Ever since the film adaptation of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol arrived a 1938, Hollywood has created a limited number of movies that the world can count as being official Christmas classics. That selective list includes the likes of A Miracle on 34th Street, It’s a Wonderful Life, Home Alone, and Home Alone 2. Then in 2003 there was a grand new entry into everyone’s Top 5 (etc.) list of Holiday season cinematic favorites – ELF. The production created by Jon Favreau (director) and Will Ferrell along with the entire cast and crew was and is pure magic, so much so that the film is often referenced for a number of life lessons.
You can see where we’re going with this.
In the spirit of the season our Burnaby clinic is taking a look at important physiotherapy lessons to be learned from ELF. The hope, is that they may encourage to make physio a part of your own health and wellness plan. Let’s review!
*All images courtesy of New Line Cinema
5 Ways Physiotherapy Could Have Made Buddy The Elf’s Adventures Less Challenging and Even More Enjoyable
Postural Correction for Living in Cramped Quarters
Despite welcoming an orphaned Buddy with open arms, the North Pole didn’t exactly go to many lengths to make residences and buildings more accessible to his height as he grew from adolescence into adulthood. Consequently, Buddy clearly developed postural issues. Chiropractic work could have certainly made life easier for Buddy while at the North Pole, correcting related musculoskeletal problems such as rounded shoulders and lower back pain. Maybe then Buddy could have kept up with the workload expected by his tyrant boss at the toy making workshop!
Better Sleeping Habits
Speaking of a not-so accommodating North Pole, Buddy was forced to sleep in a makeshift bed (two traditional elf-sized beds) that caused him to develop very poor sleeping habits and further musculoskeletal issues. This is why you hear the poor guy get excited about sleeping for under an hour:
“So, Buddy, how’d you sleep?” “GREAT! I got a full 40 minutes!”
If only Buddy knew that there were 5 ways physiotherapy could have helped him enjoy a better night’s rest.
Improved Gait for Greater Confidence
Buddy walked a whopping total of 3,405.32 miles from the North Pole to New York City, so it’s no wonder what he approached the escalator at Gimbels with so much trepidation. Factor in the fact that pointy-toed elf shoes are terrible for one’s gait (manner of walking), and we can only conclude that Buddy was in desperate need of physiotherapy intervention in the form of custom foot orthotics.
Repair for Compromised Rotator Cuff
After the snowball fight in Central Park, there’s no way Buddy didn’t suffer from shoulder pain due to shoulder tendinopathy, or more likely rotator cuff dysfunction and impingement syndrome. The velocity of which he was throwing the snowballs, compounded by landing on his throwing shoulder (see image above) would most certainly resulted in a compromised rotator cuff. A visit to a physiotherapy clinic immediately after could have saved him years of unnecessary shoulder pain and discomfort.
Preparation for Parenthood
We conclude this list of physiotherapy lessons to be learned from ELF on a happy note to honor the fact that at the end of the movie we get to see that Buddy and Jovie had a beautiful baby girl. Being aware of the challenges Buddy faced growing up on the North Pole, Buddy wants to do all that he can to be the best parent possible. As it turns out, physiotherapy can help with these 5 Ways Physio Can Make Buddy a Parenting Pro.
If you have any of the issues experienced by our beloved Buddy the Elf, be sure to give yourself the gift of physiotherapy this Holiday season and beyond. If located in the Burnaby BC area, book your consultation today at Absolute PhysioCare.