by Kerry Taylor
Let’s face it, unfortunately the more active we are, at some point in time, you will suffer from some sort of injury or set back. It can be something as small as banging your pinky toe, (that hurts like hell by the way) or as big a breaking a limb. I have had my share of them:
Dislocated finger
Hamstring strain
Sprained both knees
Groin strain
Hyperextended both elbows
Plantar fasciitis
Sprained wrist
Sprained neck
Dislocated shoulder
Concussions
Dislocated hip
Torn bicep
Sprained both ankles
2 Bulging discs in my back
Just to name a few- some were related to sports, some related to life, some related to just being dumb. Being active and as adventurous as I am, things will happen, and as you get older, you don’t bounce back as fast as you use to. As a kid you can twist, bend and bounce off anything and be ready to go again in a few hours. LOL. With every injury comes an opportunity for a learning experience to grow with.
Patience
We are people that want things instantly, especially with an injury or set back. I use to find myself saying, “I did x,y,z, why aren’t I better yet?” But over time, I have learned to be patient with myself and my body and know in time things will get back to normal.
Exploration
An injury can happen because you have had a natural habit of over compensating for a weakness. If that’s the case, then you will want to find new exercises to incorporate to help make what’s weak, strong, what’s tight, loose, and what’s immobile, mobile. Which, in time, will keep you out of harm’s way. You will only know when you explore the ideas of what other things your body may need to keep it going.
Stepping Back
There are always ways to perform a movement at a lesser intensity unless there is absolutely no way you can perform it, or the medical professional says, “ Do not do it”, find the regression to perform for a movement. Can’t do a body weight squat because your knees hurt? Hold a pair of straps and sit back into your heels and hips to keep all the weight in your backside and not your knees. Ahhhhh….success!!!
Treat the Body
This just may be the coach in me, but an injury also allows me to learn from other health professionals- massage therapists, physical therapists or alternative medicine specialists. They all offer different treatments for the body that will help me serve my clients and myself better. Always ask questions and listen up, you will be amazed at what you could learn.
None of us want to get injured, but with any injury or pain in life comes growth and a lesson. I just happen to be discussing the physical, but this can also be applied to the mental and spiritual. Always take away the lesson and learn from it and adjust. Until next time, continue to live life 1 degree above the rest.