| Everyone wants to talk about a good workout | | | | Cross train - If it's possible with your injury, try |
| they had, and even better a good stretch of | | | | finding a different outlet to continue to get some |
| workouts. But what about when the injury bug | | | | exercise. For instance, if you've hurt your shoulder |
| bites? Ouch, that can hurt mentally as well as | | | | lifting weights then try to increase the amount of |
| physically. Nothing can bring your mood and | | | | time you run or ride the exercise bike. If you've |
| workout program down quicker than having to | | | | sprained an ankle, concentrate more on upper |
| deal with an injury. | | | | body weightlifting that doesn't put strain on the |
| Some people cope with chronic problems that | | | | ankle, or get in the swimming pool and see if you |
| they try to manage, like shoulder difficulties, | | | | can move around there. |
| Achilles' tendonitis or knee issues. Others have to | | | | When we exercise endorphins are released in the |
| suddenly deal with an unexpected problem, such | | | | body that create a natural high. You're overall |
| as a pulled hamstring or calf muscle, or shoulder | | | | mood will be a lot better if you continue to |
| problem that pops up. | | | | experience the benefits of exercise. |
| When an injury strikes there are many common | | | | Get support - After suffering a sports injury don't |
| sense things most people probably already know | | | | pull away from the friends, athletes, teams or |
| to do: | | | | coaches who you normally do things with. Try to |
| Listen to your body and stop if it hurts; rest the | | | | still show up at the games, or get together with |
| injury and see if it improves; ice the affected | | | | them before or after their workout. Show |
| area and if it persists or is extremely painful see | | | | support by bringing them a PowerAde, or offer |
| a doctor. | | | | them words of encouragement. In turn, it will be |
| However, there are also several important mental | | | | nice for you to get some words of encourage |
| things you can do too to make it easier to deal | | | | from them as well. |
| with an injury. The right mental approach can | | | | Tweak your goals - As hard as it might be to do, |
| even help you recover more quickly. | | | | if you suffer an injury sit down and re-examine |
| Learn about the injury - Research the injury on | | | | your fitness or sports goals. |
| your own through the Internet, books or fitness | | | | If you planned to run in a local 5K by training on |
| magazines, talk to friends, trainers or coaches | | | | your landice treadmill in early June but are |
| who might have significant knowledge on the | | | | experiencing calf problems and losing valuable |
| subject and if you decide to visit a doctor learn all | | | | training time, maybe look on the local sports |
| you can from him or her. | | | | calendar and find a race later in the summer and |
| Knowledge will help you cope with the problem | | | | set a goal of competing then. |
| better and be smarter about what you need to | | | | It's obviously never fun to get hurt, but unless |
| do to rebound. | | | | you're one of a very select lucky few everyone |
| Think positive - Even though it may be hard to | | | | deals with sports bumps and bruises, sprains and |
| do, think positive thoughts. Research has proven | | | | pulls at one point or another. |
| that negative thinking can increase a surge in the | | | | Just remember that a positive mental approach |
| hormone cortisol, which can divert the body's | | | | can sometimes be almost as important as the |
| energy away from healing. | | | | physical aspect of rehabbing an injury. |