Prolonging Your Career!

Recently I have been unable to work full-time due to medical issues.  However, it is not due to any chronic or underlying condition i.e. DM or CAD, but to a relatively sudden onset musculoskeletal breakdown.

If you saw the overweight, balding, shuffling, poor posture, and moving slowly provider, THAT WAS ME!

It has become apparent to me, that proper physical conditioning is an absolute requirement for our busy, stress-laden jobs that require of us 5 miles of walking per shift.  I worked out in a linear fashion i.e. elliptical, treadmill, and stationary bike 3-4 times/week faithfully for at least 1 hour sessions.  This did not prevent my problems.

I went to the orthopedic specialist for help with this new issue, and the first thing he recommended was taking up yoga to loosen up my totally “stiff body”.  First attending “restorative yoga” (geriatric yoga where touching your toes means reaching your knees), it was apparent that I should have been doing something like this for years.

After 2 sessions, I could now back up car safely without the use of a camera display or grab things out the back seat easily.  The classes are difficult, but improvement comes with each one.

Everybody worries about their mental health, brain power, medical health but musculoskeletal breakdown needs to be added to the list.  Yoga is a good path; some do Pilates, some intensive stretching; in any case, paying attention to, and managing, muscular flexibility and mobility is key in our profession.