What's the best way to get back on your feet after a long term injury has set you back from your peak mental and physical performance?
Injuries can knock your confidence in life, dealing with pain and not being able to do the things that you are used to can make you feel pretty fed up.
If you have been affected by an injury that seems to be taking a long time to heal then keep reading.
Here we explore different types of injury, how long those injuries generally take to heal and options if you don’t feel like your injury has healed, weeks and months down the recovery road.

Different types of sports injuries
There are of course loads of ways that you can injure yourself during sports or even daily activities. We go over the most common and give a rough idea of how long you should expect that injury to take to heal.
It depends on the type of injury you have as to how long it will take to heal. Until your injury is healed, however, you will be unable to resume your normal training or sports.

How long does it take to recover from an Achilles injury?
Most people can return to normal activity in 4 to 6 months depending on the type of injury that they have sustained. Generally, you have either ruptured (torn) your tendon or it is swollen and inflamed. Swelling and inflammation can either be short (acute) or long term. If you have torn your Achilles tendon this can take much longer to heal.
How long does it take to recover from a hamstring injury?
Recovering from a hamstring injury can sometimes be as quick as days but again it can take months to completely heal, especially if you have torn your hamstring.
How long does it take to recover from ligament injury?
A mild ligament sprain could be healed in as little as two weeks whereas a severe injury that requires a surgical repair can take over a year to completely heal.
How long does it take to recover from an ankle injury?
Ankle sprains tend to range from mild to severe. A mild sprain can feel better in days and be healed in a couple of weeks
How long does it take to recover from a calf injury?
Healing a calf muscle should take 6-8 weeks although for more severe injury to the muscle this can take over 3 months.
How long does it take to recover from a tendon injury?
Tendons are similar to ligaments in that healing can be as little as weeks if the strain isn't severe, but if surgical intervention is required then this can take over a year to be fully healed.
How to mentally recover from injury
Recovering physically and recovering mentally are two very different things. You may find that your ankle or leg is healed but mentally you don't feel as positive and you may even have feelings of isolation and depression.
It's best at this point to focus on any underlying issues that you may have around how you acquired your injury and your mindset in the time you have spent so far recovering.
Here are some Team Clinic Services top tips for ensuring your mind heals as well as your body:
Be Optimistic
Try and accept the injury even though it wasn't in your plan and it's certainly not what you wanted, you may not have fully accepted that this is where you now are. Once you do, mental recovery should start to follow. Your body's ability to recover is incredible, remind yourself daily to empower healing.
Accept Support
Accept help when you need it. It’s not a sign of weakness to rely on friends, family, teammates or medical professionals to support you both emotionally and physically when you need it it's a sign of strength.
Talking Therapy
An injury is a form of trauma and it can take our minds years to fully process this and start to overcome it. A great way to speed this process up is to take part in talking therapies (counselling) or even Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Therapists are great not only for hearing you out, but many can also assist in finding a positive direction to help you on the road to being fully healed, both inside and out.
4 Ways to Recover from Injury Faster
You have probably heard of the RICE formula when trying to recover from an injury. This sees you following advice to; rest, ice, compress and elevate your injury until healed.
Although this is great advice in the early days and weeks post-injury, it's not that sustainable months down the road. Here we look at other ways to heal your injury faster to get you back to peak performance, either in sports or work.
#1 Healing Foods
Whether you’re recovering from a tear, strain or surgery, the foods and drinks that you consume can either help or hinder your recovery.
Loads of foods, including fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and protein sources, have been shown to reduce inflammation, improve immune function, promote healing, and provide the fuel necessary for you to get on the mend. Think foods full of protein, vitamin C and Omega-3 fats such as; oranges, eggs, salmon, leafy greens and nuts.
#2 Alternative Therapy
Alternative therapies describe treatments that are used instead of traditional (mainstream) therapies such as physiotherapy. Some people also refer to it as “integrative,” or “complementary” medicine. If you are still struggling to recover from injury why not try one of the below:
Acupuncture
Aromatherapy
Homoeopathy
Hypnotherapy
Massage
Meditation
#3 Thermo Treatments
Thermo treatments can be used at home and simply mean using or alternating hot and cold sources on your injury area. Using thermal techniques has been shown to reduce swelling and help improve muscular pain. Examples of thermotherapy include heat/cold packs, heat wraps, hot or ice baths and topical creams
#4 Rehabilitation
When you have your doctor's advice to do so, part of the healing process is rehabilitation. Starting to build function and strength back into the muscles around your injury site is key to full healing and recovery. Always consult a doctor before starting back into any form of exercise or training though.
Recovery - How Team Clinic Services Can Help
If you are still really struggling to get back into sports, excel in your life or career because of your injury then get in touch.
We offer a 12-week progressive programme to help you overcome and break through the challenges you are currently facing with injury recovery and fitness. We will take you step by step through the recovery process, where you will learn the science behind this method and re-educate, retrain and strengthen both body and mind.
*Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Team Clinic Services does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment
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