Stop avoiding pain during rehab
it's keeping you stuck
"If it hurts, don't do it."
Sound familiar?
This well-meaning advice is probably keeping you stuck right now—afraid to push forward but frustrated with your lack of progress.
Here's the truth: proper rehab isn't always comfortable.
In fact, I'd argue it NEVER should be.
That's not just my opinion; it's what I've seen work with hundreds and thousands of athletes over the years.
The trick isn't avoiding pain completely; it's understanding how to use it as feedback.
Traditional rehab approaches often prioritize comfort over progress. Ice, rest, and gentle stretching might feel safe, but they're not helping you recover faster. Your tissues need stress to adapt and grow stronger.
You wouldn't expect to lay on the couch and get stronger in the gym...
So why should injury recovery be any different?
Here's what actually works:
1. Embrace Some Discomfort
Pain during rehab isn't automatically bad. This does not mean you should go looking for it!
The key is understanding the difference between productive discomfort and warning signs.
If pain:
Stays at or below a 4/10 on the pain scale
Doesn't increase after activity
Improves as you warm up
You're likely on the right track.
2. Movement Is Your Medicine
Your body craves movement, even when injured.
Total rest leads to:
Muscle atrophy
Reduced joint mobility
Decreased blood flow
Slower tissue healing
Instead, focus on finding movements you can do while respecting your current limitations.
Can't squat? Start with partial ranges. Can't run? Begin with walking or cycling.
3. Build Strength
You won't get better passively. You need to put in work.
Start with:
Isometrics
Progress to single joint movements
Gradually increase intensity
Focus on progressing to full ranges of motion
Start loading the injured area appropriately today. Don't wait for pain to completely disappear.
Track your progress
Progress can occur in many ways with rehab:
More reps
More weight
ROM improvements session to session
Less pain than the session prior
Every day you spend avoiding proper loading is a day wasted. The body adapts to the demands placed upon it; if you do nothing, you will be prepared for nothing.
Stop waiting for the perfect pain-free moment to start real rehabilitation.
The best time to start was yesterday. The second best time is today.
Ready to accelerate your recovery?
Many of our clients have found that combining proper loading with peptide therapy has dramatically improved their healing time and results.
Head on over to Elite Research USA and use our code “imhurt10” to save 10%
These science-backed compounds can help:
Reduce inflammation more effectively than NSAIDs
Increase collagen synthesis for faster tissue repair
Improve blood flow to damaged areas
Enhance your body's natural healing response
To your complete recovery,
The peptides we recommend have helped hundreds of our clients cut weeks off their rehab time.
Click the link above to learn which specific peptides work best for different injury types and how to use them alongside your rehab protocol for maximum results.
If you’re unsure, reply to this email and we can help guide you