How to Heal Faster: The Power of Movement and Mindset.
When you feel that first sharp pain, it can be scary. You’re not sure how serious it is or what kind of damage there might be. You take it easy for a few minutes and assess what’s going on. You might start thinking that you need to protect the area, to avoid movement, wear a brace, or just lie down.
But this is very rarely the answer.
The Power of Movement
Movement is medicine. When we stop moving out of fear, recovery often takes longer. Keeping your body gently active helps reassure your brain that things are okay. It also prevents excessive muscle guarding , when your muscles tighten or spasm to protect an injured area.
While this protective response can be helpful in the very short term, it’s important to start moving again much sooner than you might think. In fact, even people who’ve had hip or knee replacements are encouraged to start walking the same day as their surgery. That’s how powerful movement can be for healing.
How Fear Slows Healing
Fear gets in the way of recovery. When we become overly cautious, our brains can reinforce pain pathways, making the discomfort feel worse or last longer. This sends a message to the muscles that they need to stay switched on, which is why pain can persist, long after the original injury itself has healed.
Of course, seeing an osteopath can be reassuring. Having that professional validation that you will be okay can help calm your nervous system, and help you on your journey back to health. Osteopathy provides a safe environment for your body to start moving again, encouraging mobility, and circulation, kick-starting the healing process.
Our brains are incredibly powerful, and when we approach healing with confidence and calm, we send our nervous system a very different message. We tell it: you are safe, you can move, you can heal.
Trust Your Body
Have confidence in your body and its ability to recover. Trust that you are strong, adaptable, and built to heal. Sometimes, the most important part of recovery is simply believing that movement is safe, and giving your body permission to do what it does best.