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(805) 331-1111
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1155 Coast Village Road Suite B
Montecito, CA 93108
Frequently Asked Questions
Years ago, as the CEO of a growing company, I learned something simple but lasting: the quality of your decisions improves dramatically when you’re surrounded by the right people. Not the loudest voices or the biggest promises—but a thoughtful team you trust.
Healthspan+ is meant to serve that role for your health. A place where questions are welcomed, clarity is valued, and decisions are made with care. Over time, the goal is not to hand responsibility over to someone else, but to help you become more informed, more confident, and ultimately the CEO of your own health.
TOPICS:
Membership and Getting Started
Assessments, Testing and Medical
Strength Training and Performance
General & Introductory Questions
1. What is Healthspan+ Montecito?
Healthspan+ is an exclusive health club in a lovely setting designed to help you stay strong, capable, and confident in your body as you age. Instead of guessing which exercise or health strategies might help, you start with objective insight—using tools like DEXA scans, VO₂ Max testing, and movement evaluation to understand what your body needs now. From there, everything is personalized and measurable, so your effort is focused and progress is intentional.
2. Is Healthspan+ a medical clinic or a gym?
Healthspan+ is intentionally neither, and in some ways both. You receive the insight of medical-grade assessment and physician oversight, combined with personalized training in a private, performance-focused setting. The advantage is integration: your exercise, recovery, and health decisions are informed by real data, not guesswork. What you do at Healthspan actually aligns with what your body needs, both medically and functionally.
3. What’s the difference between lifespan and healthspan?
Lifespan is how long you live. Healthspan is how long you stay strong, mobile, and independent along the way. Many people live longer without preserving muscle, bone strength, or cardiovascular fitness—resulting in more years lived with limitation. Healthspan focuses on protecting the capabilities that matter most: strength, mobility, balance, aerobic capacity, and metabolic health. The goal isn’t just more years, but better years.
4. What does Medicine 3.0 mean in practical terms?
Medicine 3.0 emphasizes prevention, early detection, and personalization. Instead of waiting for disease, you look for early risk signals—changes in body composition, VO2 Max, biomarkers, and movement quality—and act while there’s still time to intervene. The benefit is earlier course correction, better decisions, and a far greater chance of preserving strength, mobility, and long-term independence.
5. Who is Healthspan+ best suited for?
Healthspan+ is best suited for adults who want to be strong, active, and independent as they age—and don’t want to leave that outcome to chance. It’s a good fit for people who value prevention, want clear guidance based on objective data, and prefer a more thoughtful approach than a standard gym or an annual physical can provide.
6. Is this “biohacking,” or is it evidence-based?
Healthspan+ is grounded in what consistently works: building strength, improving cardiovascular fitness, protecting metabolic health, and supporting recovery. These fundamentals have the strongest evidence behind them. When newer therapies are considered, they’re used thoughtfully, under physician supervision, and only as additions to—not replacements for—a solid foundation. The focus stays on results you can measure and sustain, not experiments or trends.
7. What health markers matter most for increasing healthspan?
A small number of markers are strongly linked to how well you age. Muscle mass and strength predict independence. Bone density reflects fracture risk. VO2 Max is one of the best indicators of long-term cardiovascular resilience. Metabolic health influences energy, inflammation, and disease risk. When these markers are protected or improved—and tracked over time—you dramatically improve your odds of staying active, capable, and independent as the years go on.
8. Do I need to already be fit to start?
Absolutely not. Many people begin at Healthspan+ because they aren’t where they want to be—and don’t want to drift further in the wrong direction. If you’re deconditioned, returning after time away from exercise, or managing joint pain or old injuries, you often have the most to gain. Programs are scaled thoughtfully based on your initial movement evaluation, so you build strength and capacity safely, at the right pace, without feeling overwhelmed or pushed beyond what your body can handle.
Membership and Getting Started Questions
9. Is Healthspan+ membership-based?
Yes. Healthspan+ is built as a membership so your progress isn’t treated as a one-time event. Membership allows for ongoing guidance, structured training, and repeat measurement over time—so adjustments are made as your body adapts and goals evolve. The benefit is continuity: instead of starting over repeatedly, you build momentum and protect the gains that matter most.
