SportsPsychologist.com Blog by Dr Victor Thompson

You know that sport, exercise and activity is good for your body and mind, so if you are injured, make sure that you keep up (when possible and not contraindicated) a good level of activity, even if you have to choose activities that you wouldn’t usually do. Can’t run? What about aqua jogging? Can’t cycle? What about swimming? No matter what, you most certainly can walk, stretch, do some gym work with weights or on core stability. Use the time to work on other components of health and fitness. Don’t give into the temptation to hit the sofa, biscuit tin and beer – or you’ll have a bigger challenge later when you try to get back to fitness. Dr Victor Thompson www.sportspsychologist.com

If you have a niggle, something is wrong. Perhaps your body is under recovered and will be fine, but often this is not the case and bad things develop after spotting a niggle. Act. Consider getting some help: physio, sports masseur. Consider modifying your training: back-off, take more rest Don’t ignore it, or it might derail this season or your whole sporting career. (It happens.) Don’t ignore it (for most people, this is worth me repeating) Dr Victor Thompson www.sportspsychologist.com

Sport and exercise – but not competition for most of us – can be a good way to de-stress. This works for several reasons: It takes us away from stressful situations (home or work) We focus on what we are doing (e.g, chasing a football, hitting the tennis ball, running drills…) and therefore not on life’s problems We have endogenous opiates (‘happy hormones’) released into our bloodstream which feel good We might be exercising or playing sport with positive, encouraging people Those of us who exercise know this already. Perhaps we can share the good news to those who don’t exercise or engage in sport?  Dr Victor Thompson www.sportspsychologist.com