Energy is Everything

One of my mentors says this often, and I do my best to disagree with him as much as possible (it makes for more lively conversation), however I think this one is right on. Energy is the currency with which we all interact, it determines the amount of effort we can put into something, and its availability governs how long we will need to recover from any given experience.

A conversation I frequently have with patients regarding their care is energy conservation. Often, when patients begin to feel better, they quickly progress their exercise regimen. Unfortunately, the progression rate exceeds their capacity, and they are unable to recover in a timely manner. In the realm of rehab, this presents as a recurrence of pain and/or loss of mobility. We then spend a fair amount of time discussing the role of rest and a gradual return to their desired activity level.

Ultimately, this comes down to energy management. Our ability to regulate input and output requires effort, and effort requires energy. We all have a limited supply and examining how you are spending that energy can have tremendous benefits. The big five in terms of maximizing your effectiveness are: sleep, nutrition, exercise, stress management and social interaction. Each one of these elements requires adequate dosage. Some days may be better than others, and rarely are they all balanced, but identifying the limitation and restoring it can be how you get the energy to do everything.

Austin Ulrich, Physical Therapist