Many people asked how I got back into swimming
after my concussion. For those that don’t know pre-concussion I was swimming 1
km daily before work. This stopped July 30,2016 when I went on vacation. I was working as a child protection worker,
putting in 50 hour weeks; working day’s, evenings and weekends.
After I was diagnosed with the concussion in
August of 2016 I wasn’t allowed to do any physical activity. As the weeks went
on, I worked with my physiotherapist who encouraged me to go back into the
pool. I swim here and there at Lakehead University but didn’t make much
progress. I was really scared about swimming by myself and hurting myself
again. I spent the next eight months swimming here and there but not putting
much effort into it.
In February 2017 I was referred to the pain
management clinic. The social worker met me and did an intake with me and
encourage me to get back into the pool. We went over my barriers to this which
was anxiety and fear of the water. He set me up with the recreational therapist
who met me and encouraged me. During the month of July and August we met at
Lakehead to do one on one aqua fit classes together. During the first week we
met and sat in the parking lot and chatted. During the second week we met had a
tour of the facility and left. During the third week we met outside on the pool
deck with my feet in the water. The fourth week I stood in the pool getting
used to the surroundings splashing a bit. It wasn’t until the fifth week that
we actually started swimming. I thank her for her ability and patience as it
got me used to the water and made me OK with the situation. This worked out
fantastically as it was a way to get me back into the pool and work
individually with my weaknesses and build my strength encourage again.
In September 2017 I want off work completely
enjoyed the pain management program for their six week intensive Ness. A core
piece of the six week program was fitness. During the first week of the program
we learned how to set goals and make them achievable. We also learned the
purpose of doing something but then having the resistance to stop to save
energy as the reserve. If we are going to be able to do something we had to
make sure that we are able to do it the next day as well. If we were tired the
chances of us doing it the next day were slim. One of my goals was to be able
to swim 1 KM by Christmas. I started out slowly. I went to the pool twice a
week and swim five laps each time. I then went to the pool again and swim 10
laps every day. I then increase it to 15 and 20 and soon I was swimming
consistently and having energy left over still. By the end of November I was at
40 laps again however I was throwing up and dizzy and nauseous after that to
the fact that I was in emerge dehydrated. I was also having issues eating
during that time as well. I was called back into the kinesiologist office after
the occupational therapist heard what I was doing. We decided to take a break
from swimming while I was at home with my parents resting relaxing. I would
regain and re-doing swimming after the Christmas holidays. In January I started
out slowly again however starting out at 20 as my memory of the muscles
remembered swimming easily. I slowly increased it in by the end of January I
was at 1.1 km. I continue doing it on a daily basis and it really keeps me in
mind of my goals and where I’m headed. Swimming makes me clear my head and not
think about the anxieties of the world. I focus directly on the strokes that
I’m doing and the number of laps I’m on which takes away the mental attitude of
life. It physically makes me stronger and more courageous as I conquer the
world.
