How To Find Relaxation As You Recover From A Sports Injury

When you suffer from a sports injury, it can affect other areas of your life. All of a sudden, the joy you had from physical activity is removed due to the recovery process, and it can be difficult to adjust to this change. This might leave you feeling jittery and trying to fill your time with other hobbies and tasks.

But this might be counterproductive. Filling your time with other things might ease some of your stress for a moment, but it could have a worse impact on your recovery. It is encouraged that you relax to speed up your recovery, and this can be difficult to do if you are unsure how to relax. 

Thankfully, this post has outlined three of the most effective methods to find relaxation when recovering from a sports injury.

Practice Mind-Body Techniques

One of the most effective methods to relax during injury recovery is by utilizing techniques that use the mind and body. These techniques help you to manage your pain and reduce stress, while they can also assist your ability to relax. It is often the mental aspects of an injury that can hinder an individual’s recovery progress, and mind-body practices address these factors.

Mind-body techniques can involve deep breathing, meditation, mindfulness, and visualization, to name a few practices. Although not all practices will work for everyone, they can make recovery easier by enhancing body awareness and pain management. The relaxation and visualization from some techniques will enable those inured to understand pain sensations, which will ensure rehabilitation exercises can be tolerated. 

Make Lifestyle Adjustments

Focusing on a healthy lifestyle can improve your chances of a quick recovery after a sports injury. This can range from the right nutrition, such as carbohydrates and protein intake, to how well your sleep and how long for. In fact, to promote hormone regulation and tissue repair that are essential to recovering from a sports injury, adults should sleep for at least eight hours per night, according to experts. 

However, depending on the pain of your sports injury, there are other lifestyle changes an athlete might make. Some will use medication and supplements to control the pain of their injuries, while others will opt for marijuana. In 2021, New York Post reported that 85% of NBA players use cannabis, with pain management being the leading cause. Using cannabis has become easier in recent years, with some dispensaries now even delivering to customers’ doorsteps, covering areas like Roosevelt Island, NY. 

Find Physical Relaxation Methods

While getting enough rest should be the primarily aim of using physical relaxation methods when suffering from a sports injury, you should use other techniques, too. One such method is progressive muscle relaxation, which involves tensing and relaxing muscles in a specified sequence. This practice can help athletes and those with sports injuries recognize the difference between tension and relaxation.

Progressive relaxation techniques should be practiced in a comfortable environment and position, either lying down on the floor or sitting. You should focus on all muscle groups at a time, as this will teach you the technique for your entire body, just in case of future injuries. This will begin to relax your entire body, which was ease the stress of your current injury.

By practicing the three methods mentioned in this post, you will have a simpler time finding relaxation as your recover from a sports injury. This relaxation will speed up the overall recovery process.