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Being active is key to living a healthy lifestyle. In order to stay active, we need to take care of our bodies. We all occasionally suffer injuries ranging from minor inconveniences all the way to severe, life changing incidents.

Today I interviewed Athletic Trainer, Erin Lewis. She works with collegiate athletes at Mount Saint Joseph University as well as private clients at Cincinnati Sports Club. Erin’s education and training enable her to focus on rehabilitating patients who are recovering from injury. She is able to adapt and modify exercises to best meet the needs of each individual. Sometimes that means helping a student athlete see the pros and cons of working for a quick return to sports vs a slower one. The first might enable them to compete in the next season but could leave them with issues and limitations as they age. Taking a slower route to recovery might cause them to miss the next season but they will be able to stay active and moving in the future, providing them with better quality of life.

Erin also works with chronically ill patients, such as those with Fibromyalgia and MS, to give them a better quality of life. Everyone is different in the way a disease affects them so she tailors her training to help them where they are at. Her philosophy is to take it day by day and don’t be afraid to “start low and slow” and build up to what they can tolerate.

Weekend warriors and generally active people often downplay injuries. They ignore small hurts or develop ways to work around them hoping they will go away on their own. They will end up compensating later in life. If it has been several weeks since an injury, you should feel healed. If you don’t, you need to consult a professional like Erin, address the injury and take proper action toward a full recovery, not just a workaround that will one day come back to haunt you. Injuries do not just disappear. They may hide for a while, but they will resurface, possibly affecting a completely different area that has been compromised by your compensation.

There are steps you could be taking to decrease pain or increase limited movement. If you don't know where to start, a primary physician can be a great jump off point for referrals. You need to take time to listen to your body. Just breathe. If you can do that you are living, and you can build from there.

Resources:

www.healthaccountabilitycoach.com

www.facebook.com/houselifestyles