Have we got out attitude towards health backwards?

Why is it that without blinking an eye we'll spend $100+ on a new outfit or dinner. Yet when it comes to our health we'll do everything we can to put it looking after it?

Do we have our attitude towards our health backwards?

In 2011 The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare produced the Australian Burden of Disease Study. "It compares the impact of different diseases, conditions, injuries and risk factors on our population." It highlighted that Muscoskeletal conditions, in particular back pain made up 12% percentage of the total burden of disease. (1) Additionally, in a study by Hill et al 2018 Lower Back Pain is now the leading cause of disability around the world. (2) 

Additionally 30% of all conditions that impact our quality and length of life were preventable by modifying or reducing exposure to risk factors. Yet so often we see clients who's pain, injury or poor health could easily be prevented and better managed through early intervention!

It is statistics like these that make us at Just Knead It realise how important it is to take a proactive approach our health. 

So why is it that we don't prioritise our health when it's one of the few things in life we can never get back if we lose it? It's time to shift our attitude!

Generally, when we put off looking after ourselves the long the road to recovery is lengthy. It usually takes a multimodality approach. It's expensive, time consuming, not to mention the impact on your mood and general outlook on life. 

What is that doing to your ability to perform at work or how you interact with friends and family at home?

It's hard to quantify the impact of putting off addressing a health concern. However, if the statistics above are anything to go off the impact is huge! 

So instead can we suggest a different approach!? 

1. Get on top of your health concerns including muscloskelatal issues early. 

• Do you have some back pain but you've been putting off seeing someone about because right now you can put up with it right now?
• Are you putting off going to the Doctor because you're worried about what they might tell you? 
• Early intervention is often the key to so many heath conditions. 

2. Take responsibility and check in with our health mindset. 

• It's up to us to value our health enough to make the time. Is it that you don't have time to fit it in or is it that you don't value it enough make the time? It's a bit of a scary wake up call when we realise we can manage to squeeze in a hair appointment or a catch up with friends. Yet when it comes to our health its down the bottom of our list of priorities. So what is your health attitude? 
• What language are you using when you talk to yourself about your health - be it diet, physical health, mental health, exercise and/or musculoskeletal conditions etc? 
• Focusing on how early intervention can benefit us and the gravity of what can happen if it escalates can be enough to shift that mindset towards proactive health. 

3. We all know what to do. It's up us to schedule the time and make it a priority! 

• Do you know that your posture isn't great but are putting off going to a pilates, yoga or a stretch class? If you know you're not great at doing exercises at home schedule in a class or grab a friend and do it together! 
• Do you have regular exercises that you've been given that you're not making time for? 5 minutes of exercises now can decrease the number of physio or massage appointments you need to recover quickly and prevent injury. 
• The key is to make it work for you! Talk to your health professional if what they've given you is too time consuming or overwhelming.  If you know you're not good at doing those exercises maybe making more regular appointments or see an exercise physiologist so you are accountable to someone as you change your health mindset.  

4. Create yourself a team.

• Often a team approach to treatment is the quickest and most cost effective way to recovery. However, we get it! Wading through the mountain of information to find the right allied health professionals for you can be expensive, confusing and time consuming. 
• Yet taking the time to find yourself a great team of health professionals that understand the importance of together is essential for continuity of care. 
• As a starting point check out our list of trusted referral partners with whom we regularly collaborate.  Ask someone you trust or if you need help working out who to see we are always happy to help!

So finally it's time to shift our mindset towards proactive health so we can live the life we envisage and keep doing the things we love! Don't leave it until it's too late!

References:

1. Australian Burden of Disease Study (2011) - Impact and causes of illness and death in Australia, Australian Institute of health and welfare.  ISBN 978-1-74249-908-6 (PDF)
   
   
2. Jonathan C Hill, David GT Whitehurst, Martyn Lewis, Stirling Bryan, Kate M Dunn, Nadine E Foster, Kika Konstantinou, Chris J Main, Elizabeth Mason, Simon Somerville, Gail Sowden, Kanchan Vohora, Elaine M Hay. Comparison of stratified primary care management for low back pain with current best practice (STarT Back): a randomised controlled trial. The Lancet, 2011; 378 (9802): 1560 DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60937-9
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3. University of Warwick. "Global burden of low back pain." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 21 March 2018 <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/201https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180321130901.htm