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If exercise is a part of your life, unfortunately the chances are that injury will also be at some point during the years. Sometimes we push ourselves just a little too far and it ends with us getting hurt. Then we have to deal with the frustration of taking time out to recuperate. It could be a torn muscle during a tennis match or shin splints from too much running. It could be a sprained ankle you got during a team sport or even a broken bone from rock climbing. Whatever the injury, they all take time to heal up. It’s tempting to just jump straight back into it as soon as possible, but that usually isn’t the smartest idea for your body. Recovery is a process, and you need to follow these essential steps to ensure that you can be back in full health.
Get Professional Support
When you’re injured, it’s not the time to go it alone. Even if you think you know exactly what’s wrong, always follow up with your doctor and get a professional medical opinion so that your injury can be properly monitored and treated. You may also need to seek support from a physiotherapist to ensure that you can get back to full strength following your injury. It may also be worth speaking to a personal injury lawyer if negligence is at fault for your injury – any compensation can help to pay for medical treatment and can reduce the chances of the same thing happening to others if injury was the result of a preventable accident – a source like https://ericpalacioslaw.com/areas-of-service/personal-injury/ can really help.
Prepare Yourself Mentally
As well as a physical recovery, there will also be a mental aspect to being ready to get back out there – especially if your injury was severe or the result of an accident. Think about building your confidence, which is often shaken when things have gone wrong. Start by asking yourself if there was anything you might have done differently. Perhaps you didn’t listen to your body and you pushed it too hard? Maybe you didn’t give yourself enough rest time after a hard session? Or perhaps you didn’t invest in the right protective equipment? If there is a lesson to be learned, take it. And if there’s nothing you could have done, focus on building your confidence up slowly by accepting it was a freak occurrence that is unlikely to happen again.
Ease Yourself In
Expecting to go straight back in at the same level you were previously performing at is asking for trouble. Instead, you have to accept that it takes time to build things back up after a physical setback. Whether you were a star player in a team or you could run a five minute mile, you will get back there again, but it’s going to take time and you can’t rush the process. Start off at about half your normal level, and gradually ramp it up by about 5 per cent each session- either time, distance or intensity. Assess your performance and injury after each session and listen to how your body is responding. Creating a recovery training plan with progress measured over a number of weeks can help you to feel in control and show you how much progress you’re making, even when you feel stuck. Good luck and never give up!
