Recover from injury: What to know

Every person involved in sports or any other physical activity is prone to injuries. Injuries range from strains to sprains and broken bones. When any of these occur, it can be very frustrating, being forced to just sit around or suspend your career for some time. However, giving yourself time to recover from injury is crucial. You will not only heal but will also raise your chances of going back to sporting activities or the gym. That said, here are a few tips that will help you recover faster and safely from your injury.

1. Apply the RICE Technique

If you happen to injure your soft tissues through a strain, sprain, or muscle tear, rely on first aid measures to not only lessen the pain but also to inhibit complications. This is where you apply the RICE technique, as described below.

• Rest: Resting when you have any sign of injury should be your first course of action. It will prevent more injuries from happening or stress to the already injured area.

• Ice: Place ice on the injured part for about 20 or 30 minutes. Do this at an interval of four to eight times a day. It will help to reduce or prevent swelling, muscle spasms, bleeding, and pain.

• Compression: This would be a hard one, especially when you are experiencing severe pain. However, you need it to prevent extreme swelling of the injured area. Do this within the first 48 hours after the injury.

• Elevation: Place the injured part at an elevated position to reduce swelling.

2. Seek Treatment

You can use the RICE technique for minor injuries. However, if the symptoms persist or the injury was a serious one, you will need to look for treatment. For instance, do not sit in the house with a broken bone or prolonged swelling and pain, hoping that first aid will work even if it is a recurrent situation. Speak to your physician, and they will review your injury before administering any treatment. In case your primary care provider is not available, dot delay but visit the nearest care clinic. Some of the treatment measures to expect include medications, braces, physiotherapy, or surgery in extreme cases. If you get treated immediately after the injury, you will prevent further injuries and quicken the recovery process.

3. Consider Rehab

Once you undergo treatment, pain and swelling are expected to cease. However, even if it happens, it does not mean that you have fully recovered or are ready to get back into your physical routines. Consider rehabbing your injuries. You will find skilled sports medicine professionals who will provide guidance and supervision you need to recover from injury. They will not only evaluate your healing progress but will also treat you accordingly. When you finish rehabilitating, your primary caregiver or sports physical therapist will continue to support you through endurance exercises — hence enhance performance with time.

4. Stay Positive but Active

When you are injured and restrained from doing your routine physical activities, it translates to a moment of discouragement and boredom from doing almost nothing. Ask yourself, is there anything I can do to quicken my recovery from injury? Your tissues need to be energized, and while time heals, you can do a few things, which include:
• Taking adequate proteins
• Staying hydrated
• Doing little but simple cardio
• Getting enough sleep
• Moisturizing your skin
• Embrace treatments such as peptides

What Are Peptides?

Peptides are a series of amino acids, and while they have always been used as anti-aging products, they might also help to recover from injury faster. Recent studies on rats reveal that research peptides
like TB-500 and BPC-157 were good at quickening the cure of tendons, wounds, muscles, and ligaments, among other injuries on soft tissues.

5. Don’t Rush to Get Back to the Game

As much as it is tempting to go back to the usual training routine, refrain yourself to avoid causing more injuries to your body. Focus on stretching and strengthening your muscles using the techniques and instructions you got from the rehabilitation. When ready, your doctor will provide the approval to return to the game in full force.

Did you get injured and are wondering what to do next? These tips will take you through the recovery journey, and before you know it, you are back to your normal life.