STAGES OF HEALING AND EXPECTED TIME TO RECOVER / PROGRESS TO THE NEXT PHASE OF HEALING
Phase 1: Inflammatory phase
Pain without movement
This points to a possible Acute injury, Trauma, Nerve impingement, Infection / Disease, Post surgery. Etc
Expected recovery time = 1-2 weeks
Phase 2: Injury phase
Pain with passive ROM
The pain is accompanied with damage to the tissue or nerves, which requires protecting and time to heal. Taping and wrapping are appropriate and treatments should be focused on aligning the body to reduce stress on the injured area.
Expected recovery time = 1-6 weeks
Phase 3: Neurological phase
No pain with passive ROM
Pain with active ROM
The Injury protecting process of Phase 2 is almost complete. Now the damaged tissues need to strengthen and heal. In this phase the Trauma or Injury ,maybe causing the muscles or tendons to not ” turn off” properly to release the tension or not “turn on” properly to stabilize and support the joint.
Expected recovery time = 2-8 weeks
Phase 4: Muscle / Tendon phase
Pain only with loaded active ROM
The muscles/ tendons / joints have healed to the point that there is pain-free movement when not under stress. But the body is not strong / resilient enough to handle more aggressive movements or movements under load such as weights.
Expected recovery time = 4-12 weeks
Phase 5: Stability phase
Pain only after certain amount of activity
The muscles/ tendons / joints are strong enough to do any activities without pain. But the body has poor biomechanics due to being injured in the past or poor training. As well as the body is compensating for weaknesses in other parts of the body outside of the recently injured area. Expected recovery time = 1-6 months