What can be better than Harvard Medical School's guides?

I receive emails from Harvard Medical School almost every day.  They are great!  They are full of good to know information and advice on how to get and to stay healthy.  They also offer more in-depth information via special reports that are available at a cost.  

I have been thinking about the information that is so helpful to the public but the barrier of the cost.  And, let's be honest.  Most people are just not inclined to read medical journals on a daily basis as I am.  What is fun and exciting for me is a tedious task for others.  So, I thought that I would summarize some of the information from the emails, not the special reports.  I don't think that is ethical for me to summarize their special reports.  But, I can point you to free resources that can give you the same information.

Yesterday's email was on functional fitness.  I love that idea.  It went into detail about the physiological changes that everyone's body goes through with age and how to specialize your fitness regiment to combat those changes.   

This is not a new concept and most physical therapists, fitness trainers and occupational therapists are very familiar with what is needed for bodies as they age. 

A resource that most don't think about is the medical insurance company.  You being healthy saves them money and they know it.  Insurance companies actually invest a lot of money and resources into wellness programs.  Most of us are concerned only with our premium payment amounts, co-pays and maximum out-of-pocket expenses for the year.   We rarely even think about the other options that may be available to us.  

My current insurance company offers free access to a physical therapist and customized therapy plans.  Not just one visit, but daily check- ins, follow-ups and adjustments for as long as you need it.  All completely free.  I didn't have an injury but I am getting older and my Achilles was tender.  Why?  It's just because I'm old.  Things just start hurting for no reason. Well, my therapist created a plan for me to help strengthen my tendons and the muscles surrounding it.  She mailed tension bands and other equipment to my house for me to use.  When I twisted an ankle or pulled a muscle, she altered the therapy to address those issues.  I am pretty clumsy.  I have always been that way.  I heal quickly so I am okay with it.  I digress. Bottom line is that I got all of this care, tailored for me, my weight, my age and my clumsiness completely free through my insurance company.   You see, it costs a lot less to pay a few bucks for tension bands and therapy plans rather than to let my Achilles actually break.  Then the insurance company has to pay for the surgery, hospital stay, physical therapy and a year's worth of recovery doctor visits. 

A side tip for human resource directors is that most insurance companies offer a discount on the insurance premium if your company participates in one of their gym wellness plans.  The insurance company will offer gym memberships to your employees at a discount rate that they have negotiated with gyms themselves.  They then will offer the company a discount to allow time and space for the employees to attend the gym.  This could look like giving employee's an extra 1/2 hour for lunch if they go to the gym.  This enables them to have time to work out and shower before coming back to lunch.  

If you belong to a gym, one of the perks that almost all gyms offer is a fitness trainer.  That trainer will know and understand the physiological changes that occur as a body ages and their job is to tailor a program to address those needs for you.  

We have resources, free resources around us.  Often times it is just a matter of knowing that they exist.  I will do my best to continue to highlight resources that may be meaningful to you.