After a hard fought match where you run around the whole time, the chances are, you will be absolutely wiped out and your mind may not be on the injuries that you have picked up along the way. I personally know that I pick up at least two injuries per game, whether that be something such as a bruise to a pulled muscle, however, I would never know it because my entire body would be tired and hurting. Many of my team mates are very much the same. So how do you figure out whether that hurt you feel is an injury or normal muscle pain?

Long Hot Showers

Yes, one of the best ways to isolate the injuries that you may have picked up during a game. Notice the two adjectives before the word “showers”.  The reason you have a long shower is to give your body enought time to respond to the hot water that is pouring over it. When the hot water keeps hitting your skin, the receptors underneath will respond in kind and let you know exactly where on your body you have been banged up the most. An example of this is yesterday. I took many hits on the field and I wouldn’t know which one was most pressing. During showering, I noticed after a while that just under my knee, there began small swelling and pain, which I associated immediately with a big hit I took against another player during the first half. It is true that everyone showers after a game, however, most don’t have long showers to understand the extent of their injuries.

Now Time To Take Advantage 

With this feedback from your body, you can begin treatment for your injuries immediately rather than having to wait until the next morning for your body to reveal the various pains around the place. And trust me, it hurts even more the next day if you haven’t done anything about it.