INJURIES; 3 TIPS TO A SPEEDY RECOVERY

HOW FAST YOU HEAL IS A CHOICE

Over the last few years, through a series of unfortunate events, I have become somewhat of an expert on injury and exercise.  Injuries are not part of my fitness plan and I'm assuming no one else out there is finding a way to work in a pulled hamstring either, but like it or not, things happen.  With an injury or any other not-so-ideal situation that takes us out of the game, it's not so much about what happens to us, but what we do about it that makes the difference. 

There are many different schools of thought on recovery, and for any of you that has had to deal with injuries you may have noticed that all of a sudden it seems everyone you know is qualified to give advice.  Sound familiar?  For myself, whether it was the car accident three and a half years ago or the pulled hip flexor deadlifting, I found these three steps most helpful for recovery.  1.  Listen to your body  2. Work with a health professional(s) you trust  3. Pay close attention to what you're putting in your body.  

When you get right down to it, where and how the injury occurred doesn't make much difference, the result is still the same - limited or restricted exercise.  If you're a gym rat like me, backing off, going light or missing workouts doesn't sit well.  If you've only just gotten started in your exercise journey, it can be very discouraging to be told to stop so soon and can even seem pointless to have even begun.  And if you're really not that enthusiastic about exercising in the first place you may actually welcome the chance to get out of your daily workout and relax on the couch.  As you can see, all three scenarios can have quite a negative outcome.  If you let it that is.

So don't let it.  I found that regardless of what injury a person has sustained and where they are in their fitness journey, following those three steps is key to a speedy and complete recovery.  Listening to your body is key.  Our bodies speak to us all the time and when we learn to tune in and listen, we can avoid setbacks and further injury.  For example, if you're feeling pain while performing any exercise or movement, stop. I know it seems obvious, but when you're in it, it's always a different story.  You may also feel tired and lethargic doing things you'd barely bat an eye at - groceries, laundry, climbing stairs, etc., Recovery can be quite taxing on the body and you may end up needing more sleep that normal to function in your day to day life so be mindful.  

Working with a professional that specializes in the type of injury you have will likely give you more tips and takeaways than you'd ever get from your wanna-be-doctor friends.  Even those of us in the health and fitness industry can benefit from working with a professional. It's true we may know a little more than the average bear about the internal workings of our bodies, but I can attest from experience that things are always clearer and make more sense standing on the outside looking in and providing the assistance rather than receiving it.

And last but certainly not least, be extra vigilant about putting only high quality foods into your body. Because inflammation comes part and parcel with every injury, and because inflammation can either be fuelled or quenched by everything we eat and drink, it stands to reason our healing time can be affected by what we eat. Sports nutrionists will tell you foods like alcohol, caffeine, beef, packaged, processed, sugar, salt, are inflammatory. Replacing these foods with lots of water and lemon, organic lean meats, berries, deep, richly coloured fruits and vegetables and supplementing with antioxidants will move you farther along the road to recovery much faster.  It might take a little more effort to be extra diligent and on track with food during the recovery, but when it means spending less time recuperating and more time doing the things you love, I think it's well worth it.