South Huntsville Neighbors, June 2024

YOUR HEALTH
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How Long is Too Long to Deal with
an Injury Before Asking for Help?
By Dylan Glass PT, DPT, SMTC, Return 2 Sport PT & Performance
When you’re constantly active and pushing your limits, pain can
sometimes feel like just another part of the process. However, distinguishing
between minor aches and serious injuries is crucial to
maintaining your health, performance, and longevity in your sport.
Understanding the right time to seek professional help can prevent
long-term damage and ensure you stay on top of your game.
Understanding Tissue Healing Timeframes
The healing process is complex and varies depending on the type
and severity of the injury. Initially, the body enters an in 昀氀 ammatory
phase which can last several days and is characterized by symptoms
like pain and swelling. Following this, the proliferative phase sees
the damaged tissues begin to repair themselves, a process that can
last from a few weeks to two months. The 昀椀 nal phase, remodeling,
involves the strengthening of these tissues and can extend several
months to over a year.
Consequences of Healing in a Damaged State
What happens during the healing process is more important than
the injury itself. This is the time that your body creates structural
changes with a goal of 昀椀 xing itself. If we have the wrong kind of
adaptations through these phases, the outcome will not be optimal.
For example, if you fell and injured your knee and then avoided
using it and didn’t move it, utilizing the rest, ice, compression, and
elevation method but never restored mobility and strength, the outcome
would be a stiff knee. In other words, a snowball effect of
more problems.
Improper healing can increase the risk of future injuries and may
lead to chronic pain — a persistent pain that continues beyond the
normal healing time. Chronic pain can severely limit performance
and quality of life, making early and effective treatment essential.
Biomechanical Changes Due to Injury
Injuries often cause biomechanical changes as the body adapts to
avoid pain. These adaptations can alter movement patterns and place
unusual stresses on other parts of the body. For instance, limping to
avoid foot pain can lead to hip and back problems. Over time, these
compensations can become ingrained, leading to further injuries and
chronic issues that are more dif 昀椀 cult to resolve.
The Impact on Training and Goals
When injured, your training inevitably suffers. An unresolved injury
can hinder your ability to train effectively, stalling progress toward
your 昀椀 tness or performance goals. Persistent issues may mean
you’re unable to increase training intensity or volume, leading to
plateaus or declines in performance. Moreover, ineffective training
while injured often leads to frustration and decreased motivation,
which can impact mental health and may even cause you to quit the
sport you love to do.
Professional Help at Return 2 Sport PT & Performance
At Return 2 Sport PT & Performance, we understand the critical nature
of addressing injuries promptly and effectively. We specialize
in 昀椀 nding the root cause and solving sports-related injuries, ensuring
that every athlete receives personalized care to avoid the common
pitfalls. Our mission is to keep you, THE ATHLETE, doing what
you love, by improving movement quality, resolving pain and dysfunction,
and providing you with the knowledge and understanding
of how to take care of yourself and remain pain free long term.
Call to Action
Don’t wait until pain and movement limitations become a permanent
昀椀 xture in your life. If you’re dealing with an injury that’s not
improving, or if you’re noticing changes in your ability to perform,
it’s time to get some help from our Sport PT and running specialist
at Return 2 Sport PT & Performance. Call or go to the site below to
schedule a phone consultation today.
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