Hands on Health Spring Newsletter

spring flowers 2

My Dear Patients,

 

It has been six months since my bike accident and three months since my last, and third, surgery. I write to you to give you an update and to share the insights and methods I have used to speed my healing process. My bones have healed completely, my ankle has full flexibility and most of its strength back, and I am walking my six mile workout with no problems. I continue to manage some swelling and pain with the methods described below.

 

I have returned to my private practice and my regular schedule of Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday appointments. I look forward to seeing each of you.

 

My fracture is called a PILON fracture. It was severe, with breaks in three places, and required the help of a very talented trauma surgeon from Washington University. Thank you, Dr. William Ricci. I now have a plate and eight screws in my leg that will remain in place.

 

The protocol that I have followed to speed my healing process includes:

 

1. Ice and Elevation of the injured ankle. This is still helpful when my ankle swells. ICE is a wonderful, inexpensive and safe pain management tool.
2. Guided Meditation and Visualization. Every day I listen to a guided meditation in which I visualize my ankle and leg healing completely. This combined with the ice and elevation have been my pain management protocol. I have used almost no pain medicine since shortly after the accident.
3. A Yoga and Posture Exercise Routine to strengthen my core and regain the flexibility in my leg and ankle. I began this protocol shortly after my accident and worked around my ankle.
4. Swimming: I returned to the pool in December. I have a workout routine that alternates strokes and includes kicking. I am in the pool for one hour and it is an intensive aerobic workout. The swimming has allowed me to regain my flexibility and decrease the swelling in my leg. It continues to be the most important activity in my day, and makes the greatest impact on my leg and ankle.
5. Deep Full Body Massage on a weekly basis. My very talented staff have been invaluable in helping me recover. I cried the first time I received massage after my accident because it was such a relief to release the pain and stiffness that had built up in my leg and ankle. In addition the full body massage helps release emotional and physical stress and stiffness in other parts of my body that have built up throughout these months.
6. A Therapeutic Protocol targeted at my ankle that includes ultrasound, deep tissue massage, and scar tissue manipulation. My staff and I developed this procedure and it has been enormously helpful in decreasing pain and improving function in my leg. I have received this combination once or twice a week since December. It has taught me that healing takes time and the repetition of therapy is necessary in difficult injuries.
7. Nutrition and Supplementation: I have focused on a healthy anti-inflammatory diet including lots of fruits and vegetables, fish and healthy beans and grains. I have taken supplements that include glucosamine and chondroitin, fish oil, and anti-inflammatory herbs including turmeric, chile, cinnamon, and rosemary.
8. Kale and Power Greens Berry Smoothies with protein powder and extra calcium. The recipe is included in this letter.

 

We can affect our healing process!! There is so much we can do that does not include addictive medications to manage our pain: Hands on Work. Exercise. Visualization and Meditation. Good Nutrition. They all matter and we can help you! 

 

Kale and Power Greens Berry Smoothie Recipe

1 cup almond milk
2 tbsp almond butter
2 tbsp protein powder (I used Trader Joe’s)
1 scoop amazon greens (whole foods)
3 Cal Matrix calcium pills (Metagenics)
1/2 frozen banana
1 cup young kale or power greens
1 tsp chia seeds (Trader Joe’s)
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp tumeric
1 cup frozen organic berries (blue, black, straw, rasp)

 

Place ingredients in order in your blender and blend until smooth. It is quite tasty!!

 

News and Updates from Hands on Health

 

Dr. Smith attends the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) Annual Conference: “Food is the most pervasive influence on human health” 

In May I will attend the IFM annual conference. This event will continue my education into the most current and useful information on managing chronic illness and maintaining optimum health with nutrition and lifestyle changes.

 

Massage Therapy at Hands on Health 

We offer massage therapy throughout the week, evenings and Saturdays with three very gifted therapists.Why come to us for your massage? Each of my therapists has trained and worked with me on a range of injuries and chronic pain syndromes including back and neck pain, sports injuries, arthritis, degenerative disc disease, pinched nerves, headaches and joint pain. They are educated to understand your health conditions and pain syndromes. It is not possible to find this depth of knowledge and experience in a spa setting or discount massage business.

Call us at 314-721-5390 to schedule your massage therapy appointment.

 

HOH Massage

Please come visit us!

 

All the best,

 

 

Linda Wheatland Smith, D.C.,P.C.

 

 

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Hands On Health Winter Newsletter

Linda Wheatland SmithThe Latest News from Dr. Linda Wheatland Smith

 

Happy Holidays!

 

I hope this note finds you well and with your families and friends for the holidays.

