JHN_Health & Fit Magazine_May 2021

HEALTH&fit

Esophageal Cancer treatment at Silver Cross | 6 & 7 Silver Cross Hospital Achieves ‘Triple Crown” for Healthcare | 8 Morris Hospital Physical Therapy Helps Patient Regain Foot Strength | 11 SATURDAY, May 15, 2021

The decibel levels of common noises N

oise is everywhere. Though some noise can be very harmful, many noises are associated with something positive. For example, for many people the sound of birds chirping marks the arrival of spring, while others may instantly associate the sound of waves crashing on a shore with the relaxing spirit of summer. But not all noises should be welcomed with open arms, especially by people who are not protecting themselves from noise.

The Environmental Protection Agency notes that noise is often expressed in decibels, a unit of measurement that indicates the volume of sound. The greater the number of decibels, the louder the noise and the more harmful that noise is to a person’s ears. And no one is immune to the side effects of exposure to excessive levels of noise, which include hearing loss. For example, the Hearing Loss Association of America estimates that one in five teenagers in the United States experience some degree of hearing loss. That’s unfortunate, as hearing loss can have negative short- and long-term consequences. For example, the HLAA reports that even mild hearing loss can cause a child to miss as much as 50 percent of classroom discussion. The long-term consequences also are significant, especially for those who don’t seek treatment for hearing loss. According to the HLAA, people with unaided hearing loss earned an average of $20,000 less per year than people who used hearing aids or cochlear implants.

Many people suffer hearing loss after attending rock concerts or special events like fireworks shows. But various other noises also can have an adverse effect on a person’s hearing.

The experts at Johns Hopkins Medicine report that normal conversation is usually around 60 decibels. These noises often measure at much higher decibels than normal conversation, potentially putting people’s hearing in jeopardy.

• Jet plane, siren, jackhammer: No one wants to walk past a jackhammer in use, and for good reason. Jackhammers measure at roughly 120 to 130 decibels, putting them on par with noises made by jet planes and sirens. Johns Hopkins notes that unprotected exposure to these noises can contribute to permanent hearing loss.

• Personal music players: Maximum volume on some personal music players, including smartphones, is 10 times as loud as recommended listening settings. That’s concerning for everyone, but especially for parents of young people who grew up listening to music primarily through personal music players.

Decibel levels on personal music players at their loudest levels average around 110, putting them on par with chain saws and radio-controlled airplanes. Few people would put chain saws or radio-controlled airplanes directly next to their ears, and the same principle should apply when using personal music players.

Exposure to noises around 110 decibels can lead to permanent hearing loss.

about 90 decibels. That can contribute to gradual hearing loss over time. It’s important that motorcycle riders keep this in mind, especially if they don’t wear helmets or wear helmets with inadequate ear protection.

• Motorcycle: Many people have waited next to motorcycles at stoplights. When the light turns green, the sound from motorcycles as they speed off can be especially loud, averaging

Common noises can have very harmful effects on people’s overall health. Protection against such noises can help people avoid hearing loss.

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We mend broken hearts.

Nearly half of all Americans have some form of heart disease. If you or someone you love is one of them, let Silver Cross Hospital mend your broken heart. From prevention programs to open heart surgery and aftercare, we’ve brought together the latest technology and the finest heart specialists in one place...for all of your heart care needs. Why travel when we have exactly what your heart needs, right here, right now.

To learn more about our total heart program or to schedule a $49 Heart Scan, visit SilverCross.org/Heart

Understanding asthma as allergy season returns

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he arrival of spring and summer is typically welcomed with open arms. Warm air, green grass, colorful flowers, and, of course, vacations are just a few of the many reasons to celebrate spring and summer.

Spring and summer also marks the return of allergy season.

According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the United States. A 2017 survey found that 27 percent of Canadians age 12 and older reported having allergies. For many people, allergies are a minor seasonal nuisance that are overcome by taking over-the-counter medications or staying indoors on days when allergen levels are especially high. But the World Allergy Organization notes that a history of allergies is a known risk factor for developing asthma.