10. What’s the difference between a Membership and a Package?
A Healthspan+ Membership provides ongoing guidance, priority scheduling, and consistent access—making it the best option for people who want continuity and guaranteed availability. Customizable Packages are also available. They are designed for those with specific needs, irregular schedules or frequent travel. They allow you to purchase a set number of sessions and use them over time, based on availability. The tradeoff is that packages require more scheduling flexibility, while membership offers predictability and structure.
11. Can I access services without becoming a member?
Yes. Certain services—such as DEXA scans, comprehensive health assessments, and VO2 Max testing—are available without membership. This allows you to start with objective insight, even if your schedule or circumstances don’t yet allow for ongoing training. Many people begin with a health assessment and DEXA scans to establish a baseline, then decide whether deeper, more continuous support makes sense once they see what the data reveals.
12. What happens during a first visit?
First visits usually begin with a conversation about goals, health history, and any constraints you’re working around. You’ll tour the facility, meet members of the team, and get a clear sense of how Healthspan works. From there, we outline next steps—what to look at first, which assessments would be most useful, and whether the approach feels like the right fit. The goal is clarity, not commitment, so you can decide how you’d like to proceed.
13. Do you offer private tours?
Yes. Many people start with a private tour to see the space, meet the trainers, get a feel for the environment, and ask questions in a relaxed setting. The experience is unhurried and conversational. Most visitors comment on how calm and welcoming the space feels—and how approachable the team is—making it easier to imagine how Healthspan might fit into their routine. → Request a private tour
14. Do I need a referral to join?
No referral is required. Many people find Healthspan+ on their own and begin with a conversation or a single service. When helpful, we also coordinate with your existing physician to share results and support continuity of care. That said, a significant number of new members come through personal referrals—often from friends or family who’ve experienced the process themselves. Because we limit membership to maintain a high level of personal attention, availability can change over time.
15. Do you coordinate with my primary care doctor?
Coordination is entirely up to you. With your permission, assessment results can be shared with your physician, so your broader medical care benefits from clearer, more actionable data. In some cases, information from your physician—such as prior injuries, diagnoses, or current conditions—can also be helpful for us to understand, allowing your training and assessments to be better aligned with your overall health.
16. Are services covered by insurance?
Most preventive and performance services are paid privately. Physician-directed testing and training services may be eligible for HSA or FSA reimbursement, depending on your plan. In addition, certain lab services can often be billed directly to insurance. Coverage varies, so we’re happy to help clarify options as part of an initial conversation.
17. Can couples or families participate?
Yes. Many members choose to participate alongside a spouse, partner, or family member. Shared participation often improves consistency and accountability, and it can make the experience more meaningful and sustainable. Each person’s plan remains individualized, but moving through the process together tends to support better follow-through over time.
18. How much time does membership require each week?
Healthspan+ offers three membership tiers, structured around one, two, or three sessions per week. Each visit typically lasts 60 to 75 minutes, depending on the service modalities involved. Your choice depends on your goals and expectations. For most people, two sessions per week strikes the right balance—frequent enough to drive meaningful change without feeling burdensome. From there, frequency can be adjusted as required.
19. What if I travel frequently?
Frequent travel is common among our members. As long as you let us know in advance, missed appointments due to travel or illness are not charged and can be rescheduled and made up at a later time. For clients with especially demanding or unpredictable schedules, multi-visit packages may be a better option. They allow sessions to be used more flexibly—subject to availability—while still benefiting from the same thoughtful approach to training and care.
Assessments, Testing and Medical Questions
20. What assessments are available at Healthspan+?
Healthspan+ offers a focused set of assessments designed to clarify how your body is functioning now and where attention matters most. These include DEXA bone and body composition scans, VO2 Max testing, blood and urine biomarkers, EKG, cognitive testing, cancer screening tests, functional movement evaluation, and grip strength assessment. Results are reviewed by a physician and used to guide clear, practical next steps—so decisions are based on insight, not assumptions.