 

After weeks of yoga, weights, meditation, kale smoothies, massage, and rest, I can tell you that my leg and ankle are feeling much better. On December 10th I will find out if the boot comes off. I am working very hard on my rehab and learning a great deal about the ankle along the way. I plan to return to practice by January 1st at the latest. In the meantime, here are a few office updates for you.

 

 

Hands On Health Gift Certificates are perfect for everyone on your holiday list!

 

HOH Massage

 

Our three very talented massage therapists encourage you to consider the gift of massage for the holidays. We have gift certificates for 30 ($40), 60 ($65) and 90 ($90) minute massages.

 

  • Think how excited your over-worked college student would be to receive a massage from one of our gifted therapists who will work the knots out of stressed muscles and tired psyches.
  • A massage gift certificate makes a perfect “thank you” for anyone who makes your life easier, from your pet sitter to your baby sitter, and everyone in between!!

 

Hands on health gift certificate

We are happy to take your order over the phone using a credit card, and either mail the certificate to you or directly to the recipient of your gift.

That is all the news for now. With my time off I have been working hard to improve our office with soundproofing and more efficient systems. I hope you will visit us over the holidays and in the New Year and let us help you reach your goals of good health and pain free living.

 

All the best,

 

Linda Wheatland Smith, D.C., P.C.

 

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How to Follow an Energy Foods Plan

Include Super Foods Daily for Good Health and Proper Nutrition

Following an energy foods plan will help you to ensure that your are adding super foods to your daily diet. There are often many questions and uncertainties when starting a new, healthy-eating plan, so a simple to use checklist can help to make sure you’re consuming a variety of foods from all the different food groups. Maintaining this balance will help to ensure proper nutrition and optimum good health.

 

Click on the image below to print out a handy, easy to follow chart for the different food categories and daily portions. Food choices are broken into nine categories: Fats and Oils, Nuts and Seeds, Protein, Non-starchy Vegetables,  Legumes, Low-fat Dairy and Dairy Alternatives, Starchy Vegetables, Fruits, and Gluten Free Grains. Hang a copy on your refrigerator door, leave one in your office desk, and keep a copy in your wallet and you’ll have all the information you need wherever you are!

 

Proper and balanced nutrition is essential for good health and complements chiropractic, massage therapy, and acupuncture treatments. At Hands on Health we believe that wellness education is an essential component in the prevention of disease. If you have questions about diet, exercise, and stress management please contact our office for a consultation.

 

energy food plan

Print out our easy to use Energy Food plan.

 

Stay connected with us through social media!
Visit our new pages on Facebook and Twitter.

Linda Wheatland Smith on FacebookLinda Wheatland Smith on Twitter

 

News articles courtesy of Linda Wheatland Smith D.C., P.C.

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Ways to Ensure Proper Nutrition: Follow the Rainbow!

Having a “rainbow” of colors on your plate will help ensure proper nutrition and good health.

Just like sunshine and rain creates a beautiful rainbow in the sky, when you aim for a variety of “rainbow colors” on your breakfast, lunch, or dinner plate you’re helping your body to get take in a variety of minerals, vitamins, and nutrients. Click on the image below for a handy print-out that you can keep on your refrigerator or pantry door. If you have young children at home, help them plan meals by picking foods from the different color categories. You might find that even the pickiest eater is now looking forward to dinner!

 

Proper and balanced nutrition is essential for good health and complements chiropractic, massage therapy, and acupuncture treatments. At Hands on Health we believe that wellness education is an essential component in the prevention of disease. If you have questions about diet, exercise, and stress management please contact our office for a consultation.

 

Eat a Rainbow of Colors for Good Nutrition

Eat from the colors of the rainbow for good health!

 

Stay connected with us through social media!
Visit our new pages on Facebook and Twitter.

Linda Wheatland Smith on FacebookLinda Wheatland Smith on Twitter

 

News articles courtesy of Linda Wheatland Smith D.C., P.C.

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Massage Benefits Are More Than Just Skin Deep

Research Shows the Benefits of Massage Therapy

In an article published by the New York Times, researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles recruited 53 healthy adults and randomly assigned 29 of them to a 45-minute session of deep-tissue Swedish massage and the other 24 to a session of light massage.

 

The study, sponsored by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a division of the National Institutes of Health, found that a single session of massage caused biological changes.

 

Volunteers who received Swedish massage experienced significant decreases in levels of the stress hormone cortisol in blood and saliva. Participants who had the light massage experienced greater increases in oxytocin, a hormone associated with contentment.

 

The entire study and findings were published online in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.

 

Ready to try massage therapy? Learn about our Licensed Massage Therapists at Hands on Health.

Stay connected with us through social media!
Visit our new pages on Facebook and Twitter.

Linda Wheatland Smith on FacebookLinda Wheatland Smith on Twitter

 

News articles courtesy of Linda Wheatland Smith D.C., P.C.

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