For this month's contribution from Maximize Health Group, we decided to get some advice on accident recovery.
We have again enlisted the help of Physiotherapist, Sean McCoola. Sean brings experience to his clients from 20 years as a physiotherapist and has a particular interest in sporting teams and rehabilitation programmes.
Read on to see his insights and get his top tips on accident recovery.
What are your 3 top tips for recovery post-accident?
Stay positive
Return to your normal daily activities as soon as possible including work, exercise and hobbies. Research has shown that if you return to normal movement and daily tasks your recovery will be quicker. Some pain during the recovery process is expected and does not automatically mean that further injury is being caused. Obviously with some injuries you will need to modify how you perform your activities. Planning and advice will be required to address the modifications.
Manage yourself
Make sure you are doing everything that you can do to speed your recovery. If you engage in your own management, start normal activities, complete your exercises and follow/seek qualified advice on your injury, I can promise you will get better, sooner.
Set goals
Be realistic but aim to push your limits. You may need to be adaptable depending on the severity and type of injury, but goals that are a stretch will continue to give you the drive you need to recover to the highest levels that are available to you.
What are the best products that can be used
post-accident?
Treatment products
The more you can treat yourself, the quicker you will recover. This can be a self-massage product, electrotherapy machine or a brace. The list of products is endless. Find out what you need to work on the most for your injury and search out the appropriate product/s that will allow you to work on it.
Exercise products
The quicker you can exercise the faster you will recover. Over the years the consistent indicator of better recovery has been clients that have pushed themselves to exercise. It could be as simple as appropriate footwear to walk in, an exercise bike or a gym/pool membership. Make sure to access whatever you need to enable you to participate in general exercise and the more specific exercise for your injury type. It is one of the key factors in your recovery.
Self-help products
Access what you need to return you to normal daily activities. For some, this may be an electric wheelchair and others a brace. It can be as simple as a change in pillow or as complex as major home modifications. If you need a product to return you to your normal activities of daily living (or as close as possible to the activity) make sure to access it as quickly as possible. The sooner you return to pre-injury activity levels available to you and your injury, the sooner you will recover.
Medication
Prescribed medication can be useful. You do need to get the appropriate advice and follow it, but medication can be a useful tool in your recovery. I’ve had clients who have refused medication due to fear of the unknown. I believe they would have recovered sooner, and at times, to a better result, if they had understood the role medication could play in their recovery. Get the right advice on medication and comply and you will benefit in your recovery.
How important is maintaining mobility during recovery?
Maintaining mobility is essential to recovery after injury due to an accident. Of course, this will be modified and adapted in relation to your injury and your stage of recovery. Move it or lose it applies. Mobility aides, medication and some extra thought may be required to continue your progress, but the results will be worth the effort.
What are your top 3 tips to maintain mobility after an accident?
1. Make it an all-important goal
Prioritise mobility for getting around and moving your body as quickly as is reasonable post injury. The sooner you move the sooner you improve your level of independence and the sooner your recovery will progress.
2. Advice from the experts
From the use of crutches to getting out of bed to learning how to use a wheelchair to move that injured joint, there are always “best practice” ways to be most efficient in maintaining mobility in getting around and moving your body. Talk to the professionals who regularly advise on this topic such as a physiotherapist and you will reach your mobility goals sooner.
3. Persistence
As in all things, persistence will win the war for your mobility requirements. Many will take years to get to their best levels of mobility post injury.
Thanks Sean.
Stay tuned next month for another article from Maximize Health Group.
In the meantime, if you have any questions regarding these tips, prevention of cramps or other health issues please do not hesitate to contact Sean on +61 7 3343 5494 or [email protected].