In fact, Statistics Canada reports that, among people diagnosed with allergies, 63 percent also reported having asthma.

What is asthma?

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute defines asthma as a chronic condition that affects airways in the lungs. The airways carry air in and out of the lungs, and when people have asthma, these airways can become inflamed and narrow, compromising a person’s ability to breathe.

Who gets asthma?

Many asthma patients are diagnosed during childhood. The ACAAI reports that most children with asthma exhibit symptoms prior to their fifth birthdays. Asthma symptoms also may appear in adults older than 20, and such instances may be attributed to adult-onset asthma. Certain adults may be more likely to get adult-onset asthma than others. For example, WebMD reports that women who are experiencing hormonal changes, such as those who are pregnant or in menopause, may be more likely to get adult-onset asthma.

What are the symptoms of asthma?

The ACCAI notes that it can be hard to recognize symptoms of asthma in very young children. That’s because the bronchial tubes

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in infants, toddlers and preschool-aged youngsters are already small and narrow. Head colds, chest colds and other illnesses may further narrow these airways. So symptoms of asthma could be mistakenly associated with colds or other illnesses. A nagging cough that lingers for days or weeks or sudden, scary breathing emergencies are two symptoms of pediatric asthma. Parents also can be on the lookout for these symptoms: • Coughing, especially at night • A wheezing or whistling sound when breathing, especially when exhaling • Trouble breathing or fast breathing that causes the skin around the ribs or neck to pull in tightly • Frequent colds that settle in the chest Like pediatric asthma, adult-onset asthma can be easy to miss.

That’s because of natural changes in muscles and a stiffening of chest walls, both of which are associated with aging and therefore often attributed to age. The symptoms of adult-onset asthma are similar to those of pediatric asthma, and adults who suspect they might be experiencing asthma symptoms despite no history of the condition can ask doctors to conduct some specific tests designed to detect asthma. A lung function test and a methacholine challenge test are two ways doctors can detect adult-onset asthma.

Allergy season has arrived, and that could make some people more vulnerable to asthma. More information about asthma is available at www.accai.org.

HarborChase of Plainfield offers engaging and innovative assisted living options

Spring Ahead Among NewFriends!

Located at 12446 S. Van Dyke Road in Plainfield, HarborChase of Plainfield Assisted Living and Memory Care offers an active and engaging retirement lifestyle, full of new friends, award-winning cuisine, generous amenities, superior concierge services and energizing social events.

With assisted living and memory care available on one campus, the community offers a variety of innovative care services in a peaceful atmosphere.

“At HarborChase of Plainfield, we are dedicated to offering unmatched hospitality in an atmosphere of soothing tranquility and irresistible elegance,” said Bobbie Vavra, Executive Director at HarborChase of Plainfield.

“When people come here, all of their cumbersome chores and worries go away, and they can really take the time to enjoy life.”Residents of HarborChase enjoy a perfect combination of convenience and care. The community offers a variety of care levels, including: assisted living, memory care, respite care and day retreats. Residents receive the appropriate level of support needed to nurture and maintain independence for as long as possible.

“We truly believe in making every moment count for our residents and their loved ones,” said Vavra. “We want to compassionately focus on each person’s interests, abilities and strengths.”

The Life Enrichment program at HarborChase helps to enhance independence and choice for residents. It was created to provide a wide and pleasing variety of fitness classes, cultural events, learning opportunities, entertainment options, religious programs and group events. To help maximize participation, residents are encouraged to request specific classes and experiences.

“We work hard to ensure that residents have fun and energizing things to look forward to every day,” said Rhishard Wilson, Director of Life Enrichment at HarborChase.

“Whether its live entertainment, an educational class, a movie, a shopping excursion or an organized fitness class, our associates strive to make sure that there is truly something for everyone to look forward to and enjoy every day.”

