Introduction
In the realm of injury rehabilitation, the adage "leave your ego at the door" definitely rings true. I’ve suffered a plethora of injuries over the years, and I’ve come to learn this the hard way. In this blog, I’ve drawn together a checklist containing what I think are the essential steps to guide your rehab journey, from initially securing the right plan, to staying positive throughout the process. By embracing these principles, you pave the way for a resilient and successful recovery.
1. Consult The Experts
Begin by consulting with the right healthcare professionals to develop a personalised rehabilitation plan tailored to your specific injury and needs. I bought Plug-In-Rehab onto my coaching team for exactly this reason. If any of my athletes suffer an injury setback, they get a fully bespoke rehabilitation plan, support and guidance through the entire process.
2. Trust The Process
Reach acceptance with your injury, let go of the need to control every aspect of your recovery, and have faith in the process mapped out for you. For example, Gaz and the team at Plug-In-Rehab have decades worth of injury rehabilitation experience, spanning both the military and professional sport. What they don’t know about the world of injury rehab isn’t worth knowing. And whilst it’s true that you understand your body better than anyone, this is only valuable if you communicate openly with your rehab team about any changes in symptoms, so they can adjust your plan as needed.
3. Be Consistent
Don’t use your rehab plan as a suggestion, or a rough guide for you to then riff off. Follow it properly. Consistency is the key to progress. Therefore, adhere to the prescribed exercises, attend check-in calls with your coach, and prioritise all the basic aspects of recovery (quality sleep and nutrition), to minimise your time on the sidelines.
4. Stay Positive
‘You can dance in the rain, or sulk in the rain, it will still rain regardless.’ Cultivating a positive mindset throughout your rehabilitation journey is crucial. Focus only on what you can control, and don’t waste time on the uncontrollable, or what other people are doing. Being injured can also often feel like a very isolated and lonely journey, so avoid spending too much time in your own head. Instead, make a concerted effort to see friends and family to help occupy your mind and keep you distracted.
Summary
Learn from my previous mistakes and follow this injury rehabilitation checklist to pave the way for a successful recovery. Remember, a successful injury rehabilitation journey isn’t just about rebuilding your physical strength, but also nurturing your mental resilience and fortitude along the way, to keep you on track and get you over the line.