Are You Passive Or Proactive When It Comes To Your Health?
Oct 16, 2022
There are two different approaches when it comes to finding solutions for chronic pain or injury. You can take the passive approach which means you are following medical advice or treatment plans that have been prescribed for you with very little research, input or effort of your own. You are relying on external sources to heal you and you are handing over the sole responsibility for your health to practitioners. On the other hand, the proactive approach means you are taking responsibility for your own health & well-being. You ask questions, gather information and make decisions based on your findings after weighing up the opinions and advice you receive about treatment options. What is the difference between these 2 approaches and why do some people gravitate toward one or the other?
Shirley Takes The Passive Approach
Shirley, who is in her late 60s, lives not far from me. For about a year now, she has had a very painful shoulder injury which is preventing her from maintaining her once beautiful garden. It's also making caring for her 18 month old grandson a huge challenge too. When I look at Shirley's round-shouldered posture and see how much height she has lost in the 15 years that I have known her, it's not surprising her shoulder has deteriorated. There is uneven wear and tear on the joint, tendons and ligaments because of her posture which has ultimately resulted in shoulder bursitis. Shirley knows I teach Pilates and specialise in helping people to become pain-free so they can move with ease and go back to enjoying all the things they love in life again. But Shirley isn't interested in anything that requires any effort. Her trusted GP has suggested a range of options to her including having an ultrasound on her shoulder to confirm the diagnosis but Shirley can't see the point. She said that she knows it is injured so why bother? Pilates rehabilitation was also advised by her GP which would improve her posture but of course Shirley has already decided that's not for her. She said she doesn't want to put in any effort toward her recovery. The only treatment she has accepted so far is anti-inflammatory medication which takes the edge off the pain. Other than that, she will put up with the pain and the reduced quality of life. Sadly, it's only going to get worse so I'm not sure what she will do then and I'm very concerned what the future holds for her.
Max Takes The Proactive Approach
On the advice of his GP, 55 year old Max started Pilates with me due to severe back pain caused by 2 lumbar disc bulges. His doctor wanted Max to strengthen his core and support his spine so he would be pain-free but also so he could avoid spinal surgery. Max is a quiet yet determined person who was highly motivated to move without pain again and he wanted to do this as soon as possible. He was willing to do whatever it took to succeed in reaching his goal. In addition to twice weekly virtual Pilates sessions with me via Skype, he did small daily 10 or 15 minute PIlates sessions using the videos on my on-demand website to further fast-track his progress. He was overweight due to his sedentary corporate job which combined with attending endless work dinners with plenty of gourmet food and wine resulted in excess belly fat. This increased load on his spine further exacerbated his back-pain. His doctor put Max on a strict diet, which consisted of meal-replacement shakes and minimal food each day so he could shed the unwanted kilos quickly. He also asked Max to include walking in his daily schedule as well, which meant he had to get up early and do this for 30 minutes before work each day. What a regime! Max was so disciplined and never complained and before long he saw amazing results for his efforts. He lost the weight was pain-free and felt like a new man. Then he had to work on maintaining it which he has succeeded in doing. He definitely has flare-ups of back pain if he has been sitting at his desk or on a plane for many hours for example. I've given him a Pilates management plan and he can access my on-demand videos from anywhere in the world and get back-on track again. which he describes as a very empowering feeling.
Why Is The Proactive Approach Less Popular?
Despite the life-changing results that can be acheived the proactive approach to health is less popular because it requires a lot more effort and discipline than the passive approach. As humans, our bodies and minds are designed to look for the easiest path or the path of least resistance. That's why so many people, just like Shirley want someone else to "fix" them. They are looking for a way of reducing their pain level with the easiest solution possible which is usually for most people pain-relief medication. Others won't even try medication and will do nothing but just put up with the pain and hope it goes away. As you can see from Max's story it took a lot of self-discipline and consistent effort for him to achieve what he did but he avoided spinal surgery, lost weight and was pain-free. It was inspiring and rewarding for me to be asissting him towards his goals and he was proud of himself for committing to his recovery. He had never felt better in his life!
How Can You Be Proactive With Pilates?
If you have taken the passive approach in the past, it's never too late to change and become proactive. If you want to become pain-free and are willing to invest time and energy into making Pilates part of your pain-relief plan, with patience and persistence, you will successfully reach your goal, just like Max did. Pilates is definitely not a quick fix and it typically takes 10 sessions (approx 10 hours of training) before you will start to see results. Like anything worthwhile, it takes time to develop your skills, but if you are the type of person who values their health and wellbeing, my online Pilates program is for you. If you are dealing with pain such as back, knee, hip, neck or shoulder pain, it would be my pleasure to assist you to overcome it and move with ease again. If you are ready to start your Pilates journey please contact me at [email protected]. Alternatively, click here to learn more about my online studio and how you can start working with me. It would be my pleasure to assist you in taking the proactive approach in your recovery!
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