The appearance of a sports injury can be quite traumatic and cause serious emotional problems in the athlete. Depression from injury may be unavoidable, however there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
An injury can help you realize that sports and your workouts are not the only thing that defines you, in addition to opening the door to new possibilities in your life, new passions, or even new ways of exercising.
We understand what you are going through, that is why we present you the 7 best tips to overcome an injury positively .
7 tips to overcome an injury
1. Identify the root of the injury
There are no mysteries when it comes to injuries, there is always a reason. A good diagnosis is essential. Take time to find out exactly why you were injured , what estimated recovery times your injury has, how you can help in a good recovery.
To do this, put yourself in the hands of experts in sports practice, both at a medical and physiotherapy level; since they are used to seeing and treating injuries of all kinds and will help you prevent the injury from happening again.
2. Take on the injury
Many times, when we are too used to practicing sports, it is difficult for us to accept the fact that we must rest or follow a treatment that implies a cessation in our usual activities. If you are going through a situation like this, it is time to realize that your life has changed.
Coming to terms with the fact that you are injured will help you look ahead and focus on new goals and your recovery. Leave behind all those immediate plans that were interrupted by the injury and set new goals.
3. Remember that you are not just an athlete
While it’s perfectly okay to be sad, angry, and disappointed for a while, it’s important to remember that there is more to you than just your passion for the sport. Sometimes, when we stop practicing our sport out of obligation, as in the case of an injury, a feeling of loss of identity appears in us.
Take advantage of the time when you are further away from sports to do other things that perhaps you could not before or for which you lacked time. There are many other activities out there that could make you happy. Explore your interests and hobbies – there’s more to you than just sports.
4. Trust the process
When we are injured, we get impatient, because we want to see improvements immediately, and if we see that we are not going as fast as we would like, we start looking and trying other treatments.
Recovery from an injury should have its times and it will not be good for you to pressure yourself to anticipate such a return. Therefore, you must follow the specifications of the professionals rigorously, as they will be very important for a correct recovery.
Your coach or doctor will give you a defined and clear rehabilitation plan. It is important that you adapt to this schedule without oversights or cheating.
5. Plan your return
Talk to your doctor or physical therapist to define a realistic timeline of when you can expect to be fully recovered and return to training. Set short-term goals and not too ambitious: sign up for a race, or plan a hike: the important thing is that you plan your return taking into account every detail.
Remember that you come from an injury and that your body is not in the same physical condition as before the injury, so pretending to be at the previous level should not be in your plans.
Your goals should be very short-term, the most important thing is that you maintain an entirely positive attitude, setting your goals in recovery.
6. Challenge your body in new ways
People who are very active need to do something to release all their energy. Being unable to do your favorite physical activity forces you to be creative. It’s not such a bad thing if you look at it in perspective, remember there are many ways to stay active.
Instead of getting depressed by the workouts you are missing and loading your mind with negative thoughts, it is important that you focus on what you can do. If your injury allows it, look for another physical activity that you can do during this stage. Who knows, you might just fall in love with a new form of exercise that you wouldn’t have tried if it weren’t for your injury.
7. Seek support from family and friends
Seek support from your family and friends. Go out and have fun or take a vacation and share with them. Social support can help you get through the injury.
Even though you can’t train the way you used to, there may still be a role for you in your community. Taking a step back from your personal aspirations and focusing on helping others is also a good way to positively overcome an injury. Helping others achieve their goals can be very rewarding as well.
Conclution
In every sport in which we use our body, there is always the risk of injury. Sports injuries in any part of the body that occur, will always influence both the physical and the emotional of the athlete.
When that happens, all we can do is be patient and try to deal with the situation in the best possible way. Being aware of our injury and maintaining an optimistic attitude are key elements for a positive recovery.
References
- Guro Ekrann. Advice for Dealing With an Injury (From People Who’ve Been There). For Greatist [Revised February 2017]
