If you’re reading this article, you most likely know that staying active is crucial for maintaining your health and improving your fitness. But how can you stay physically active when you get injured and cannot continue with your regular exercise routine? Even a temporary break can have a negative impact on your fitness progress and make it more challenging to get back once you’re healed. But it doesn’t have to be this way. You can still stay active even if you suffer from a medical issue that prevents you from working out as you usually do. Even if rehab and rest are crucial aspects during healing, staying active can also improve your mental and physical health and promote recovery.
You have to keep moving. Train your upper body if you suffered an injury to your lower body part. If you suffered an injury to your shoulders or arms, try light cardio, walking, or even running.
However, before crafting a new workout programme, check with your doctor to find out if your body can handle the stress you intend to expose it to. Get clearance from your healthcare provider before engaging in any form of physical activity and listen to their recommendations. Your doctor wants you to be as active as possible, but they also must ensure you’re safe and don’t worsen your symptoms.
Recovery should be your primary goal, and everything you do should help your body recover. If your doctor clears you to engage in some exercising, here are some recommendations that might help you.
Don’t pity yourself
If you love to train in the gym or run in the morning and your injuries prevent you from doing it, there’s no denying that you’re upset. But try to keep it in perspective, most injuries heal in time, and you’ll get back to your routine. At the moment, it may feel catastrophic that you cannot engage in the same activities you used to do, but you can use the time to pursue other hobbies and handle other things you might have neglected before. For example, if you’ve been injured in an accident and you’re not at fault, you can use the time to claim compensation. Contact a personal injury specialist to determine if you qualify for compensation and how much you deserve to get for your injuries and pain. They’ll evaluate your case and guide you during the journey to ensure that you get fair compensation for your injuries.
Instead of complaining that you cannot work out as you used to, look for alternative exercises you can complete. Whining and pitying are counterproductive during the recovery period, so try to stay positive and focus on what you can do.
Be patient
Most times, injuries heal, and you can get back to your regular routine. There are treatments and cures for several types of injuries, and most health issues heal with time. Unfortunately, you need to understand that no magic pill can heal your injuries overnight, and you need to wait for your body to recover. Be confident that regardless of how severe your health issues are at the moment, your state is temporary, and you’ll soon get back on track. You’ll work out again, but first, you should be patient enough and allow your body to heal.
Try to stick to your routine (if possible)
This is if you usually work out in the morning, try to involve in a form of physical activity at the same time. It’s essential to maintain your daily pattern even when you cannot complete all the activities you used to do before your accident. We understand that no one enjoys exercising more than you do, so try to be active for the same amount of time you’ve been until now. If you cannot lift weights due to your injuries, do some stretching, light cardio, or walk your dog around the neighbourhood.
Spend time outdoors
Especially during the recovery period, you need fresh air and exposure to sun. You can ask your partner to join you for a walk or bike ride. Processing lungful of oxygen can help you feel better and provide you with a similar effect as working out. While you spend time outdoors, check out your surroundings to take your mind off your injury.
How to stay active according to the type of injury you have
Lower body injuries
Whether you hurt your foot, ankle, knee, or hip in an accident, a lower body part injury can prevent you from sticking to your normal training programme. Ask your doctor if you should perform an aquatic exercise, as it’s often prescribed during lower extremity injury recovery.
If your doctor clears you to engage in physical activities, try:
- Training your upper body area at the gym
- Water aerobics
- Swimming laps
Upper body injuries
Depending on how severe your health condition is, it can limit your mobility in your back, hands, arms, shoulders, or wrists. Suppose you have a back or upper extremity injury; see a certified physical therapist to create an exercise program that supports and promotes recovery.
Until you see your therapist, here are some exercises you can perform without worsening your injuries.
- Use an arc trainer
- Use the elliptical machine
- Attend a gentle cardio class
- Walk
Back injuries
Some accidents can leave you with back pain for a long period, and working at a desk can exacerbate your symptoms. Therapists recommend performing some abdominal exercises and stretches to strengthen your core and ease the pressure on your spine.
You can also try:
- Yoga. Some positions improve pain and unwind your lower back.
- Abdominal exercises
- Pilates
If you had an accident and are currently recovering from an injury, give yourself the needed time to heal. Your body needs to adjust to the new situation, so rest and provide it with the necessary care. If you love to exercise, taking some time off because of an injury can feel like torture. But don’t stress your body more than it already is because the injuries can become chronic and have long term effects.