This is my second time getting injured (I’m not proud of it), and I just felt like the referee telling me to sit out a match without even getting a red or yellow card, no warning. Just wait till the next match, or probably when I’m fit to play. Any injury while playing, working out and sports can cause a lot of physical pain. There is a lot on the internet on how to avoid an injury and all the dos and don’ts. This time though it was more of a mental challenge. Getting fit is a journey and you need to have an open mind.
Acceptance plays a huge role in the mental work post an injury. A lot of people just like to deny it. It’s a part of your journey- It happened, and now you need to accept it, so you can do something about it. The minute you deny it (to avoid the cost of recovery, the missing-out of workout ‘high’-endorphins) you will land yourself into trouble. It could even become chronic.
We want everything quick, right? Food can be heated quicker- microwave, message can be sent quicker- Internet, and you expect the human body to be at the same pace. Recovery isn’t magic and we haven’t invented anything that can get you out of an injury within minutes. Be smart with the time instead. I plan it -lots of reading, movie binging, catch up with friends, doing everything in that workout time I couldn’t do before. Make It fun! You may even forget the pain for a bit.
That lazy voice in my head tells me its okay if I don’t see the physiotherapist or doctor (orthopedic), and I’m glad now I don’t listen to it. Getting a professional opinion or two saves you the trouble of guess work and trial and error. You can be sure of your road to recovery and that boosts your confidence.
It’s easy, almost very easy to just blame your trainer or the place, the lack of people supporting you, yada yada. I have done it. All it does for you, is cloud the right perspective. Even if this was someone else’s fault, you don’t realize that it was up to you to not let it happen. You could have totally avoided it. What is it that you needed, to avoid it? Many people miss out on this question and keep falling for the same mistakes. Take it from me- Lack of stretching.
You need to discuss and talk about it. A lot of times I thought its something to be ashamed of. “How could you get an injury?” I don’t know whose voice rang in my head but, Hey! A lot of fit people I know didn’t get away with it either. Once I was more vocal about it, I got that its not “periods” which you can’t talk about in public (pun totally intended). Its normal. I’m learning and I’m allowed to fall as long as I’m learning from it.
Post recovery is another phase I totally suck at. I’m getting scared of this honestly. I have no idea if a lot of people do this but you just forget you have had an injury and recovered. Go all out and forget about those rehab movements you need to continue doing. Now you need to do some special movements which the group class won’t be doing with you. Lazy brain, time constraints, and the yada yada yada setting in. Its just a little extra stretching or strengthening. Just because its recovered we cannot conveniently forget about it.
On the other end I know of people who just quit workout all together, – “oh exercising causes injury”. No! (bubble popped for some). Wrong form causes injury, wrong posture causes injury, Inadequate knowledge about your body (e.g. flat foot) causes injury, lack of stretching causes injury, lack of proper warm up causes injury and may be lack of strength in a few tiny muscles could cause injury. If you have figured all of the above, you could have an amazing body and exercising would be the culprit. Don’t quit. Just take it slow.
So as I was trying to wave off all the clouds stopping this perspective, I just had an insight, that may be my injury just taught me something and I don’t need to feel all that bad about it. All you dying soldiers out there, with battle scars and broken limbs I feel you! (exaggerated much?). Join the club and let’s get educated and spread awareness so others don’t need to suffer! No worries, take all the help you can and smile!
This Ted talk will get you thinking though