Why Unity Believes in Principles Over Methods for Sustainable Health
- Unity
- Apr 22
- 4 min read
At Unity, we focus on principles over methods because we understand that each person’s body and health journey are unique. Instead of using rigid, one-size-fits-all approaches, we apply fundamental principles that address the whole person and create sustainable, lasting changes.
The Power of Principles:
A principles-based approach gives us flexibility to meet each client’s needs individually. Here’s why we believe that focusing on principles is more impactful than using a single method:
1 - Honoring the Body’s Natural Hierarchy: True health relies on the balance and cooperation of all body systems. Inspired by the work of Andrew Taylor Still, the founder of osteopathy, Unity emphasises that every system in the body impacts another. Still taught that pain or discomfort can often stem from imbalances in systems like the nervous or lymphatic systems, rather than solely in the muscles or joints. This holistic view aligns with Dr. Perry Nickelston’s Body Systems Hierarchy, which lists the body’s systems in order of priority, from highest to lowest:
Nervous System
Lymphatic System
Digestive System
Vascular System
Organs
Nerves
Endocrine System
Musculoskeletal System
Soft Tissues
When pain arises in the musculoskeletal system or soft tissues, the root cause might lie higher in the hierarchy. For example, supporting the nervous or lymphatic systems could resolve issues further down the chain, such as muscle pain or tension. At Unity, we focus on this balance to treat root causes, not just symptoms (Project Gutenberg, 2023; Stop Chasing Pain, 2023).
2 - Applying the Joint-by-Joint Model for Context: The Joint-by-Joint Model, developed by strength coaches like Mike Boyle and Gray Cook, helps us assess each joint’s specific need for either stability or mobility. For instance, the hips and shoulders benefit from mobility, while the lower back and knees require stability. This model helps us identify where problems might arise and what areas to focus on. If you’re experiencing knee pain, for instance, it may actually stem from tight hips or ankles, not the knee itself. This principle helps us find solutions that last, rather than treating symptoms alone (Boyle and Cook, 2023).
3 - Balancing Load and Recovery for Resilience: Health and resilience come from the body’s ability to adapt to gradually increasing challenges. This is where the Load vs. Capacity model is invaluable. It teaches us to balance the body’s load (exercise, movement, and daily stress) with adequate recovery (sleep, hydration, nutrition) to avoid overwhelming any single area. For clients, this means building strength without risking injury, reducing chronic pain, and managing daily stressors in a way that supports long-term health (BMJ, 2023; All Elite Physio, 2023).
Why Context Matters:
One of the biggest strengths of a principles-based approach is that it considers each client’s unique context. Pain can be complex—a pain in the knee, for example, might not stem from the knee itself. By taking into account your lifestyle, goals, and overall health, we get a clearer picture of the underlying issues influencing pain and discomfort.
The Body Systems Hierarchy provides a roadmap that helps us prioritise your treatment effectively. For instance, if you’re dealing with chronic back pain, improving the function of the nervous and lymphatic systems may relieve the strain on your back muscles and joints. Similarly, the Joint-by-Joint Model can show that addressing hip mobility might benefit lower back pain, even though the pain isn’t felt in the hips.
How Unity Applies Principles with Clients:
Listening to Your Body’s Signals: We work with you to understand your body’s messages, helping you spot signs of imbalance early. This includes respecting the body’s natural hierarchy and focusing on the highest-priority systems first for a solid foundation.
Encouraging Gradual, Sustainable Changes: Rather than pushing intense, short-term programs, we build strength, flexibility, and resilience progressively, allowing your body to adapt. This aligns with the Load vs. Capacity and Joint-by-Joint principles, helping you become stronger and more resilient over time without risking overuse or injury.
Prioritising Recovery: Supporting recovery—through sleep, hydration, and stress management—is central to sustainable health. We work with you to create a balanced approach that lets your body rebuild and adapt, making specific methods, like exercise, more effective.
A Pathway to Lasting Health:
Unity’s principles-over-methods philosophy empowers you to make sustainable, lasting changes. By focusing on principles that honor your body’s design, we help you understand your unique needs and work with them, building health and resilience in a way that’s not dependent on temporary solutions. This approach helps you achieve a balanced, pain-free, and independent life.
Reference List
- Project Gutenberg, 2023. Philosophy of Osteopathy by Andrew Taylor Still. Available at: <https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/25864>
- Stop Chasing Pain, 2023. The Body Systems Hierarchy by Dr. Perry Nickelston. Available at: <https://www.stopchasingpain.com>
- All Elite Physio, 2023. Running Injuries: Load vs Capacity Explained. Available at: <https://allelitephysio.com.au/running-injuries-load-vs-capacity>
- BMJ, 2023. Load vs Capacity: the good and the debatable. BJSM Blog. Available at: <https://blogs.bmj.com/bjsm/2023/03/21/load-vs-capacity/>
- Medical News Today, 2023. The Glymphatic System and its Role in Brain Health. Available at: <https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/glymphatic-system>
- Dr. Lam Coaching, 2023. Lymphatic System Health and Detoxification. Available at: <https://www.drlamcoaching.com>
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