Use The POWER Technique To Recover Gracefully From An Injury

If you’re injured and can’t work out, recovery can be frustrating. Without exercise, you’re also missing one of your best stress-relieving outlets. The POWER technique gives you a road map to manage your mind and body during this difficult time.

Photo by Ted Eytan.

Competitive weightlifter Chelsey Musante shares this approach, which she describes as supporting an “opportunity” mindset rather than a “doom and gloom” mindset. Here are the main points:

• Physical Therapy: Dedicate yourself to your PT exercises the same way you would for any serious training. They might not feel as challenging, but they are just as important.
• Openness: Be open to trying new exercises or activities. Musante took a hand-balancing class at a circus school after her knee surgery, because she needed something that challenged her brain and body, but not her knee.
• Wins: Track your progress, including any small “wins” like being able to do an exercise you couldn’t before.
• Emotional Support: Keep in touch with your gym buddies, or whoever helps keep your spirits high.
• Reasons: Musante recommends devoting some time to thinking about why you are in your sport in the first place. “Understanding why you train is the key to cracking your own code, which helps you reduce the impact of the injury on your psychological well-being.”

Injuries are a tough thing to get through no matter what, but keeping a positive mindset really helps. Read more about the POWER technique at the link below.

5 Strategies for Coping With Injuries: The POWER Approach [The Strength & Science Spot]