6 things you should prioritise when recovering from an injury
Here are 6 things you should prioritise when recovering from an injury:
Physical Therapy and Exercise Rehab
Manual therapy can be extremely beneficial at the early stages of an injury to help calm the nervous system. However, it is important to not rely on hands-on treatment alone as this will only produce short-term results. Our Osteopaths give each patient an individualised rehabilitation program to help you regain strength, mobility, and flexibility.
Sleep
Getting enough good quality sleep is essential to the recovery process. During sleep, your body repairs and regenerates tissues, and lack of sleep can slow down healing. Pay attention to your sleep hygiene, for example; avoiding caffeine after lunch, limiting screen time before bed and having a regular bedtime.
Proper Nutrition
Eating a well-balanced diet can help speed up the healing process. It’s important to not cut calories when injured because your body needs energy to aid healing. Consuming foods high in protein, amino acids, magnesium, vitamin C and zinc can aid in muscle recovery and tissue repair.
Mindset
A positive mindset can make all the difference when recovering from an injury. Focusing on the progress you've made and setting achievable goals can help keep you motivated and on track.
Patience
Recovery from an injury takes time and the body has its own timeline for healing. It's important to be patient and not rush the process, pushing yourself too hard or too soon can cause re-injury or setbacks.
Progress is not linear
It can often be frustrating for patients when they start to feel better only for the pain or injury to flare up again a few days or weeks later. This is normal and part of the healing process. Injuries are likely to flare up in the first 6-8 weeks of the healing process, especially as you begin to progress in your rehabilitation exercises. Stay consistent with your rehab, voice any concerns to your Osteopath and be patient!
