pain (see Chapter 2 for the dangers of using pain as a reliable indicator of health and recovery), practitioner availability, client affordability or textbook guidelines of routine treatment for specified injuries. Whist this may appear reasonable on first observation, what lacks in this model is a thorough understanding of, and appreciation for, the multi-factorial causes that underlie the client’s symptoms. Furthermore, often the comprehensive and individualised treatment regimens necessary to not just achieve a symptom-free state, but rather one of full recovery and optimal health in the future, are grossly underestimated. In my opinion this stereotypical approach to injury management is dangerously reactive and superficial at best and without doubt is ineffective in giving clients real value.
To grasp some early differences between our innovative health philosophy, from that of the more traditional approach, I have provided a summary of the variations in Table 3.1. Notice also the two separate client experiences charted in Diagram 3.2, further depicting the obvious contrasts.
3.1 Contrast of Attributes between Results4Life Philosophy and Traditional Health Care
Our alternative approach with Results4Life is pictorially represented as 6 distinct zones. We believe that for someone to truly achieve long term health they need to pass through these key phases: Discovery, Relief, Conditioning, Learning, Lifestyle and Refinement. No single stage is finite with an absolute start and finish, but rather each stage interweaves and dove-tails with the others, representing key areas of focus that characterise the objectives and activities of the therapist and client. As you follow the megatrend, at the top of the chart of Diagram 3.3, you can easily see where the transition occurs from immediate injury management to more holistic health and wellness.
Discovery Phase Results4Life has, at the core of its philosophy, the acceptance that all symptoms have deep-seated causes that must be thoroughly diagnosed and addressed for long term results. Therapists must discover the relevant information, history and intent of the client during this phase. They must identify the many possible underlying anatomical, biomechanical, inflammatory and physiological reasons why symptoms persist. Often during this process a number of related (and even unrelated) health concerns are discovered, which can be dealt with in due course for optimal benefits. This detailed analysis gives the therapist a clear profile of their client’s current health and wellness state, and offers a critical opportunity for them to identify personal goals with the client to avoid any misdirection in the treatment that inevitably follows. With clarity regarding what is causing the pain and other symptoms the therapists using Results4Life can then confidently design an integrated treatment plan or personal roadmap in consultation with the client to address matters in a prioritised order.
Relief Phase This phase is the period during which clients mostly receive their ‘treatment’. Therapists typically take charge at this point in a very directive role to modify any aggravating activities of the client and get on top of the debilitating symptoms quickly. This can include resolving the pain, swelling, stiffness and instability immediately without any fear that they are masking the true pathology underneath and giving the client a false sense of recovery.
Conditioning Phase As pain reduces and the other symptoms of inflammation subside, many clients are tempted to self-discharge or, worse still, their therapist encourages them to stop treatment. This is premature as generally full recovery has not been achieved. During this phase the treatment transitions into full scale rehabilitation including tailored exercise and modified activity and relies on far more active client cooperation. The tissues and injured parts are strengthened and conditioned for a return to full activity, although it can sometimes feel like ‘two steps forward, one step backward’. Careful persistence and gradual change are essential.
Learning Phase As the client nears the end of the Conditioning Phase, they are likely to have made a full recovery. However, unless there is careful education about all of the ‘big picture’ contributing factors that caused the problem in the first place, and empowerment around self-management of these predispositions, the symptoms are prone to recur. The greatest attribute of successful clients in this phase is an open mind and commitment to lifestyle change. This is also the phase that most traditional therapists undervalue and skip when time is against them.
Lifestyle Phase This is the phase during which real change happens. Having benefited from a clear diagnosis (Discovery), effective treatment (Relief), thorough rehabilitation (Conditioning), and clear education about the necessary lifestyle changes required (Learning), a well-managed client moves into the Lifestyle Phase equipped to perform at their best. The therapist has a far less active role in this stage and is more like a coach who helps guide the development of healthy habits and lifestyle patterns.
Refinement Phase For reasons of accountability and progressive assessment, clients otherwise ‘maintaining’ or developing greater wellness, are encouraged to have semi-regular checkups. These can be monthly, quarterly or only twice a year, depending on how self-sufficient the client is in managing their own health journey. The therapist will take these opportunities to modify exercise programs, lifestyle trends and even expectations as the client re-commits to the next stage of lifestyle health ahead of them.
As the client cycles through the Results4Life zones, they are continuously monitored by the therapist for real-time variations that may be required, and prescribed individually tailored interventions to both treat their injury and be empowered in self-health. The therapist will gradually taper the intensity of input as the client moves through each zone and effectively migrates from being a very directive practitioner to the role of a health coach. Pain and movement patterns are monitored throughout the process, along with other key objective signs and symptoms. However, clients are not discharged on any of these indicators alone, but rather on the well-considered overall progress to date in achieving the primary health and wellness goals identified by the client.
On paper, it may initially look like commitment to a Results4Life approach takes longer and therefore will cost more money. The reality is, with proven experience, not only do clients get far better outcomes (and therefore more value), but also they keep their health benefits for longer and therefore minimise onsets of re-aggravation and the need for recurring expensive treatment. From experience, the Results4Life philosophy is a far superior approach to health and wellness and one that underpins the secrets revealed throughout this book.
Going around in Circles More specifically, our Results4Life philosophy is characterised by empowering clients through a partnership that engages them in a specifically tailored health and fitness pathway. Diagram 3.4 represents an example of the types of treatment and services our clients may conceptually journey through from injury management through to wellness, achieving their personal health and fitness objectives along the way. The pathway is intentionally written as the ‘infinity’ symbol to represent that health is intended to be a lifelong continuous journey. However, if you follow the flow of movement as directed by the arrows, a well person will mostly only navigate through the right hand pathway of “Healthy Living”, and rarely need to journey the “Recovery” cycle on the left side.
A typical recovery program may involve any variety of professional interventions including postural assessments, manipulative therapy, remedial soft tissue work and specific group exercise classes to rehabilitate an injured area. As clients successfully graduate to each new milestone of their recovery pathway, the therapist can review their progress, modify the treatments as required and otherwise progress them
