“The
strongest of all warriors are these two – Time and Patience.” Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace
Tune in to
watch the Olympic Games in Rio, and you will see the best athletes in the world
competing against each other and against the clock. Chasing the next world
record and that coveted gold medal means one thing – which athlete can do it
faster! While this certainly makes for great TV, it can be a slippery slope
when it comes to our health.
We live in a
fast-paced culture that thrives on instant gratification. We have certainly
become more advanced, efficient, and productive in nearly all aspects of life.
Can the same be said when it comes to our health? The World Health Organization measures the
performance of healthcare systems and ranks them according to efficiency. As of
the last reporting, it may come as a surprise to find out that the United States
of America ranked 37th in healthcare efficiency. This ranking system
is developed based on factors such as fair-financing, health inequality,
responsiveness, and others. How is it that our advanced culture is not ranking
higher in health? Perhaps we
have overlooked one vital component of creating a healthy lifestyle and culture
– time.
“The
Principle of Time: There is no process that does not require time.” RW
Stephenson
If our culture of instant gratification is not resulting in greater health for ourselves and our families, then we need to rethink our approach. Here are a few key points to consider:
- If you create the conditions for health, you can improve your health - given time
- Health fads that do not require an investment of time will not likely lead to long term benefits
- The absence of symptoms does not equal health
- An investment of time in your health leads to the development of health habits, which is essential for long term improvements in health
At
Zenith Chiropractic, we understand the importance of time in achieving optimum
results. Very often, underlying issues remain undetected until signs and
symptoms present themselves. For example, how would a shift in the foundation
of your home become apparent? You may notice creaking floorboards, cracks in
the plaster, or doors that stick. These are functional issues related to a
structural abnormality that has progressed over a period of time. Which
makes more sense – to put another nail in the floorboards, slap some plaster on
the cracks, and oil doors, OR to correct the issue in the foundation? Any
reasonable person would agree that addressing the foundational issue will achieve
the best long term result. In the same way, Structural Shifts of the spine that
go undetected often present as functional health issues. At Zenith
Chiropractic, we focus on NeuroStructural Correction. That means that we use
state-of-the art tools to objectively detect these shifts and their functional
outcomes. Our care is specifically geared toward obtaining long-term correction,
allowing you to spend more time functioning at your best. At this point, allow me to address a commonly held misconception about chiropractic; "once you start going to a chiropractor, you have to keep going forever." This is simply not true. Our goals are always geared toward achieving a correction and then providing you with the tools maintain it. We find that those patients who engage in this process get the best results by taking responsibility for their own health.
Maybe it is time that we heed the words of Einstein in the
way that we think about our health. With the proper perspective and support,
time is on our side!