Recovery Stories: How #TheProtocol Helped Cut Healing Time in Half
When we conceived the idea behind Generator and developed our recovery protocol, it was an idea backed by scientific research of the recovery tools and the formula necessary to speed healing from injuries. Today, we’d like to introduce you to Shawn, who is living proof of the healing power of Generator’s #TheProtocol.
Shawn is an avid mountain biker who typically rides a couple of hours, five to seven times every week. He logs between 80 to 100 off-road miles weekly. About five weeks ago, Shawn had a crash and severely injured his collar bone. ER doctors told him that while the break was severe, it did not require surgery. However, they told Shawn that he would need 10 to 12 weeks of rest and recovery time before he could get back on his bike. If you are like Shawn and love being outdoors and active, you’ll understand why he quickly started researching ways to speed his recovery and reduce his “downtime”. Getting back to mountain biking was a high priority for him.
From his travels to Asia, Shawn is familiar with Asian traditions using heat as well as hot-and-cold contrast for health and wellness. Japan has a tradition of therapeutic bathing in hot springs for healing, a practice established over 400 years ago. The Chinese have their own tradition of Yin and Yang (cool and hot) for strength, energy and healing.
Shawn began searching the internet for options available in Austin. That’s when he came across Generator Athlete Lab. We are so happy he did! After a couple weeks of pain and, worst of all, sleepless nights, Shawn made his way over to Generator where he was immediately introduced to #TheProtocol. His personal protocol includes:
Infrared sauna for about 45 minutes.
Three rounds in the Contrasts Tubs (cold tub for 4 minutes, hot tub for 4 minutes) ending with the cold tub.
Shawn follows up the contrast therapy with Normatec compression on his legs for overall physical and mental recovery/well being.
Despite understanding the concept of hot/cold for healing, Shawn was still a bit skeptical at first about how effective this would be for him. But he gave it a try and remarkably started feeling positive results almost immediately. After only the first two sessions Shawn experienced a 20-30% improvement in his range of motion. Most importantly, he started sleeping again!
These results convinced him to visit Generator daily. Since he wasn’t on his mountain bike, he figured he would just substitute the time he had spent riding, with time at Generator. He also added visits to a physical therapist who is likewise impressed with the speed and quality of his recovery.
A side benefit to spending time at Generator is that Shawn has met many other folks who are also healing from injuries. It’s been a great community for Shawn while he heals. He’s even brought some of his friends in to experience the power of #TheProtocol.
Five weeks out from his injury date and Shawn is 95% healed and already back on his bike -- keeping his workouts easy for now, of course. Once he’s fully healed, Shawn says he can’t wait to try #TheProtocol after a long hard ride and experience the recovery effects on uninjured, but sore, muscles. He’s expecting great things.
So are we, Shawn, So are we.