The Smith Clinic for Physical Therapy - Blog

Success Story: Evan Montgomery

7/26/2017

This week our spotlight is about our beautiful patient and friend, Evan Montgomery!

When Evan's Mom, Ashlea, was a patient at The Smith Clinic 16 years ago we fell in love with her, and now we feel the same about her sweet daughter! Ashlea said they would never go anywhere else for physical therapy, so bringing Evan to our clinic when she needed pt was a given.

Evan is a sophomore at Briarcrest Christian High School, and enjoys singing, cross country and softball. In fact, it's that active lifestyle that Evan was thankful to return to after an injury. She has been a patient of ours twice, and both times she was able to return "pain-free and without medication" to her activities after physical therapy. Despite the time commitment (especially hard for a busy high school student) she said her time at the clinic was definitely worth it.

She has lived in Memphis her entire life. She is glad it's close to one of her other favorite places...Oxford, MS, where her grandparents live and her favorite college, Ole Miss, is located. Her best friend is her brother, a Senior at Briarcrest, and she is very close to her parents, who she refers to as her "role models." (the girls at the front desk love watching them interact and seeing the love between Evan and her family - it's very evident that the love of Jesus flows freely in that family!).

When we asked Evan what she likes about The Smith Clinic she replied, "I love how the therapists strive to create a personal bond with each of their patients. I've had many laughs with them and grown to love all of them. I love how they have a prayer box and Christian music playing at the clinic. They also have coffee and really fancy water...haha!"

It's people like Evan and her Mom that make our jobs so enjoyable and fulfilling! Thanks to Evan for sharing about herself and for being our patient!

Recipe Wednesday: Blueberry Corn Salad

7/12/2017

Blueberry Corn Salad

Ingredients

6 ears fresh sweet corn, husked
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 cucumber, sliced
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

In a large pot, bring water to boiling. Add corn. Cook for 5 minutes, or until tender. When cool enough to handle, cut corn from the cobs. Discard cobs.
In a large serving bowl, combine corn, blueberries, cucumber, red onion, cilantro, and jalapeno. To make the dressing, whisk together lime juice, oil, honey, cumin, salt, and pepper. Pour dressing over salad and stir until combined. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes:
You can make this salad a day in advance. You can also use raw corn, skip boiling the corn and continue.

Success Story: William Cochran

7/10/2017

Please allow us to introduce long time patient and friend, William Cochran.

A resident of Memphis since 1963, William has spent most of his adult life in the Memphis area. Now retired after a career with Service Master, William is married to his wife, Emily (she is also a patient of The Smith Clinic!) and has 2 children and 7 grandchildren.

He is an active member of Bellevue Baptist church and, in his spare time, he enjoys spending the with his grandchildren, eating out with friends and traveling to the mountains.

Ongoing back pain is what initially brought William to The Smith Clinic, and, most recently, a herniated disc causing sciatic nerve pain is the reason for his recent return. When asked what the biggest challenge of physical therapy has been, William stated, "The challenge is continuing to come, even though you know it will be difficult. In a sense, you hate to come but know you have to. But the people who treat you here are a big part of the attitude in making you want to continue to do it. You don't mind coming, because you know you will have congenial people who really want to see you improve." William said that, more than anything, he has gained an appreciation for taking care of his body and doing the things you know will help, even though you know it will be hard.
In talking about his experience at The Smith Clinic, William commented, "I have never seen any operation more competent. I am fascinated by how things are done and how they train their people. Everyone is so friendly, and you can tell their main objective is to make you well and happy. They are Super!"

We greatly appreciate your loyalty and friendship, William, and are so grateful to have you as a part of The Smith Clinic family!

Should You Get Imaging For First Time Low Back Pain?

7/5/2017

Why It May Be Unnecessary

Imaging for first-time lower-back pain may be unnecessary. It might not reveal the cause, and could also complicate treatment. According to Max Wintermark, MD, chief of neuroradiology at Stanford University, "if you take 100 random people and do an MRI [magnetic resonance imaging] of their lumbar spine, a number of people without pain will show the same abnormal findings as those with pain." One study found that 81 percent of adults with no symptoms showed a bulging disk.
Finding an abnormality doesn't mean it's the source of the pain, and treating based on scan results might lead a patient down a road of potentially unhelpful interventions, including surgery.
At best, imaging results likely will not change the treatment recommendation:
In many instances, doctors will prescribe
physical therapy no matter what a scan reveals.

