| In my previous article called "Exercise - Identifying | | | | half inch high and two inches wide on the inside of |
| Our 3 Biggest Fears" I settled on these top three: | | | | my arm just above the elbow. I'll let you wonder |
| - we don't want to get hurt | | | | how in the world, but I assure you it was nearly |
| - we don't want to act without our doctor's | | | | effortless. |
| permission | | | | Scanning the appropriate shelf in the well-stocked |
| - we don't want to look bad | | | | drug store I was a bit overwhelmed with the |
| We addressed coming to terms with injuries and | | | | number of choices of burn remedies. I went to |
| the best ways to avoid getting hurt. In this article | | | | the pharmacist in his spotless white lab coat to |
| we'll address the second two big worries. | | | | ask his advice and see if he felt the more |
| Health Professionals | | | | expensive state-of-the-art burn dressing was |
| If you have any major health problems you have | | | | worth five times the price of the simple band aids |
| to handle them whether you exercise or not so it | | | | and some antibiotic salve. He told me he could not |
| would be best to learn how they relate to your | | | | possibly advise me and I would have to go see a |
| fitness plans as soon as you can. This brings us | | | | doctor. When I continued to stare at him with my |
| immediately to the subject of health professionals. | | | | dumbfounded expression of disbelief he explained |
| This field seems to get more controversial, | | | | that burns were much more serious than cuts, |
| complex and less certain the more it advances. | | | | more likely to scar, more prone to infection and |
| Additional practitioners like naturopaths, | | | | that I really needed the advice of a doctor to |
| chiropractors, kinesiologists, acupuncturists, | | | | address it. |
| herbalists, various massage therapists and others | | | | I didn't tell him what I thought of his advice, nor |
| have added mightily to our options, choices and | | | | how many times I'd survived similar burns without |
| models of health. Still, I think the mainstream | | | | even a pharmacist's wisdom to guide me, but I |
| allopathic doctors remain the most respected and | | | | grabbed the band-aids and cream and everything |
| the most feared by the general public. They | | | | turned out fine. This mindset, however, that |
| certainly remain the group most commonly | | | | doctors know best, is what we're trained to |
| included in health insurance policies and perhaps | | | | believe. Even now I feel a strong urge to remind |
| this is one major reason for their continued | | | | you that there are no initials after my name. |
| dominance. | | | | Ultimately, however, we are each responsible for |
| I met a guy in the gym a while back who was | | | | managing our own health. We each have to make |
| doing deadlifts. These are very difficult exercises | | | | our own choices and take care of ourselves as |
| requiring the whole body, particularly the back, the | | | | we see fit. |
| legs, shoulders and a strong grip often supported | | | | Saving Face |
| with straps. I kidded him that it was hard for me | | | | Okay, so now we've covered injuries and doctors |
| to even watch him do those heavy lifts though | | | | which leaves us with the issue of looking bad. It |
| he was very solidly built and was obviously having | | | | seems clear that 1) the longer we delay, put off |
| no trouble with them. | | | | and do nothing the worse we're going to look |
| We started talking and he mentioned that he had | | | | anyway and 2) beginners in any endeavor look |
| injured his back during some sort of a childhood | | | | awkward, unskilled and untrained so if you worry |
| accident. His doctor told him he needed to stop | | | | too much about looking bad you're in danger of |
| doing these exercises before he hurt himself. He | | | | closing the door to learning anything new. Now |
| was apparently not so happy with this advice and | | | | that seems a lot more frightening to me than |
| sought the opinion of another doctor, a sports | | | | looking bad, yet again, decide for yourself - just |
| physician. The sports doctor said the heavy | | | | be aware of the underlying implications of |
| exercise he was doing to strengthen his back was | | | | decisions like these. |
| the main thing holding him together and keeping | | | | There's some good news as well. From my |
| any negative symptoms from the injury at bay. | | | | experience the gym scene has changed. From |
| He confidently said, "I chose to believe him". That | | | | what I see these days more than half of those in |
| was many years ago and he has remained strong | | | | the gym are very obviously there because |
| and fit as he continues his deadlifts. | | | | they're no longer comfortable with the shape |
| Not Everyone Follows Their Doctor's Advice | | | | they're in, for whatever reasons. I have to admire |
| The famous martial artist and movie actor Jet Li | | | | them for tackling the issue and facing the |
| broke his leg early in his training and his doctor | | | | challenge. The more they work at it the better |
| told him he had to stop practicing martial arts. | | | | they look. And most gyms now have fairly |
| When Mr. Li asked the doctor what's the worst | | | | low-cost training sessions available for those who |
| thing that could happen if he didn't stop, the | | | | are just getting started. |
| doctor replied that he could break his leg again. Jet | | | | Another option, of course, is exercising at home |
| Li then ignored his doctor's advice and went on to | | | | where only those in your house will see you. You'll |
| become the powerful martial artist we still see | | | | also have fewer people to watch and copy and |
| today in the movie theater. | | | | fewer people you can ask questions. You'll find a |
| Some months ago I went to the drug store to | | | | lot more options in this direction than ever before |
| get something for the burn on my arm. I had | | | | as the exercise equipment industry is booming, |
| very adroitly burned off an oval of skin about a | | | | another topic entirely. |