Why You Should Fully Heal After an Injury

If you’ve been injured, there’s nothing you want to do more than get back on the field – ASAP! You might try to diminish the pain, lie about the pain, or lace your boots up a little earlier than your trainers advise. My advice? Don’t do it. The battle will mostly be in your mind as you recover from an injury. The better you heal, the more your body will thank you now and in the future. 

I’ve played with Socceristas who have sprained their ankles or were on the brink of needing surgery and kept playing game after game. The result? Long-term pain. Reduced ankle mobility and stability. Increased risk of a recurring injury. Reduced performance. Does that sound worth it? To me, it doesn’t. Whether you’re in the first or last season of your career, you must consider the long-term implications of not healing an injury.  

Here’s what Crystal DeBiaso Natalino, Doctor of Physical Therapy, has to say:

”No matter how strong or fit you are, you are still a human body made of human cells. These damaged tissues still take a certain length of time to mend. For instance, bone takes 8 weeks and soft tissue (muscle, tendons, ligaments, fascia) takes 12 weeks.  You have to honor the time frames or you will have a weak spot prone to reinjury. Even repeated microtrauma on top of macrotrauma will lead to increased scarring. Scar is not as strong as muscle or connective tissue. You may never be the same if you don’t heal properly in the first place. People struggle with the idea that just because you feel like you can do something, doesn’t mean you should.”

It’s important to listen to the advice of professionals.  Just because you are STRONG and a BEAST on the field doesn’t mean your tissues heal any faster. 

The three areas to focus on during rehabilitation after an injury are: 

• Strength: Capacity for exertion or endurance. 
• Flexibility: Range of motion in a joint. The ability to bend without breaking. 
• Endurance: The ability to sustain a prolonged effort or activity. 

These three areas have to be rebuilt in order to result in optimal healing. The goal is to return to 100% “Beast Mode.” Without focusing on these three aspects of rehabilitation, you will return to the field less effectively and at a higher risk for re-injury.

The USWNT’s most common injury is ACL tears. ACL injuries are one of the most common injuries among women soccer players. This highlights how important specific training programs and recovery are for female athletes.  

Have you ever had an injury that you felt took too long to heal? Or maybe you jumped back into the game too quickly after an injury? I can’t stress enough how important it is to heal and rebuild your body after injury. You have a lot to lose if you don’t allow yourself to heal correctly and much to gain by following proper rehabilitation. Remember, the goal is to get as many years playing as possible at peak performance and without pain.  

Photo via Adobe Stock @majorosl66

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