WHAT TO TRY INSTEAD:
A combination of rest, anti-inflammatory medication, and physical therapy for six weeks. Revisit the option of imaging only if pain has not improved.
If you have red flags such as numbness or osteoporosis, imaging may be necessary.
Call The Smith Clinic For Physical Therapy today at 901-756-1650 to schedule an assessment with one of our Physical Therapists. We can help determine the best course of action for your back pain!

Recipe Wednesday: Strawberry Chia Watermelon Smoothie

7/4/2017

Strawberry Chia Watermelon Smoothie

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups watermelon, cubed (black seeds removed)
1 cup frozen strawberries
1/2 ripe banana, previously chopped and frozen
1/2 - 3/4 cup unsweetened plain almond milk
1 lime, juiced
1 Tbsp chia seeds (optional)

Instructions

Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until creamy and smooth, adding more almond milk to thin, or more frozen strawberries or ice to thicken.
Taste and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more lime for acidity, banana for sweetness, or watermelon for a more intense watermelon flavor.
Serves 2 - top with additional chia seeds to mock watermelon seeds! Best when fresh, though leftovers keep covered in the refrigerator for 1-2 days.

Courtesy of minimalistbaker.com

Recipe Wednesday: Sweet Potato Breakfast Casserole

6/28/2017

Sweet Potato Breakfast Casserole

Ingredients:

Casserole
2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 cups almond milk, unsweetened
1 cup coconut flakes
2 medium bananas
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Topping
1/2 cup pecans, chopped
3 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
1 tablespoon maple syrup
2 tablespoons almond flour

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Bring a pot of water to a boil and add the sweet potatoes. Simmer for 5-6 minutes, until tender.
Drain the sweet potatoes and set aside. Return the pot to the stove and add the milk and coconut.
Bring to a boil, turn the heat down to low and simmer for 5 minutes. Turn off heat, and add the sweet potatoes and bananas to the pot. Mash lightly, and stir in maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt.
Transfer mixture to a square baking pan or casserole dish.
To make the topping, mix the ingredients in a bowl until well combined. Sprinkle over the top of the casserole.
Bake for 25-30 minutes, until top is browned. Allow to cool slightly and serve warm.

Recipe Wednesday: Clean Eating Mexican Beans And Quinoa

6/21/2017

Clean Eating Mexican Beans And Quinoa

Ingredients:

2 Tbs avocado oil, or extra virgin olive oil
1 yellow onion, diced
1 large sweet potato, peeled and chopped into cubes
2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 yellow bell pepper, diced
2 large fresh tomatoes, diced
1 Tbsp chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
one 14.5 oz. can Diced Tomatoes(no added salt)
one 15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup sweet corn, frozen or fresh
1½ cups vegetable stock or water
juice of 1 large fresh lime
¼ cup fresh chopped cilantro
Extra cilantro and lime wedges, avocado, or cheese for serving, optional

Instructions:

Heat the oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, sweet potato and sauté until the onion is softened, for about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, bell pepper, spices and cook stirring continuously for 1 minute.
Add quinoa, diced tomatoes (fresh and canned), black beans, corn and vegetable stock and stir to combine.
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium low. Cover with a tight lid and cook for 20 minutes, or until the quinoa has absorbed most of the liquid.
Add the lime juice, cilantro and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Garnish with the extra cilantro, lime, avocado and enjoy!

Success Story: Steve Clark

6/16/2017

Steve Clark's Success Story

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff of Smith Clinic for the outstanding level at which they perform. I had shoulder surgery and was treated on 7 occasions by another Physical Therapy organization prior to becoming a patient of Smith Clinic. After the very first treatment with Michael I walked out feeling not only physically but mentally stronger, something I never experienced with the previous organization. Michael's attention to detail and reassurance gave me the hope that everything was about to get better. After only 3 visits with his staff I have made extreme progress and on the road to recovery. If you are looking for highly skilled one on one personal therapy that gets results quickly I recommend you contact the Smith Clinic." - Steve Clark

We are so encouraged by Steve's story, and we are thankful that we had a part in his healing. We are grateful that he chose The Smith Clinic for his treatment.
It never gets old hearing your success stories (it really does encourage us)!
If you have a success to share, please email Angie at smithclinic@yahoo.com!

