Either through participation in sports or as the result of an accident, an injury can happen anytime. Suffering a more serious injury means recovery time that can take you away from work, physical activities, and even force you to miss valuable family time as well as lose your income. Healing yourself when you are injured is always the top priority, but when the accident was not caused by you there may be legal action you need to take. If you need a car accident attorney, make sure you find a trustworthy one who will make the stress of the accident less on you. While it is important not to overdo it, there are steps you can take to speed up the healing process.
Eating Your Way to a Quicker Recovery
We know that eating nutritious foods can help the body stave off illness, but did you know the right foods can also assist in injury recovery? This is because your body works as one unified system to heal whatever may be wrong with it. By utilizing the vitamins and other nutrients it extracts from the foods you eat, your body works to repair the damages caused by disease or injuries.
One of the best things you can do to speed up injury recovery is to drink plenty of water. This helps in a couple of ways. First, it thins the blood, so oxygen and nutrients are moved faster throughout the body. Secondly, water works to detoxify the blood, helping to ensure waste and toxins are expelled efficiently.
Additionally, focus on a plant-based diet, eating foods rich in vitamins and those that have anti-inflammatory properties. Fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, and even salmon can help reduce inflammation, which is the key obstacle to recovery. Foods rich in protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats can also help to heal tissue faster.
Exercise as Physical Therapy
Another way you can speed up the recovery of an injury is by using those muscles. When you’re first injured, it’s vital to proper recovery that you get plenty of rest. Your body needs this time to recharge and store the energy you’ll need to heal.
After a brief rest period, however, you should begin working those muscles. It’s important to take it steady and follow your doctor’s advice, but beginning to use that part of your body will help it heal faster.
You can also work on unaffected parts of your body to maintain your overall condition. For instance, concentrate on building upper body strength, if you have a leg or lower back injury. Where you have an upper body injury, low-impact cardio might be advised. The key is to stay active without doing anything to detract from your recovery. During this period, it would also be advised to do an online search for Professional Massage near me in order to keep muscles relaxed and prevent them from seizing up after returning to exercise after a hiatus. By having a massage done, your muscles will stay loose and pliable and prevent further injuries from happening as you try to reincorporate exercise back into your routine.
Don’t Forget About Your Mental Health
Just as your body is affected by the injury, your mind and emotional state will also be affected. It’s important to recognize this, because you need to devote equal time to keeping a good frame of mind. Dealing with an injury can lead to depression and even anxiety, so it’s important to face your concerns as they begin to manifest.
One way of keeping depression from affecting your recovery is by building a support system around you. By maintaining contact with family and friends, you’ll be able to keep yourself from dwelling on your recovery. Instead, loved ones can keep you in higher spirits and help you look forward to a more positive future.
It may also help to join a support group, depending on the nature and severity of your injury. While loved ones can help you feel better, they may not always understand what you’re feeling. By communicating with people who share similar injuries, you can talk about your experiences with people who can genuinely sympathize.
Recovering from an injury takes more than rest and medical treatment. By eating a healthier diet and working to physically strengthen your body, you can decrease the amount of recovery time your body will need. Additionally, working to keep your emotional state in a positive place will better prepare you for returning to your life, while also eliminating the stress caused by your injuries.