21. Who oversees medical testing?
Medical testing and physician-directed services are overseen by our on-staff concierge physician, Dr. Ryan Arnold. His role is consultative—providing clinical insight, interpretation, and guidance based on your assessments—without replacing your primary care physician. When appropriate, findings can be shared to support continuity and coordination of care.
Movement evaluations are overseen by Dr. Jeremy Alvarez, our Sports Medicine Specialist, who is also available for rehabilitation therapy and personalized training when indicated.
22. What does a DEXA scan measure exactly?
At Healthspan+, we offer both types of DEXA scans, each answering a different set of important questions.
The Body Composition scan shows how much muscle you have, how much fat you carry, and where that fat is distributed—including visceral fat. This helps you see whether your current nutrition and training are aligned with your body’s needs, whether your exercise is actually building muscle, and whether metabolic risk deserves attention.
The Bone Density scan looks at bone mineral density and bone quality. We also provide Trabecular Bone Score (TBS), an advanced analysis that provides deeper insight into bone strength and fracture risk by assessing bone microarchitecture—information that standard bone density tests often miss and that is not commonly available elsewhere.
Both scans are fast, very-low exposure, and give you clear data you can act on. They are commonly provided together in one 30-minute visit.
23. Is a DEXA scan safe?
Yes. A DEXA scan uses very low levels of radiation and is widely considered safe. The exposure is minimal—often compared to the amount of natural background radiation you might receive during a day outdoors or less than a cross-country commercial flight. DEXA is not recommended during pregnancy. Recent imaging with contrast or nuclear medicine tracers may require a short waiting period.
24. How often should DEXA scans be repeated?
For body composition, many people repeat a DEXA scan every 6–12 months. (Healthspan+ members receive rescans at no additional cost.) If you’re actively changing nutrition, training, or body composition goals, shorter intervals can be useful to confirm progress and adjust strategy sooner. Bone density is typically reassessed annually, though timing depends on age, risk factors, and whether an intervention is underway. The goal is to scan often enough to guide meaningful decisions and track change when it matters.
For individuals using GLP-1 medications (such as Ozempic or Mounjaro), more frequent body composition scans—often every 1–2 months—can be helpful. This allows lean mass to be monitored closely and ensures that weight loss is not coming at the expense of muscle.
25. How do I prepare for a DEXA scan?
Preparation is simple. We suggest fasting for about two hours beforehand; water, tea, or black coffee are fine. The exact length of the fast matters less than being consistent from scan to scan, so future results are comparable.
Wear lightweight clothing without metal (such as zippers or snaps). The scans themselves take only a few minutes, and both body composition and bone density scans are typically completed within a 30-minute appointment.
26. Can DEXA detect visceral fat?
Yes. A DEXA body composition scan can estimate visceral fat, the type of fat that accumulates around internal organs and is closely linked to metabolic risk. Unlike weight or BMI, this measurement shows where fat is stored—not just how much you have. That distinction matters, because reducing visceral fat is often more important for long-term health than changes on the scale alone.
27. How long does a DEXA scan take?
Each scan takes only a few minutes. When combined with setup, explanation, and brief review, most appointments are completed within 30 minutes. First-time visitors often choose to complete both the body composition and bone density scans in a single visit, which is an efficient way to establish a comprehensive baseline.
28. Is DEXA more accurate than InBody or smart scales?
Yes. DEXA is widely regarded as a clinical reference standard for body composition. Unlike bioelectrical impedance devices (including smart scales), DEXA directly measures tissue density and distribution and is far less influenced by hydration status, recent exercise, or day-to-day fluctuations. Smart scales may be useful for tracking general trends at home, but their estimates can vary significantly. When accuracy matters—especially for understanding muscle mass, fat distribution, or visceral fat—DEXA provides a clearer, more reliable picture.
29. What is Zone 2 training, and why does it matter?
Zone 2 training refers to sustained, moderate-intensity exercise that you can maintain while breathing steadily and speaking in full sentences. At this intensity, your body relies heavily on aerobic metabolism. Zone 2 matters because it improves mitochondrial function, cardiovascular efficiency, and your ability to use fat as a fuel source. Over time, this supports metabolic health, endurance, and more sustainable fat loss—while creating a foundation that makes higher-intensity training safer and more effective.
