5 Tips to Recover From Injury

Athletes and injuries seem to go hand in hand. Whether you're a casual runner, a competitive age grouper or a professional, injuries can keep us from from doing the thing that we enjoy the most. So how do we get back to normal as soon as possible?

Here are my 5 tips to get you healthy and running again.

1. Check in with your doctor or physical therapist immediately. For minor "niggles" you can take a 2-3 days off and recover just fine. Beyond that, you need to get some expert assistance, preferably from a physical therapist. This cannot be emphasized enough. Every day you spend debating on whether or not you should get an appointment with a physical therapist is another day of training that you cannot get back.

2. Treat the exercises that your PT prescribes to you like a work out. Until you're healthy again, those exercises are your workout.

3. Find an alternative fitness outlet that doesn't hurt you more. This could be biking, swimming, rowing or strength training or anything else that doesn't exacerbate your injury.

4. Resume running conservatively. Resist the urge to jump back in where you left off. If you really feel the need to get a longer or more intense workout, go right back to tip #3.

5. If you haven't already, add strength training to your routine. At this point, all runners need to recognize that strength training will make you a healthier more durable person. While some methods are better than others, do what you can be consistent with. Body weight routines, CrossFit, and kettlebells are all great options.