For more information or to schedule a personalized tour, call (815) 676-4445. www.HarborChasePlainfield.com

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SATURDAY, May 15, 2021 | HEALTH & FIT | 5

Academic Cancer Specialists Close to Home.

Manhattan Man Benefits from UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Care at Silver Cross

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o get the best possible care for his esophageal cancer, Jerry Siadek was willing to drive hours from his home in south suburban Manhattan, IL. The 62-year-old visited a few of the area’s top cancer centers to meet with doctors and learn about their treatment plans. When he met with Mitchell Posner, MD, and Daniel Catenacci, MD, at the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center in Hyde Park, Siadek was immediately impressed with their confidence, thoroughness and knowledge of the disease, as well as Posner’s credentials as one of the country’s top authorities on upper gastrointestinal cancers.

But what ultimately convinced Siadek to choose UChicago Medicine for his cancer treatment was convenience. Posner could perform the complex surgery at the hospital’s main campus in Hyde Park, which was a 45-minute drive from Siadek’s house.

But all of his chemotherapy treatments, blood work and other pre- and postsurgery tests could be done just 10 to 20 minutes away at the UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox and UChicago Medicine Orland Park.

Convenient Location Reduces Travel Time

“If patients have to travel an hour each way for every cancer treatment, it’s really hard on them,” Posner said. “That’s the beauty of having a network like we do.

They can get most of their treatments close to home, while the surgery that is intricate and requires special expertise can be performed on our university campus.

It allows us to optimally manage these patients.”

Siadek is among a growing number of cancer patients who have benefited from the joint venture between Silver Cross 6 | HEALTH & FIT | SATURDAY, May 15, 2021

Hospital and UChicago Medicine, aimed at keeping cancer care local by using a collaborative approach. It means patients can get the same world-class medical expertise and care associated with the Hyde Park-based academic medical center at locations in the suburbs as well as the city.

Patients Benefit From Hospitals’ Partnership

Although the two hospitals regularly refer patients to each other, roughly 90 percent of Silver Cross cancer patients opt to have all of their care and treatments, including surgery, at the south suburban hospital.

“I had my surgery in Hyde Park, so to be able to do chemotherapy in New Lenox was huge. It was a big convenience factor,” Siadek said. “Even though I was going between a few different UChicago Medicine-affiliated facilities, I felt like I was dealing with a team of doctors and one institution. The communication was there and I wasn’t dealing with three different doctors.”

Oncologist Shayan Rayani, MD, who is overseeing Siadek’s chemotherapy treatment at Silver Cross, said each case is different. When a patient splits their care

between the city and suburbs, the doctors at the New Lenox cancer care center and UChicago Medicine in Hyde Park communicate regularly about their case.

“Just because you’re going to see Hyde Park physicians doesn’t mean you can’t have most of your care at these satellite facilities,” Rayani said. “You still have the medical expertise of the Hyde Park campus without having to go all the way there.”

Siadek’s cancer diagnosis came as a shock. In 2012, he started experiencing occasional heartburn and wrote it off as acid reflux. When it got really bad, he saw his doctor who performed an upper endoscopy and diagnosed him with Barrett’s esophagus, a condition where acid reflux damages the esophagus lining. For the next eight years, Siadek had regular endoscopies and checks. If anything looked suspicious, it was quickly sampled and assessed. Things were under control, so the monitoring steadily decreased from every few months to once a year.

Searching for the Best Cancer Care in Chicago Area

When he arrived for his annual esophagus check in August 2020, Siadek was feeling fine. He had no symptoms of any kind. To his shock, doctors found a cancerous mass and diagnosed him with adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. Posner said this type of cancer has a rapidly growing number of cases and it requires complex surgery.

That’s when Siadek and his wife, Lori, set out to learn everything they could about the disease and search for the best possible cancer treatment in the Chicago area.

“This cancer is a silent killer, because you can have it in your body with no symptoms and you don’t know what’s going on,” Siadek said. “I want to make people who have acid reflux aware that they need to get in to see their doctor and get a scope done, just to make sure nothing’s going on.”

