Energise your life

There are other therapies that can help you stay healthy and deal with minor problems before they even become noticeable. After exercising you might want a soak in a hot bath or shower. But the World Cup winning England Rugby team used ‘hot and cold’ ‘treatment’ to improve their recovery. They took five one minute hot showers with one minute under a cold shower in between. This may sound mad but it improves circulation, prevents the build up of waste products in the muscles and, in short, improves your recovery from your exertions. Alternatively the Australian Institute of Sport would recommend three cycles of a one to two minute hot shower followed by 10 to 30 seconds under a cold shower.

Visiting a physiotherapist may sound the type of thing you would only do after a road accident or suffering a serious sporting injury. But many athletes will visit physiotherapists to stop them getting injured. The physio can often pick up and deal with any problems before they affect their day-to-day routine. You may not be planning to break world records but keeping on top of any aches and pains with a visit to a physiotherapist every month or two will help keep you healthy – you will be able to get more out of yourself.

Unfortunately there are times when illness or injury do strike. Remember that by ‘injury’ we do not necessarily mean completely debilitating problems. We mean niggles, back pains and so on that stop us exercising as we would like, make us uncomfortable doing certain activities or play up when we do simple things that tax vulnerable parts of our body.

When injuries do occur the key thing is to get rid of them. It sounds obvious but far too many people try to carry on regardless or go into denial. You need to see your doctor, or perhaps a physiotherapist if it is an ‘injury’, and then take on board what they say. Someone at work or the gym may have found this or that to have worked but they are not a qualified healthcare professional with extensive training behind them. Don’t just go with what a friend recommends. Your problem may be different in nature or severity, or your situation may warrant a different course of action. That said make sure you when you see the doctor or physio that you understand exactly what you are being told to do and why. Be sure they have a full handle on your symptoms and circumstances. Difficulty sleeping, increased irritability or increased sensitivity to changes in temperature may seem irrelevant to you but be of significance to them. So mention everything. Ask about when you will be able to do certain things again rather than guessing. Don’t try to battle through, do all that is needed to solve the problem.

After an illness or injury you should aim to take as long building back up to full activity as you have been out of action – so if it’s a month step things up over a month. If you have an adverse reaction again speak to whoever has been treating you. Find out whether it is just an ache that is to be expected or is it an indication the problem is still there.

Recovery from illness or injury is not just passive. You should see it as an activity. Actively go to bed earlier, drink more fluid, eat healthier food (consider nutritional supplements if this may help) and avoid activities that could aggravate your problem.

By acting wisely you achieve higher energy levels.

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