, staying consistent with my treatment methodologies, I played basketball at lunch which again the activity in no way made it better and by the end of the day I was back to where I couldn’t stand up straight without pain. However, I figured that if I could just ice it and keep moving I’d feel better.
On Wednesday I iced and then tried it again and went for a 3 mile run. This time, however, I was stopped in my tracks after the first mile. For the first time in my life, I had to admit that I couldn’t do it. I was not able to finish a run and had to walk back to the clinic hunched over and leaning to the side. This made me re-think my Superman theory and realized that I may not be indestructible after all. Now after 5 days of conservative treatment, I’m feeling great with just some minor soreness and am going to try to play basketball today at lunch. Hopefully, I’ll be pain free and come out with a “W”.
The moral of this story is that we are all breakable, but with quick treatment comes quick outcomes. Don’t lose months of your life waiting for something to get better.
Calling all Golfers!!!
Are you lacking consistency? Is your ball flight distance waning? Does your back hurt during or after your round? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, then you need BackSwing Golf Fitness.BackSwing Golf is a program offered by First Choice Physical therapy that tailors a program specifically for the needs of amateur golfers who want to get better and feel more comfortable during their rounds while improving consitency within your swing. Most amateur golfers need to improve a combination of at least four things: flexibility in the shoulder complex, flexibility in the lower extremities, flexibility in the spine, and strength in the core/hip musculature. Insufficiancies in one or all four of these areas can lead to decreased shot distance, an inconsistent swing plane, and worst of all injury.
The combination of golf specific exercises along with lessons from your local PGA Teaching Professional assure you better distance and improved consistancy while reducing your chance of injury. Give us a call today at 850-248-1600 for your appointment.
Brett Frank, PT, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy
First Choice Physical Therapy
www.1stchoicept.com
Excellence Drives Us-Passion Guides Us
850-248-1600
Is cold a pain in the neck?
Brrrrr! It has been cold! You know that feeling when you first get in your car early in the morning and you do all you can to get warmed up? I quite often find myself sitting in my car with shoulders shrugged up trying to survive until my heater kicks in. By the time I make it to work my neck starts to feel tight. Thankfully, I work with the experts in musculoskeletal tightness and pain. Visit First Choice and allow us to show you an easy to learn stretching program. We’ll also implement the appropriate strengthening exercises to treat all of your musculoskeletal issues.Simon Haussmann, PTA
Watch the temperature when exercising
50°, 30°, 70°, 20°? Who know what the weather will be like this coming weekend, but for those of us that like to stay active by being outside it is important.Here are a few tips to keep you illness and injury free in this fluctuating weather. Dress in layers that can be removed after you begin to warm up and sweat. Dressing too warm may lead to you being chilled by the end of your workout with sweat. When the temperature plummets, protecting your hands, feet, and ears is key. These are the most vulnerable and need to be protected from the cold. Be aware of the weather conditions, so that you can dress accordingly. Take the extra few minutes to warm up properly and stretch to prevent injury.
I personally love to be outside in the cold and clear days. I believe they are the best days for a long hike or bike ride, but if the cold just isn’t your idea of fun, then take this as an opportunity to try something new. A spin, yoga, other group fitness class may be the best way to mix up your routine. Keep warm, drink plenty of water, and remember to stretch to prevent injury!
Karen Mathers, PTA
Health tip: Get the right bed
Beds are one of the most important items you will use throughout your life. The right bed for you will support your body properly through the night to let your spine and surrounding muscles rest and recover from the previous day. Usually, the heavier you are, the firmer the mattress you need. If any of you have seen me, you can probably guess how firm my bed is.Lately, I ventured into the task of buying a new bed for our bedroom. I went to my friend Jared at Lindsey’s Furniture Warehouse and ordered a new bed. After two nights of sleeping on the new bed, my back was sore each morning and took several hours in the morning to subside. Thinking it was just sore and would work out after a few more nights, we went to my In-Law’s house for Christmas and slept on a different bed. I had no back pain for five days while we there which made me begin to question my purchase. When, we returned home, the back pain resumed for two more days before I called Jared and asked him to order a firmer mattress for me.
It has been two nights now sleeping on the latest mattress and have had zero back pain. I can’t stress enough how important it is to spend the money on a quality bed that is right for you and that will let you rest comfortably through the night. At First Choice, we tell our patients to spend money on beds and shoes. The right bed and shoes will let you work and sleep comfortably and minimize injury to your entire body. Thanks to Jared at Lindsey’s Furniture Warehouse for helping me get the right bed for myself. Make sure when you buy a new bed that it’s the right one for you.
Stephen Peaden, PT, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Advocates for the Restaveks
Advocacy – The act of pleading or arguing in favor of something, such as a cause, idea or policy; active support.Although Mauritania declared slavery a crime in 2007 and thereby joining ALL nations in officially making slavery illegal, the practice continues in many nations under many disguises. Haiti has been tabbed as the poorest nation in the western hemisphere with ~ 80% of its population living in poverty and a 53% literacy rate. These two factors has led to a modern day form of slavery called “Restavek”. Restavek is a Haitian Creole term which means “one who stays with” but commonly translated as “child slave or domestic servant”. It is estimated that 1 in 15 children in Haiti is a Restavek and the age range is usually from 4 to 14 years old.
The common story played out on a daily basis looks something like this: families struggle with mouths to feed and children to care for. The parents, who may or may not be a part of the 47% of the population who are not literate, decide it would be in the best interest of the child to send them into the city where they can live with a family and help with daily chores in exchange for the opportunity to go to school and get an education. This is rarely the outcome. The children typically are not sent to school and go from being a child one day to slave the next. They are forced to work long hours cooking, cleaning and fetching water and are often neglected, abused and even raped.
There are an estimated 300,000 Restaveks in Haiti. Imagine your children, nieces or nephews being forced into this life. However, there is hope. Through the support of orphanages such as All My Heart Haiti, The Hands and Feet Project, Servants of All Ministries, Restavek Freedom and the Jean R. Cadet Restavek Organization, the lives of these children can be changed and the slavery cycle broken.
James 1:27 – Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
First Choice Physical Therapy is an advocate for the orphans and Restavek in Haiti.
Scott Champagne, PT
Things are happening
We really have a lot of things happening here at First Choice Physical Therapy. One thing we are working on is a contest that will have a monthly winner. Top prize will be a First Choice Physical Therapy Goodie Basket. Maybe a Bucket or a Pail or a Tote Bag or …? Our Office Manager, Vicki Barwick, has made lots of these things over the years. We are hoping she will be the master designer for these each month. More details to come soon. It is a secret today, but we hope you love our contest’s theme! We think it is going to be a lot of fun! Keep your eye right here.