March 03, 2008
In This Issue...
- What's New at Sports Injury Info- Feature Article - "5 Tips For Surviving Rehab"
- Sports Injury Questions
- Coming Soon to SII
Whats New at Sports Injury Info
New PagesBelow you will find links to the newest additions to the website.
Sports Injuries
Shoulder Labral TearsSports Injury Surgery
Shoulder SurgeryShoulder Arthroscopy
Lateral Release
Labral Repair
Rotator Cuff Surgery
Subacromial Decompression
Feature Article
5 Tips For Surviving Rehab
Rehabilitation after a sports injury can be
frustrating. This is especially true if you are in rehab after surgery,
which can last for months.The key to surviving rehab is perspective. As an athletic trainer working in a sports medicine clinic, I can easily tell which patients will have a positive rehab experience, and which ones will just barely survive. Let me share with you some of the things that my star patients do to make their rehab easier.
Keep a Positive Attitude
The single most important thing you can have during rehab is a positive attitude. This can be hard, especially if you have been dealing with your injury for a long time. Sometimes seeing the light at the end of the tunnel is difficult. There are days when you feel like you are going backwards instead of making progress. Hopefully they don't happen as often as the good days, but everyone has bad days. If you keep a positive attitude about your rehab, and envision the day when you are pain free, it will make things a whole lot easier in the long run. Remember, your athletic trainer or physical therapist is there to help you and they are going to do whatever it takes to make you better.Stay Motivated
Motivation is hard to come by sometimes. I know there are days when you just don't feel like going to rehab. You would rather be doing anything than those silly exercises. I understand that, and so does your therapist. There are days that I would rather not be inside the clinic working. Staying motivated for a long rehab process can be challenging. Part of that challenge should fall on your clinician. It is their job to keep your motivation up by giving you new exercises, and making sure you progress. As a patient, you need to try to remember exactly why you are in rehab. What are you going to gain from this process? If it is a pain free knee, think about all of the things you will be able to do once you are finished and healed. Let that be your motivation.Keep It Fun
I like to have a fun and exciting atmosphere in the clinic. I joke with my pateints, and try to get to know them. I think this goes a long way in making rehab bearable. There is no rule about rehab not being fun. So try to find soemthing fun about rehab. Maybe sharing jokes with your clinician, or making your exercises into a game. It definitely doesn't have to be all business.Sometimes It Has To Hurt
Depending on your injury, sometimes the rehab exercises may be painful, or uncomfortable. Unfortunately, that is part of the process. Bending your knee after an ACL reconstruction doesn't feel good. It does have to be done though. Understanding that a little pain is necessary for some things goes a long way in surviving rehab. The last thing I want to do is hurt my patients, but sometimes it can't be avoided. So, keep an open mind and remember that a little discomfort now means a pain free future.Do Your Homework
Rehab in the clinic is only part of the process. The other part is what you are doing at home. This is especially true for post surgery rehabilitation. If you are working on your exercises at home, you will see even more gains in the clinic. Everyone wants to get better faster. The best way to do this is to make sure that you are working on things outside of the clinic. Your athletic trainer or physical therpist should have you doing something at home...make sure you are following their instructions.Rehabilitation is vital after a sports injury. It is the key to returning you to pain free daily activities and your sport. It isn't always fun, and sometimes seems to drag on forever. Keeping a positive attitutude, maintaining your motivation with goal setting, and keeping it fun can go a long way in your recovery process. Remember that sometimes a little pain is necessary in order to make progress. And don't forget to do your homework. If you follow these simple tips, you will survive your rehab...and be off the sidelines in no time.
Sports Injury Questions
If you have visited the site in the last few weeks, you may have noticed the new section - Sports Injury Questions - It is a place where you can ask your sports injury question and get it answered.The response so far has been overwhelming, with lots of great questions and answers. Here are just a few of the most recent questions.
Question - Lunges and Tailbone Pain
When
I do lunges, I get excruciating pain in my tailbone, only when
I
lunge on my right leg. I usually just do body weight squats and that
doesn't bother ...
Question - Ankle Sprain Compression
Hi,
I'm an Emergency Room Nurse practitioner in the UK.
In regards
to treating sprains, what is your opinion of cylindrical tubular
bandage for providing ...
Question - Lunges and Pain
I
have just started a Russian Kettlebell class. Part of the routine
(after extensive warm ups) include lunges.
I am NOT
using any weight at ...
Queston - Broken Fibula
Hi
my name is Ryan. I broke my fibula on January 6th, and I'm getting my
cast off on the 29th.
It was on the lower part of
the fibula close to my ankle....
Question - Hip Flexor Pain
I
have had psoas problems for a couple of years now. I just finished
playing college soccer and it seems that the pain is even more frequent.
I
stretch ...
Question - Meniscus Tear Grade One Signal on
MRI
My doctor recommended surgery for grade one
meniscus tear (both knees). I am 39, and work as a mechanic. I have no
resting pain, no pain in walking or ...
If
you have a question or an answer - stop by and contribute!
Coming Soon To SII
Have you ever had an ankle sprain? Do you suffer from weak ankles? Do you dread the pick up basketball game for fear of injury?Coming soon to Sports Injury Info, "The Complete Guide To Ankle Sprains".
From injury to return to play, this e-book will give you all of the knowledge you need to return yourself to sports and a pain free ankle.
This guide will walk you through the initial treatment, how to reduce swelling and speed recovery, and the key activities for the first 3 days. Days 4-14 detail exercises to improve range of motion, strength, and normal walking. Weeks 2-4 improve your balance and proprioception, and return your ankle strength to normal. Weeks 4 and on involve exercises for improving strength, endurance, flexibility, balance, and power.
If you have "weak ankles" or suffer from chronic sprains, this guide is for you. It covers some of the commonly overlooked areas of ankle sprain rehab, and provides step by step instructions for conquering your ankle pain. Not just for the acute sprain, it can help to eliminate ankle pain from old sprains too...
Watch your email inbox for details regarding this upcoming e-book.
Until Next Time,
Bart
Stay off the Sidelines!
Sports Injury Info