Health, according to the World Health Organization, is “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of diseases and infirmity”. We can all agree that our health is definitely our wealth. As we said in our AgelesssWorkout Book – A Guide to Total Transformation, Mind, Body and Spirit, our health should be our top priority.
The Problem – Current State of Active Aging Adult’s Health
Active aging adults possess a significant share of the nation’s wealth, economy, and a large amount of disposable income. But despite that, there is a lingering problem. The question on how will active aging adults respond to an environment where they continue to be vulnerable to the ongoing circulation of illness, sickness, and or disease.
Around 60% of adults aged 50-64 suffer from at least one chronic health condition. The reality is that half of Americans around the same age would have high blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Not only that, two in five are obese and around 40% have some form of cardiovascular disease.
Research shows there is an overwhelming commitment to make wellness a priority across the active aging community. This is where medical fitness would be a fitting solution for the current situation. To further explain this, Nate and I have decided to take a deep dive into what medical fitness is and we’re inviting you to learn more about it.
Pandemic – A Turning Point for Health & Wellness
The recent pandemic has shone a bright light on how focused(or out of focus) we are in terms of our health and fitness. Small things such as washing our hands and being careful with the things we touch became magnified to a great extent. It enabled us to see things differently and take our health more seriously.
Unless people understand what wellness means to them they will fail to see how a medical fitness culture can support their journey to a better quality of life. Without this clarity, we might feel uncertain about the need to fulfill a medical wellness vision.
And more importantly, the question of what return on investment medical fitness offers clients and organization. With all the fitness advancements we have, there is a need to know how medical fitness practice can actually help active aging adults.
All of us need a lifestyle capable of self-discovery and health literacy. It creates an environment that helps us better understand their current identity and situation and understand medical fitness more which leads to a purpose-filled and engaged life.
Medical Fitness – A Way To Better Quality Of Life
You might be wondering what exactly medical fitness is and how does is it any different from what we know about “fitness” right now. Generally, medical fitness means improving the fitness and health of individuals with illness or injury through the “treatment” of exercise. It is the treatment process for an individual after rehabilitation or after being diagnosed with a chronic disease such as diabetes, cancer and arthritis.
As a matter of fact, the medical fitness industry was born in the late 1970s due to the requests of patients that have undergone rehabilitation to be able to continue exercising under medical supervision in order to do their workouts properly. This specific program incorporates exercise training and education specifically related to an individual’s health conditions. Medical Fitness is a practice that has been simmering for a while.
The idea of continually being active physically seems like a common notion but most of the time, this is not the case. Most people with pre-existing health conditions do not engage in any sustained exercise of any kind after completing rehabilitation. Some just don’t know what kind of exercise would be safe for them or what would give them the best results. Others think that joining a traditional fitness center won’t be able to give them the proper workout regimen that their specific condition requires. This would often result in that person never fully recovering and becoming physically fit.
A properly designed medical fitness program is the key that enabling these individuals to continue their workouts even after the rehabilitation and have effective results. It contributes to the overall health care process in order for them to be physically fit and healthy within the context of their health condition or injury.
Moreover, medical fitness programs expand the health and wellness industry’s market by reaching out to the population that is not yet being served as much. This additional approach to healing is a great avenue that is able to help more people get the best life they can possibly get.