When our bodies feel good we take it for granted. When our bodies don’t feel good we get frustrated and impatient. I know I have been there before when I experienced a back injury, I took every small movement my body made for granted, and that all came crashing down when I was in bed for two weeks. The big lesson I learned is to not take movement for granted. Even if my body feels good I vowed I would constantly be working on making it feel even better.

I had a conversation last week with a client about a nagging injury. He was frustrated that some of his older injuries still bother him, despite happening years ago and seemingly been resolved.

I am empathetic to anyone who has nagging injuries because I have been there and have learned the hard way that you need take ownership for that issue and religiously work on corrective exercises and get continuous treatment (massage, chiropractic, acupuncture etc.) If you wait until it bothers you to go get treatment you are partially responsible for the pain you suffering. I know this a bit harsh but it is the truth.

This is a HUGE concept that’s missed by nearly everyone, desk jobbers and pro athletes alike. We can’t just wait for something to go wrong and then go to treatment for 4 weeks, occasionally do our rehabilitation exercises and then move on. It takes constant care and attention. Wouldn’t it be better to spend 1 hour a week over 10 weeks, instead of 10 hours in 2 weeks to rectify a problem?

You also can’t accept defeat and resign to just “deal” with the injury for your whole life, well you can but if that’s the case you might as well stay in bed all day. 

I have been so fortunate to deal with some of the best practitioners and understand how important it is to see them on a regular basis, and appreciate what they can do for your health. Working alongside these practitioners with elite athletes has given me an opportunity to witness the amount of time dedicated athletes will allot for preventative care because their body supports them and their loved ones. There is no reason we can’t all have that same attitude about getting over injuries. We need only to change our though patterns and “Think like an athlete”, here’s how…

1) Understand and Appreciate the Risks – Have you ever heard the term ” your body is a temple” well there is truth to that, despite being used as mockery by everyone who despises exercise. We cannot perform even everyday activities if our bodies don’t function properly. Eventually it will affect our work, regardless of your field. Even a sedentary career that involves only desk work will be affected. Recently an article was released claiming that sitting all day is worse than cigarette smoking. Now that is an extreme comparison, and certainly debatable but you get the idea.

2) Acquire a Wellness Family- Have a network of practitioners to call upon; Again I am fortunate to be in an industry where I can refer my clients to amazing practitioners and vice versa. But you can build your own network regardless of your situation. Do your research and ask around for referrals for: massage therapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists, nutritionists, naturopaths, strength coaches etc. One of my clients jokes that he spends more time with his “health and wellness team” than his family. They become your people and are invested in helping you perform your best all the time.

3) Do Your F******* Homework!!! I can’t stress enough how important it is to do mobility, stability and activation exercises on your own. We are all unique in our physical make up and so it is important to know what you should be working on. Seek out a reputable strength coach and have them assess your properly. For example I am consistently working on opening up my hips, glute activation and thoracic spine mobility because I know my body needs it. Let’s face it, this type of exercise isn’t sexy, but is it 100% necessary if you want to perform the “sexier” activities like lifting heavy, boxing or whatever your jam is.

When I injured my back three years ago I was told by several experts that I was going to need surgery.  A couple amazing chiropractors disagreed and knew this was not what I wanted. Being young and having a physically active job I was determined to get better without surgery. I was so diligent about performing my daily exercises and getting my strength back that it became an automatic routine that I still perform. Anyone can get to this point you have merely to commit.

Nagging injuries require nagging rehabilitation/ pre- habilitation.  Bottom line

If you want something to get better you have to put the time and effort into making it better, and you have to do it all the time. 

Sylvie (OG Lifestyles)