Injury Getting You Down? How To Overcome It

In the last few years I have:

• Broken a rib

• Damaged some jelly in my eyeball, so I get flashes every-time it goes from dark to light

• Torn some bit and bobs in my knee rather badly!

• Got diagnosed with arthritic shoulder

• Shoulder bursa is thickened & swollen

• Oh and I also have a chronic condition, Ankylosing Spondylitis - arthritic spine.

Each thing has probably acuminated into many, many months of recovery and not going to Ju-jitsu and the gym. Back in the day I would of been a state!!!!

The torment and anxiety of not training has the power to drive you mad....

Here are my tried and tested ways to overcome that feeling and desperation to workout when you know you can't or shouldn't,

It's A Privilege To Be Injured ?

Chill. Hear me out. I don't mean a catastrophic injury, I'm talking a minor injury causing a minor hiccup in your training.

The fact that you can even do a sport, that you can move, you are still mobile enough to push yourself is a blessing.

We forget how fortunate we are that we can even do a sport in the first place. Many people would love to trade places with you. Even the fact that you have the time and facilities to do a sport is amazing!

You are privileged that you have the ability to do such things and even more privileged that you can likely return to your sport.

Yes, it sucks being injured but you got it in a sport you love! So stop beating yourself up over your injury!

You Signed Up To This - Injuries ARE your sport.

Getting injured in your sport or gym sessions go hand in hand with your sport.

Take running for example, do not see running and a knee injury as two separate entities. The same way you see your running shoes as part of your running experience.

When you decided to take part in your sport of activity you also signed up to the possibly of injury. It's all part of the package, the experience.

To say you got injured running is a small badge of honour, it's a lot cooler than getting injured by twisting for toilet paper on the loo!

When my rib got snapped in Ju-jitsu, I had to tell myself "This is just part of my sport", & as soon as I saw my injuries this way I never felt detached from my sport. Detachment is the cause for your anxiety.

Rest Is Training

Similar to the above point.

Rest is not separate from your training, you are still training when you are resting for your sport.

Tell yourself this and you will feel your brain quite literally calm down & break that loop of "Omg...i need to train!!!!"

Rest is quite literally a form of training. It's just not the fun beating yourself up part.

Frame rest differently to your mind...stop seeing it as a hinderance

You Needed This...

I don't think I know anyone who wouldn't say "yes!" if I asked them "Would you finally like a physical and mental break?". Most people would love the idea.

We are frazzled guys, mentally and physically broken. Our bodies are begging for you to stop even for a moment!

An injury is the perfect opportunity to finally stop, breathe and focus on what actually matters....eating well, seeing family, walking your dog more, focusing on your mental health and just stopping to smell the roses for once.

I have normally said to clients "rest will find itself".

If you normally train for an hour at lets say 7pm, use that time to do something else, maybe something with some healthy dopamine. How about try to learn a few new words in another language?

Personally, I used to be the one who would have a mild panic if I could not workout because i went on holiday, now I couldn't care less. Even if you told me "you can't train for a whole year" i still would not freak out. Why? Because i need the bloody rest!! The gym will always be around for as long as I am.

Take this opportunity of being injured to finally rest.

You WON'T Waste Away

Your muscle will not vanish after a few weeks break. Your run time won't dramatically plummet either.

Don't believe me, just ask ChatGpt "How long until my muscles start to vanish"... it's not that bad.

And you will get back to where you are pretty dam fast...don't freak out.

And even if your race time does somehow turn awful or your biceps don't pop as much....so what? Are you a professional athlete who depends on this to pay your mortgage off? Probably not. You WILL regain whatever you lost.

Sports Massage WILL help you get back to your sport FASTER!

Having a sports massage with me in Saffron Walden, will help you get back to your sport faster. I have many methods to do this. Take this time when you can't workout to come down for a massage, cupping and/or some assisted stretching.