ptspin
by Amber Narro
recovering from the flood shouldn’t lead to
volunteering or doing it all yourself, know your limitations.
recovering from injury Whether
And know when to call a doctor
Backspin is taking on the job of writing ptspin
this month as Scott and Carrie Higgs, PT and OT
respectively, are busy rebuilding their home ... as well
as rebuilding some of their patients.
The Higgs family is building their new home in
the neighborhood at Carter Plantation in Springfield.
The sheetrock was brand new, and will be once again.
Right now, however, Scott and Carrie are very
much concerned about their patients, many of whom
also flooded and are taking on the job of recovery on
their own.
With so many homes out of flood zones that
still flooded, those who had no insurance, many are
relying on their own muscle to do the job – muscle
that is not used to that sort of task.
Removing sheetrock and pulling up flooring is
hard work. Waterlogged carpet is extremely heavy,
and the glue that holds that carpet (as well as other
flooring) seems to be waterproof.
“We’re seeing strained necks and forearms so far,”
Scott said. “We think it’s just people doing more than
they are physically capable of doing.”
He and Carrie stress the need to know physical
limitations. Back and neck pain is a sign that there is
injury or that the body needs rest.
Additionally, repetitive motion such as hammering
or sawing, coupled with the desire to hurry and get
back to normal, can be very dangerous. “If people are
rushing to get things done, doing things their bodies
are not used to, they can actually cost themselves
more time in the long run.”
Scott and Carrie caution that rebuilders should
also focus on proper body mechanics and posture.
The need to recover normalcy does not trump the
need to protect the back and muscles that support it.
“Listen to your body,” Carrie says. “When it hurts,
stop. Don’t try to push through it.”
Finally, Scott says that in times of fatigue, people
are actually more prone to injury. “People aren’t
resting well at night, and they are waking up early
to try to get things done. All these combinations can
potentially lead to major injury.
Don’t forget to watch the critters either. And
remember to get a tetanus shot if you haven’t had
one in 10 years. “Monitor your environment well,”
Carrie says.
“Don’t wait to see your doctor if you notice
wounds or know you are injured,” she suggests.
“Recovery is important, but health is paramount.
You can’t recovery if you’re not healthy.”
GOLF NOTE: When you’re ready to get back to playing, don’t forget that it may have been a few
weeks since you’ve played. Warm-up the muscles you use for golf at the driving range. Start slow and
increase speed. The lesson for this month is not to push through pain but to avoid it with preparation.
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