The oldest of the "Baby Boomer" generation (1946 through 1964) is now 62 years old. The youngest among us is forty-two. Other than being born between those years, one thing we have in common with each other is the NONE of us, NOT ONE OF US (other than a few suffering from a particularly peculiar mental illness) wants to be sick, or tired, or stiff, or in pain, or disabled. We especially do not want to become a burden on our families or society in general.Not only that, but we want to continue to do those physical activities that we enjoy: golfing, gardening, dancing, bide riding, hiking, swimming, etc. (Yes, even etcetera. Maybe especially etcetera.) Many of us intend to, either by choice or necessity, to keep working long past the traditional retirement age. Of course, we may have to modify the way we go about it - none of us are 18 anymore - but we want to keep going.
We want to die as young as possible at a ripe old age.
The next time you are on a busy street or in the mall, take a look around you. Of those you see who may be “Baby Boomers” or older, who seems young and vital and who appears old and decrepit? Watch them coming and watch them going past you. Forget about obvious features like gray hair and wrinkles. Concentrate on posture and movement. Do you see small, unsure shuffling steps or confident strides? Is the person erect and alert to his or her surroundings or stooped over and looking at the floor? It’s easy to see that posture and movement are the two most obvious factors that distinguish the young from the old. It would not be difficult to figure out which of those two groups is able to live life more fully.
There are aging factors such as genetics, certain illnesses, and accidents that are beyond our control. That is why it is so important to play the hand we were dealt as wisely as possible. Just a little bit of effort now can make such a difference later. It can literally make the difference between living independently at home, or in an assisted living facility or a nursing home.
It’s hard for me to believe that I will turn 60 next October. (It’s gratifying that, at least most of the time, it is hard for those I tell to believe that as well.) I am doing all that I can to prepare myself for the (hopefully) coming years. I am offering you the same opportunity.
Of course, I will continue to do my best to get all who come to me in pain to get out of pain as quickly as possible. But I want to do more to help all of my patients of all ages, but especially those of my generation, to learn a few simple tools that you can use everyday so that you can improve and maintain the three keys to a youthful frame.
They are: BALANCE, ALIGNMENT, and MOVEMENT.
I recently passed my certification test on the BodyZone system. It is a brilliant approach to teaching patients a basic routine which targets these three important facets of growing older gracefully. There are different levels within each facet so that over the course of 2 to 4 months each person can develop the routine that best suits him or her. The point is to develop an individualized 10 minute daily routine, which together with periodic spinal adjustments will allow you to achieve and maintain strong posture, balance, and movement that will serve you well in the years to come.
