Building Lasting Fitness: The Strength of Teams

PHOTO CREDIT: goarmy.com

 

Force Multiplier:  A capability that, when added to and employed by a combat force, significantly increases the combat potential of that force and thus enhances the probability of successful mission accomplishment. (JP 3-05.1) (US DoD)

 

Elite military units require a diverse set of tools, skills, and expertise to accomplish the mission.  The famed U.S.  Army Special Forces, commonly referred to as “The Green Berets,” operate in small versatile 12-man teams called Operational Detachment Alphas (ODA). Each ODA team member is an expert in his field. This means each team has individuals who are masters in weapons, medicine, engineering, communications, etc. Each added skillset is a force multiplier for the whole ODA team. Success in supporting your health and wellness is no different – it can be dramatically improved by utilizing a team of experts.

In the broad field of Health and Wellness, many areas of specialization exist. There are medical doctors, physical therapists, chiropractors, personal trainers, acupuncturists, massage therapists, etc. There is a great deal of overlap as well. Trainers may employ corrective exercises that are commonly used by physical therapists.  A chiropractor may apply the same manual soft-tissue technique that another massage therapist would use. This redundancy can confuse or overwhelm a person seeking professional help. Who should they choose? Which professional is better? Is this worth the money? These are valid questions and it makes sense to ask them. A better question to ask might be “If I could assemble a team of professionals to help me care for my body, what would it look like?”

As a fitness professional, I strive to connect with other experts, therapists, and clinicians in order to better serve my clients. My skills and scope of practice are limited. The more expert resources I have to refer to, the better. The real magic happens when our various skills and talents are combined in concert together.

Picture this scenario: a 50 year-old male client has just started working with a personal trainer. Upon the trainer’s initial screen/evaluation, weakness and poor range of motion (ROM) have been discovered. The trainer does her best to work with the client’s issues while building core strength and improving mobility. The client makes progress, but less than the trainer (and client) would like. The client, now jaded from putting in a lot of effort with little to show for it, quits and stops training. The client’s results and overall experience could have been vastly improved with the addition of a few force multipliers.

Imagine there was an entire team of professionals working to support this man. The same 50 year-old male client has just been determined to have weakness and poor range of motion (ROM) from the trainer’s screening and assessment. The trainer begins the man on a corrective exercise program, focusing on mobility.  The trainer notices her client gets a lot of benefit from using a foam roller and suspects more soft-tissue work would help so she recommends a massage therapist. The client, eager to improve, takes the referral. The massage therapist is able to provide even more relief to the client and also increases his range of motion. The massage therapist notices that the client has a high amount of inflammation and suspects that diet and lifestyle are big contributing factors. This idea is supported by the personal trainer’s initial evaluation. The trainer and massage therapist recommend a holistic nutrition coach. The 50 year-old man, pleased with the trainer’s initial referral recommendation, sets up an appointment with the nutritionist. The nutrition coach gives the man some helpful tips on how to cut back on sugar and alcohol, and sneak in some healthy veggies known for their anti-inflammatory properties. Now, it’s been 3 weeks since the client first began working with the personal trainer and he feels great! The focus on healthy eating has lessened his inflammation and his joints feel much better – he even dropped a few pounds. The massage therapist released several trigger points in his legs and back. He has better posture and can get into the exercise positions much more easily. With increased energy, less soreness, and greater range of motion, the 50-year old man is now able to push through harder training sessions and he is gaining strength and flexibility. He feels like a different person.

Top athletes in sports frequently use an entire staff of professionals to keep them performing at their best and ready for game day. In case you might think that this doesn’t apply to you, pay heed to the wisdom of Nike’s founder, Bill Bowerman. Bowerman said “If you have a body, you are an athlete.” We are often constrained by finite resources. There is only so much time and money to go around. However, even the addition of one member to your wellness team can make a big difference. Try to ascertain where your weak areas are and prioritize working on them first. Seek out the experts in your area and optimize your health and fitness. You only have one body – take care of it!

 

To Your Lasting Fitness,

Matt

 

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