30. What is VO2 Max testing, and why is it useful?
A VO₂ Max test measures how efficiently your body can deliver and use oxygen during exercise—essentially your aerobic capacity. Its usefulness lies in precision. VO₂ Max testing allows your cardiovascular training, including Zone 2 workouts, to be targeted to your actual physiology rather than age-based estimates or generic heart-rate formulas. It also provides an objective benchmark, so you can see whether your training is improving aerobic fitness over time.
Because aerobic capacity is so closely tied to resilience and long-term health, many clinicians view VO₂ Max as one of the most informative markers of healthspan
31. How often should VO₂ Max be re-tested?
In practice, VO2 Max re-testing is most useful after meaningful changes to your cardiovascular training—when you want objective feedback to confirm that your approach is working or to decide whether it needs refinement. The goal isn’t frequent testing, but testing at moments when insight can guide better decisions.
32. Which biomarkers do you typically evaluate?
Our biomarker panels are designed to help you understand areas of strength, emerging risk, and opportunities for improvement—often before issues become symptomatic. They commonly assess metabolic health, cardiovascular risk, inflammation, nutrient status, and key markers of organ function, going well beyond what’s included in a standard annual physical.
Additional or more specialized testing can be arranged when there are specific concerns or goals, such as deeper cancer risk assessment or genetic markers. These options are discussed in advance so testing is intentional, relevant, and well-coordinated.
33. Do you offer peptide therapy?
Yes. Peptide therapies are available under physician supervision when they align with your individual health goals, lab results, and medical history. These targeted therapies can be part of a broader, data-driven approach to support performance, recovery, and cellular health, and are discussed during your clinical review so that any plan we recommend is purposeful and coordinated with your other assessments.
Strength Training and Performance Questions
34. Why is strength training so important for healthspan?
Strength training matters because muscle is central to how the body functions—not just how it looks. Adequate muscle mass supports mobility, balance, metabolic health, and resilience, and plays a key role in regulating energy, hormones, and even cognitive function.
As we age, the gradual loss of muscle (sarcopenia) is one of the strongest predictors of functional decline and loss of independence. Strength training directly counters that process—but how you train matters. At Healthspan+, strength work is designed to provide enough stimulus to preserve muscle while minimizing joint stress, so gains can be sustained over time rather than briefly achieved and lost.
35. Can muscle really be rebuilt later in life?
Yes. Meaningful muscle gain is possible well into later decades when training provides sufficient stimulus, nutrition supports recovery, and progress is measured correctly.
What matters most is how strength training is applied. At Healthspan+, we use approaches that safely load muscle to the level required for adaptation, even in older adults, while minimizing joint stress. Periodic DEXA body composition scans allow changes in lean mass to be measured objectively—so progress isn’t assumed, it’s verified.
Age changes the tactics, not the strategy. With the right approach, rebuilding muscle later in life is both realistic and measurable.
36. How often should older adults strength train?
For most older adults, one to two strength-training sessions per week is both effective and sustainable. This provides enough stimulus to build or maintain muscle while allowing adequate time for recovery.
What matters most is respecting recovery rather than maximizing frequency. Strength sessions are spaced intentionally, with non-strength days often used for cardiovascular training, mobility, or recovery. This approach supports steady progress without overloading joints or connective tissue.
The goal is consistency over time, not doing more than the body can adapt to.
37. Is high-intensity training safe as we age?
Yes—and when done correctly, it can be especially safe. At Healthspan+, high-intensity strength training is delivered using ARX, which allows muscle to be loaded fully while movements remain slow, controlled, and closely supervised.
Resistance adapts in real time, form is carefully monitored, and momentum is removed from the equation. This makes it possible to apply the level of stimulus required to build and preserve muscle without unnecessary joint stress. Age changes the tactics, not the strategy—intense stimulus is still essential, it’s simply applied with greater care and precision.
38. What is ARX training?
ARX is the leading form of adaptive resistance exercise, designed to help you build and preserve muscle safely, efficiently, and at any age.
