COMMUNITY: Post injury tissue repair

6. Sleep. The overall recovery activity that occurs during sleep is big. Recovery loves sleep.

7. Stress. Stress can be physically or psychologically induced. If we're injured that is our stress. So how do we learn to manage stress. For starters you might as well call it what it really is - fear. We must learn how to manage fear and instead of that fear managing us, which in turn leads to a great life with less “stress.”

8. What does “rest” really mean? It does not mean sit on the couch and watch TV. A sprained ankle still leaves three good limbs and blood flow is the key to getting that thing healed.

Rest means scaling back and doing what is appropriate. A broken leg leaves plenty of room for upper body work. Besides, what would be the point of letting the other leg go to mush?

9. Don't be diabetic. Diabetics have a hard time healing. When we get into insulin sensitivity issues everything changes. So either be thankful you are not diabetic or do something about it.

10. Ice. Seems so simply right? But I bet you don't do it regularly. Confession time ... neither do I.

There is fantastic research coming out on the health benefits and fat loss affects of using ice baths. Buying a couple big bags of ice, filling the bath tub and hanging out for a 15 to 20 minutes a couple times a week or more is a very good idea, especially if you have an injury. Just keep it under 20 minutes.

Keep some ice packs in the freezer and use a cling wrap to get a good hold on where you're placing it.

Another option, although not always appropriate (if it is painful that is a good sign not to do it), is to freeze small paper cups and massage the injured area with ice. This is good for muscles, not so great for tendons or ligaments.

• For more of Rees' advice, go to www.GRITGYM.com/resources and adamrees.blogspot.com. Email Rees at adam@gritgym.com