Since stepping into the world of physical medicine, I鈥檝e constantly heard the phrases 鈥渉ealth is wealth鈥� and 鈥渕ovement is medicine.鈥� As someone who鈥檚 always lived an active lifestyle, my first thought was always, 鈥淲ell, of course!鈥� These words sounded like common sense until recently, when they took on an entirely new meaning.
I鈥檝e played sports my whole life and, thankfully, the injuries were always minor. That changed after one spontaneous night out with friends when I sustained a full-thickness tear of my ACL鈥攎y worst injury yet. I never imagined my life would suddenly pivot (馃檪) in this direction, but then again, whoever does?
Seeing things in a new light.
As a chiropractic student, I鈥檝e studied injuries that reshape people鈥檚 lives鈥攂ut I realize now how little I truly understood what that felt like. These past few weeks have been humbling. For the first time, I鈥檝e looked at stairs with hesitation. I鈥檝e had to plan my day around my physical limitations. I鈥檝e felt what it鈥檚 like to want to move freely and simply not be able to. Those two little phrases, 鈥渉ealth is wealth鈥� and 鈥渕ovement is medicine鈥�, have never felt more real.
I can鈥檛 change what happened, but I do recognize the gift within this experience. I鈥檓 now learning firsthand what many of my future patients are going through. I鈥檓 reminded every single day why our profession matters so much鈥攁nd why restoring and optimizing movement is about so much more than strong joints and muscles. It鈥檚 about giving people their lives back.
A new understanding.
Though this process has been challenging, it鈥檚 also been eye-opening. Every day I learn something new about my mind, my body and my resilience. And every day, I feel more connected to the reason I am here in the first place. Sometimes life has a way of slowing you down just enough to make sure you really understand the words you preach. These next couple months will give me lots of time to understand the weight that these phrases really have.
Learn more about Christina鈥檚 Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine student journey.
