From the August 2004 issue of Runner's World
Get Over It
If you're plagued by an ongoing, nagging injury that isn't responding to traditional therapies, there could be a psychological link. If so, "there are a lot of roads to relief," says David Rakel, M.D., of the University of Wisconsin. One of these might work for you.
Journaling:
"Writing about a stressful event helps you feel a sense of control over it," says Dr. Rakel. Gaining a better understanding of your feelings often reduces the severity of the pain instantly, he says. Writing about a disappointing race performance, for example, could help free you of pain.
Distract yourself:
Some of John Sarno, M.D.'s patients find relief by repeating "reject the physical, embrace the psychological," to distract their minds from their pain. Develop your own mantra ("I'm fast, I'm strong") and use it in a race when your mind needs to convince your body to keep going.
Coping rehearsal strategy:
Sports psychologist John Heil suggests anticipating the feared aspects of a race and how you'll get through them to eliminate surprises. "Plan to change your form in order to relax the body and use positive self-talk in conjunction with relaxed breathing," he says.
Mindfulness-based stress reduction:
This treatment encourages people to live in the moment. "Most of us are either stuck in the past or focused on our desires for the future," says Dr. Rakel. "Being in the 'now,' and focusing on the things you can control can help you more fully enjoy life."
