Meditation has a reputation for being a strange new practice that’s taking the world by storm. But the truth is that people have been meditating for millennia. And for good reason: it helps your body and your mind become stronger. Believe it or not, incorporating meditation into your injury recovery process can actually make your physical therapy treatment more effective. Here’s how it can help.

It Helps Reduce Pain and Discomfort

Stiffness is one of the biggest causes of discomfort and pain when you’re recovering from an injury. And not all of that stiffness will result from the injury itself. Instead, a lot of it comes from the tension you pick up and carry with you during the day. The tighter your muscles are, the harder it is for your body to recover from your injury. 

Meditating can help alleviate some of that tension by taking your focus off of your worries. This, in turn, helps your muscles relax. When they’re loose and relaxed, you’ll feel less pain and discomfort as you move throughout the day. Over time, that lower amount of pain can make it easier for you to run through the exercises your physical therapy team asks you to do between sessions.

Meditation Alleviates Stress

When you’re hurting and not able to do the things that make you happy, it’s normal to feel stressed. That stress can have a negative impact on your body’s ability to recover from injuries quickly. It suppresses your immune system and makes you more vulnerable to viruses and germs. When you get sick, your body has to divert its resources to help you recover from the illness, taking away from its ability to heal your injury quickly.

By meditating, you’ll reduce your stress levels significantly. That, in turn, boosts your immune system and allows your body to focus on healing your injuries as fast as possible. That will make your physical therapy more effective.

It Can Help You Sleep Better

Sleep is essential for recovering quickly from injuries. It’s the time when your body can relax and focus on healing rapidly. If your sleep schedule isn’t normal or consistent, it can be hard for your body to get the rest it needs to recover quickly.

Meditation can actually help your body restore its natural sleep rhythms. It does this by reducing feelings of stress and anxiety. This gives you the quiet mind you need to fall asleep and stay asleep each night. 

Meditating Is a Great Supplement to Physical Therapy

Incorporating meditation into your physical therapy routine can make the exercises more effective each day. But starting meditation can seem overwhelming if you’re new to the practice. Take it slow. Start by focusing on your breathing for a minute at a time. Sit in a comfortable position, close your eyes, and focus on each breath you take. As you get used to meditating, you can try different free guided meditations to make the stress relief even more pronounced.

Keep in mind that meditation is never a substitute for physical therapy. If you’re dealing with an injury that you can’t seem to recover from, contact us to schedule a consultation.