If you suffer from an old injury that is affected or made worse by your training, you may need specialized help to repair or improve this damage. Some sports centers may not be equipped to offer this care. Determine your needs before investigating centers so you clearly know what to look for. Furthermore: Note all the consistent problem areas in your form or posture, like hunching, under/over extensions, or slouching. These issues can sometimes be cured through proper recovery techniques. Note reoccurring pain, weakness, or lack of range of motion in any parts of your body (like the arms, legs, and neck). This information will be useful while searching for a suitable center, and will come in handy when choosing a recovery plan. You can do this simply on the Internet with a general keyword search for "sports recovery centers near me." However, sports and health facilities and providers, like hospitals, gyms, physical therapists, and trainers, will likely also have connections to recovery centers. Ask about potential centers at these locations or with similar health and wellness providers. You might find advertisements for potential centers in your local newspaper or in media related to your sport, like a magazine for runners, for example. You may want to keep a list of potential centers to help keep them straight while deciding which is best for you. Certain recovery centers may focus on a certain activity or sport. You should prioritize centers that focus on your the area you are training, or a similar area. For example: You wouldn't likely want to join a center that focuses on tennis if you're a football player. However, a tennis recovery center might be suitable for racquetball players. Now that you have a list of potential centers, you should be able to easily look these up online. Find and read customer reviews for each center. Prioritize highly rated and regarded centers over low or unrated ones. You should always take customer reviews with a grain of salt. Some companies may pay people to give a good review. Generally, you can expect national, international, and hospital affiliated recovery centers to provide reliable service. A face-to-face meeting will give you a chance to read the atmosphere of the center and take stock of its staff. Give preference to centers with a comfortable atmosphere and a staff that puts you at ease. While waiting for your consultation, you may have a chance to interact with other center goers. This is a perfect chance for you to ask what they like or dislike about the center. Being anxious or uneasy can lead to tension or stress. This can negatively impact your recovery. Make it a goal to find a recovery center where you feel as little self-conscious as possible and can easily focus on your recovery.

Summary: Identify your needs. Search for local recovery centers. Determine the focus of potential centers. Look up reviews online. Set up a consultation and review potential centers.

Severe swelling that blocks the airway could be life-threatening. Call emergency services or get to an emergency room as soon as possible. Sudden, severe swelling is a symptom of a serious allergic reaction. Tongue swelling usually goes away on its own within a few days, especially if it's swollen because you bit it. If swelling persists, you might have an infection, mild allergic reaction, or other condition. Tell your doctor when your tongue started to swell, if you're experiencing any other symptoms, and about any potential allergens, such as food or medications. They might recommend antibiotics for an infection or antihistamine medication for an allergic reaction. A vitamin B deficiency could cause tongue swelling. Tell your doctor about your diet and ask if they recommend any changes. They might have you take a vitamin supplement or eat more foods that contain vitamin B, such as meat, poultry, fish, and eggs. If your doctor rules out an infection, allergic reaction, and a nutrient deficiency, they might order blood tests to identify an underlying condition. While thyroid and lymph system conditions can cause a bulging or swollen tongue, these are far less common than issues like infections and allergies. If your doctor identifies a thyroid or lymph system disorder, they'll prescribe medication to control it. Take any medication as directed, and don't stop taking your medicine without consulting your doctor.

Summary: Seek medical attention if you have trouble breathing. See your doctor if swelling persists for more than 10 days. Ask if you might have a nutrient deficiency. Discuss potential thyroid or lymph system issues with your doctor.

One of the most important factors to consider in buying a bow is what it is made of. Depending on your level of experience, monetary resources, and personal preferences, there are four different choices you could make: Fiberglass bows are the most inexpensive. They come with many student violins. They are durable and affordable, but not adequate for more advanced players. Brazilwood is the term used to describe bows made from tropical hardwoods. These are inexpensive bows that are ideal for beginners or intermediate players. Pernambuco, a dense, heavy wood from Brazil, has been used in most of the best bows since the 18the century. Pernambuco bows are increasingly rare, due to environmental devastation, and therefore are much more expensive. However, these bows are thought to provide an ideal balance of strength, responsiveness, and elasticity for the advanced violinist. Carbon-fiber bows are built to approximate the qualities of pernambuco, and have become increasingly popular in recent years as the real thing has become harder to obtain. They are a reasonable approximation of their wooden counterparts, and are more affordable and durable. Violin bows come in a variety of lengths and weights, and choosing the right one is important for maximizing your potential as a violinist. The average adult violin bow weights about 60 grams, and some violinists will not play any bow that strays much from this weight. However, some high quality bows weigh as little as 54 grams, so don't be afraid of a lighter bow. On the other hand, a bow weighing more than 66 to 68 grams will be too heavy for most violinists. The size of the bow is also important. Too long a bow can be cumbersome for children and other people of smaller build, but a short bow loses some flexibility, thus limiting the range of expression possible. Anything smaller than 3/4 size will result in a loss of flexibility. The good news is that student learners generally will not have the technical skills required for the sophisticated bow strokes a longer bow allows for anyway. Violin bow shafts come in two different shapes: round and octagonal. Octagonal bows are generally harder to find. Many violin players prefer the look of octagonal bows. That said, octagonal bows are often stiffer, which decreases the flexibility of a bow and limits some of the nuance that can be achieved in your bow strokes. Especially when buying a vintage bow, many expert players consider the country of origin of the bow to be important. English bows are almost always made for professional use. Those from the 1920s and earlier are particularly sought after. German bows have a bad reputation because historically, many of the cheap student bows were manufactured there. Even so, there have been many fine German bow makers such as Heinrich Knopf and Otto Hoyer. Vintage French bows are the most sought after (and expensive) of all. If you're buying a newer bow, you can get a close approximation made elsewhere, as the Parisian style of bow-making has spread to the US, the UK, and Ireland.
Summary: Research bow materials. Decide what size and weight are right for you. Learn about the importance of shaft shape. Study the importance of national origin.