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Are you looking to become strong again after a serious injury? Life is full of unpredictable circumstances, and accidents can happen that will cause you serious injury. Maybe someone cuts you off in traffic, leading to a bad car accident. Or a sidewalk has not been correctly salted, and you slip on an icy patch and land on your shoulder. You might even pull or strain a muscle when working out or participating in a sport.
Whatever the cause, severe injuries can affect your physical and mental health. They can limit the number of activities you can participate in and change your lifestyle completely. One of the first things you should consider when you have a severe injury is recovering from the damage.
It is essential to build strength in the area that has been hurt to protect it from further damage. The injury has likely weakened a part of your body, making it vulnerable to re-injury risks. Regaining your strength could be a long and challenging process. Here are a few tips for making the most of your recovery.
Follow the Doctor’s Orders
Whatever kind of healthcare specialist you see helping you with a recovery plan, do not deviate from their advice. A rehabilitation plan and regular checkups are crucial aspects of an injury recovery program, and the more serious the injury, the more careful you have to be. If you feel like you are making good progress and want to push yourself a little bit more, do not attempt to without first checking in with your care provider or physical therapist. They can evaluate the injury, see how your muscles and other tissues respond to your recovery efforts, and then provide tips based on that knowledge. Listen to the medical professionals responsible for getting your body back to normal and follow their orders to the letter.
Engage in Low-Impact, Low-Intensity Exercises
It will take time for your body to rebuild the tissue in the damaged area. It is not going to happen overnight, barring a miracle. Even if you were a fitness fiend before the injury, you should not return to the same exercises that you were doing before. Instead, research some very low-impact and low-intensity workouts that you can do to work the areas affected by the injury. Instead of weightlifting to rebuild leg strength after a knee injury, consider using a resistance band that can accommodate various intensities. Switch from going on runs to taking short, fast-paced walks. Or, if your injury is very severe, start with swimming. The more careful you are while working the parts of your body that have been damaged, the more likely you are to avoid re-injury.
Be Consistent
As mentioned before, rebuilding strength after an injury can take a long time, especially if the damage was severe and you were prevented from using those muscles for an extended period. The best way to regain strength is to be consistent with your exercises. It is not about raising the intensity level as quickly as possible but sticking with the program and being patient. This process is dangerous if you try to jump ahead to speed up your recovery. Be patient and consistent so the damage is repaired correctly and you can regain strength in time.
Invest in Your Mental Health
Injuries do not just affect your body. They also affect your mind. The consequences of the injury could leave you scared, worried, facing financial troubles because of medical costs, or even depressed because of lifestyle changes. Finding ways to deal with the trauma of the injury could aid your physical recovery. Maybe you could speak to a therapist about the mental toll that the injury has taken. If someone else caused your injury and you are facing financial troubles, contact an injury lawyer to see if you could file a personal injury claim and win a settlement to cover those damages and put your mind at ease about your future. If you are struggling mentally, you may not be in the best position for a positive physical recovery. Evaluate your mental state and invest in self-care to handle this crucial aspect of recovery.
Hydrate Sufficiently
The body needs significant hydration, especially when building strength back up after an injury. Your cells will work overtime to repair the damage, and proper hydration can keep them working and supplied with a steady flow of nutrients. Plus, your cells will produce extra waste as they work, and increased hydration can help flush those toxins out of your system efficiently. Drink lots of water to help with injury recovery so you can return to normal strength.
Follow These Tips to Become Strong Again After a Serious Injury
Though you may seek shortcuts to rebuild your strength and recover faster after an injury, cutting corners should be avoided. You will have to be patient if you want your recovery to go smoothly and to avoid re-injury. Listen to healthcare specialists, choose low-intensity exercises, be consistent with your recovery program, invest in your mental health as much as your physical health, and keep drinking water to promote effective recovery.
