SHIFT CHANGE: PUTTING DEMOCRACY TO WORK tells the little-known stories of employee-owned businesses that compete successfully in today’s economy while providing secure, dignified jobs in democratic workplaces.

With the long decline in US manufacturing and today’s economic crisis, millions have been thrown out of work, and many are losing their homes. The usual economic solutions are not working, so some citizens and public officials are ready to think outside of the box, to reinvent our failing economy in order to restore long term community stability and a more egalitarian way of life.
There is growing interest in firms that are owned and managed by their workers. Such firms tend to be more profitable and innovative, and more committed to the communities where they are based. Yet the public has little knowledge of their success, and the promise they offer for a better life.
Following the film screening, there will be brief panel of speakers representing local cooperatives and a Q & A to start the conversation about how we can go forward in our local communities to build a more cooperative economy.

This event is Sponsored by Webskillet, PT360, Data Systems, Vermont Employee Ownership Center, Cooperative Vermont and the Cooperative Fund of New England.
If you’d like more information about this event please contact Julie Winn at (802) 578-1704.

Patient Spotlight

We love to see how physical therapy helps our patients with their dreams and goals.

A good chair is a key factor in setting up an ergonomically correct work area.  Since ergonomics is the study of adapting the workplace to fit the worker and the tasks involved, it is very important to choose a chair that fits you well and provides the necessary support to maintain good posture for extended periods of time at work.

It’s not always necessary to spend a lot of money on a chair but it is important to find a chair with the most adjustability in your price range.  The most important adjustable features are:

1. Seat Height:  even the most basic chair can usually be adjusted up and down to accommodate for the various heights of the user and the work area.  It’s something to consider for home if extended periods of time are spent at a computer instead of using a nonadjustable chair such as a kitchen chair.
2. Seat Depth:  Seat depth is considered appropriate if the seat fully supports the legs but ends about 2 to 3 inches behind the bend in the knee.  This adjustment is especially important for people with longer or shorter than average legs.
3. Lumbar Support:  Having an adjustable lumbar support ensures that the lower back is properly supported in order to maintain good posture.  If the lumbar support is not positioned correctly by being either too high or too low, it can actually cause bad posture.  The lumbar support can be adjusted independently on some chairs and on others it is adjusted by moving the height of the chair back up or down.
4. Adjustable arms:  Chair arms should be adjusted to allow for a 90 degree bend in the elbows.  They should be high enough to avoid having to lean forward but not so high that they cause the shoulders to elevate.  Being able to lower the arms can also make it easier to move the chair closer to the desk to avoid excessive reaching.

Other features that allow for even more adjustability are seat tilt and back tilt. While these features may give even more options for adjusting the chair they are not as critical in maintaining good posture as the ones listed above.

Remember, no matter how well your chair fits you, it’s still a good idea to get up and move around throughout the day!

Please see more information here.

April 16, 2013

Julie Clayton, Maria Thibault, Edie Bernhardt, and Erin Adams enjoyed a night out at the Old Lantern in Charlotte for The Community Health Centers of Burlington.  All proceeds from the event were to benefit The Community Health Centers of Burlington mission to provide quality health care to the residents.

]]> http://www.pt360coop.com/2013/04/salud-a-doctors-night-out-the-community-health-centers-of-burlington/feed/ 0 http://www.pt360coop.com/2013/03/supportive-therapies-for-lyme-disease-march-16th-2013/ http://www.pt360coop.com/2013/03/supportive-therapies-for-lyme-disease-march-16th-2013/#comments Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:40:20 +0000 Heather Graber http://www.pt360coop.com/?p=1189 Nutritional support, exercise guidelines, myofascial release, and manual lymphatic drainage for Lyme Disease

March 16^th, 2013

12:30 -1:30 pm

Free and open to the public, please call to reserve your seat as space is limited.

Dr. Carol Gardner, Deborah Harris, PT, RD, Edie Bernhardt, PT

426 Industrial Avenue, Suite 190

Williston, Vermont

802/860-4360

http://www.wcax.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=8400395

With the onset of cold temperatures, snow, and ice, there is a tendency for many of us to minimize our physical activities and stay inside where it is warm and dry.  Unfortunately, little to no physical activity, over-indulgence throughout the Holiday season, and too much cheer can add up to unwanted weight gain and poor physical fitness.

With careful planning, you can adopt positive life-style changes that can be continued throughout the year.  To create balance in your life you need to rethink all areas and avoid common pitfalls many weekend warriors have fallen into.  A balanced life includes rest and relaxation to restore your body, establishing a set bedtime to ensure you get 8 hours of sleep each night;  following sound nutrition; consuming alcohol in moderation; obtaining proper exercise 30-45 minutes 3-5 days/week; and practicing daily affirmations of prayer, meditation, and/or yoga for physiological quieting of the mind.  Each part of your program fits together into your personal lifestyle puzzle and can impact your overall success.

The biggest challenge will be getting started.  Remember, focusing on small, incremental changes over time will always produce the best outcomes.  You don’t have to eat yourself into a coma during the holidays and at every party thereafter.  You can eat something healthy before you go so you aren’t ravenous when you get there.  You can choose one treat to indulge in and make it count.  Consume raw fruits and vegetables, lots of greens, whole grains, lean proteins, minimal fats, and lot of water.  Avoid caffeine and sugars that create significant fluctuations in your energy levels and unwanted crashes.

The benefits of exercise are vast.  Exercise can increase your energy levels, facilitate weight loss and/or maintenance of ideal weight status, and improve your overall endurance, stamina, and fitness.  And let’s face it, endorphins in your blood stream is far better than any sugary treat.  When starting out, remember less is more.  Start slow and increase your workout time, repetitions, and resistance.  A basic exercise program should include 10-15 minutes of cardiovascular exercise and core strengthening.  I would recommend the following:

Warm-up: 10-15 minutes of cardio

Resistance Exercises:

Squat

Front Lunges

Side Lunge

Deadlifts with rows

Front Planks

Side Planks

Bridging with ball squeeze

Lower Abdominals

Shoulder Diagonals

Shoulder Flexion

Triceps                                                     

When the winter hibernation movement creeps in, take a moment to step back and write out a game plan.  Remember, small changes over time results in the best outcomes.  For more information, please contact Deborah Harris, PT, RD, CLT-LANA at PT360, Vermont’s only employee-owned physical therapy cooperative.   Deborah has degrees in general dietetics and physical therapy, and obtained certifications as a Registered Dietitian and Physical Therapist.   She is one of the owner/members at PT360.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative form of arthritis and is characterized by the wearing away of cartilage.  It is the most common form of arthritis and weight bearing joints (knees, hips and spine) are the most susceptible. Just because you have OA  doesn’t  mean you are ready for surgery. There are a variety of things you can do to prevent or slow the process, so don’t just sit there, BEAT IT!

Be proactive:  take advantage of all the information available so you can fully understand OA and begin to make a plan.  This can include info on medication, nutrition, physical therapy, medical procedures, etc

Exercise regularly:  strong muscles support joints and can relieve some of the pain by decreasing stress on  your joints

Attention to posture and proper body  mechanics:  Good posture means good alignment which will decrease stress on joints and strain on surrounding muscles

Try to vary your activity: change your exercise routine to avoid overuse of particular muscles and joints and take frequent breaks when performing repetitive tasks.

Ideal weight: maintaining a healthy weight decreases stress on joints and in general, promotes well being.

Talk to your doctor: seeing an orthopedic surgeon doesn’t mean you have to have a joint replacement but you can get valuable information about all of your options, both surgical and non-surgical, including medication, injections and arthroscopic surgery.