Sports injuries can happen at any age. Learn what you should do to assess and care for one
For an athlete, sports injuries seem to be the most frustrating and devastating thing that can happen. Right or wrong, an athlete’s identity often comes being in top physical condition; having the ability to run, jump, throw, and catch is part of who they are.
But a sports injury can rip that all away. Instead of preparing their mind and body to compete at the highest level, injured athletes now have to focus on personal recovery to a specific area of the body.
So what should you expect if you are dealing with a sport injury?
Expect to be frustrated
First of all, you should understand that it’s okay to be frustrated or sad after suffering a sports injury. You’ve worked hard, built your strength, endurance, and mental focus, and now that’s been taken away from you. You deserve to be upset!
However, as an athlete, you are a goal-oriented, driven person – so use that frustration as fuel for your new goal: recovery.
Expect to be challenged mentally
Physical challenges are part of being an athlete, but so are mental challenges. The same goes for recovery after a sports injury. You can expect to be challenged from a standpoint of mental toughness. It can be difficult to deal with the on-going, often repetitive, and sometimes tedious nature of physical rehabilitation, so be prepared to use your reserves of patience and resolve.
Expect weekly, even daily rehabilitation and therapy
Depending on the nature and severity of your injury, you may need to go through weekly or even daily rehabilitation sessions with a trained professional. This is where your mental toughness will need to show up, as the results may be slow and you’ll need all the perseverance and commitment you can muster.
Expect to have attainable goals
As an athlete, you likely set personal goals, whether it’s achieving a fast time or reaching a certain level of strength. You’re going to need the same attitude for recovery, but the goals (and the measurements) will be very different. Instead of measuring running times in fractions of a second, you may need to set walking goals in increments of minutes. Instead of leaping yards, you may need to have a goal of raising your arm a few inches.
The important thing is to set attainable goals. Reach these new goals and it’s only a matter of time until you’re back to your old ways.
Expect to recover
Throughout the entire process, it’s important that you always expect a full recovery. Sure, it may be weeks, months, or even a year before you are back to 100 percent, but maintaining the idea of success will keep your attitude in the right place and help you show up for rehabilitation and therapy while taking all the little steps to a full recovery.
Expect excellent care and support
Contact POM MRI and we’ll help you get the medical imaging services you need for your sports injury, including MRIs, X-rays, and more. We will be proud to be a part of your recovery team, so get in touch today!