Siadek’s treatment began with chemotherapy to shrink the cancerous mass, for two days straight every two weeks at Silver Cross in New Lenox. Posner performed his surgery in Hyde Park on Dec. 23, 2020, removing two-thirds of Siadek’s esophagus, some of his lymph nodes, and one-third of the top of his stomach.

Siadek spent Christmas in the hospital, and since COVID prevented him from having visitors, his family coordinated with the ICU nurse to move him to his thirdfloor hospital Dr. Shayan Rayani window so he could wave to his family members below. They stood outside waving, holding signs and sending their love.

“The care was excellent. Every doctor.

Every nurse I had. Every PA that came in. I felt very well taken care of,” he said.

A devout Catholic, Siadek admits the cancer diagnosis shook him and was a wakeup call to take better care of his weight and health. He’s since lost 40 pounds. He’s been able to continue working as a Business Development and Project Manager at Morrison Construction Company based in Hammond, Indiana.

“When I got the phone call about the cancer, I said to myself, 62 is too young to go. I’m ready to fight it. But if God has other plans for me, I am ready. I know I’ve lived a great life,” he said. “I struggled to get through it, but now I’ve made it.

I’m going to continue with the chemo as a precautionary measure, to make sure everything’s gone. But right now, I’m cancerfree.”

Jerry’s family made signs to support him every step of the way.

The Forefront of Cancer Care is in Will County At the UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center at Silver Cross Hospital, our goal is to make sure that you receive the most advanced treatment for cancer care.

The Cancer Center is a partnership between Silver Cross Hospital and UChicago Medicine that combines academic specialists and the latest cancer treatments in a community hospital setting that’s comfortable, familiar and close to home.

Cancer Services We Offer: • Comprehensive cancer care for adult, gynecologic, and pediatric cancers in one convenient location.

• Clinical trials and investigational therapies from the University of Chicago’s NCIdesignated comprehensive cancer care team of over 150 clinical care specialists and subspecialists.

• Advanced treatment options including state-of-the-art chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

• Supportive programs for you and your families, including cancer support groups, preventative screenings and a comprehensive cancer resource center.

For more information, visit silvercross.org/cancer

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SATURDAY, May 15, 2021 | HEALTH & FIT | 7

Silver Cross Emergency

Silver Cross Hospital Achieves "Triple Crown" for Healthcare: 100 Top Hospitals® Ranking, CMS 5-Star Rating and Leapfrog A for Patient Safety Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox has achieved a first in its 125-year history: a place on the Fortune/IBM Watson Health 100 Top Hospitals® list, a 5-Star Rating by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and anA for Patient Safety by the Leapfrog Group– all at the same time!

The hospital’s “Triple Crown” for healthcare is not only a first for the 300bed hospital in New Lenox, it’s an exclusive group overall – with less than 1 percent of U.S. hospitals achieving this level of excellence in patient safety, patient care, patient outcomes and patient experience.

“What a proud and historic moment for Silver Cross Hospital,”said President/ CEO Ruth Colby.“To achieve this level of distinction is truly extraordinary and a testament to the dedication of our entire Silver Cross team of employees, physicians and volunteers. Despite the challenges of the past year, they never lost sight of what really matters: delivering an unrivaled experience to every patient every time.”

“Silver Cross Hospital continues to shine bright as a community hospital, but their commitment to patient safety and patient care truly makes them one of the nation’s best, as evidenced by these three national

awards for excellence,” said Illinois State Senator Michael Hastings.

“We are so grateful and proud to have Silver Cross Hospital in Will County,” added Will County Executive Jennifer BertinoTarrant. “Their leadership and staff have been nothing short of incredible this year as they not only faced a pandemic, they became an amazing vaccine partner and continued to raise the bar on patient care.”

