4 steps to recover from any injury
TRANSCRIPT
fitnationmag.com
M e n ta l ly r e c o u p i n g
f r o m a n i n j u ry ca n
s o m e t i m e s b e m o r e
c h a l l e n g i n g t h a n
p h ys i ca l r e c o v e ry .
The psychological pain of an injury can actuallybe more difficult to deal with than the injury itself,since there are countless negative emotions thatcan threaten to overwhelm you, including frustration,anger, helplessness, and despair.
fitnationmag.com
BE PROACTIVEResearch everything about your injury and thevarious treatments to mend it. Consult with health and sports professionals to understand the pros and cons of available treatments so you know what to expect during rehab and recovery.
1
fitnationmag.com
Remember, your emotional response to injury is directly related to your recovery, so focus on what you can do ratherthan what you can’t.
STAY POSITIVE
2
fitnationmag.com
SET GOALS
In recovery, accept where you are instead of where you think you should be. Set weekly goals and celebrate your successes; even small accomplishments can mean a lot. Recognize them. Relish them. The act of setting and reaching goals provides a sense of control and begets a positive mindset for recovery.
3
fitnationmag.com
Visualizing an optimal performanceis a powerful tool for injury recovery. Research in mental imagery (as outlined inApplied Sports Psychology: Personal Growth to Peak Performance )
indicates that, in circumstances like these, the brain doesn’t
distinguish between what’s real and what’s imagined. That means that mere visualization can help create neural pathways that prepare the athlete for real-life action.
4
Use m ental i mag ery