By: Joe Reynolds
Not scientifically reviewed by Dr. Eeks
Dealing with a sports injury can be incredibly frustrating. If you’re typically engaging with your chosen sport multiple times a week, or even every day in some capacity, spending time away can make you feel like a part of you is missing. Add pain into the mix and a lack of general mobility, and it can make for quite a miserable experience.
As such, your goal should be to do all you can to get back in the game. Wallowing will only make the situation more psychologically painful, and there’s plenty you can do to expedite your recovery.
In this article, you’ll discover four tips for making returning to your sport as painless as possible.
1. Rest is Key
In the early stages of recovery, absolute rest is vital. As tempting as it may be, you never want to risk going back to your sport too early, as not only will it exacerbate the problem, but you could also develop a new injury as the body tries to compensate.
You don’t have to be completely inactive, but think carefully about the movement patterns associated with the sport and try to avoid them for the time being. You should always listen to your body; this isn’t a time to push through the pain, and doing so will always be very detrimental. It’s possible to end up with a permanent injury and have your performance hindered indefinitely if you’re not careful.
2. Seek Help From a Professional
If your injury is moderate to severe, it’s always best to seek proper care. An orthopedic walk-in clinic is generally your best bet, as it’s your best chance of being seen quickly and treated by a qualified professional.
As far as the treatment itself goes, that all depends on the injury in question. The biggest benefit of seeing an orthopedic doctor is that they can make a formal diagnosis, and after that, they may recommend that you simply rest, or they could prescribe some basic exercises to do at home. For more complex injuries, they may be diagnosed using an MRI or a CT scan.
3. Eat Well and Stay Hydrated
You are what you eat, as they say, and that saying could be more applicable to injury rehabilitation.
For one, protein is very important. This macronutrient forms the building blocks for muscle and connective tissues, so you must be getting enough (read this paper for more information).
Micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) are also crucial at this time. You want to be eating a wide spectrum of fruits and vegetables of varying colors, and it’s also a good idea to have your doctor perform a blood test to see if you’re deficient in anything and would require supplementation.
Finally, make sure to drink enough water, as fluids help your body deliver nutrients to repair injuries.
Wrapping Up
Managing an injury is never easy, but with a little insight and patience, you’ll be back on your feet in no time. The tips above should point you in the right direction. Get better soon!