A New Movement Towards Health

“As a painter prepares his canvas, a potter his clay, we must prepare our body before using it, before expecting ‘satisfactory results’ from it. It is the state of the body a priori that determines the richness of lived experience. The awakened body take initiatives, is no longer content to receive or to ‘put up with’. When we live in our body, we give body to our life. “

- Bertherat

There has been a new trend that I am seeing in the SHW studio that has had me jumping up and down, clapping my hands, and woo-hooing with joy. Over the past year I have had more clients in their mid to late 30s coming in for a physical therapy evaluation and treatment with a common goal. Are they injured? Not necessarily. But they are aware of small changes in their body and they are listening to what their body is telling them. Their goal? They want to learn about their body, how to move correctly, and they are looking to put together a team of medical providers that will work with them to optimize their health.

I have always said that we don’t have a “healthcare” system, we have a “sickcare” system.  What I mean by this is that we often don’t use the system to care for our health and keep ourselves well and thriving, we use it to care for a sickness or limitation that has already occurred in our body.   Health insurance is primarily to blame as they usually only cover care that is “medically necessary” and most of the time it’s only medically necessary if you are sick or unable. What I have seen is that this has also influenced the patient's belief system into a “medically necessary” one when it comes to their health.

My recent clients are taking a different approach.  They have flipped the coin over and are literally studying the other side.  They are acknowledging that there is another half to the system.  One that requires foresight but also offers great rewards and quality of life down the road.   This is the true “healthcare” part - the proactive and preventative side.  

To clarify, proactive and preventative care is not a new concept.  The key difference, and the new movement that I referred to in the title, is that there is a younger population out there that is actually living by it.  They are prioritizing their bodies and their health and they are making the time to interview providers and develop relationships with them so that they can ensure the right fit, make proactive changes now, and know that they will receive great care for anything that comes up down the road.  More importantly, they are doing it at a key age, right before they turn 40.  I can easily say that, in all of my years as a physical therapist, the majority of my patients started showing physical break down (wear and tear) around 45+ years old.  How you take care of yourself and how you move can have a great impact on how your body ages.  Don't let anyone tell you differently.   We all want to live a long time, but we also want to feel good, move well, and do the things we love to do throughout that long life. I often tell my clients that you need to train for 100 like you would train for a marathon. You can’t just sit around, hope to get there, and then expect to like it.  

While taking a more proactive and preventative approach, another key factor I notice is that this younger population is willing to personally invest in the services that will best supplement their health and help them to achieve their goals.  Their level of health is not defined by the limitations of their insurance company and they strive to seek out the best quality health care team, not the cheapest one.  What qualities are they looking for?  They want direct accessibility to their provider - no telephone trails of lost messages, failed call backs, and delayed referrals or communications.  They want one-on-one care with the same person.  A person who is engaged in their care, who is not rushed, who sees them, who listens to them, who hears them, and who offers an active partnership towards their goals.  They want a team of genuine, authentic, accountable advocators for their health who know what is important to them and who will guide them and walk with them on the path to get there.  

How many of you feel like you are on your own some times when it comes to your health? Unsure of what to do, what steps to take, who to call when something happens? What would it feel like to know that you have a well rounded team of providers at your fingertips that you have personally selected and know? A good team of medical providers can refer you to the right place, follow up and communicate with your other team members, find answers when they don’t have them, and offer an amazing and supportive health care experience.

If I could make one wish for all of you, it would be to love yourself enough to realize that you deserve to feel your best. To love yourself enough to prioritize the care of your health. Let's face it, life is better when you feel good. We feel more connected, we find more joy, and as the quote said above, "we give body to our life". Take care of your bodies and your mind. They are your true home and the only one you'll get. Without it everything else will seem meaningless.

Sincerely,
Shellie