MOST athletes play through a minor injury and completely ignore the pain in order to avoid missing competitions and scheduled events.
“However, it is also important to learn how to manage the levels of injuries from minor, moderate to severe and undergo a suitable recovery program in order to return to high-level performance,” said National Academy of Sports Medicine personal trainer Jerry Diaz who is also a former CNMI national basketball player.
Diaz recommends a fitness program that can accommodate a client’s injury while focusing on rehabilitation.
He said it is also important to find out the cause of the injury. “Many athletes experiencing pain may need an x-ray or MRI in order to evaluate the bones and soft tissues and examine the severity of the affected area.”
He added, “We must take any injury seriously in order to prevent further harm or serious pain.”
He recommends seeing a healthcare provider if one is experiencing severe pain, bruising or swelling.
Basic treatment for pain and inflammation include immobilization and the R-I-C-E method: Resting, Icing, Compressing and Elevating the affected area.
Also helpful are over-the-counter medications for relieving the pain or swelling.
After recovering from an injury, the next approach is preventing it from happening again.
It is important to evaluate your fitness before returning to your regular training regimen, Diaz said.
Regular checkups will also help prevent any more injuries, he added.
“To avoid further serious harm, an individual must not ignore minor and moderate injuries,” Diaz said. “Seeing a physician or scheduling a yearly overall checkup is also a must.”
For professional fitness inquiries, contact Jerry Diaz through Instagram at @BBJ_Athletics or Facebook.
Jerry Diaz, left, trains with Kyokushin Karate Sensei Danny.
