The Waiting Game: How to Make It Through Injury
By Genevieve Cunningham
If you're into fitness and working out, then you already know that there's nothing more frustrating than an injury. An injury sidelines you. It takes you out of the fitness mindset and gets in the way of making progress. For many, an injury eventually spells disaster. During their time out, they lose motivation, gain weight, and have a hard time getting back in the game again. But does it have to be this way? Or are there ways to stay motivated even while you're down and out? If you need to make it through an injury with your fitness still on track, take a look at these tips for waiting it out the right way.
Do What You Can
Sometimes an injury knocks you completely out of the workout scene. A back, head, or core injury will likely have you on complete rest. But most other kinds of injury leave a little wiggle room. Have a sprained ankle or pulled leg muscle? Buy some handheld weights and work the arms. Have a shoulder injury? Do some lunges or squats -- using our own body weight of course. You'll need to modify everything and stay completely away from the injured area of your body, but with careful planning, you can work other areas of your body to stay in shape.
Remember That Rest is Essential
Don't forget that when it comes to injury, rest is the work that needs to be done. It's essential for rest to happen in order for your body to heal properly. If you don't allow for rest, you'll heal much more slowly -- if you are able to heal at all. It can save your sanity to keep this in mind. Rest equals healing, and the faster you heal, the faster you can get back into your routine.
Focus on Other Aspects of Health
Though it sometimes feels like it, fitness isn't the only aspect of your health. If you're unable to work out, focus on the other parts of your health. Focus on improving your diet. Focus on improving your mental health. Focus on emotional control and proper boundaries. Ultimately, your health is a mixture of each area of your well-being, and spending time and energy on each part equals greater overall health in the long run.
Injury can be really frustrating. It feels like a setback. But it's possible to keep a handle on your health while still allowing time to heal. Use these tips to keep your head in the game through injury, and you'll be ready to jump back in when your healing is complete.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Pasadena, Calif.
