Essay: On the Injury Side of Things

(2023) What better way to take a break from cycling than sitting on the couch and watching the final weeks of cyclocross play out? That may sound rejuvenating, but when it is the result of an injury, there is an antsy nature to remaining static. Injuries never strike at the right time, so the recent foray into getting put back together is a study in prudence.

Months ago the medical field identified an injury that would have to be repaired sooner or later. A learned person providing the name of an ailment is a cruel trick where the diagnosis is repeated over and over and the injury is focused on more and more. Every pedal stroke becomes a spotlight. “I feel the [injury]!” I might say to myself, despite having ridden thousands of miles prior to the doctor visit without so much as a second thought. No wonder sports psychology exists- scenarios like this occupy thoughts and permeate. It’s all that can be attended to until change occurs.

Weeks ago another check up may have agitated the injury because of the sudden inflammation and discomfort. The cycling chats were silenced in favor of focusing on repair. As an upside, all this ratcheted up during the winter. Still, an injury is an injury no matter how slight. What about those base miles? It’s better to focus on health. But those mileage goals for 2023! We just started a new year! Those miles won’t be possible without an upfront loss. Trying to maintain an injury instead of seeking repair is hardly quality of life. It was off to specialists to determine the next course of action.

Days ago the healing started after the injury was dealt with. Thoughts swirl about the next step. These were the thoughts not entertained until recently. When can normal life resume? Is there confidence that the body will come back as strong - or stronger - and deliver? Whatever the outcome, a giant step back focuses on the understanding that a recent injury is just that- a former one. It is possible things will not return to pre-injury life, but the quality of life has been improved. 

Since being relegated to the couch to heal, ways to improve strength and confidence are in pursuit. Specialists in injury prevention and intervention have been contacted. Followup appointments have been scheduled. This injury was the result of the neglect of strength. That route can no longer be entertained unless a second round of this experience is sought. How to avoid this from happening again is priority. What this down time has demonstrated is that the isolation of simply riding a bike is not sustainable, that other movements must be implemented to prevent further injury. 

What better way to treat an injury than to have it occur during the offseason months when there is no priority to rolling fitness miles. The take home messages are simple: get those injuries taken care of immediately, and bring back cross training. If the excuse is that there is no time to cross train, expect to be laid up on the couch counting down the time to the next doctor’s appointment, hoping to be cleared to workout in the former glory.