While traveling through Tuscany, Italy, my wife and I came across two Ferraris. If you were to own a car like this, you would take care of it: change the oil, check fluid levels regularly, keep it covered in the garage when not in use, and wash it routinely. Not only that, when you are driving it, you would be very attentive to abnormal sounds that it makes in order to make sure it gets mechanical attention at the first sign of any trouble. Bottom line is you would spend time and money to ensure the quality and value of the car remains high. And you do this because the car is an investment and is prized.
Your body is a lot like that luxury car. It has gauges and makes sounds to update you on its condition. Your stomach will growl to tell you it needs food. You will crave specific foods when you have a vitamin or mineral deficiency. Your eyes will get heavy when your body needs sleep. You will experience aches and pains as warning signs also. Recurring pains are a screeching siren telling you that your body needs a tune up. But, I have seen these signals ignored time and time again until the body finally breaks down into chronic pain, arthritis, or tears in muscles. Look at this way – your body should be an investment and should be prized even more so than the fancy car! You only get one to carry you your entire life. Isn’t it time to start listening to what your body is asking you to do to care for it and PREVENT it from breaking down?
Preventing injury has not been a priority in our healthcare system. We have medical insurance for which we pay high monthly premiums. Since our investment in these plans is high and prior to actual use of the policy, we expect that the plan will work for us to cover medical expenses. There has been growing frustrations in recent years about the increasing cost of insurance and the realization that the insurance does not always cover what we expect them to cover. One important item that is not covered by insurance is preventative treatment for your movement system. This means you are responsible for taking care of yourself in an effort to decrease injury risk.
Don’t wait until your body is broken down to get help. Take the first step in redeeming your function and your life today by scheduling a screening assessment!