The Injured Athlete: A Time For Comeback

The first thing to be said about injury is that they can never be completely prevented, despite the term injury prevention.

They can be acute, happening in a single moment, or long term created from overuse and lack of awareness.

For competitive athletes however, this does NOT have to mean the end.

Similar to a glass half empty of half full type deal, you can see injury as a set back, or a time to slow things down and improve not only the affected area, but also a time to improve the strength of other areas.

When injuries occur, they are a test of attitude, and a tool to build resilience, only of you let it.

What is not uncommon, especially at the amateur and high school level, is an athlete gets injured, and they cease completely with any activity.

Yes, granted, there are some injuries like concussions, where it is recommended that you completely rest.

However, I can not tell you the number of times I have come across athletes that may have “strained” their hamstring, or broken a finger and have decided to completely stop all activity until that area “heals up.”

Why?

If the hamstring on your right leg is out of commission, then why not still train the ankle/foot strength integrity on that side?

What about your AB/ADductors on that side?

What about your trunk/spine?

Shoulders, arms, and wrists?

Positional isometrics of the “healthy” areas?

When you wait for just the injury to heal up, and do nothing, now you are having to overcome not just the injury, but the Muscular and neural atrophy of other areas that will have to be retrained.

Consider also that the other areas outside of the injury could be why the injury happened isn’t he first place. So strengthening them could potentially decrease re-injury risk.

Now, I am NOT saying to go against the doctors orders, however I am framing the question of

“OK, this area is currently out of commission. What else can I safely, and intelligently do while this injury heals up?

We have had athletes come in not even a day after ACL surgery who have expedited recovery time because we were able to strengthen other areas first isometrically and progress WITHOUT taxing the surgically repaired knee.

This was all done in conjunction with dialogue between the physical therapists, and the doctors.

So don’t stop only because you’re in a shoulder sling, or cast.

If possible, research helpful exercises or get with a professional who will INTELLIGENTLY work with you, in conjunction with your PT or doctor, to help position you to return even stronger and efficient as you were before your injury.

And If you are that athlete in the area, and would like to see how we can help you become a better athlete than you were even before your injury, click here schedule your initial Strategy Session with us .

We would love the opportunity.