If you tend to undertake a lot of physical activities chances are you’re going to be injured. Injuries can plague us all at some time or another but the good news is there’s a real potential for recovery.
Let’s take a look at a few methods you can use to help you potentially recover from an injury faster than ever before:
Use Ice ASAP
If you have recently sustained an injury you need to treat it. Apply ice as soon as you can for 10 minutes. Wait 10 minutes before you apply ice for another 10 minutes. Do this 3 times a day for 3 days as it can help to reduce swelling and promote healing.
Please make sure that you always wrap the ice in a thin towel so that you don’t get ice burns in your skin. If you have injured yourself quite badly you should get yourself checked out by a doctor.
Use Topical Treatments
Topical treatments consist of creams and lotions that have the ability to help you recover from an injury. A topical treatment is a form of medication that is applied to an area of your body. You’ve no doubt used treatments such as these in the past. Many of these treatments help to relax the muscles and kill some if not all of the pain. They are very easy to apply and can typically be purchased from a supermarket or a pharmacy.
See a Physical Therapist
A Physical Therapist is someone who has been trained to help patients manage or treat a range of conditions or injuries. They do this by showing the patient a range of exercises or movements that can help to relieve pain. The exercises and movements can also help to prevent a disability, restore function, and help the affected part of the body to move correctly.
One of the great things about physical therapy is that it can be used in conjunction with prescribed painkillers. It also has the ability to improve quality of life.
Eat Foods That Contain Anti-Inflammatory Properties
There are many different foods out there that contain anti-inflammatory properties. These foods can help to relieve inflammation and in some cases, relieve or reduce pain. Eating some of these foods every day can help you to recover from your injuries faster than ever before.
Foods that contain anti-inflammatory properties include:
- Avocados
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Broccoli
- Cherries
- Cocoa
- Dark chocolate
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Grapes
- Green tea
- Mangoes
- Mushrooms
- Oily fish such as anchovies, herring, mackerel, and salmon
- Peppers
- Pineapples
- Raspberries
- Strawberries
- Tomatoes
- Turmeric
While eating some or all of these foods every day may not work as quickly as some prescribed anti-inflammatory medication they can help. Try to eat some of these foods every day as they can help to reduce inflammation and pain.
The above methods can make a real difference to your recovery. Start by eating anti-inflammatory foods today and use the other methods the next time you sustain an injury.
Image credit: Recover from an Injury via ESB Professional/Shutterstock