Looking to get back into the game after an injury? Whether you are an athlete or an avid exercise enthusiast, how you get back to training following an injury will be the vital difference between becoming a stronger and better performer, or getting injured once again. Use these tips to return to training safely after an injury, so that you are able to perform at your highest athletic potential possible.
Before you get back to training, the first step is healing from your initial injury. Depending on the severity of the injury, this may mean taking some time to completely rest the injured area. This is often the best way to ensure proper recovery. Your doctor who diagnosed and treated your injury should be able to give you a rough timeline of how much rest you need before beginning to use the area again – and begin training again.
When working with a professional physical therapist, he or she will be able to guide you throughout your return to training. A physical therapist knows when to push you and when to lay off, in order to make sure that you have a safe but quick recovery. A physical therapist can prescribe specific exercises, based on your training level and injury type, which will most benefit you so that you can come back stronger than ever.
At IMPACT Physical Therapy, our therapists draw upon several different physical therapy techniques depending on the type of injury our client is facing. This expertise helps us create the ideal recovery plan.
Of course it is important to challenge yourself and continue setting new goals for your recovery. However, returning to training after an injury is not a walk in the park. It is going to hurt at times, and you need to listen to your body and know when you are doing more damage than good. Be kind to your body as you return to training to avoid further injuring yourself. This is another aspect of your rehabilitation where a physical therapist can be of great help.
When recovering from an injury, this is the time when details matter. You are getting the opportunity to come back better and stronger than ever before. Say for example you are a baseball pitcher, coming back from a rotator cuff injury. As you begin getting back into a training regimen, this is your opportunity to refine your technique and focus on every single little detail of your pitch. This is your chance to pay attention to all of those small details you never bothered with before. By refining your technique as you work your way back into training, you will be stronger than ever.
Once you are back to training as usual, it is important to continue the strength building exercises and stretches that were prescribed by your physical therapist. These exercises and stretches will ensure that you continue to build strength in the affected area of your injury. If you stop working the specific area that was injured, you put yourself at a much higher risk of getting injured again. Don’t put yourself all the way back to square one!
IMPACT Physical Therapy helps athletes get back into the game every single day. We understand the complexities and pressure of returning to training following an injury, and always work to get our athletes back to training in a safe and healthy manner. As a part of our commitment to each one of our clients, we will give you the time you need throughout the rehabilitation process to ensure a full and strong recovery. Contact us today to request a complimentary injury or wellness screening with one of our top rated physical therapists in Chicago.
