Jessy Unsung Hero - International Women's Day 2018

International Women's Day (IWD) Special!
(Don't forget to check out our special event for the ladies on IWD - Thursday 8th March 2018!) 

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“‘Mum and I’m coming to see you’ - then everyone comes.”

— Jessy

Some people are magnets. They bring people and joyful times together. And in a society where we’re all so busy, this is crucial. We might not live at home, we work overtime, or relocate overseas, have kids to care for and have a million chores and admin to do. So creating time for family and nurturing relationships is tough. But no matter how tired she is, and how much her hip or shoulders hurt, Jessy is the keystone of her family. When she’s away, the family do their own separate things. When she’s around, someone says ‘Mum and I’m coming to see you’  - then everyone comes and the family bonds. Her culinary skills are superb, (which definitely helps!) and she always makes time to teach and listen to her grandkids - so much so that they respect and love her beyond measure. 

Her granddaughter seeks out her advise, listens to her, and when I asked the granddaughter if she likes talking to nana, she replied that she prefers to listen to nana’s stories. What are these stories? The stories of Jessy's life. The stories of lessons we all need to learn: how to be patient, compassionate and humble. 

Jessy struggles to find time for herself, as she always puts her family first. But she's now finding a balance between giving her all for her extended family and time for her own interests and self care. She sets aside time to seek chiropractic care to ease her hip and back pain, as well as a very chronic and severe shoulder injury. In the past, wearing clothes was a difficult and painful task. Now and again it flares up, but is so much under control. And as for her hip, it's come a long long way and she's able to walk and stand for extended periods of time with much less problems. What really stands out for me though, is her kindness and that she's always grateful. I've received packed lunches of her home-cooked goodness, and she even gave me an ang pow for Chinese New Year this year!! =]  (and I'm not so young!)

So even in the most simplest of ways (and yet so powerful), there are people around us that do amazing things. To see how she has positively impacted the people around her. I hope she continues to create more memories and more togetherness with her family. 

Sally, the unsung hero - International Women's Day 2018

International Women's Day (IWD) Special!
(Don't forget to check out our special event for the ladies on IWD - Thursday 8th March 2018!) 

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Just like many people’s perspective that it’s a wife’s duty to take care of the family despite busy work schedule, lack of sleep, muscle aches or health problems - this is her. She also believes that

“Tough days don’t last, tough people do!”

She would do whatever it takes for her husband’s and three children’s needs, without hesitation though she might nag and whine all day long. 

That includes her toughest days when she was diagnosed with breast cancer and having to go through chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a surgical procedure, not forgetting all the side effects she experienced such as fatigue, nausea, vomiting, aches, pains etc. Yet, she still remained strong mentally, reminding herself that her family need her to cook, do laundry and other chores every day.

After her operation, she was not able to use her left arm to carry any load. Naturally, she depended entirely on her right arm. Five months of work on her right arm saw it get tired, and injured. It’s like her right arm just decided to give up. She was not even able to lift it to chest height and any attempt to, would result in excruciating pain. Yet she would still continue to do what was necessary around the house. 

She came in to see me and her shoulder started to improve. And because it improved, she did even more because she felt that she could. In doing so, her condition worsened. We put her in a sling, so that she would rest it more, but instead she just endured the pain, and kept doing what was necessary. 

But besides her chores, she also did her exercises and home care routine diligently. In fact she did more. Multiple times every day she would slowly improve her shoulder range of motion. She wants her shoulder to get better and to work properly again, and she persisted with her exercises to make that reality. 

She is really a strong person who does not get defeated. She believes ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’. This is what makes her our every day hero! We are so glad that you now have pain free shoulder movement in all directions and that you can now raise your arm up overhead. It is a huge relief and allows her to not only do what she pleases, without any pain, but she can do more! Amazing! I wish you continued health and happiness.

 Ps. In the last year, she was recommended to get a knee replacement surgery because she couldn’t walk or even put weight on her knee. But she said no. And every day she did her exercises and willed her knee to get better. And it did! Though not perfect, she’s out of the wheelchair and walking independently. 

PPs. Another amazing woman, and a hugely unsung hero is her daughters Sharon and Sarah. Sharon quit her job to take care of her parents full time, bringing them to all their doctors appointments, chemotherapy, encouraging them to do exercises, bringing them out to walk more and of course chiropractic sessions. Sarah is working hard to help with the family expenses. 

BACK TO SCHOOL WARNING: SCHOOL BAGS CAN BE A PAIN IN THE NECK

Studies show that many children carry backpacks heavily loaded with more than the recommended maximum weight. This is well known among Singaporean Parents, as their children are required to bring school books to and from school and tuition. A recent study has shown that children are also likely to experience neck and shoulder pain, as well as the commonly-reported back pain. 

However, pain does not always show up immediately. Many children develop other signs and symptoms before pain sets in. In practice, I hear complaints of poor posture, difficulty finding a comfortable sitting or sleeping position, difficulty concentrating, stiffness, headaches, and general non-specific unease or discomfort. 

So I would like to issue a warning to parents this January – check the weight and fitting of your child’s bag before they go back to school to avoid the risk of long term spinal damage.

Children should not carry loads of more than 10 per cent of their own body weight to maintain normal postural alignment and the backpack should be no wider than their chest. Lifting a bag that is too heavy causes immediate strain on the spine and the longer a child carries the load, the more severe the damage. 

I strongly suggest that students make use of school lockers, observe timetables and plan homework well in advance to reduce the need to carry large numbers of books in the one journey.  

The ideal backpack should have broad, adjustable shoulder straps that distribute weight evenly across the shoulders. They should also feature waist straps (like you can find on trekking packs) that distribute weight evenly across the hips and hold the backpack firmly to the spine. 

Having these features are fantastic, though I would urge parents to remind their children that how they use the backpack and features is more important. To gain maximum benefit from these features, your children must use both straps, and keep the straps tight enough that the backpack stays on the back and above the hips. 

When packing your school bag, all heavy items, including text books, tablets or laptops, should be packed at the bottom of the backpack and as close to the spine as possible.

There are numerous backpacks that Dr Gary Tho recommends including the Ergobag, Satch, McNeil and the MoonRock Bag, the latest lightweight ergonomic school bag for kids. Connect with him on email, Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn for recommendations and any current promotions on kids ergonomic bags, bedding and chairs, desks and the like. 

10 TIPS TO AVOID THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL BACKACHE

1. Backpacks should be no heavier than 10 per cent of the child’s body weight when packed
2. Make sure the backpack is sturdy and appropriately sized - no wider than the child’s chest
3. Put the backpack’s comfort and fit at the top of the priority list rather than good looks
4. Choose a pack with broad, padded shoulder straps
5. Use both shoulder straps – never sling the pack over one shoulder
6. Use the waist straps attached – they’re there for a very good reason!
7. Don’t wear the backpack any lower than the hollow of the lower back
8. Don’t overload the backpack – use school lockers & plan homework well in advance
9. Place all heavy items at the base of the pack and close to the spine
10. Invite Dr Gary Tho to speak at your school for further helpful tips, hands-on assessments and solutions 

Dr Gary Tho is the owner of Chiropractic Works, a Family Sports and Wellness clinic in Orchard Road, Singapore. He specialises in pain relief and preventative care and believes quality life is essential for happiness, success and peak performance. For more information and advice, phone Dr Gary Tho on +65 6733 4439.