Do’s and Don’ts of Returning to Exercise After an Injury
Getting an injury after building up momentum and seeing the results of working out can be frustrating and demotivating. However, injuries are not uncommon for people who perform regular training and exercise. Although it may be tempting to get back to your home gym right away, knowing what to do—and what to avoid—can help you come back stronger and reduce the risks of reinjuring yourself.
Do:
Check with your doctor.
To ensure safety, consult your doctor before starting any exercise program. Depending on your workout and training regime, your doctor may recommend different recovery treatments and advise staying away from certain exercises. Generally, it's best to make sure that you're not experiencing any stiffness, pain, or swelling before doing any strenuous activity.
Set goals.
As you ease back into moving, starting with small goals and celebrating each win can help you stay motivated. For example, if you have a home gym, begin with light treadmill walking instead of pushing too hard. During goal-setting, opt to create targets that are realistic and attainable. If you have a specific weight in mind, take your current weight and routine into account to prevent setting extreme and unrealistic deadlines for yourself.
Don’t:
Ignore pain.
Listening to your body is the key to determining what will work for you. Ignoring pain, discomfort, or any negative reactions can be detrimental to your recovery. When the pain lasts for more than an hour after completing your exercise, you might have gone too far. Include recovery phases in your schedule to give your body time to recover.
Rush.
Doctors recommend spending twice as much time in recovery as your injury kept you out of your routine. Rushing back into your routine can cause harm, as an injury affects more than just the part where it happened. You can follow a guideline starting at about 50% of your usual level and increase it by 10–15% incrementally, depending on how your body feels.
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