A couple of years ago, I wrestled a large stranger without a warm-up and, of course, sustained an injury that has the name “climber/golfer’s elbow,” or in my case, “jitser’s elbow.” Tired of the chronic symptoms, I began to explore ways to permanently fix the problem. I learned with interest that in the past doctors recommended long and complete rest for recovery, but today, on the contrary, immediately after the acute phase, they begin to give feasible load.
Immobility does bring relief to the injured area, but at the same time it causes atrophy of the remaining healthy muscles and tendons. That is, the system as a whole becomes weaker and more fragile. Which means retraumatization is inevitable once the patient begins a “normal” life. “Tendons don’t like rest or change,” says Jill Cook, physiotherapist, professor and leading musculoskeletal researcher.
A key principle for accelerated rehabilitation is “progressive load.” It doesn’t matter if, compared to the previous record, it starts with a tiny weight. The value is the persistent progression, like a turnstile or watch winder — one step forward, not one step back. Interestingly, the attitude to pain is attentive, but without the ahs-sighs — the opposite of the now popular “safe spaces”.
In essence, the cure is a paradoxical movement toward pain, fear and doubt. However, you don’t rush recklessly but take the step voluntarily, dose the stress on the bottleneck, and believe in your adaptive potential. The reward is an exponential recovery in the spirit of “Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.”
Sincerely yours,
-Alexander
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