Sports injuries often occur when you least expect them. Whether you’re training for a marathon or are simply trying to increase your endurance, injuries can leave you sitting on the sidelines in pain. It’s common to feel frustrated and defeated as you watch your hard-earned athleticism slip away while you heal. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to ensure you recover from an injury as fully and quickly as possible.
Most Common Types of Sports Injuries
There are two types of sports injuries. Acute injuries are sudden injuries that may happen when you least expect them and chronic injuries are related to overuse or repetitive motions and may develop slowly. Sometimes, wear and tear from overuse can develop into an acute injury. Most sports injuries are musculoskeletal, with joints being particularly susceptible. Some of the most common musculoskeletal injuries include shoulder, elbow, knee, leg, and ankle injuries.
While symptoms related to sports injuries depend on the type you receive, some of the most common symptoms of acute injury include sudden, severe pain, swelling, bruising, inability to move a joint as normal, and being unable to put weight on the impacted body part (such as a knee, ankle or foot). For chronic injuries, some of the most common symptoms include pain whenever you engage in your sport and aching and swelling that flares up when you rest.
Physical Tips To Help You Recover Quickly
While injuries may differ in severity, all injuries require both rest and exercise to heal. For the first three to five days, be sure to rest, ice the affected area, apply compression with a bandage, and keep the limb elevated if you’ve injured an arm, ankle or leg. Ibuprofen may help with swelling. As you heal, you may need a rehabilitation program to help you regain flexibility, strength, and range of motion.
Mentally Recovering From Your Injuries
Sometimes, dealing with the psychological impact of sports injuries is more challenging than the physical setbacks. When recovering, be sure to set realistic goals for progress. Try not to push yourself too hard and allow your body time to heal. Remain optimistic and focus on the present moment. Healing is often a slow process, so take things one day at a time and accept support wherever it’s offered. Lean on your coach, physical therapist or a counselor for guidance and honor the feelings you may be experiencing.
When You Should Seek Help From a Professional
Seeing a professional as soon as you can after you’ve been injured is important. By receiving a professional assessment, they can determine the severity of your injury and identify an appropriate course of action to help you improve as quickly as possible.
While healing from a sports injury can leave you feeling powerless, it’s important to remember that you have more control over your recovery process than you think. By maintaining an optimistic attitude, giving yourself time to heal and heeding your doctor’s advice, you’ll be well on your way to a healthy recovery.