Proactive Medicine – Changing “Sick Care” to “Healthcare”

Technology has infiltrated our lives in ways we believed only to ever be fantastical. We are sharing thoughts from opposite ends of the world through tiny boxes, our thumbprints grant us access into private, sometimes virtual quarters and our need to use our memory has largely ceased- instead, a giant, invisible cloud which stores all of our memories and information.

Medicine has been no stranger to the 21st Century adaptation to technological advancement, and through its modern evolution, we’ve been able to turn from a reactive health society to a proactive health society.

A proactive approach to health involves implementing measures that keep the body high functioning to avoid injury, whereas a reactive approach prescribes remedy upon injury. Shifting from “sick care” to “healthcare” is beneficial for so many reasons! Staying healthy and active keeps our energy and wellness top priority. It keeps us working to stay fit, which increases our metabolism, triggers many essential functions and makes our bodies healthy, so we don’t break under pressure or in an accident. Prioritizing our physique usually welcomes our attention over to our diets, as well. We eat more healthily, feeding our body exactly what it needs to perform at its best. Today, we are exposed daily to superfoods and anti-inflammatory agents that promise to keep us well and ailment free.

There are many moving pieces to keep track of as we stay on the preventative health care train. It can be overwhelming! And there is new information available to us every day- new workouts, new food ideologies, new ways to stay in the fittest mental shape alongside physical. Thankfully, technology moves just as quickly as health trends so it can keep up succeeding at all of the above.

The medical industry has slipped technology and entertainment into our understanding of health so subtly that you might not even notice how often you are monitoring your own physical functioning. Let’s look at two of the biggest tech trends in health.

• Nutrition. We are wild about our nutrition these days. Information is available anywhere and everywhere, and we are sharing every tip and meal we try. Our phones can scan barcodes to detect certain ingredients, take a nutrition panel and even sync with our preferred diet to let us know when something is off limits.

• Fitness. We are similarly eager about our step counts. Medical experts have essentially gamified exercise, and it could not be more brilliant. Apps and wearables allow friends to share workouts and step-statuses, to compete in weekly challenges and to exchange info on personal progress. Wearables keep us constantly reminded that moving is the best way to a healthy, happy life.

Proactive medicine involves projecting likely physical changes or future hurdles and prescribing lifestyle changes to avoid them. In some cases, physical change will appear inevitable. Though you will likely encounter it, a physical therapist can prepare the body in ways that eliminate the need for surgery or other invasive, reactive methods. Proactive physical therapy keeps you mentally and physically fit, but more importantly, it cares for your body in ways that on your own, you would not be able to predict.

Preventative therapy is a good idea for anyone. Each body is different, has been through different trauma, sustained different injury, been moved around in different lifestyles. Working with a physical therapist allows you to follow a regimen that uniquely suits your body’s needs. Making sure to enhance your physical performance now is the best way to combat potential wear and tear in the future.

When you are ready to look at proactive treatment plans that best accommodate your lifestyle and future goals, come into BackFit Health + Spine, the most trusted chiropractor in Phoenix.