Most of us have been there, particularly if we are semi-serious athletes. You train

to run a marathon, you squat and lift, or you box, wrestle and train your kicks to beat your next opponent when the worst thing happens, you come up with an injury.

So what's the worst thing about being an injured athlete?

According to Paul Ingram, writing for Pain Science.com the toughest thing for athletes is following all the advice they get to "shake it off" and keep training.

To this tpe of an athlete, everything will work out within their body if they just give their body enough exercise. But sadly, it doesn't. Without sufficient rest, not only do injuries not heal but they compound over time.

Maria Heller, a fitness coach, writing for Breaking Muscle.com

not only agrees but adds that many people avoid seeking actual medical attention for fear the doctor may tell them to rest for a while, for fear their body will "get out of shape."

Finally, Karima Neghmouche, writing for Aptiva Health.com hits the nail right on the head when she states that there is the physical side of recovering from and injury and the mental side, and that often the mental side is the tougher challenge to swallow.

The old and new way to rest

One of the major equations to the idea of resting is the definition of rest.

In the old days of medicine, if you broke your arm for example, they slapped a cast on your arm and tried to keep the arm immobile for a few months.

Today, even doctors who specialize in broken bones are hesitant to slap a full cast on someone. The idea is to immobilize the broken bone or fracture, yes, but still to allow a moderate amount of movement.

So the trend, particularly in sports medicine, is to introduce low-key alternative to your normal exercise routine, perhaps by adding a different sport such as swimming.

Today, even people with hip fractures, are not exempt from a little walking.

But the problem, particularly with competitive athletes, is that their idea of resting is to switch from running 12 miles per day to 10, and yet they expect to heal.

Consequently, a good sports doctor dealing in injuries has to be as much a psychologist as a doctor.

No definition of rest

Part of the problem is that have been no expensive studies about rest. After all, a drug company has no incentive in studying rest, because no clever accountant has figured out a way how to bill you for resting.

Consequently, most of the knowledge about how to rest has been gradually learned over time.

Pain Management

Another, still a bit of a mystery subject is pain management. When you have an injury, when is it appropriate to use only ibuprofen or ice packs, and when do you have a doctor inject you with a steroid shot?

Many people go through alternate routes, like taking an herbal extract such as heal-n-sooth, which has been shown to loosen joints, muscles, and ligaments, while others seek even stronger painkillers such as a temporary prescription to oxycontin.

Ultimately, like the definition of rest, there is no universal answer. What's right for one may not work for another.

There are also alternative medicine solutions such as acupuncture, and massage therapy.

Injuries are a fact of life

Ultimately, both athletes and couch potatoes have to realize that injuries are a fact of life. People experience them, and it's not the end of the world.

So what if you have to take it easy for a couple of months. There are plenty of people around the world, who would gladly take your place, so be a bit humble about it. Chances are, you'll heal much faster that way.

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