If you regularly exercise nothing is more frustrating than acquiring an injury, but it is important not to let your frustration get the better of you. That means doing everything possible to speed up your recovery.
An active lifestyle is the best lifestyle. Not only are there physical benefits to being active but there are mental benefits also. Exercise helps prevent excessive weight gain and it can help control or even prevent a number of serious medical conditions, including cardiovascular diseases. Exercising helps improve your mood – there is nothing like a good workout after a stressful day at work or at home. Exercise also boosts energy levels, which is a great benefit for those of us living busy lives.
The case for regular exercise is a compelling one but unfortunately there are occasions when we injure ourselves when working out. An injury is a setback but there are ways of speeding up the process of recovering from an injury and getting back to full fitness.
Seek advice: Visit your physician and get medical advice on the type of injury you have suffered and its extent. Your doctor may recommend you visit a physiotherapist to aid your recovery. A good physio will devise a recovery program for you, including exercises aimed at increasing the range of motion in the area around the injury. If you are a member of a gym or an exercise class ask your trainer if they have acquired similar injuries in the past and what steps they took to recover.
Keep active: Those range of motion exercises recommended by physical therapists are grounded in reality. Even if you are injured you should not cut out exercise entirely while you get better. Your training regime will likely change, depending on the nature of your injury. Training is an important element of the recovery process and will help strengthen what has been weakened, as well as correct any imbalances in technique that may have contributed to the injury in the first place.
Eat yourself better: Consuming the right foods can help accelerate the recovery process. When you are injured your body requires a consistently high level of protein intake. Make sure you are eating the right type of fats. Monounsaturated and Omega-3 fats have anti-inflammatory qualities. Vitamins A, B, C, and D facilitate tissue repair and regeneration. Such minerals as copper, magnesium, and zinc have similar regeneration qualities. Ensure your diet is balanced and eat plenty of fruit and vegetables. During rehab your levels of exercise will be minimal so keep away from snack food and the type of treats that pile on the pounds. Watch your alcohol intake because alcohol acts as an impediment on muscle development and recovery.
Wear compression clothing: Follow Tommie Copper on Twitter for updates and latest company news. Tommie Copper is one of the leading names in compression clothing. Compression clothing provides relief from stiff muscles and accelerates recovery time. These benefits can help prevent injuries from occurring in the first place. For those of us getting over a strain or tear to the muscles compression wear can be worn while we ease ourselves back into training. From tops and bottoms and from socks to back support, there is a wide range of compression wear available.
Stay positive: Being injured can make you feel down but having a positive mental attitude can really help to get you back on your feet quicker. Wanting to get better is insufficient – you need to will yourself to get better. Treat any setbacks as just another challenge on the road to recovery. Take heart from the encouragement you receive from others and use their words to motivate yourself. Readjust your fitness goals to take account of the period on the sidelines. If your goal was to be fit enough to run 10k in a specified period, for example, then recalculate the time it will take to reach that level of fitness and focus in the interim on getting better. Making recovery your interim objective is a positive mental step because it is still a goal to strive for and reaching it will make you feel confident again.
It is important to follow best professional and medical advice when recovering from an injury. Another tip that should not be overlooked is to be patient. Recovering from an injury can take time and if you rush back too soon you risk aggravating your injury or acquiring a new one, making the road back to fitness an even longer one.
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