Recovery from a Sports Injury
Jen Randowska provides some tips to help you recover from a sports injury.
Sports injuries often occur among active people and can be very frustrating. However, if they are not treated with all the required attention and care, a minor injury can become more serious. So, if you feel you must go for a run but your knee still hurts, you should keep your desires in check.
Even more, early physical activity can reverse an injury that did not have the time to heal correctly. It is essential to focus on recovery and take things slow. I know it can be a nightmare, and while you are at home waiting for the body to heal, you are losing precious time at the gym or training.
But believe me when I say that if you force yourself, the repercussions can be worse than the injury! Also, the recovery period allows you to improve your mental and, in some cases, your body strength.
If you feel like you are going crazy during your recovery, below are several tips that have helped other athletes and me.
Do Not Walk It Off
You can walk off being sore (and you should), but when you feel real pain, you should go and get it checked out. If the pain starts small, you can wait and see how it will develop, but if it does not go away after a few days, you should not wait any longer before getting it checked.
I know that some people find it difficult to accept that they have limitations when it comes to physical activity. But with proper care and a bit of time, you can quickly expand your limits and improve.
Do Not Self-Medicate
Pain like the one you feel from a strained muscle may go away with painkillers, but this is a temporary solution as it will return stronger. Sports injuries should be treated with the gravity they deserve; otherwise, they may lead to permanent damage.
If the injury requires it, work with a doctor, as they will prescribe a good set of exercises for your rehabilitation period. You should also hire a trainer or ask your friends to help you work out according to the recommendations you received from the doctor.
Do Not be Too Comfortable
Some injuries will have you on bed rest for a while, but it is essential to consider your health even in this situation. If the bed is too soft or the mattress has lumps, you will not have the proper back support, and you will also end up with back pain; for people who must stay in bed for prolonged periods, the memory foam mattress for people who must remain in bed for prolonged periods. It will not speed up your recovery, but it will offer the proper support so you will not get more pain.
Eat Right
Just because you are in recovery does not mean you can get sloppy with your diet. You should be even stricter about the nutrients that enter your body! High-quality foods like vegetables, greens, lean meats, and fruits will help your body regenerate faster.
Also, ask the doctor if you can take supplements like glutamine (for joint rebuilding). Keep in mind that everything you eat can help speed things up. If you start feeling sorry for yourself and drown your sorrow in alcohol and sugar-rich foods, both your recovery and your shape will suffer.
So, if you have a sports injury, do not ignore it, hoping the pain will go away! The more effort you put into the injured limb, the more it will aggravate the injury, making the recovery period longer! See a doctor and make sure to explain precisely how the incident happened.
Page Reference
If you quote information from this page in your work, then the reference for this page is:
- RANDOWSKA, J. (2017) Recovery from a Sports Injury [WWW] Available from: https://www.brianmac.co.uk/articles/article276.htm [Accessed
About the Author
Jen Randowska is a happy downshifter who experiences life outside the box. She used to work at Sears but gave it up to become a freelance writer. Jen is passionate about farming, wildlife, travel, and well-being.