Make The Most Of A Visit With Your Sports Medicine Centre

If you are active in sport, recreational athletics or a member of a gym, chances are good that you will eventually experience some type of injury. It could be a tweaked shoulder or some mild low back pain. Take comfort in the fact that although this injury may cost you a trip to the sports medicine centre, it is probably keeping you out of the cardiologist’s office. So congratulations, you are exercising enough that you have achieved an exercise based injury; it’s time for a trip to the Sports Medicine Centre.

Eric Olympico

MSc PT, MSc, HBKin, CSCS

Consider These 4 Things When You Go:

1.       Have In Mind A Clear History Of Your Injury

Did this problem come on suddenly, or has it been steadily getting worse?  A clear history of how your injury occurred and how long it has been a problem will help your MD/PT give you a clear prognosis for recovery.

2.       Set Recovery Goals

Clear, specific goals are helpful for tracking the recovery process and for keeping you motivated to recover.  For instance, set goals associated with your favorite sport or activity.  A clear and motivating goal for a distance runner would be to be able to jog for 5km without back pain in the next 4 weeks.  An unclear goal would be to simply state that you want “less back pain”. 

3.       Take Ownership Of Your Injury

When it comes to health problems, it can be easy to mentally transfer your injury to the care of your health care providers.  Your MD/PT is there to help educate and guide you through your recovery and cannot heal your injury for you.  Be honest with yourself about your health.  Did this problem arise from training too much, or do you sit for 8 hours a day and not exercise enough?  The more honest you are about your current state of health the more your health care provider will be able to assist you in your recovery and preventing recurrence. 

4.       Do Your Rehabilitation Exercises

Exercise is powerful medicine. Check out this great YouTube video for some of the surprising benefits of simple, structured exercise.

The DavidBraley Sport Medicine & Rehabilitation Centre is open Monday to Friday to the meet the needs of the community, McMaster staff, and students. Call us to book your appointment today! 

Cheers to your health!