One question I recently got was “when can you start activities after injury?”. It’s a common question that is very important as it can make or break your future enjoyment of whatever it is you’re asking about. Whether you have a broken ankle, shoulder or wrist, it’s not easy to immediately go back to your normal activities after recovery. There are many factors to consider to make sure you have the best recovery for your body. As for me, I have a two-pointer guide to help me and my clients.
Today, I’m sharing four important things to find the perfect moment to start your activities after your injury. This can help you decide, as each moment is different for everyone.
#1 Check where you are in your recovery
Before you move forward, it is important that you actually know where you are. How is your fracture? Are you recovering faster or slower? Has it just been days or months? You can easily determine what stage you are right now.
There are some activities you can do earlier in the recovery than others.
A really good example of this is swimming versus running or even walking. After an ankle or leg injury, you can start going to the pool a lot earlier than you can start hitting the trails again.
#2 Ask yourself if the activity will hurt your progress
One of the most important questions I always ask myself before starting an activity is this:
- Can this activity hurt my progress?
- Can this activity hurt my recovery?
There may be times when you do not know where you are in your recovery but you have to determine if your activity will have consequences. If you go into it too fast, you might be causing problems in the future. It’s often tempting to prove to yourself that you’re fine, or that a simple fracture won’t keep you from your regular routines, it’s a fine line between benefiting from this and causing yourself damage. I know many people who forced their bodies to do things, only to experience problems in the future. It may not be in the upcoming months but five or ten years from now. Every time you want to do something, consider these questions. Some serious injuries will take longer than what you expected.
Every injury is different so even if you’ve gone through it before, just because it took you two months before to do an activity does not mean your next injury will have the same timeline. So be honest with yourself and keep your ego in check.
#3 Know when to risk it
There are moments in your recovery when you may want to take a risk. So if you think that your activity will not hurt your progress and you can no longer wait another week, then go do it! You are working with your body and you can determine how it will run for the rest of your life. But if you’re having doubts, better to play it safe and just wait.
Patience in recovery is important for you to get the best results possible!
No need to rush things if you’re sacrificing your future activities. Think about it. It’s better to wait for another month than suffer in the next 20 or 30 years.
#4 Check with your PT or coach
If you’re still unsure when to start doing new activities, then consider asking for guidance. Sometimes your emotions cloud your judgment and being in recovery can certainly be an emotional stage. Working with someone who is familiar with your situation and has the experience to provide you with advice based on what is actually happening, rather than what you feel, can be a huge help.
That’s why it’s a really good idea to establish a solid relationship with your physiotherapist, or if that’s not a viable option, find someone who can guide you through these moments. I know how challenging it can be, and what a difference a positive approach can make in your recovery, so if you need any advice or help then send me a message and we can work on your progress together!
So these are my four tips whenever you’re thinking of starting an activity after your recovery. Remember that your body can be pushed to its limits. But also think about the consequences if you push too fast or too much. There is a time for everything so just enjoy the process and have the best recovery possible!
Question for you: have you ever done something too fast during recovery and ended up regretting it? Comment below!
If you want to go even deeper into the recovery process, download the e-book SECRETS TO BEST RECOVERY — Practices No One Talks About.
Originally published at www.mayanovak.com on October 30, 2016.