Stop Comparing Your Injury To Others
Comparing one’s injury or symptoms to another’s is a dangerous game. The rehabilitation process is often an arduous one and is exactly that, a process. We’ve stated countless times that a modality or an exercise doesn’t get you better, but the process does. And along that process, there are usually road blocks and turns on the way to your destination. One road block that can be managed from the beginning is to avoid comparing one’s self to others. Comparison is the thief of joy as they say. Well in this case, it’s a barrier to rehab. Injury variability, individual management, and even genetics all play a roll in recovery. Comparing rehab without considering all of these complex variables will inevitably lead to frustration.
Injury variability is the first reason why one should not compare rehab processes. Mechanisms of injury are rarely identical and, therefore, the end result of the injury will be slightly different. Meniscus tearing can come in many different forms. Each grade and variation comes with its own challenges. Do you have shoulder impingement? There are scores of different causes of impingement and, most likely, your physical therapy wouldn’t and shouldn’t look the same. If you compare your injury to a friend, or worse off, an athlete on television, you will get frustrated fast.
Individual management is the second reason why injuries should not be compared. How long have they been rehabbing? When did they start? If you and another athlete have the same injury, but they started getting evaluated and treated much sooner, their rehabilitation will most likely be much quicker. Severe ankle sprains, for example, can be managed within weeks of an injury, but also be dragged out for years if not addressed. Thus when it’s time to actually rehabilitate, there is a lot more work to do. Not to mention, what about all of the other secondary lifestyle factors that play a role in healing an injury? Sleep, diet, risk factors such as excessive smoking or drinking all play a role into how the body heals itself. How injuries have been managed are important factors to consider when comparing recovery.
Finally, as much as I hate to say it, genetics play a role in healing variability. Sometimes people just heal faster than others. Some people recover from colds or the flu faster than others. We have to accept that we cannot hold ourselves accountable for how our body is genetically predetermined to heal. Letting go of any guilt or shame that may follow after a slow healing process is essential to remaining a happy healthy human being during physical therapy.
These factors are just a few of many common themes or questions that we see and get in the clinic. All of these variables make it impossible to make true comparisons between people’s injuries and recovery, therefore it is futile and will only create frustration. If you are struggling with chronic pain, reoccurring or acute injuries, consider performance based physical therapy. Utilizing evidence-based practice as the foundation of our treatment, we can work together to you back on the path of pain-free performance. Feel free to try a free, no-strings-attached, 30 minute phone consultation, where we can talk about any symptoms, goals, or questions and/or concerns you may be having.
Dr. Cody Benavides
PT, DPT, MFDc
Co-Owner | The PATH Rehab & Performance
