If you have recently been injured in a serious accident, you are undoubtedly thinking about the ways in which you can return to your original glory as soon as possible. Being out of action is never a pleasant experience to have to navigate through, whether it be your preferred physical activity or simply doing basic activities around the house. The rehab process can often be a painful, grueling affair which can lead to plenty of heartache and endless frustration, as you grapple with your new reality and figure out how to adjust to your present predicament. However, there are certain techniques and strategies you are able to employ which can help speed up and expedite the healing process. With that in mind, here are some of the things you can do to help recover as fast as possible from your Denver physical therapist.

 Receive Professional Treatment Immediately

When it comes to serious injuries, one of the most important things you can do as an individual is to be as proactive as possible and seek professional help as soon as possible. On that point, one of the worst things a person can do is to not address the issue and let it linger a long time before receiving treatment. If you are hurt, you can certainly make things worse by not taking the necessary steps to restore your health. If you have injured your foot but are not addressing the issue, you can exacerbate the situation by continuing to walk on it without treatment.

A doctor will be able to help determine the severity of your injury and set a course for how you can recover from the injury. Depending on the severity and specifics of your injury, you will likely have multiple health professionals advising you on each particular part of the process. In addition to your primary care physician, you will also be working with a trusted Denver physical therapist to ensure you take the steps needed to achieve your health goals. 

Follow the RICE Method

With regards to the things you can do on your own to help speed up the injury recovery process, one of the best and easiest things to remember is to follow the RICE method, which stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Regardless of what kind of injury you have and the severity of it, you will likely benefit from following this type of protocol, as it is a tried and trusted method for helping to aid in the recovery process.

First, rest and don’t overdo it when it comes to physical activity. Rest can allow your body to recover instead of continuing to put strain and stress on it. Putting additional stress on a serious injury can cause it to get worse and make the overall recovery process much longer as a result. Instead, take the necessary precautions and stay off the injured part of your body as long as possible. Ice the area on a consistent basis for about 20-30 minutes during each occasion as a way to reduce bleeding, swelling, and pain. 

Compression is also a recommended activity to engage in regularly, as it can help prevent additional swelling in the affected area. You will want to do this especially in the first 48 hours of the injury, as this is when swelling can be at its worst and most painful. Finally, you should definitely think about elevating the affected area, as this will also cause a reduction in swelling in the areas around the injury. For the lower limbs of the body, keep your ankle above your hip and for upper limb injuries, make sure to use a pillow or type of sling to elevate the affected area.

Determine a Plan of Action and Stick to It

When it comes to recovering from a particular injury, one of the things you will inevitably face is the need for a change in behavior. Let’s be honest: change is hard and isn’t a straightforward, easy path. Often, it requires continued persistence and willpower in the face of old, less beneficial habits which will need to be overcome. This is magnified when you are recovering from an injury, as your bad habits will often make things worse. 

For instance, if you are dealing with an injury which has persistent inflammation, you may need to change your diet and physical activity regimen, as this can be contributing to your overall inflammation levels. Recovering from an injury quickly can require making a plan of attack for how you can overcome the situation as fast as possible. Although it can be incredibly difficult to get beyond long-term habits, it can be absolutely essential to make a change as a way to achieve a much faster recovery. 

In terms of helping to speed up the recovery process, making positive health changes which impact our overall health outcomes can have the most profound effects on our recovery process. Often, an injury can force us to finally get beyond the nagging habits which have persisted and continued to cause us harm. Instead of bemoaning your current predicament, try to use the injury as a valuable tool towards achieving overall health goals. 

If you are looking to improve your physical health situation is and are in need of physical therapy due to an accident or other physical ailments, contact Peak Physical Therapy and Wellness today and we will be happy to assist you with your first steps towards recovery. We have an extensive team of qualified physical therapists and specialists who care deeply about their clients and go above and beyond the call of duty to provide the highest quality treatment in the industry. If you are looking for a therapist who will carefully assess your individual needs and formulate a treatment plan that is specifically tailored to your needs, Peak Physical Therapy and Wellness is your preferred choice for the physical recovery process.