Bridging the Gap Between Healthcare & Fitness

Proximal50 exists because Tana, our fearless leader, had a vision for what wellness could be in our community. While pursuing her undergraduate degree in Exercise Science and then going on to get her doctorate in Physical Therapy, she saw firsthand the gap between healthcare & fitness – and that gap was at the expense of clients & patients.

Here are two common scenarios to illustrate the gap.

Jane is at her annual check-up and her doctor tells her she really should lose some weight. Jane knows this. She doesn’t have the energy she used to. She doesn’t sleep well anymore. Her pants are tight. But the problem is she doesn’t really know HOW to do it. She’s tried joining a gym but it’s always crowded and other than walking on the treadmill, she really didn’t know what she should be doing. The motivation quickly faded.  So hearing this from her doctor just made her more frustrated.

Joe is really fed up with the nagging pain in his knees. He’s seen his doctor about it and he knows surgery will likely be in his future but with his work schedule & family demands, now is just not the time. Joe decides to try Physical Therapy, figuring a even just a little pain relief would help. He works consistently with his Physical Therapist and it does get better – he’s moving better & feeling better. He gets to a point where his Physical Therapist has him doing exercises mostly on his own and suggests that Joe add regular exercise – the stronger & healthier he is, the better for his knee, especially when it’s time for surgery. Joe is somewhat familiar with the gym scene, but wants to make sure he does it right, so he considers personal training. But will his trainer know what Joe should & should not do? How will his Physical Therapy exercises work with his other exercise?

Ok so Jane & Joe are both ready to take the next step but what do they do? Where do they go? 

That’s the gap. That next step. That’s where Proximal50 fits.

For Jane, it’s having professionals – like P50’s Registered Nurse, Registered Dietitian, and Clinical Exercise Physiologist – that can work with her doctor & her to create a plan that meets her needs.

For Joe, it’s having professionals – like Physical Therapists & Personal Trainers – working together so he can exercise & get stronger and do what’s best for his knees.

The gap is where a lot of people get lost, frustrated, lose motivation, plateau, give-up, or end up back where they started. When we say we had a vision for what wellness could look like, we envisioned the gap. Having a place & the right people to support a community wherever people were at: just starting, stuck in the gap, or thriving – all are welcome.

Maybe Proximal50 is not the place for you, and that’s ok. But make sure you are your own advocate and beware of the gap. Speak up, seek the help of professionals who can close that gap. Ask for referrals.