“We’ve all seen over the last year just how important it is to have quality healthcare in our area and as the Mayor of this community, I couldn’t be more proud of Silver Cross,” said New Lenox Mayor Timothy Baldermann. “They’ve brought nationally recognized healthcare to New Lenox.”

100 Top Hospitals® This recognition demonstrates Silver Cross Hospital’s ongoing commitment to prioritize patient-centered care. According to IBM Watson Health, as compared to similar hospitals, the hospitals included on the Fortune/IBM Watson Health 100 Top Hospitals list had better results on key clinical and operational performance indicators.These include survival rates, patient complications, healthcare associated infections, 30-day mortality and

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30-day hospital-wide readmission rates, length of stay, throughput in emergency departments, inpatient expenses, profitability and ratings from patients.

CMS 5-Star Rating The overall star rating for hospitals summarizes quality information on important topics, like readmissions and deaths after heart attacks or pneumonia.

The overall rating, between 1 and 5 stars, summarizes a variety of measures across 7 areas of quality into a single star rating for each hospital. The 7 measure groups include: mortality, safety of care, readmission, patient experience, effectiveness of care, timeliness of care, and efficient use of medical imaging.

Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade Silver Cross earned its 13th straight “A” for patient safety from the Leapfrog Group, placing the 300-bed hospital among the very safest hospitals in the nation.

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program based exclusively on hospitals’ prevention of medical errors and other harms to patients in their care.

For more information, visit silvercross.org

Professional Medical PROFILE

UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS WHO PROVIDE SPECIALIZED MEDICAL SERVICES

Thoracic Surgeon at Silver Cross on a Mission to Spread the Word about Early Lung Cancer Screening

Gillian Alex, M.D.

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ccording to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is by far the leading cause of cancer death among men and women, making up almost 25% of all cancer deaths. In fact, each year, more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast and prostate cancers combined. That’s why Dr. Gillian Alex, a fellowshiptrained thoracic surgeon on staff at Silver Cross Hospital, wants to make people aware there’s a lung cancer screening that is saving lives.

“Lung cancer is the Number 1 cancer killer in the U.S.,” said Dr. Alex, formerly Chief Resident of the Cardiothoracic Surgery Program at Rush University Medical Center.

She joined the medical staff of Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox last fall. “Most cases are diagnosed as ‘late stage,’ with more than half found while patients are being examined for other diseases or illnesses.”

Dr. Alex is on a mission to educate the community that a simple, painless and quick CT scan can save lives.

Born in Boston, she attended medical school at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston before completing her general surgery residency at Rush.

During her residency, she became “fascinated” with all types of thoracic oncology (cancer care), including esophageal cancer and mesothelioma.

She also spent considerable time studying reports showing just how powerful early intervention is in the fight against lung cancer deaths.

Compared to those diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer and a 6 percent survival rate at five years, individuals diagnosed with Stage 1 lung cancer have a 92.5 percent survival rate for the same time period.

The high mortality rate for lung cancer is due to several factors, she said, including that there hasn’t been a push for screening until about eight years ago. Along with that, insurance companies wouldn’t pay for the screening, but now they do for those who are in the high-risk category: • Age 55 – 77 • At least a 30 pack-year smoking history, and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years • OR persons 50 years or older who have at least a 20 pack-year smoking history

A simple CT scan available at Silver Cross Hospital can detect lung cancer at its earliest stages, when it’s most curable. In fact, in 2011, a major U.S. clinical trial showed a 20% reduction in lung cancer mortality. What’s more, Dr. Alex said studies show scans have drastically reduced mortality rates for both men and women.

“You need to screen 320 people for lung cancer to prevent 1 lung cancer death,” she adds. “Compare that to breast cancer where 1,339 women need to be screened before preventing one breast cancer death.”

Sadly, while an estimated 7 million Americans are eligible for lung cancer screening, Dr. Alex said fewer than 4 percent have taken advantage of

screening.

So, she wants to get the word out to those who qualify to check with their insurers and come in to Silver Cross for a CT lung scan.

