No Pain, No Gain? WRONG!

Ever hear the old slogan, “no pain, no gain”? Following this advice blindly can lead an athlete into danger. No, you shouldn’t let every scrape or muscle ache keep you out of the game, but pain, real pain should be a red light.

Last week I mentioned how you shouldn’t ignore pain, because pain is your body telling you that something is wrong.

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How can you tell the difference between pain and soreness?

Pain is sudden, sharp, acute, and has staying power. Soreness is usually a dull ache that will subside quickly.

Pain means it’s time to stop. You might not be injured yet, but you’re on your way. Listen to your body’s signals and take a break. You may have tweaked or strained a muscle or it could be something more. The most important thing to remember is that if the pain persists for more than 48 hours, it’s time to head to the doctor.

Have you heard of the R.I.C.E method (source)?

·         Rest

·         Ice

·         Compress

·         Elevate

This in combination with what your doctor prescribes will help you into a quick recovery.

While you’re on the mend, don’t forget about cross-training. While your sport may have you doing a lot of running, pivoting, or jumping, there are other ways to stay in great cardio shape while you’re on the sidelines.

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Often stationary bicycling, elliptical training, and swimming can be good substitutes for high impact sports (source). Obviously, nothing seems as good as your sport, but cross training will get you back in action faster after recovery.

Stay in the game.

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Injuring your ACL stinks, but you’re in good company. Everyday another 548 people suffer too. Are you injured? Have you been injured? I’d love to hear your story. Email me at Aspaeris@gmail.com and we’ll feature you on our blog!