Whether you are a runner, footballer, gymnast, basketball player, tennis player, or boxer, sports injuries are the harsh realities of your life. No matter how fit and healthy you are, you can’t ever become immune to sports injuries. All you can do is try your level best to prevent them, but that doesn’t mean that you will never get them.
Some of the most common sports injuries that affect a wide range of athletes and weekend sports enthusiasts in the US include Achilles tendon, ankle injury, ACL injury, groin pull, golfer’s elbow, posterior cruciate, tendon injuries, rotator cuff tear, shin splints, and muscle strain. Apart from that workout injuries are also very common among athletes.
All these injuries not only keep you from participating in the competitions but also lead to enormous pain and discomfort. It means sports injuries not only sideline you, but they also make it difficult for you to perform the activities of daily living. Therefore, it is vital for you to seek quick treatment.
Here is what you should do to get back to your normal life after receiving a sports injury.
See A Physical Therapist
One of the first steps that you should take to return to normal life is to consult a competent physical therapist who has years of experience in treating sports injuries. If you do not know how to find a reliable physical therapist, then don’t hesitate to take the support of the internet. You can look for the top five physical therapy clinics in your area over the internet and then check the website of each clinic.
Before finalizing a physical therapy clinic for your treatment, make sure that you compare the services of those clinics to arrive at a reliable conclusion. Once you find a trusted clinic, you should then visit it personally to consult a competent physical therapist.
And when you finally meet your therapist, don’t forget to explain your symptoms clearly to them. Tell them the kind of pain you are experiencing and how it starts worsening when you engage in physical activities. Don’t hide anything from your physical therapist because that reduces their capacity to analyze your injury.
They will ask several questions to you regarding your injury, and you should give them the right answer. If you fail to answer their questions correctly, it might become an obstacle to your recovery process. They will also evaluate your medical history before they start treating your injury.
To get the maximum benefits from your physical therapy sessions, it’s crucial that you follow the advice of your therapist without fail. So, once they create a personalized treatment plan for you, it is your responsibility to stick to it.
Based on the extent of your injury, your physical therapist will incorporate treatment techniques into your care plan. So, for example, they have included a variety of stretching exercises in your care plan to strengthen your joint mobility and muscle health, you should perform those moves as per their instructions. If they ask you to do stretching exercises daily, you should do that without fail.
However, if you experience pain or discomfort after performing those exercises, you should report that to your therapist immediately, so that they can make the required changes in your treatment plan.
If you have received a severe sports injury that needs surgery, you still need physical therapy both before and after the surgery.
According to Springfield Physical Therapy, even if your surgeon has done an excellent job during the surgery, it doesn’t mean you will be able to return to your normal life quickly. Surgical treatment affects your joint motion and muscle strength to a great extent; therefore proper rehabilitation is necessary to restore your mobility.
So, whether you have undergone surgical treatment for hip and shoulder joint replacement or to fix an ACL injury, you can rely on physical therapy to get back quickly to your sport.
Stay Positive
Apart from seeking professional help, you should also learn how to stay positive while battling an injury. Yes, embracing a positive attitude plays a significant role in giving you that much-needed strength to deal with your problem. It’s true that as an athlete, you can’t live with the fact that you are unable to practice your sport due to an injury; however, when you think a lot about your problem, it only leaves your frustrated. Yes, it doesn’t help at all.
So, if you want to make it easier for yourself to deal with your injury, you should start thinking positively about it. You can use positive affirmations like, “I am brave enough to recover from this injury,” “Once I will get back to my sport, I will give the best performance of my life,” or “Injuries are common, I shouldn’t take too much stress.”
Staying positive will help you make the right decisions regarding your health during the recovery process, so stop being pessimistic.
Be Patient
It’s utterly true that no one can recover from a sports injury overnight; so if you are someone who is disturbed because they are unable to enjoy their favorite activities, having patience can make it simple for you to deal with it. To have that much-needed patience; it’s vital for you to realize the fact that it takes time for everyone to recover from an injury, and you are no exception.
Take Rest
Taking rest is one of the best ways to allow sports injuries to heal naturally. Even if your injury is not that serious, you must avoid practice for a couple of days. It will not only speed up the natural healing process of your body but will also prevent further injuries. Yes, if you start practicing your game when you are still in pain, it will end up putting more stress on the injured part, which will worsen your injury further.
So, whether you have received a hip, knee, ankle, or lower back injury, make sure that you take rest for a few days before you get back to your sport.
Strengthen Flexibility
Although it’s true that you shouldn’t engage in physical activities when you are injured; however, after a couple of days from your injury, when you start feeling a little better, you should begin to work on your fitness. You should perform low-intensity exercises to improve your flexibility because that not only helps in avoiding injuries but also enhances your athletic performance.
Apart from working on your flexibility, you should also focus on strengthening your core and increasing your endurance. Last but not least athletes should also consume healthy food to boost their overall fitness level.
