The injury recovery process is different for every person, and can be frustrating, time-consuming and unpredictable at times. However, the body does have an amazing capacity to heal itself, and when you're injured, a series of events take place to help you recover. The injury recovery process can be divided into three phases:
The Inflammatory Phase
“Initially, your body is trying to deal with the alarm, so in the first 72 hours it's trying to figure out what's happened and what it can do for the injury,” says Behnad Honarbakhsh, a physiotherapist and HealthChoicesFirst.com partner.
Fortunately, there are some ways you can minimize the extent of the inflammatory phase. Find out more about cold therapy and hot therapy for injures.
The Proliferative Phase
Depending on the extent of the injury and tissue damage, this phase of the injury recovery process may be quite short, or it may last for a longer period of time. During the proliferative phase, type I collagen is being laid down to increase tendon and ligament strength.
“From about two days to six weeks your body is going through remodeling and laying down the scar tissue,” says Honarbakhsh.
The Repair and Maturation Phase – The Last Step of the Injury Recovery Process
At this point, the body is attempting to restore the body to its pre-injury state.
“From about four weeks up to a year you're doing the repair and maturation phase,” says Honarbakhsh.
Injury Recovery and Return to Sport
If you are recovering from an injury, one of your first questions will likely be “How long until I can return to my sport/activity/exercise?” However, there is no one right answer – only you and your health care providers can determine when you've come far enough in the injury recovery process to you make a safe return to sport.
“Yes, we have these guidelines or stages, but every individual is different,” says Honarbakhsh. “It's really important to go and see a qualified physiotherapist to determine what level and stage you as an individual end up in so that you're on the right treatment plan for what you need for that injury at that point in time.”
Depending on your injury, you may benefit from orthotics and bracing.
Physiotherapy Clinics in Canada
Alberta:
Active Physiotherapy & Wellness Centre, Calgary
Tawa Physiotherapy and Sport, Edmonton
British Columbia:
Sun City Physio, Kelowna
Ontario:
Cleveland Clinic Canada, Oakville
Toronto Physiotherapy, Toronto
Quebec:
Action Sport Physio, Laval
Kinatex Sports Physio, Quebec