By Jamie Kolar, Swimming World College Intern.
As athletes, we rely on our bodies all the time, and sometimes they are not always reliable. Injuries can come up at any time and take you by storm. Injuries can lead to frustration and changes to training that we didn’t initially expect. While you are in the storm cloud, things can seem a bit bleak and it seems that your career has come to an end, but when the clouds fad away this is just a speed bump that you will eventually pass. Although this may be an unwanted and unexpected obstacle, it can be overcome.
Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr / Swimming Australia Ltd.
As someone who has a perpetually injured shoulder and back, I can advocate that being injured is frustrating. It is hard because your mind and body are not in agreement about what they should be doing. This leads to the mind playing trick on you, which adds another layer to the injury that is already difficult to understand. When dealing with any injury there are a few things to remember.
Take a breath.
Photo Courtesy: Hayley Good
While it may be hard to hear, if it is what your athletic trainers and coaches are advising, it is better to give your injury a break so that it can properly recover instead of just swimming through the pain. This will shorten the recovery process in the long run and will get you back to swimming at 100% much faster than working through it.
Do not listen to naysayers who tell you to push through it. Do what you feel is right. You know your body better than anyone else, so do what you feel is best for you body. You will know when to push through the pain and when to stop.
Individualize.
Photo Courtesy: Kevin Liles-USA TODAY Sports
Some injuries last longer than others. For those of us that have prolonged injuries, doing what the rest of your team is doing just might not be what it right for you and that is okay! What is good for the goose is not always good for the gander.
Each swimmer needs different things in our training. Embrace your individuality! If a certain exercise or style of training hurts you, try something else! Talk to your coach and see what they two of you can think up. Maybe it is adding more kicking or doing a shorter but more intense practice. Do what is best for you! Just because your way is different, does not mean that you are not working hard or making progress. Injured does not mean unable, it just means adjusted.
Take it one step at a time.
Photo Courtesy: Briana Wildford
It is important to remember the big picture and that they are many paths to get to the final destination, some are just less traveled. Each step up the mountain is a step in the right direction. Focus on the task at hand and don’t worry about what will happen in the next set or the next meet. Do what you are able and do it to the best of your ability.
Believe in yourself.
Photo Courtesy: SIPA USA
This part is the hardest and is often easier said than done. It is already hard to be confident when you are at your best, and even harder when you feel that you are at a disadvantage to your competitors. You may not feel ready or good enough to race again. The paralyzing fear of bad pain and/or failure may be daunting at times but know that you have worked hard every day and have done all you that you can. Then all that is left is to leave it in the pool, and that will be good enough. There is no replacement for hard work, whether you are injured or not.
All commentaries are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Swimming World nor its staff.