Joint injuries are commonly brought about by sports or exercise activities. They account for more than 10% of all injuries in collision sports like football and ice hockey.
After an injury like this, most athletes are eager to recover, so they can get back to what they love. It is possible to speed up joint recovery, but you must do so safely.
Safe recovery means participating in things like strengthening exercises, proper sleep, and frequent stretching. Making time for these activities will likely result in speedy healing.
Keep reading to learn how you can come back from a joint injury by properly caring for your body.
Get Moving
When you are experiencing joint pain from a mostly healed injury, the best thing you can do is move. But not just any kind of exercise will work. You need to participate in strengthening exercises to start healing your joints.
Some exercises you can easily participate in include the following.
- Walking
- Cycling
- Water aerobics
- Yoga
- Pilates
- Tai Chi
All these types of exercise will help you improve your flexibility and strength. You can find tutorials online to help you get started. If you need even more help, physical therapy is a good alternative.
Get Good Sleep
Joint injuries can be healed more quickly by getting a restful night’s sleep. Proper sleep strengthens the bones, develops new muscle fiber, and aids in the recovery of achy joints.
Each morning, when you wake up, try stretching and warming up your muscles before starting your day. This increases blood flow circulation and keeps lactic acid buildup at bay.
Keep a Balanced Diet
Joint recovery is always easier when you are eating right. Your diet should consist of three meals per day that are protein and nutrient-rich. Foods like salmon, cherries, kale, and walnuts can promote healing.
Eating right also includes drinking plenty of water. Staying hydrated helps your body do what it needs to do to heal. While exercising your joints, make sure you drink water to aid in your recovery and stay flexible.
Try Massage Therapy
Massage therapy in tandem with exercise and stretching can help you recover faster. An orthopedic specialist can recommend a massage therapist as well as physical therapy.
Massage therapy can be effective in loosening your tight muscles and relieving some pain. Though, regular relaxation massage is unlikely to do the trick. A trained therapist is much more likely to aid your issue.
Stretch Out
Stretching is the key to recovering from almost any kind of injury, and joint injuries are no different. Stretching in the morning, after your shower, or before bed is a good place to start.
Start with small stretching movements to get your body warmed up before you go into deeper stretches. Stretching and moving your joints in this way will help you painlessly move your joints in the future.
Quicken Your Joint Recovery
When you are eager to quicken your joint recovery, taking these steps will help. Everyone’s recovery timeline is different. Listen to your body and take care of it, so you can get back to your life sooner.
If you would like to learn more about recovering from an injury, check out the rest of our page for more articles like this one.