Introduction: Injury Prevention as a Fitness Goal
Hello fellow trailblazers! Today, let’s delve into the revitalized concept of Operation Fitness Frankenstein, ignited by the brilliance of my trainer, Chelsea. The essence? Using ARP wave body scanning to uncover muscle imbalances and weak areas, and then fortifying those areas to ward off injuries. When a muscle is not firing properly, ARP wave electrical impulses get ‘stuck’ there. Then the electrical stimulation intensifies. Recall the sensation of sticking your finger in an electrical socket. (Surely, I’m not the only one who did this as a curious kid, right?) ARP wave identifies the problem area with sudden, aggressive precision. The process is the ultimate in body awareness and cultivates mindfulness, which involves being present and fully engaged in the ‘current’ experience. (HEY YO! Love puns.) But seriously, the research shows that resilience and exercise intensity-tolerance play critical roles in prevention of mental illness1. Training your body and mind to tolerate discomfort is an accessible, essential practice that prepares us to work through life’s difficulties, making us more resilient when the tough times arrive.
Physical Therapy: From Recovery to Continuous Improvement
When it comes to exercise, my self-motivation might fluctuate, but I am steadfast in determination and grit. Chelsea is a master physical therapist, with expertise in sports injuries. She not only laughs at my jokes but also makes physical therapy my loyal companion, complemented by a mix of health practices including: Yoga, Pilates, Barre, Acupuncture, Osteopathy, and yes, even Urology, a vital area often overlooked in Women’s Health. (Trust me ladies ages 45+, it’s the correct specialty for sexual health and hormones, NOT OBGYN). Despite this holistic, comprehensive approach to fitness in mid-life, new challenges sprouted from my various escapades. These included muscle strains from snowboarding faceplants, a lingering childhood wrist injury aggravated by surfing popups, and an array of shoulder issues from countless ashtanga handstand attempts and fails.
A Spark of Genius
Fast forward to November 2023, the idea to train for injury prevention resurfaced during a session with Chelsea. I asked her, “What if next year, we train my entire body to prevent injury altogether?” Her resounding ‘Absolutely’ fueled my belief that this ingenious idea was all mine. Note to self: surround yourself with great people eager to witness your growth and happy to let you take credit for their brilliant suggestions. Operation Fitness Frankenstein, as it turns out, was a rebrand of Chelsea’s idea posed years earlier, that I had casually dismissed or forgotten. The body scan assessment jolted my memory, amusing Chelsea with my seizure-like reactions. My body recoiled from the ARP Wave sensor after each intense spasms with a whimper/laugh at a volume not appropriate for a medical office.
Shock Value: Proactive Health Through Electrical Stimulation
January, the universal month of fitness resolutions, found me standing proud with the crowd. My 2024 fitness goal is to electrically bind the broken pieces together: A comprehensive strategy for surviving adulthood. Identify lazy, dormant areas and give them a jolt of vitality. The endgame? Keep my body and mindset resilient and ready for the adventures that life unfolds. My dream is to continue to find myself discovering new physical feats, perhaps skateboarding or shortboarding, because if I’m still adding fresh experiences to my repertoire, I’m convinced I haven’t yet hit the back 9 of life. I am not a golfer, but I’m down with the “2nd half of life” analogy. How about you? What is your game plan for sustaining strength and resilience as you navigate the twists and turns of this beautiful adventure called life?
Citation link (1): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9168153/