Instead of lifting fixed weights, ARX matches resistance to your strength throughout each movement. This allows muscles to be fully challenged without relying on momentum or stressing joints. Movements are slow, controlled, and closely supervised, making it possible to train to true muscular fatigue in far less time than traditional workouts.
ARX also emphasizes eccentric loading—the phase of movement most responsible for building and maintaining muscle. The result is a powerful training stimulus with less wear and tear, making it especially well suited for long-term healthspan.
39. Why is ARX better than traditional weights?
Both will build strength. The advantage of ARX is that it makes strength training safer, more efficient, and easier to sustain over time. ARX allows people to train intensely without the joint stress, complexity, or learning curve that often comes with traditional weights.
That makes it accessible across a wider range of ages and experience levels, especially for those with joint sensitivity or limited time. The result is consistent, effective strength training that people can sustain over time.
40. What is CAROL bike training used for?
The CAROL Bike is used to improve cardiovascular fitness efficiently and precisely. It supports very short, high-intensity intervals that can drive meaningful gains in aerobic capacity with minimal time commitment. It can also be used for steady Zone 2 training when the goal is to build aerobic endurance and metabolic health.
In addition, Healthspan+ uses the CAROL Bike to apply the stimulus for VO₂ Max testing. Compared to treadmill testing, it’s generally more accessible and better tolerated, allowing cardiovascular capacity to be assessed accurately without unnecessary risk or strain.
41. What is VASPER, and why should I use it?
Vasper provides a low-impact push–pull workout, similar in feel to a recumbent bike, while incorporating cooling and compression. This allows you to train cardiovascularly without overheating or placing excess stress on joints. The result is a workout that supports circulation, accelerates recovery, and helps restore energy—often leaving people feeling less sore and more balanced afterward.
Many members use Vasper alongside strength training because it improves recovery between sessions, making it easier to train consistently without feeling worn down.
42. What is AllCore360?
AllCore360 is a guided, rotating core workout performed in a secure, seated position, where your body works to stabilize against slow, controlled movement. As strength and stability improve, the challenge gradually increases.
This approach builds functional core strength and trunk stability—the kind that supports posture, balance, and spinal resilience in everyday life. By training the core to stabilize and transfer force, AllCore360 helps protect the back, improve movement efficiency, and increase confidence in how your body moves.
43. How are training programs personalized?
Training programs are built from objective data, not assumptions. Assessments such as DEXA, VO₂ Max testing, and movement evaluation help clarify your current capacity, risk factors, and priorities. From there, programs are shaped around your goals, health history, recovery profile and schedule constraints.
Personalization doesn’t stop at the starting point. Progress is monitored over time through re-testing and observation, allowing training to be adjusted as your body adapts. The result is a program that stays aligned with your needs—focused, efficient, and responsive rather than static.
General & Introductory Questions
44. What is athletic recovery?
Athletic recovery is the process by which your body repairs tissue, restores energy, and adapts to training stress. It involves sufficient rest and sleep, proper nourishment (including adequate protein), hydration, and support for the nervous system—along with targeted recovery modalities (such as red light therapy), that help the body rebuild stronger rather than simply accumulate fatigue. Good recovery isn’t passive. It’s what allows training to actually produce results.
45. Does recovery matter as much as training?
Yes. Progress and gains happen during recovery, not during the workout itself. Training provides the stimulus; recovery is where the body adapts. Without adequate recovery, strength gains stall, fatigue accumulates, and injury risk rises. When recovery is prioritized alongside training, people feel better between sessions, progress more consistently, and are able to sustain higher-quality effort over time. At Healthspan+, recovery is treated as a core part of performance and longevity—not an afterthought.
46. What is NovoTHOR red light therapy?
NovoTHOR is a full-body photobiomodulation bed that uses red and near-infrared light to support cellular energy, tissue repair, and recovery. Healthspan members often experience reduced muscle and joint discomfort, improved circulation, faster recovery between workouts, and higher overall energy levels—making it a valuable complement to both strength training and cardiovascular work.
What distinguishes NovoTHOR is its clinical-grade design and track record. It is FDA-cleared, widely used in medical, sports performance, and research settings, and delivers consistent therapeutic wavelengths and power levels that consumer devices typically cannot replicate. The result is a reliable recovery modality that supports resilience and helps the body rebound more efficiently over time.
