Injuries can happen to anyone, even the best of us. Below are some tips, provided by Bicycling.com and Climbinguphill.com to help you heal faster and avoid further injury after experiencing a bicycle injury.
While this information can be helpful to recovering cyclists who are anxious to get back on a bike, these tips cannot replace the valuable direction that a doctor can prescribe to meet your specific needs. More than anything, we value your health and safety and hope that these tips help you recovery as smoothly and quickly as possible.
Tips to help you recover before you hop back on the bicycle:
- Eat well – It takes a lot of fuel for your body to rebuild and heal. Eating well will give your body what it needs to heal.
- Avoid anti-inflammatory medicine – According to Bicycle.com “Anti-inflammatories inhibit enzymes called prostaglandins, which promote circulation to the injured area and increase tissue permeability.” This applies to the first 48 hours after an injury has occurred, so simply wait two days after your injury before using anti-inflammatory pain killers, like ibuprofen.
- Blood flow – Blood flow to an injury will help it heal. Depending on your situation, this might include: stretching, swimming, resistance training or other low-impact activities that can get you moving.
Tips to help you avoid re-injury:
- Avoid doing too much too soon – If you have gone several weeks without cycling, try taking it slow and working your core for a few weeks before returning to your previous pace.
- Keep balanced – While it is natural to relieve pressure from an injured arm, leg, or back, this often sacrifices balance. Cycling with unbalanced muscle and/or form in your cycling may lead to an injury elsewhere in the body due to strain.
- Listen to your body – If your body is trying to tell you that it’s hurt, don’t risk it. Call for a ride or walk your bicycle home, but don’t force your body to push through pain.
- Manage expectations – If you just recovered from a serious injury, it might be wise to give yourself some time before expecting yourself to pedal your way through another race or break previous records.
- Cross train – Mixing your cycling time with basic aerobic exercises can assist your recovery. In addition, alternative activities, like swimming, can provide exercise options that do not strain the joints.
At Christensen and Hymas, our clients are served with diligence and integrity so that they can focus on healing. If your injury was caused by the negligence or poor-decisions of another, there maybe compensation available to help you in your recovery process. If you think we might be able to help you, call us at (801)506-0800. Our attorneys will give you the unique and individual time that you deserve.
Original articles by Selene Yeager at bicycling.com and Tejvan Pettinger at cyclinguphill.com.
Image courtesy of Petar Milosevic