I recently celebrated my 41st birthday. At this point in my life, "celebrate" may not be the right word, but you get the point. 

With three young children, a doctor-wife who takes call, and a full-time day job, the days are long and the years, I guess they say they're short. Personal time for me is precious; time that is often hindered by the amount of sitting, crawling, and bending I do on a daily basis to keep this family-engine churning. 

Don't get me wrong: I'm in good shape, but my pattern of movement has changed significantly. Ten years ago, I could sit at a desk all day, then go run five miles or play full-court basketball for hours on end without ever having to think about it. Today, not so much. 

Getting hurt is the absolute worst. Whether you're a pro or a weekend warrior, getting back on your feet takes time, and the process can be one of self-doubt, frustration, and impatience. On the flip side, anyone that's been through this knows that you'll eventually get better. If I could tell my younger self anything, it would be exactly that: "You're going to get better. Have a positive attitude. Work hard and be patient."

Rather than freaking out, I wanted to provide this mini guide to help you think through your rehab. Of course, not every injury, rehab process, healing time, etc. is the same. Regardless, I like to break the process down into three main areas:

1.Sports rehab techniques

2. Practitioners

3. Resources (mainly books, article, videos, etc.)

Having an understanding of these will help ease your anxiety and hopefully provide a more thoughtful (and pleasant) rehab. Happy healing! 

​If you're passionate about sports and interested in learning more about the science behind the games, there are plenty of excellent books on sports science out there that can help you deepen your understanding of the subject. In this article, we'll take a closer look at some of the best books on sports science that you should add to your reading list.