Being injured as an athlete is the most frustrating thing. No one wants to watch their teammates practice and play knowing that they physically can’t do it. Once you’re injured it’s hard to know your boundaries and what your body can and can’t handle. Depending on the injury, your trainer will usually have some sort of rehab for you to help recover. There are a few things you can do on your own.

The first thing you can and the key to healing any injury is rest. Although you might feel tougher fighting through it, rest sometimes solves everything. Your body will somewhat recover naturally if you don’t push it too hard too soon. When I was a freshman in high school I got shin splints. I didn’t want to stop running so I fought through it eventually turning it into a stress fracture. The stress fracture had me out for three months. If I would have rested when I got shin splints I could have saved myself those three months with a stress fracture.

The next key of advice I have is to ICE, Ice often and stretch often. Recovery is just as important as a workout. Especially if you are already injured, Icing can really help you heal. It’s as simple as putting a band aid on a cut, you just ice where it hurts to heal and ice where it doesn’t to prevent. Stretching is another important part of healing. Keeping your muscles loose helps you from getting tight and allows you to heal faster.

The last part that you can do on your own is mental. It’s important as an athlete that you stay in the game mentally even if you can’t physically be a part of it.  Remember what motions feel like and what you do to get going before a game. Continue to cheer on your teammates as if you were about to step onto the field and do your part. Anything you can do to remain all there mentally will help you. Never take yourself out of the game because of an injury and mentally separate yourself from the game or your teammates.

I know how hard an injury can be. Keep up with what your doctors and trainers give you but also do what you can do on your own. Stay positive, hydrated, and mentally focused. You’ll be better in no time!