5 Pillars to Wellness

Everybody has a trick or tip, but why do some people age successfully and others do not? I believe aging well is complicated and requires a complicated model. This is why I developed this model “5 Pillars to Wellness” after speaking with thousands of people. I built this model off of all the aspects where I found people to typically be deficient.  

1. 1. Drink water
      1. Minimum of 4 glasses of 12oz
      2. Listen to your body
   2. Eat vegetables 
      1. 3-6 cups of vegetables per day
   3. Sleep 7-9 hours/ night
      1. Take a Nap!
      2. But Don’t Take Too Many Naps!
         1. Do you consistently nap several times throughout the day? You might not be sleeping well
            1. Anticholinergics can limit your REM (Rapid Eye Movement) Cycle
               1. Unisom, Benadryl, tylenol PM 
            2. Lack of soft palate tone
            3. Lack of SPO2 (blood oxygenation) 
               1. Can cause snoring and stress to the body
               2. You may benefit from a sleep study!
   4. Treat others well
      1. You cannot be both independent and alone as you age 

• Stay Functional to Stay Independent

1. 1. We will talk more about this in the coming pages

Functional vs Independence
You may be asking yourself, if I am functional, then I will be independent. They are not equal to each other. Independence typically means that you are functional, but independence will also include other complicated aspects in a person’s life. 
For example, a spouse may have sadly experienced their partner pass away. Unfortunately too, the partner that passed may have done all of the finances for the household. Now, although this person can walk, squat, and drive they are clearly not independent.
Another example is that if a spouse is unable to squat down and put groceries away, this person is not functional nor independent. However, their spouse may be able to squat down to put groceries away, in which the household remains independent. 
Many people experience episodes in their life of dependence. Some people experience dependence after fracturing a bone in their leg. Maybe another received a total knee arthroplasty (total knee replacement). Maybe you were very sick. Regardless, most of the time, you had a person who you were close with to help. Unfortunately, it’s hard to form new relationships while you are dependent. 
So, imagine you are 90 years old, you just lost your license, how will you get groceries? Many people assume their caretaker can help, but trust me caretakers are great and all, but nobody can replace a person who truly cares for you. 
You need to treat people well so that people want to be around you and help you. It’s incredibly important. 
Thank you for checking out the Articles from OrMobility Physical Therapy & Performance. We are Roseburg’s only OrMobility Physical Therapy & Performance clinic. However, we do not just service Roseburg. We extend as far as Sutherlin and Green! Call us today to schedule your initial evaluation. Now, continue reading to learn more…