Many people I see are hesitant to find out their risk, thinking that living in oblivion is better than knowing they are in the 15th percentile compared to their age matched norms in how long they can stand on one leg. Tests like the 6 minute walk test can predict morbidity and mortality in certain populations. Grip strength and gait speed can also predict mortality.
You need to know these answers for several reasons.
First, it is expensive to be ill. For example, falls are the number two workplace injury in people 45 and older, and cost an average $34,000 each. In people 65 and over, one in three fall each year. Medicare averaged $9,000-13,500 in payment for these episodes, with a study of people 72 and older costing almost $20,000 per fall. You can read more of the details on the CDC web site.
Second, our entire system has room for improvement. If you doubt me, this New York Times article is a good summary. Even though the article is 5 years old, the US hasn't generated any improvement in the areas where it was ranked low.
Third, illness is more profitable than health. I am on the front lines of Physical Therapy wellness, offering a host of preventive services: injury prediction testing, fitness physicals, bike fitting, video running analysis, golf fitness, and more. The challenge for the healthcare industry is to make wellness more profitable than illness. Even the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association, and the American Cancer Society are dependent on illness to survive. If everyone were healthy, we wouldn't need them. Jon Stewart covered this issue here:
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-october-31-2011/how-a-bill-doesn-t-become-a-law?xrs=share_copy
The last point I will make is one of self-care. Most of us take our cars in for routine maintenance, every 5000 miles or so, but expect our bodies to go 2 million miles without a tune up. Do something to take care of yourself, whether it is at Age Spans, or elsewhere. Age Spans is a great resource for establishing your baseline, tracking your progress, and troubleshooting the bumps in the road. I promise to set you free to go do yoga, pilates, kickboxing, running, or whatever it is that fills your cup, because you NEED to exercise. You also need to know if you are at risk for an injury. Over 50% of cardiac rehab patients stop exercising because of an orthopedic issue. That is why Physical Therapy needs to be inside the fitness industry, not outside. (I'll save that evolution for another blog!). Mechanical dysfunction is predictable and preventable.
Be brave, take off your blinders, invest in yourself, do something to improve your health, and keep yourself out of the system!
Next blog: What kind of self care you need!
Melanie Weller PT, MPT, OCS, CEEAA, ATC
Physical Therapist
Orthopedic Clinical Specialist
Certified Exercise Expert for Aging Adults
Physical Therapist
Orthopedic Clinical Specialist
Certified Exercise Expert for Aging Adults
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