How to Facilitate Your Recovery from A Sports Injury

To lead a healthy and active lifestyle, doing some form of exercise each day should be on your to-do list. However, from time to time, you may get an injury which requires rest and relaxation in order to get better and recover. With that in mind, here are a few ways on how to facilitate your recovery from a sports injury.

Increase Your Fluid Intake

Throughout an intense training session, your body will lose a lot of fluids, which results in you being dehydrated. Therefore, it’s incredibly important that you consume a lot of water both during your workout and afterwards. Keeping your body hydrated will not only give the fuel you need to recover faster, but it will help you keep going for longer too.

Eat Properly

After completing physical exercise, your muscles will be drained which can increase the risk of you getting an injury. To effectively recuperate, obtain stronger muscle mass, as well as repair cells, you should beeating the right foods. Make sure to incorporate plenty of fruits and vegetables into your diet and steer clear of foods full of salt, sugar, and fat. Ideally, you should eat roughly 60 minutes after playing a sport, and make sure to consume carbohydrates and high-grade healthy protein. 

Regular Stretches

After an intense training session, you should consider stretching all your major body parts. Stretching is a fast and simple way to ensure muscles recover quickly. Keeping your muscles strong, healthy, and flexible is essential, helping you to maintain motion in the joints. Without doing so, your muscles can shorten and become tight, making it much harder for you to perform an effective workout. 

Relax

If you’re the type of person who leads a hectic lifestyle, sitting around and doing nothing can seem like a chore. However, relaxing and taking some time out is one of the most effective ways to heal and recover from many types of injuries. The longer you give your body to recover, the better. 

Massage Therapy

Another great way to speed up your recovery is by having a massage. Not only does massage therapy feel fantastic, but it also helps to boost your circulation, enabling you to relax and fully unwind. There are tons of benefits that come with massage therapy, helping to increase joint flexibility and mobility, as well as reducing muscle tension. You can also try out self-massage, as well as foam roller exercises that can be done at home.

Get More Sleep

If you aren’t getting enough sleep, the chances are you won’t be functioning at your full potential. If you play sports and workout regularly, getting enough sleep is essential. Throughout your sleep, your body produces growth hormone, which is mainly responsible for tissue growth and repair. There are several things that you can do to help you get a better night’s sleep, such as sticking to a regular sleeping schedule, as well as removing any electronics or distractions from your bedroom. Getting at least 6 – 7 hours of sleep per night can make a huge difference and help speed up your recovery.

Try an Ice Bath

Many athletes take regular ice baths, which are said to help speed up the recovery process, helping to reduce muscle soreness and reduce the risk of injury. While research on the advantages is inconclusive, it can’t hurt to try it out, especially if you are prone to injuries. 

Listen to Your Body

No matter what type of injury you have sustained, only you know what’s best for your body. Whether you’re feeling aches and pains, or feeling run down and tired, it may be best to take a break from training, giving you the time you need to recover. It can be all too easy to ignore warning signs, especially if you’re a fitness fanatic, but you may not realise the harm you could be doing to your body. Pushing yourself to the limits can result in further injury and prolong the healing process.

Seek Help

If you would like more help, you may be interested in contacting the London sports injury clinic Wimbledon Clinics. They have multiple different programs (bronze, silver and gold) which offer various levels of assessment and support. Speaking to them can help when it comes to fixing problems, identifying your weak spots, as well as building on your strengths. Being seen by a physiotherapist at a sports injury clinic may make all the difference and help reduce the chances of you getting an injury. There are several packages that you can choose from to suit your requirements.

Whether you’re new to the fitness scene or you’re a master when it comes to working out, it’s always important that you listen to your body to reduce the risk of injury. Make sure to increase your fluid take, eat the right foods, as well as seeking help from a specialist who can help speed up the recovery process, enabling you to get back to working out as quickly as possible.