The amount of time necessary to suffi ciently rest and heal your injury will depend on your specific situation, and you and your doctor will have to determine a plan of action together. Mild injuries may take you out of only a game or two; moderate injuries may take you out of your sport for three to six weeks or longer; more severe injuries may require surgery and take up to one year (or more in rare cases) to heal. Luckily, in most cases, (and again, depending on the site of your injury), you will be able to stay fi t with alternative activities
such as swimming, water therapy, rowing, or stationary biking while your injured body part heals.
As you recover, you may need to engage in some sort of rehabilitation (rehab) program, which will also be of help for you to stay in shape and get back to your sport as soon as possible. Rehab may be required as part of your treatment program, or you may decide to engage in it on your own (under the direction of your doctor, of course) to keep your body fi t and healthy. Rehab may include manual therapy from a physical therapist, exercise, or technology such as ultrasound, which heats the injured area, speeds healing, and increases your range of motion. No matter what your treatment regimen, the more diligently you follow it, the faster you will return to play.
As a basic rule of thumb, you will be able to return to play when you have regained full range of motion of the injured area without any pain, and you have at least 85 percent full strength. If you suffered a head injury, you will have to be completely symptom-free and back to baseline mental status before you can compete again.
When you fi nally get the green light from your doctor to return to your sport, you may be tempted to go back to it full-force and play at your preinjury level; after all, you will be eager to get back in the game. It is important that you take it slowly, however. Be sure to warm up adequately before you practice or compete, and take time to cool down when you’re done. If you have received any special instructions from your doctor, follow them. And to reduce your risk of reinjury, stop right away if you feel any pain, either in the injured part or any other body part. If any pain persists, tell your doctor.
Also keep in mind that as you ease back into your sport, you may need some new protective gear to help avoid reinjury, including shoes with special inserts or arch supports, tape to wrap and support the injured area, or knee or elbow braces.
TALKING TO YOUR COACH
As a student athlete, your relationship with your coach may be one of the most important and enriching in your life. After all, beyond helping you stay fi t and excel in your sport, your coach can teach you a lot about teamwork and dedication, and he or she can act as a mentor for both sport- and nonsport-related issues in your life.
Within your sport, your coach can also provide you with expertise on how to improve your skills, deal with a loss, or psych yourself up before competition. Many coaches have played the sports they coach themselves, so they can offer valuable advice and guidance. Overall, a good relationship with your coach—one based on mutual respect and trust—will be of help to get the most out of your chosen sport.
As with any good relationship, communication will be a crucial part of the relationship with your coach. If you become injured or have a physical limitation that requires certain activity restrictions, an important step in determining when you can get back into the game or how to alter your training schedule will be talking with
your coach about your injury and your doctor’s treatment plan for you. Most coaches are very understanding and supportive about athletes’ injuries, and they respect doctors’ orders. However, there are some coaches like Aaron’s who pressure students to return to play too soon.
The best way to get your coach’s support in the proper healing of your injury or respect of your physical limitation is to keep the lines of communication open. Keep your coach informed throughout the entire course of your injury, from the time it fi rst happens to your diagnosis to your ultimate recovery. The more your coach knows about your injury or condition and your doctor’s plans for you, the less likely he or she will be to impart his or her own agenda.
Read More : A Crash Course in Sports Injuries