Recipe Wednesday: Summer Steak Salad

6/14/2017

SUMMER STEAK SALAD
Serves: 4

INGREDIENTS

1 large or 2 small peaches, chopped
1 avocado, diced
1 large yellow tomato, chopped
¾ cup blueberries
1 cup purple cabbage, chopped
¼ cup pumpkin seeds
8 cups of spinach or mixed greens
Asian marinated flank steak and Green Goddess dressing for serving

INSTRUCTIONS

Toss it all together, or just throw the toppings on top of you greens.
Top with flank steak (recipe bellow), and serve with Green Goddess dressing (recipe below)

ASIAN MARINATED FLANK STEAK
Serves: 4

INGREDIENTS

1 pound of flank steak
3 Tbsp olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp fresh grated ginger
1 Tbsp red wine vinegar
3 Tbsp soy sauce
2 Tbsp honey
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

Combine all the marinade ingredients, and put in a large freezer bag.
Score the steak with ¼ inch deep cuts about an inch apart, across the grain of the meat, then place in the freezer bag and coat the steak with marinade. Seal the bag, place it in a bowl, and chill in the fridge for 1-2 hours, or up to overnight.
Remove the steak, sprinkle generously on both sides with coarse sea salt and fresh ground pepper.
Grill the steak for 4-6 minutes on each side on a hot grill, or broil in the oven on high for 4-6 minutes per side
Remove the steak from the grill/oven, place on a cutting board and cover with aluminum foil to rest for 10 minutes.
Slice thinly, against the grain and as a slight diagonal to make wider slices.

GREEN GODDESS DRESSING

INGREDIENTS

½ of a large avocado
¼ cup loosely packed cilantro
2 cloves of garlic
½ inch cube of fresh ginger
3 Tbsp lime juice
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp apple cider or white wine vinegar
3-4 Tbsp water, or enough to thin it out

INSTRUCTIONS

Put all the ingredients minus the water into a food processor, or use an immersion blender to blend it until smooth
Add water 1-2 Tablespoons at a time until you get a pourable consistency.
Taste and season with salt and pepper

Courtesy of: primalbitesblog.com

Professor Goes From Physical Therapy Skeptic to Believer

6/12/2017

At first when Patty had knee pain she would literally “shake it off.” But after a while, the pain in her left leg was
too much to ignore. Patty could barely walk.
Even standing was painful, which was problematic for a professor who needed to
stand for hours during classes.
Patty walked for exercise, enjoyed taking Zumba classes, and she had a trip to Europe planned. So when she learned that she had osteoarthritis, Patty felt “shocked, depressed, and old.” When an MRI showed degenerative meniscal tears, Patty wondered if she would be able to continue to do the things she loved.

Her doctor recommended physical therapy,
but Patty was skeptical.

“I knew others who had knee arthroscopy for their arthritic knee, I wondered if that was the way to go,” she said. “It could be a ‘quick fix.’ I didn’t understand how physical therapy would help my knee. Soon I learned that not only did I need an effective therapeutic treatment plan, but I needed to
be educated about arthritis.”

Under the guidance of her physical therapist, Patty was educated about arthritis and worked on leg and hip strengthening and stretching, and on exercises to improve her balance. She continued her weekly cardio routine, making adjustments to be less damaging to her knees.

After 12 sessions, along with her home and gym exercise treatment plan, Patty made considerable progress. She could stand for hours—teaching without a problem—and she observed improvements in her strength, balance, and mobility. A few months later, Patty happily went
on her European vacation, walking as many as 6 miles a day without difficulty.
She also has walked two 5Ks with friends, and has more scheduled.
Patty continues to improve. Occasionally she feels tightness in her calf, but now she
knows what exercises and stretches to do to relieve it.

“I was a skeptic, but now I am a believer in the benefits of physical therapy,” she said. “In the end, I am glad that I didn’t have the arthroscopic surgery. Now, I have the knowledge I need to keep my knees as healthy and pain free as possible. And if needed, I wouldn’t hesitate to seek out the assistance of skilled physical therapists in the future.”

Courtesy of moveforwardpt.com