Athletes of all skill levels often, unfortunately, resist seeing a doctor about their pain. The reason is simple: they don’t want to stop! Not many things are more frightening to active people than having to stop running for a few weeks or missing the next big game. On the flipside, though, pushing yourself through pain is a great way to turn a minor injury into a major or chronic one.
With any sports injury recovery, there is a balance between speed and caution. Of course, we want to get you back in the game as quickly as possible and keep you as active as possible throughout the process. This helps you maintain fitness and optimism and even helps rehab go faster. At the same time, you need to give your body the time and protection it needs to heal from sports injuries such as stress fractures, tendinitis, or shin splints. Without those things, you’ll keep experiencing setbacks and end up missing even more time in the long run.
The first priority is to resolve your painful symptoms and heal the damaged tissues. The good news is most “nagging” lower leg sports injuries (as opposed to more serious, acute traumas such as broken bones or tendon tears) will respond well to non-surgical approaches such as physical therapy, orthotics, immobilization, or shockwave therapy (EPAT). Just about all treatment approaches, however, will require some degree of rest—or in other words, avoiding high-impact athletic activities for a period of time while your body heals.
However, that doesn’t mean you can’t still be active! Although you might need to pass on running or basketball for a little while, our experts will guide you through alternative activities you can perform to keep your heart rate up and maintain your fitness and strength. For example, lower-impact activities such as walking, swimming, or going for a bike ride may be approved relatively early in the process, allowing you to enjoy the outdoors with friends and family even as your recovery continues.
Caution and speed are both essential components of a fast and full recovery, but finding the right balance can be tricky. Don’t place all the responsibility on yourself! Instead, seek out the Absolute Foot Care Specialists to help build a recovery plan that’s right for you. Contact us online to request an appointment, or call directly at (702) 839-2010.