In addition to early lung cancer screening, Dr. Alex’s clinical interests include esophageal cancer, mediastinal disease, thymic disease, chest wall tumors, reflux, benign and malignant pleural disease, congenital chest wall deformity, tracheal tumors and more.

Dr. Alex is in practice with University Thoracic Surgeons, which specializes in minimally invasive approaches to thoracic oncology. Her Silver Cross office is located at 1890 Silver Cross Blvd., Pavilion A, Suite 375. To schedule an appointment, call 312-942-6642.

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Silver Cross Emergency

SATURDAY, May 15, 2021 | HEALTH & FIT | 9

How ergonomic tools can help gardeners

Gardening is a rewarding activity that has been found to provide a host of benefits beyond ensuring readily available access to fresh fruits, vegetables and awe-inspiring blooms.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says many gardening tasks qualify as light to moderate exercise, which means raking the leaves and cutting the grass can be just as beneficial as cardiovascular activities like brisk walking or jogging.

In addition, a 2017 study published in the journal Preventive Medicine Reports found that gardening can help aging men and women offset age-related weight gain. And the health benefits of gardening go beyond the physical. In 2014, a systematic review of randomized controlled trials published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine concluded that horticultural therapy may be an effective treatment for people with dementia.

Gardeners have a host of tools at their disposal to help turn their lawns and gardens into awe-inspiring landscapes. Among those options are ergonomic tools. Ergonomic tools can benefit gardeners of all ages, but they may prove especially valuable for aging men and women.

How ergonomic tools differ from traditional gardening tools Ergonomic gardening tools are designed to ensure that using them has as little effect on the body as possible. Ergonomic tools align with how a person naturally moves his or her body, which can reduce the likelihood that gardeners will suffer any strains or sprains while gardening or experience any aches and pains after a day spent tending to their landscapes.

Choosing the right tools The West Virginia University Center for Excellence in 10 | HEALTH & FIT | SATURDAY, May 15, 2021

Disabilities notes that gardeners will know they have chosen the right ergonomic gardening tool for the job when they do not have to adapt the tool. Ergonomic tools should match gardeners’ heights, fit their grip and feel comfortable when in use.

Specific benefits of ergonomic tools Ergonomic gardening tools are designed in a way that can reduce stress on the body while performing various tasks.

Gardeners know that aches and pains can add up after a day spent kneeling in the garden, raking soil and carrying supplies from a shed or garage around the property. But the WVUCED notes that ergonomic tools do more than just reduce gardeners’ risk of injury.

• Ergonomic tools increase efficiency. Wasted motions are less likely when using ergonomic tools. That can improve efficiency in the garden, allowing gardeners to get more done in the same amount of time. And because ergonomic tools are designed to work with the body, gardeners likely won’t need to take breaks due to aches and pains, which also makes it easier to be more efficient when working in the garden.

• Ergonomic tools increase gardeners’ capabilities. The WVUCED notes that principles behind ergonomics keep gardeners using the tools in natural positions. That means gardeners won’t lose power to bending and twisting, enabling them to do more in the garden than they might be able to do when using non-ergonomic tools.

Gardening is a rewarding and beneficial activity. The right ergonomic tools for the job can enhance those benefits and make gardening even more enjoyable.

Morris Hospital Physical Therapy Helps Patient Regain Foot Strength After undergoing physical therapy through Morris Hospital, Maureen Kerr has overcome a condition that was making it difficult for her to lift her foot off the ground.

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t age 63, Maureen Kerr had no advance warning that she had an underlying neurological problem affecting her left foot. One day last October when she got up from sitting, her foot simply “wasn’t working.”

“One day it was fine, and the next day it wasn’t,” says Kerr, who went to see her primary care physician, Dr. Hassnain Syed, the very next day. “Dr. Syed said it was drop foot.”

Caused by weakness or paralysis of the muscles used to lift the front part of the foot, drop foot causes an involuntarily dragging of the toes of the affected foot when attempting to walk. That was precisely the case for Kerr.

