November 11, 2018
Rehab Part II
Rehab is a dirty word. It carries with it a Negative Connotation for most of the Population. Hear that someone is “In” or “Doing” Rehab, and you immediately ask “What Happened? Are they OK?” …
I am not sure if that Stigma is justifiable, particularly as it reinforces Negative stereotypes and has repercussions on many factors, including Willingness to Embrace, Level of Success, and Mind-Set moving forward…
When we see Rehab People @IPF, most of the time, they are not “OK”.
Their Injury or Struggle has been revealed as either the Cause or the Symptom of their Dysfunction…
They are (temporarily) Broken, Physically and Mentally, with many more Questions than Answers…
Panic, Anxiety, Anger and Frustration all become more Powerful as Uncertainty sets in for the Athlete: How, and Will, I get Back to Where I Was?
The Answer is almost always whatever You Believe it will Be…
Think that you are Fractured and Beyond Repair? You Are, and May always Be…
Believe that you Will Endure and Improve? You Inevitably always Do…
The Mind, particularly in the most mighty of Moments, Propels You in the Direction You are Willing to Go…
Most of the Athletes we see are Saying One Thing, but their Actions, Body Language, and Attitude say something else entirely…
A noted PT and “Thinker”, Charlie Wiengroff, says that Rehab=Training and Training=Rehab… for many of us in the Strength and Conditioning Field for many years, this has always been accepted and preached…
Rehab is solid Training that is applicable to the Current Status of the Athlete’s Mental and Physical Health, and their potential Capabilities…
Training is always Performed with Specific Intent, and is Constructed with the Athletes’ current Ability and Attitude woven into the framework of Her/His Program.
The Problem, as it typically presents itself, is that the Rehab always comes before the Training… We meet many of our Athletes after the have come from the Dr., bearing the burden of Bad News, an Attitude of Failure, and much more Desperation than Hope…
Rehab is what you “Have to Do” when you Get Hurt. It’s not a Movie you are looking forward to Seeing, or a Restaurant you are excited to Experience, it is Obligation not Opportunity…
With the Athletes that walk in our Doors @IPF (there were more this year than ever before), We are usually “Healing” them via Strength, Support, Education, and Structure…
The Torn ACL that you suffered? Well, let’s Examine your Diet and Rest Patterns… Chances are you Need more Muscle + Strength also…
The Back Injury that has plagued you for Months? OK, let’s look at your Practice/Game/Recovery Schedule (if there is one) and figure out Why you are Sore all of the Time… Chances are you Need more Muscle + Strength also…
The “General Malaise” of Being Sick regularly, having Mono or Pneumonia, and just Exhausted (and Playing Worse)? Let’s take a hard Look at Nutrition, Habits, and Why you Stopped Listening to your Body/Who are Trying to Please: Spoiler Alert-it is usually a Parent or Coach… Also, chances are you Need more Muscle + Strength…
Many of the “Healthy” Athletes we see wouldn’t Pass our Working Definition of Healthy/Strong Enough to Play: they are Weak, Tired, and Have no Plan other than “Try Hard” …
Rehab is Good for Business. Rehab brings People in the Door. Rehab done well with 1 Athlete leads to 4 more walking in the door…
But Rehab is not How we should do Business.
Rehab is (often) a Reaction, not Prevention, and certainly not part of a Plan… What was the last Plan you saw that had Time, Effort or Energy marked for Rehab… Unless it was an injured Athlete, you haven’t.
Training is Rehab when it is done to Perform Well in Sports.
It is Confidence, Physically and Mentally, in What You Can Do…
It is Preparation, which leads to Improvement…
It is Time Away from the Sport, which EVERYONE NEEDS, and our Pro Athletes take large doses of…
It is a Plan, which can be always be modified with Specificity for Success. Random Success is rarely Duplicated. Planned, Documented Success is a System…
Think about where you want to be on the Training/Rehab Spectrum, and act accordingly… We are thrilled for the Jump in Business, but surprised because the Information to Improve isn’t a Secret and its readily available…
Go, Wherever You Train or Prepare, and Get Some Rehab before it becomes mandatory and a part of your Story. Unlike Facebook or Instagram, these “Stories” don’t Disappear in 24hrs….
Getting out “In Front” of anything that could derail or produce Opportunity is important. Applying common sense Principles instead of Blaming the Field, Opponent or Bad Luck seems like a smarter path. But is often the one less traveled…
