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The Truth about Fitness

The Truth about Fitness

The spine you have is the only one you ever get!

Through the miracle of modern medicine, many organs that fail or wear out can now be replaced. Heart, lungs, liver, kidneys and even artificial lenses for the eyes can make someone feel like new. Unfortunately for the spine, the one you were born with must last you your entire lifetime!

The desire for attractive teeth, hair and skin has driven most people to a life committed to maintenance. Visits to dentists are reduced by personal dental hygiene. Home skin care products give men and women a proactive means to slow the appearance of aging. Personal hair care hygiene, color and styling create a youthful look to balance the face. We invariably seem to neglect the things we can’t see. For example, if we could see the damage caused by poor diet choices or the effects of cigarette smoking on our lungs or the stress excessive weight gain has on our heart, we might consider altering our lifestyle.

It is common to neglect the spine until something causes us to see a professional for a back problem. Even though most back problems subside within sixty to ninety days without serious intervention, it may have been avoided altogether if proper care was given to the back on a regular basis ahead of time. Instead of being faced with “What can I do to prevent this from happening again” like so many others, you can enjoy the benefits of a regular routine of back exercise and maintenance.
Back pain episodes that come and go.

The spine responds to meaningful activities that focus on unloading compression and exercises that strengthen the back and muscles in the same way the body responds to a regimen of healthy diet choices and physical activity. Spine fitness is a necessary and intuitive requirement to an individual's overall health and fitness. Physicians, chiropractors and physical therapists all provide needed treatment under certain circumstances.

Non Specific Back Pain

Back pain has plagued mankind since the beginning of time. Today we’re no closer to a cure than we were 2000 years ago. That’s partly due to the fact that you can’t “cure” back pain anymore than you can cure tooth decay. The center for disease control (CDC) estimates almost 9 out of 10 people will suffer from low back pain. Factors like genetics, birth defects, obesity and lifestyle, influence the onset of lower back pain. If you live long enough, the degenerative process is inevitable. The cost for treatment in the U.S. alone is estimated at over 80 billion dollars a year. Back pain is more likely to occur than heart attacks or cancer. But unlike heart problems or cancer treatment there still remains no standard of care. Inherited, congenital or acquired factors may eventually undermine the stability of the support structures, i.e. muscles, tendons and ligaments. This instability sometimes can be described by doctors as wear and tear arthritis.

Physicians take an oath that says “First do no harm”. The question each person asks is:

  • What could I have done to prevent this problem?
  • What can I do to keep it from coming back?
  • How can I reduce dependence on the healthcare system and help myself?

Thank goodness we have such a wonderfully advanced medical knowledge that can reduce human suffering with certain drugs, spinal manipulation, physical therapy and even surgery. Today, more than any other time in history, physicians are recommending moderate to vigorous physical activity, diet and exercise as an approach to personal fitness.

The “Fitness Epiphany”, that can be seen across the U.S. may be the realization that we as individuals can impact our overall state of fitness by engaging in a proactive program of prevention. Endurance, strength and circulation requires a decision not a prescription. As logical as good diet, avoidance of cigarettes or alcohol and frequent exercise may seem, sometimes persons need the dynamics of motivation and a positive environment to help take them to the next level.

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Practice balance diet for healthy nutrition.

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