James Hooper

A while ago whilst playing board games with the kids I realised that rehab can often be like a game of snakes and ladders. People are desperate to roll that dice, hit that 6 and fly up the biggest ladder on the board. We all want that short cut to get back to full training ASAP. But lurking nearby those big ladders are the big snakes that send us all the way back down to the bottom of the board. It’s the risk and penalty associated with trying to gamble. Short term success often results in frustration and long term failure. Now although, on occasion someone rolls those 6’s, hits the big ladders, avoids the snakes and ladders wins, it’s rare, and shouldn’t be our aim or strategy when we begin a rehab journey. The best strategy for most is steady rolls of 3 or 4, methodically plodding our way up the board, not worrying about the big ladders, occasionally grabbing a small one maybe, or indeed a small snake, but these little wins and losses aren’t overly beneficial or detrimental to the game plan. We eventually get to the finish line and feel good about it. So as sexy as the big ladders appear, remember there’s always a snake ready to take you all the way back to the start if you gamble on fast success over the steady approach.