The Physical You Passed and What It Never Told You

Most professional high performers schedule an annual physical. They complete the tests, review the results, hear “everything looks normal,” and leave with peace of mind. 

For decades, the annual physical was pushed as a staple of wellness and staying on top of your overall health. However, 27% of Americans are not up to date on their health screenings. 

A standard physical serves an important purpose: it helps identify disease and uncover potential health risks. Your provider can use the information to understand your overall health and health trends better.

But many executives, athletes, and driven professionals still have questions. They want to know how they are performing, not just if they are healthy by average standards. A clean physical is a very important piece of the puzzle, but it doesn’t answer performance questions.

Health Screenings and Performance Optimizations Are Asking Different Questions

Your annual physical focuses on finding problems and giving you time to correct course. Your physician checks basic markers, such as your cholesterol levels, and evaluates risk factors. They also look for signs that point toward illness or indicate that your health is trending downward. 

Performance optimization starts somewhere else. These types of assessments look at what you are capable of at a physiological level while identifying opportunities for improvement. Instead of asking where you fall on an average range, performance testing helps you understand where you stand and how well your body is functioning. 

Think about it like a vehicle inspection. A mechanic can confirm that your car operates safely. That’s the rough equivalent of a physical. That inspection does not tell you how efficiently the engine performs, how much power it can produce, or how it compares with similar vehicles.

Your body works the same way. You can be healthy and still have plenty of room to get better. 

“Normal” Doesn’t Mean Optimized

Medical reference ranges for bloodwork, weight, and other markers compare you to the average person of your sex and age. For high performers, their goal is not to be average, but to be their best. You can fall within a normal range on all of the major lab markers and still have a lot of room to get better. 

Performance testing can reveal measurements that a traditional physical test does not include, such as:

• VO2 max, which measures how efficiently your body uses oxygen during exercise, one of the most important longevity metrics 
• Body composition, which shows your muscle mass, fat distribution, and bone density through a DEXA scan
• Resting Metabolic Rate, which helps you understand how many calories your body needs to be properly fueled 
• Functional Movement Screening, which evaluates mobility, stability, and movement patterns
• Strength indicators, like grip strength for healthy aging 

The more you know about where you stand, the easier it will be to chart a path forward. 

The Benchmark Most High Performers Never See

Many successful people know exactly where they stand professionally. They track what matters and have a clear plan for getting better. Few know where they stand physically.

When you invest in performance testing, you can learn more about your body and what it is capable of. These evaluations reveal how you compare to people in your age and gender group. Once you know what your starting point is, you can revamp your training to get better, faster, stronger, and healthier. 

Why High Performers Often Don’t Know About Their Physiology

The people who push themselves the hardest professionally often take excellent care of their health. However, traditional healthcare only focuses on keeping you healthy and identifying concerns early. Performance-focused testing explores how you can operate at your best. 

If you’ve spent years optimizing other parts of your life, shouldn’t you give the same level of attention to your body? Advanced assessments, including bloodwork and deep performance analysis, close the information gap in your health journey. You can make data-driven decisions regarding how to eat, train, and recover for the best results. 

Are You Ready to Look Past Your Physical?

For years, your physical may have reassured you that you’re healthy. But what if you also knew how you’re performing and where you could improve? What if Human Powered Health could help you assess your capabilities, where you’re heading, and what changes you need to make to keep performing at your best?

Get started by booking a free 15-minute virtual consultation today!