As you might guess, there are more benefits to being proactive about pain management than being reactive. Waiting to see a Trainer or Physical Therapist after you are injured and in pain is not the best way to manage your injuries. Think about the process; after seeking the help of a Trainer or Physical Therapist, you spend the next few months recovering, reducing pain, and trying to restore function. For years, football players have worked through this cycle, which is predominately “reactive.”
When a player retires, there should be a shift to improve the treatment of the body and injuries. By being “proactive” with your body you can keep pain levels down, maintain mobility, and continue to have an active lifestyle.
Focus on these two small proactive tasks each day to break the reactive cycle!
- 10 Minutes of stretching daily
• Warm up your body
• Relieve stress
• Indicate areas of concern (either pain or limited motion) - 30 Minutes of movement daily
• You can break this down into 2 - 15 minute walks if needed
• Increase metabolism
• Reduces stress
• Increases creativity
• Promote weight loss
• Improve cardiovascular endurance
Even though you might not have pain now, that does not mean you can forget about stretching and moving your body. The more proactive we are with our body, the more we can avoid any pain and decrease any current discomfort. The physiological response to proactivity will also directly affect your health and improve blood pressure and cholesterol.