How Adopting the Right Mindset Can Help You Recover from Orthopedic Surgery
“In this day and age, it’s fully possible to return from a major injury and continue to do the things you love.”
The human body is an amazing and wonderful thing. It allows us to participate in all kinds of activities, from individual pursuits like skiing and hiking to team sports such as soccer and basketball.
Unfortunately, the rigors of participating in all of these awesome activities can cause injury. Add this wear and tear with the fact that the aging process affects the speed at which we recover, and it's no wonder that I see people from all age ranges and athletic pursuits for major injuries.
You really can't control your age or your genetic makeup. And no matter how hard you try, you often can't control a situation that results in injury. Show me an athlete who is constantly trying to avoid injury, and I'll show you an athlete whose performance is compromised. The best competitors go hard and strong, and when an injury strikes, they deal with it with the equivalent passion and drive that got them there in the first place.
You can aid your recovery by adopting the same mindset as these elite athletes. When they jump into recovery, they go all in. Just because you are not a world cup winning skier or college soccer star doesn't mean you can't recover like one!
Trust Your Team
Start thinking of your surgeon and rehab professionals as your personal team. It's our job to make sure you are doing the things you need to do to bounce back effectively from your injury. It's our job to allay your fears and guide you through the process of making a successful recovery.
When it comes down to it, you know what is right for your body. You know what you love to do, and you know the level that you want to be doing it at. That's why we are making the shift from merely getting you healthy to actually guiding your recovery, based upon the concept of Activity Preservation. We want to get you back to participating in the activities you love at a high level.
The people who will guide your rehab and recovery have helped myriad people just like yourself to rehab successfully. So put your trust in their capable hands and let them to guide your ascent back to the top of your game.
Keep a Positive and Grounded Outlook
Let's face it, having surgery is not something people will ever consider fun. Recovering from knee, shoulder, or another major orthopedic surgery is a long road.
Which is why I recommend focusing on the one thing you really control. That's your attitude! After your surgery, you are bound to undergo a lifestyle change for a least a short period of time. Additionally, you'll certainly put in a bit of extra physical work to get yourself back up to speed.
Your rehab team will guide you through the process, and it's your job to bring a focused and positive mindset to the process. Yes, you may have setbacks, but you'll get through them. Just ask the top athletes who take the extra time to rehab rather than rushing back from injury— the more you can keep your mind on the end goal, the better chance you have of making a full recovery.
Focus on The Results
I've written this before, but I'll revisit it here today. In this day and age, it's fully possible to return from a major injury and continue to do the things you love. In fact, we are seeing top athletes performing even better than before their injuries.
It used to be that an injury to the ACL would be considered "career-ending". Not anymore! With advanced techniques and years of experience, we're able to get you back up to speed doing the things you love and perhaps even doing them at a higher level.
It's YOUR job to know where you want to get! So focus your mind on the long-term results that you are going to get from your surgery, and let us get you back in the game.