“I was very self-conscious of my foot. It was 100% dragging, and I had to lift my thigh higher than normal when I was walking to get my foot off the ground,” explains Kerr, who also has difficulties twisting and bending due to rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. “If I wore a boot with a heel I walked better, but I was tripping and stumbling.

I was really scared and thought, what if I fall?”

Although Kerr didn’t fall, she did accidentally step on a skate board because of her unsteadiness, and the skate board flipped up and slammed into her right knee giving her another ailment. That’s when Dr. Syed recommended physical therapy.

While she was waiting for PT to begin, Kerr had x-rays of her back and knee and a consultation with Morris Hospital Neurologist Samuel Quaynor, M.D., where she was officially diagnosed with neuropathy, a condition that results from damage to the peripheral nerve in the leg. Kerr admits she wasn’t looking forward to physical therapy.

“I always thought physical therapy was helpful after an injury or surgery,” she says. “I thought, what am I going to do with a dead foot?”

From the end of November until mid-January, she went to the Morris Hospital Ridge Road Campus in Channahon for her physical therapy sessions twice weekly. Her therapists led her through various

exercises and techniques aimed at strengthening the leg muscles, preventing stiffness in her heel, and improving range of motion in her knee and ankle. They also used interferential current therapy, a type of electrical stimulation, to help reduce Kerr’s lower back pain.

For someone who didn’t look forward to going to therapy, Kerr says she always felt 100% better after each session.

“After 4 or 5 sessions, I looked at my daughter and said, ‘I can lift my toes!’ Before therapy, I wasn’t able to move them off the floor whatsoever. They added 4 or 5 sessions because the therapy was working so well. I didn’t want to quit.”

While the neuropathy still causes a tingling sensation from Kerr’s knee to toes, Morris Hospital Physical Therapy Assistant Belinda Hill says Kerr had a very positive outcome.

“Maureen’s foot drop and back/leg pain was affecting her overall quality of her life,” says Hill. “It was also a big safety concern because she was more likely to fall with the foot drop. At the end of her rehab time, she had almost full return of her foot strength and no longer needs to wear a brace. Her pain also has been significantly reduced.”

From Kerr’s perspective, she is no longer self-conscious or worried about walking and no longer needs to use her thigh to lift her foot off the ground. Meanwhile, she continues to do stretching, strengthening, and balance exercises that the therapists taught her.

“Now I can lift my toes an inch or so off the floor while I’m sitting,” says Kerr. “My left leg still isn’t as good as my right leg, but it is way better than when I was completely dragging my foot.”

Morris Hospital offers outpatient physical and occupational therapy at the Diagnostic & Rehabilitative Center of Morris Hospital in Morris, the Diamond-Coal City Campus, and the Ridge Road Campus in Channahon. Outpatient speech therapy is available at the Morris location. For more information, visit morrishospital.org/ rehabservices or call 815-705-7828.

SATURDAY, May 15, 2021 | HEALTH & FIT | 11

Let us help you return to maximum independence.

“I get to help people return to doing what they love.”

Megan rding, Physical Therapy Assistant - Homerding,

There are all kinds of reasons to choose Morris Hospital for outpatient rehabilitation services.

Along with having highly qualified therapists who stay in touch with your physician, ALL of our patients receive one-on-one therapy – never in a group setting.

Our Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy services can assist those struggling with: • • • •

Pain Concussions Memory Lymphedema

• Torticollis • Dizziness, balance, falls • Orthopedic injury or surgery • Performing daily tasks

• Using hands • Vocal loudness or sound quality • Walking or moving

• • • •

Speaking or understanding speech Chewing or swallowing Coughing or choking when eating or drinking Parkinson's disease

To learn more, call 815-705-7828.

Be sure to ask about our rehabilitation locations in Morris, Channahon (Ridge Road), Diamond-Coal City and Yorkville.

www.morrishospital.org