For some, it’s RICE - Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation.
For others, it’s a lengthy period away from the action and some time spent getting to know our excellent medical team.
For the unlucky Jamie Lindsay, the Doctor’s orders have been go into work WITHOUT a smile on your face.
The combative midfielder was out to impress his new manager Matt Taylor in a recent reserve game against Huddersfield Town but that was ended prematurely after just 19 minutes when he came away with a face akin to something from a horror film, after an unfortunate – but honest – challenge in midfield left him with a nasty lip injury which required over 20 stitches.
An unusual rehabilitation process has taken place over the last 10 days or so, which has consisted of some tricky meal times and avoiding his more humorous teammates, as Lindsay explained to www.themillers.co.uk.
"It has been different to any other injury - I haven't been able to eat, laugh or smile!
"It's been tough to have to miss a couple of games but thankfully it is only short-term and hopefully I'll be back to myself sooner rather than later.
"I was on FaceTime to Shane [Ferguson] and I had to cut him off because he was making me laugh, which was causing me some pain in my lip! I text him in the morning and told him not to look at me or speak to me on my first day back because if he got me laugh, my face could split!"
"That's different, but it's been fine. I've done a lot of individual stuff which has been hard but I know that I need to keep on top of that so that when I do get the chance, I'll be ready to take it.
"Until my first injury here at Rotherham in the Championship last time, I'd never been injured before. I had that and then did my hamstring again and now this, which is fortunately only a week out.”
Lindsay has received high praise from fans for his relentless approach to his game and is keen to build on the three Sky Bet Championship starts he has made this season, after a fantastic campaign at this level last time the Millers were here.
Conscious of the fact that he will have to displace one of a number of incredibly talented teammates currently in the side ahead of him, the 27-year-old Scot is keen and raring to go as he looks to impress new boss Matt Taylor.
"It's fresh for everyone isn't it,” Lindsay said of the new manager coming in.
"It's exciting because it is something new for us all. The manager who was here previously obviously did unbelievably well for the club and I don't need to tell people about that.
"It's a new era for us now though and it's a blank slate, we're getting new ideas and everybody is learning new things and it is exciting.
"Getting my facial injury when I'm trying to impress isn't ideal, but it's a long season and I'm really looking forward to it,” he continued to concede.
"You have the chance to impress every day in training but once the reserve game came around, I thought it was a great opportunity to show what I'm about. It wasn't ideal picking up the injury but luckily for me, it isn't a long rehab process and I am hoping to be available for selection for the game with Hull on Saturday.
"Whether we're talking about meetings or training, everything is just fresh. Even the way we want to play and the manager's thoughts on everything else. It isn't just me who is excited about learning. It's the team that has got to take on all of these new ideas and adapt to a different way of working.”