It's fairly cold at 4:30 a.m., even in Southern California. (I'm sure some DCs in the Midwest and on the East Coast are laughing right now.) It's cold and still dark out. Why am I doing this? Why does anyone do this? Is it only because my wife likes the way I look? (Come to think of it, so do I.) Those are just some of the thoughts running through my half-awake head as I work out at the gym.
Not very many people are at the gym this early; just the hardcore group. Look at us. No one is smiling, few people are talking. We're just here to get it done and get on with our day. This is not a social event. Maybe if I just watch what I eat it would be enough to keep me healthy and I wouldn't need to exercise. (I know better.)
When I first made the commitment to exercise, something had to give. It couldn't be work and it wasn't going to be my family. The only thing left was my free time and an hour or so of sleep.
Few people are in the mood to talk this early in the morning. We don't smile, we don't complain, we (as the saying goes) just do it. You can tell that most of us would rather be somewhere else (probably back in bed). A few seem to enjoy the morning ritual, but most are there because they have to be. It's generally the same people, but there are a few "seasons" when the crowd swells:
People who consistently exercise do so for a variety of reasons. These reasons change as we get older. Science is discovering more and more reasons to work out. The impact of exercise on our health is far beyond a trim body and hard muscles. There are some obvious health reasons to exercise: lower blood pressure, increased resting heart rate, lower body fat, etc. These are all important to improving overall physical health.
Living longer is another reason to exercise. A recent study suggests that men can live 14 years longer if they exercise, keep their waist size down and don't smoke. Together, these three behavioral modifications reduce a man's risk of coronary heart disease events by 59 percent, risk of cardiovascular disease mortality by 77 percent, and risk of all-cause mortality by 69 percent compared to their less-healthy counterparts.1
Exercise can also play an important role in reducing cancer risk. Another recent study has shown that exercise can help reduce the level of certain hormones in women that contribute to their risk of breast cancer.2
Perhaps the most motivating reasons to exercise is not physical benefits, but those associated with a person's mental wellness. One study that examined the cognitive development of teenagers revealed that "(c)ardiovascular fitness changes between age 15 and 18 y(ears) predicted cognitive performance at 18 y. Cox proportional-hazards models showed that cardiovascular fitness at age 18 y predicted educational achievements later in life. These data substantiate that physical exercise could be an important instrument for public health initiatives to optimize educational achievements, cognitive performance, as well as disease prevention at the society level."3
These findings tend to negate the "dumb jock" stereotype. Certainly the guys down the line on the treadmills have better cognitive skills than they would have if they watched TV all morning instead of working out.
Exercise also has a very positive impact on people at the other end of the age scale. It can actually reduce cognitive impairment. One study in particular discovered that "twelve months of once-weekly or twice-weekly resistance training benefited the executive cognitive function of selective attention and conflict resolution among senior women."4 Another study noted that "moderate or high physical activity is associated with a reduced incidence of cognitive impairment after 2 years in a large population-based cohort of elderly subjects." Moderate physical activity is defined as physical activity less than three times a week, high physical activity is three or more times a week.5
At the recent annual meeting of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, one of the papers presented to attendees reported: "[H]igher levels of physical activity objectively measured by an accelerometer are strongly associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms and a lower prevalence of depressive disorders." The physical activity required for this benefit was only 12 minutes of moderate exercise a day.6
Walking slowly down the stairs of the gym and out the door 45 minutes after my arrival, my T-shirt is almost drenched. The crisp, cold air is now soothing. The sun will be coming up in 30 minutes or so. It's time for a new day.
So, why do I get up and exercise when most people are still asleep? I do it for myself and for the people I love. I do it out of respect and appreciation for the life I've been given. Why do you exercise? Perhaps for many of the same reasons I do. If you don't exercise consistently, maybe you should think about starting, and for a reason specific to the career path you've chosen: You're a doctor of chiropractic. You breathe health and wellness - don't you? And if you aren't willing to commit to health, how can you possibly expect your patients to do so?
References
Read more findings on my blog: http://blog.toyourhealth.com/wrblog/. You can also visit me on Facebook.
When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
