Mixed Medical Arts | The much-needed evolution of medicine
Not too long ago, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) completely shook up the combat sports world. When Golden Gloves Boxers began entering the ring and fighting Kung Fu masters and/or Sumo wrestlers, the new Mixed Martial Art form was born. Now a days it is well known that a fighter well versed in MMA will normally win a fight against a fighter using a single discipline. The reason is simple, when you combine the best of the best you end up with something better than the rest. This same strategy of combining the best from multiple disciplines has now been applied to the healing arts. We call this Mixed MEDICAL Arts (MMA). This new form of MMA involves integrating numerous healing arts such as traditional allopathy and osteopathy with chiropractic, podiatry, meditation, regenerative medicine, herbal, and Holistic healing disciplines. Below is the “take down” on how and why Mixed Medical Arts is having better outcomes for patients.
What is Mixed Medical Arts?
Versatility and Adaptability: Just like Mixed Martial Arts blend different martial arts disciplines, Mixed Medical Arts combine holistic approaches, mental health practices, and traditional medicine. Better outcomes are achieved by combining these practices. This diversity allows our patients’ treatment to become more well-rounded and versatile. The focus is on making the patient healthier not just on treating diseases or injuries leading to better outcomes. Patients enlist the help of their provider to help them fight their disease, illness, or injury. Why not choose a provider that practices MMA which will increase your chance of overcoming your problem?
This approach is a game-changer. It prevents patients from becoming victims of the old ways of over-prescribing narcotics or overlooking underlying ailments. The dangers of those outdated practices can cause more harm than good, but with providers who have a wide range of tools and education in mindful medicine, patients can be saved from a lifetime of struggle with addiction or misdiagnosed conditions. It’s like having a super soldier on your side, fighting for your well-being. Having someone in your corner that is fighting to make you as healthy as possible.
Avoiding The Medical Mill
Patients often get stuck on medical mill getting passed around from provider to provider. It is one of the primary reasons comprehensive care gets lost. When treatment is compartmentalized by specialties, and general practitioners have large caseloads lead to lack of accountability and follow through in chronic conditions and mental health. 24/7 lifestyle requires a comprehensive look at several aspects of a person’s life, from diet, occupation, activities, sleep and mental health.
Why Is It so Rare?
With MMA being so effective then why has mainstream medicine not yet adopted this approach? Unfortunately, the reasons are many and unfounded. Many providers use the same traditional techniques and approaches that they were taught long ago when they were students. Many providers are so swamped with patients that they have no time for innovation. Some providers are not willing to try new methods of care. Many healthcare providers may look at other healing disciplines as threats or competition and, as a result be less willing to work with them. For whatever the reason, many healthcare providers have been playing it “Safe” and not engaging with MMA. Healthcare needs to constantly innovate for it to be more effective. Mixed Medical Arts is the next big innovation for healthcare and we salute the providers that are embracing it.
With MMA being so effective then why has mainstream medicine not yet adopted this approach? Unfortunately, the reasons are many and unfounded. Many providers use the same traditional techniques and approaches that they were taught long ago when they were students. Many providers are so swamped with patients that they have no time for innovation. Some providers are not willing to try new methods of care. Many healthcare providers may look at other healing disciplines as threats or competition and, as a result be less willing to work with them. For whatever the reason, many healthcare providers have been playing it “Safe” and not engaging with MMA. Healthcare needs to constantly innovate for it to be more effective. Mixed Medical Arts is the next big innovation for healthcare and we salute the providers that are embracing it.
Continuing Medical Education (CME) should include a focus on Mixed Medical arts. CME could easily include exposure to successful MMA integrated approaches to health problems. Academic institutions need to begin measuring the outcomes of MMA. Educators should begin researching and teaching high quality MMA. For example, they should begin understanding and teaching providers how chiropractors and traditional doctors can begin working together along with acupuncturists to offer narcotic free effective treatment for pain. It is crucial for providers to jump off the conveyor belt of old knowledge that blinds them from treating the patient as a whole. As a healthcare provider, it’s a personal responsibility to seek out new knowledge and advancements in their practice. The so-called “traditional” way of doing things may not always be the best route for treating a patient. Just like in fighting, no matter how strong you are in one discipline, you may never win against a Mixed Martial Artist who is diverse in multiple forms of combat. Providers who explore new forms of medicine, whether holistic or not, are highly effective when it comes to patient health.
Evolution of Techniques: The nature of MMA as a competitive sport has driven the evolution of martial arts techniques. A portion of medical professionals are constantly exploring and experimenting with new medical techniques, treatments, and technologies. This continuous evolution creates a feedback loop, where professionals learn from one another, adopt effective techniques, and refine them further. As a result, the overall level of medical technique has risen significantly over the years, making some medical professionals more skilled and capable. The sharing of knowledge and techniques among the healing professions can accelerate the growth and improvement of medical practices.
Conclusion
So, let’s give a big shout-out to mixed medical arts and multi-specialty facilities for making our medical professionals more versatile, well-rounded, and ready to knock-out any health challenge that comes their way vs other providers that tap out because its unfamiliar. They’re the fighters we need in the constantly evolving world of medicine, always seeking new knowledge and innovative approaches to ensure our well-being. Medicine is an art of skill and knowledge that combats our health problems. When your health is on the line, who do you want in your corner?