How to Recover from a Football Injury

Football is one of the most popular pastimes in the world and carries many health benefits from increased physical fitness and co-ordination to promoting teamwork and skills of co-operation!

However, playing football can also lead to injuries. Even if all of the correct precautions (such as stretches and warmups, wearing shin pads, and keeping the pitch properly maintained) are taken, some accidents are inevitable when playing such a physically demanding sport.

If you have suffered from a football injury, you are probably desperate to play again as soon as possible. However, you do not want to take this risk before you have fully recovered, as this can lead to making the injury even worse. In this guide, we will explore how you can recover from football injuries in the quickest and most effective way.

Don’t Rush Into Playing Again

A study has shown that at least six training sessions are needed for optimum rehabilitation from injury before playing in a football match again. Each subsequent training session can cause the chance of re-injury to decrease by 7%!

Players returning to play before they have recovered properly happens at every level of football, from your local youth league all the way up to the Champions League.

Work With a Trained Physical Therapist

Physiotherapy is one of the most effective ways to recover from injury. If you play professionally, your club likely has a physical therapist to help you, but even if you only play as a hobby, it may still be best for you to seek out physiotherapy. Working with your physical therapist to develop a treatment plan can help you visualize the path to recovery and sticking to this treatment plan religiously can get you back on your feet as soon as possible.

In some cases, the right physiotherapy regimen can help you avoid having to have surgery later on. There are other forms of therapy available instead of — or alongside — physical therapy. Stem cell therapy is becoming increasingly popular as a way to avoid joint replacement surgery or other full-blown surgical procedures.

Look After Your Mental Health

For many players, the psychological aspect of suffering an injury can be as bad as the physical aspect. You will likely experience frustration at not being able to play, anxiety that you will not recover fully or quickly enough, and even confidence and self-esteem issues. To keep your moods stable, use your time off to rest and focus on other things, practice anxiety reduction techniques like deep breathing, and make sure that your diet is nutritious. A positive mindset can actually increase the rate of physical healing!

Listen to Your Body

It is vital that you do not ignore signals your body is trying to give you. If an activity is physically painful, your body is most likely trying to tell you that it may be causing further damage and impeding your recovery! Following a detailed physiotherapy treatment plan and not overexerting yourself is the best way to recover at the right pace.

If you experience severe pains, consult your doctor or physician.

A football injury can be extremely frustrating. However, it is vital that you avoid rushing into playing again. Following a detailed treatment plan can get you back on the pitch as quickly as possible.