Most serious injuries don’t arrive suddenly. They build quietly, often disguised as stiffness, tightness or fatigue.
That lesson has been learned repeatedly across elite sport.
England bowler Matty Potts has spoken about the importance of acting early rather than waiting for something to break.
"Recovery is about getting on top of things straight away," he says. "If you ignore it, it just comes back bigger. I’ve learned that the hard way."
Modern performance teams focus heavily on early intervention - managing small issues before they force time away from training or competition.
Fast bowler Jofra Archer has also reflected on how injuries reshape your mindset.
"You realise pretty quickly that pushing through everything isn’t smart," he says.
"Sometimes the best thing you can do is pull back before it turns into something bigger."
Ignoring warning signs often leads to compensation, and compensation is where injuries escalate. Early recovery isn’t about stopping - it’s about staying available.
EARLY WARNING SIGNS
1. Persistent tightness
2. Reduced range of motion
3. Declining energy levels
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