Treat the Pain

Always learning, pushing our bodies, and minds is the best way to improve at sport or better yet in life.  To train efficiently most top level athletes have not just one coach but two or more.  

Sport specific coaching can help your technique, and improve your performance. But there are times we over train or have an injury.  

For the basic overtraining if we have the experience and the knowledge we can come back on our own.  But there are times we need professional help and for me that is not a trainer but a physical therapist, (PT).  A PT knows the body and can see things you or a trainer will not see due to their education, and what they do every day at work.

A PT does their best to bring you back in the time they have with you.  At that point either insurance, time, or satisfactory recovery ends the sessions.  

There is a wide level and range of PTs. Most of them have a specialty.  So finding the right one is critical.  I have spent close to five years of my life with different PTs, having been through six knee operations. And worked with not so good to pro sport team PTs.  

To get the most out of your time with a PT, you have to know your body well for the PT to help you heal and recover.   They need your input to be able to adjust the program to make progress and get you healthy. Since it is you that has to do the work, they are just guiding you. 

My last PT, Jennifer helped me come back from my knee replacement.  She was by far the best PT I have ever had.  Jennifer worked with me for two month prior to surgery on my weak areas to help me to be strong and stable for surgery.  Then after surgery we had three more months.  The week before Jennifer had to release me we set up an excellent program for the long term. Besides a great Orthopedic surgeon, Jennifer has helped me recover and change my life.  

But the most important thing to remember is you need to do your PT program for life.

Another coach that makes a huge difference is a mental coach, which is now considered a must to be at the top of your game.  

The great thing here is this can be your spouse, friend, training partner, or a professional person.  Most of all you have to trust them fully.  You will discuss all aspects of your life that make you a better person, remove the stress or worry so you compete at the top level.

Just as training results don’t happen in days or weeks, but take months to years.  The mental coach needs the same time to help you through the tough times, and keep you level when it is going well.

A great mental coach is a huge gift.

The third coach is you.  For me this means I read, read, read.  Not on the web, but well written books. There is so much great information out there in great books.  Research the subject you need to learn or improve on, and see if you can read a book every two weeks on that subject.   It will open your mind and make you think in new ways. It might change nothing, but I doubt it.  You will find new ways to grow.  I know it helps me in all aspects of my life.  

Spring is less than a month away.  Time to get the boats ready, finalize the season plans, and most of all be physically, emotionally, and mentally ready.

Don’t forget to give back to your sport.

Be kind, have fun, and I will see you soon,  Paul