47. How often is red light therapy used?
Use varies by individual needs, but many Healthspan members incorporate red light therapy into each visit as part of their recovery support. Sessions are brief—typically 12–15 minutes—and are designed to complement training with relaxation and rejuvenation.
48. Is red light therapy safe?
Yes. When used according to clinical guidelines, red light therapy is considered safe and is well tolerated. NovoTHOR is FDA-cleared and designed for regular use.
Possible contraindications: Red light therapy may not be appropriate for individuals with photosensitive conditions, those taking medications that increase light sensitivity, or in certain cancer-related situations unless cleared by a physician. Use during pregnancy should also be discussed in advance. For this reason, use is guided by intake screening to ensure it’s appropriate for you.
49. How do you prevent overtraining or burnout?
Overtraining is prevented through continuous monitoring, thoughtful programming, and open communication. Training frequency may adjusted based on recovery, readiness, and recent stressload, with the goal of steady improvement rather than exhaustion.
Members also play an important role. Paying attention to how you feel—and sharing that feedback—helps guide decisions such as when to push, when to adjust, or when a brief pause is the smartest move. The focus is long-term progress, so stepping back when needed is viewed as part of training, not a setback.
Results, Expectations and Trust
50. How is progress measured—and how will I know it’s working?
Progress at Healthspan+ is measured in two complementary ways: objective change and lived experience.
Periodic DEXA scans and other assessments show, in clear terms, how muscle, bone, cardiovascular fitness, and metabolic health are changing over time. These data points help confirm that effort is translating into meaningful physiological improvement.
Equally important is how those changes show up in your daily life. Most people notice increased strength and stability, better endurance, higher energy, improved mood, and greater confidence in how their body moves. Over time, that translates into a broader sense of capability and enthusiasm for life—the hallmarks of improved healthspan.
51. How soon can I expect improvements?
Most members begin noticing changes within the first three months, with improvements continuing as consistency builds. Progress depends less on where you start and more on how regularly you train, how well you recover, and how long you stay engaged.
Early improvements often include increased strength, better endurance, improved body composition, and greater ease of movement. Many people also notice higher energy, improved mood, and growing confidence in their physical capabilities. Over time, these gains compound—creating momentum rather than short-term results that fade.
52. Is Healthspan+ appropriate if I already work out regularly?
Often, yes—but the role may be different. Many experienced exercisers and athletes come to Healthspan+ for better data, smarter programming, and clearer direction rather than more volume.
Strength training done correctly requires sufficient time for recovery and rebuilding between sessions. For that reason, a Healthspan+ membership is designed to replace, not stack on top of, traditional gym-based strength training. Recreational sports and activities can fit in well, but additional strength workouts are typically unnecessary and may interfere with recovery and progress.
The goal isn’t to do more—it’s to train with greater intention and get better results from less.
53. How do you define success in a healthspan program?
Success is personal and guided by your goals—but at its core, it’s sustained capability. Being stronger, more resilient, and more confident in your body year after year matters more than hitting any single short-term metric.
For us, success lives in our name. A Healthspan+ membership is successful if it helps you improve your healthspan—how well you live, move, and engage with life over time. That means staying capable, independent, and energized for the things that matter most to you.
54. Is Healthspan+ right for me?
The clearest answer comes from experience. For many people, the combination of objective data, personalized guidance, and how their body begins to respond makes the value clear over time.
Most members choose to give the process several months, which allows enough continuity to see and feel meaningful changes. That said, there’s no long-term lock-in—you’re free to stop if it’s not the right fit. You’re also welcome to start with a conversation, a tour, or a single service, or to speak with current members if that’s helpful. → Request a private tour
Ask questions or schedule a tour...
Thank you for your interest in Healthspan Montecito and Healthspan Providers PC. Please call or use this email form to request a complimentary private tour and consultation. We look forward to introducing you to the team and our beautiful new facility.
1155 Coast Village Road, Suite B
Montecito, CA 93108
(805) 331-1111
