I have three teenage sons. So needless to say we have never have a shortage of testosterone in our house. The newest thing is boxing gloves. They ended up at our house from another family with three teenage boys. As it happens, they turn my dining room into a boxing ring and pretty soon I can hear them punching away. I never really watch. It is too much for me to see them slug away on each other after we paid so much money for orthodontics. I can only imagine their beautiful smile looking like a hockey player's smile. My husband says: "You need to get use to it, this is what boys do." Well their duels can last for 2 minutes or 20 minutes and usually the gloves come off and someone is really mad then. Sometimes they are running in the house afterwards chasing each other. Anyone with kids knows how this works; they like to challenge each other.

The definition of a challenge is a call to take part in a contest or a competition, such as a duel. Isn't this life? Aren't we always in some kind of a duel? We're trying to deal with all the things coming at us everyday in a safe and competent way.

Our health is a definite challenge in our life. It is probably the most difficult and one of the biggest challenges you will face in your life. Your health needs to be your priority. You need to make a commitment to it everyday. And it is a duel, a fight, a contest and an attempt to put your time into your health, everyday. I have some dear people, I know, who are fighting in a contest for their life. It's not your typical contest, like a 5K, its more like an ultra-marathon, that causes every part of your soul to have to stand up and fight.

It affects every part of your life and all the people around you. These good people and their families have taken a stand to fight for their future. Will you take a stand for your health? Maybe it's your high blood pressure, your diabetes, your weight that will not stay under control or your knee that needs replaced? Maybe it's your mammogram, your yearly physical or your colonoscopy you have been putting off because you think you don't have the money or the time? Believe me we all think like that sometimes.

But don't wait any longer. Get on the phone and make your appointment and get a visit to your MD to be cleared for an exercise program. In Idaho, physical therapists can see patients without a MD referral, so if you need to start an exercise regime and don't know where to start come and see us. We are here for you. We develop and set up health regimes for patients everyday. That is our expertise. We understand the body and how it moves and what it needs to do to be at its top performance. Remember: Never give up on your health. We are here to help.

Sheree DiBiase, PT and her staff can be reached at Lake City Physical Therapy (208) 667-1988 for your health challenges, whether a tendonitis, muscle strain or oncology fatigue.