With all of life’s demands, that old sports injury that only flares up once in a while can be easy to leave on the backburner. Though it’s tempting to avoid treating that old sports injury, it’s worthwhile to seek it out. Effective treatment doesn’t have to monopolize your time or disrupt your workweek. Physical therapy solutions are more flexible now than ever, and it’s important to find the one that works for you in order to treat that injury and set yourself up for great mobility and physical health long-term. We’re diving into the ways that treating that old sports injury can do wonders for your quality of life, now and in the future, in today’s blog post.
It Improves Your Mobility (Including Your Gameplay)
This is something we’ve talked about before, but it’s an underrated point that’s really important to consider: whether you realize it or not, you’re compensating for that painful muscle or sore joint, both while active and in your everyday life. For example, if your lower back muscles flare up on the golf course, it’s going to affect the way your body is positioned when you swing. Not only does poor form make your game less effective, but it also places you at a higher risk of injury. Sore back, neck, or shoulder muscles can have a negative impact on your posture in day-to-day life, while a sore knee can make you place more weight on your ankles and hips than you should. Addressing these injuries, which may seem minor when they’re not flaring up, will help you perform better when you’re active and rest better when you’re not.
It Strengthens Your Mind-Body Connection
Pain is a crucial way that your body communicates with you in order to tell you that something is wrong. It’s important to listen to your pain and to address it in order to make sure that you continue performing at the level you want. When you avoid acknowledging your pain and seeking out treatment, you do damage to your body’s ability to register and communicate when something isn’t right. One of the most important lessons in physical therapy is how to maintain an intentional connection between your body and your mind so that you’re well-equipped to understand the signs, good and bad, that your body is giving you, now and in the long term.
It Helps You Avoid Needing Surgery
When old injuries are left untreated, the underlying problems are exacerbated. It may happen slowly, but sore muscles and joints can give way to much more serious conditions that require surgery in order to be corrected. By addressing these injuries while they’re relatively minor, you’ll save yourself a ton of time, money, and energy down the line. Surgery is so much more disruptive to your life than physical therapy. We strongly encourage avoiding the need for it altogether by being proactive in seeking out a flexible, lifestyle-oriented treatment plan that’s tailored to your needs.
We know that it can be tempting to avoid treating that old sports injury, especially when it’s usually dormant – but the truth is that the best thing you can do for your performance and your lifestyle is to be proactive about getting it treated. Trust us: physical therapy doesn’t have to disrupt your life or your schedule. To see what we mean, check out our free video showcasing some helpful stretches and exercises that you can do from anywhere.