There’s one quality in health care providers that is non-negotiable.
They can be intelligent— having graduated from the most prestigious universities— but if they don’t have this quality, I’d rather avoid them.
Curiosity.
Research indicates that, on average, doctors interrupt their patients within 11 seconds. (source)
(I don't know about you, but there's not much I can explain in 11 seconds.)
And unfortunately, the interruption is most commonly "a question just seeking a 'yes' or 'no' response." (source)
According to the research, it is unlikely that your doctor will be curious about your unique experience.
Without curiosity, they won’t really listen to your story.
Instead they’ll jump to conclusions.
They’ll tell you what to do before you’ve shared the insights that no X-ray or MRI can reveal.
If you have knee pain, they might hand you a sheet of exercises.
Or tell you to ride a bike.
Or recommend that you avoid squatting.
Maybe these generic suggestions help you.
But they may only help you temporarily.
You follow the recommendations for a while, but the pain or discomfort returns.
When someone is telling me about their knees, I get curious.
Here are some of the questions that I ask my clients:
+ When your knees hurt, what words do you use to describe the discomfort?
+ When did your knees first start bothering you?
If there wasn’t a traumatic injury:
+ What, if anything, changed around that time?
+ Is your knee pain pin-pointed or diffuse?
+ Is your knee pain always in the same place? Or does it seem to move around?
+ How do your knees feel in the morning?
+ How do they feel at the end of the day?
+ What makes your knee pain worse?
+ How long does the aggravation last?
+ What makes your knees feel better?
+ How long does the improvement last?
+ Describe your daily or weekly routine. Does this affect your knees?
+ Do you have any aches or pains elsewhere in your body?
Knowing the answers to these and other questions help me develop customized recommendations for my clients.
Afterall, not all of my clients want to play golf.
Not all of them want to play pickleball.
And their knees don't all feel exactly the same when they wake up, when they take the stairs, or when they sit for a long time.
When I listen closely, I can personalize their plan, so they can effectively build stronger, healthier knees.
Regardless of whether you have knee pain — or another health concern — seek out curious medical and fitness professionals.
Client Spotlight:
"I am 60 years old. In 2018, I was scheduled for knee replacement surgery on my left knee. My wife found Laurie on the internet and convinced me to hold off... It is 18 months later now and I have had no surgeries and I have full strength in my left knee. I am amazed and will be forever grateful for her help. Laurie has my highest endorsement." --Eric Stagliano (client from Atlanta, Georgia)
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When you're ready, I offer 3 ways to build stronger, healthier knees :
Tier ONE Get started.
Discover how to make your knees feel better in as little as 10 minutes a day:
The Ten Minute Healthy Knee Starter Kit (online access)
Tier TWO Get better.
Instead of working around your knee pain, follow step-by-step recommendations within our online fitness program and private community:
Better Knees for Life (Costs less than a weekly personal trainer)
Tier THREE Become your best.
Your knees -- both what they've been through & what you need them for -- are as unique as your fingerprints. You need guidance to match.
Receive an ongoing, customized plan to overcome knee pain while working with Laurie during online video sessions:
1:1 Coaching Services (Schedule a free 20-minute Strategy Session to determine if coaching is a good fit for you.)