If you thrive from an active and athletic lifestyle then there is nothing worse than suffering an injury that impacts your active lifestyle. Before you undertake any kind of exercise or activity when suffering from an injury it is paramount that you first seek medical advice. Once you have been given the all-clear to adopt some form of activity here are some ways in which you can continue to stay fit and active during your period of injury.
Photo credit; Jonathan Borba from Pexels
Adapt your workout
While you may not be able to work out in the way you are used to you may still be able to undertake an exercise in a different form. If you have an ankle injury chances are you will not be able to go for a run. That said why not turn your hand to some upper body strength training or give the cross trainer a whirl? If you commonly lift weights then consider switching to bodyweight-only exercises or lifting lighter weights. Get creative and think about how you can switch up your exercise regime to work around your injury.
Support your injury
Even if your workout is designed to take the pressure off of your injury be sure that it is adequately protected and supported. An ankle injury, for example, may benefit from ankle tape, see this technique on how best to apply it or an injured knee may require knee support for maximum protection. Further, if you feel your workout or adapted exercise regime is encroaching on your recovery then don’t be afraid to halt it and get back to the drawing board. Overworking an injury and not giving it adequate time to recover will only prolong your time away from the exercise you know and love most.
Know your limits and understand the pain
You have to remember that you will not be able to do what you could pre-injury. Be aware of your limits and respect them, if you do they should be short-lived. What is more, you need to respect any pain that you might be feeling during your workout. Pain is there for a reason and it lets your body know that something is wrong. It may be tempting but pushing yourself through pain will only impact your recovery and potentially do further damage. If you find that you are having to take painkillers before, during, or after a workout then this could be a sign that you are pushing yourself too hard.
Stay motivated
Staying motivated can be hard enough when you are fighting fit but it can be particularly challenging when you are battling an injury. It can often feel demoralizing when you cannot do what you want and are used to. That said by staying active and working through your injury in a responsible way you are making progress and working toward getting yourself back to your pre-injury state. What is more, staying motivated and maintaining some level of activity will not only be good for your physical health and recovery but for your mental health too.
