How to Exercise After Injury
By Sara Butler
Injuries happen. While the chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic want to help you stay injury-free, sometimes an injury simply cannot be avoided. As you focus on your recovery and think about getting back into your workout groove again, then there are a few things you need to keep in mind.
Work With the Chiropractor
You should consult with a medical professional after an injury to ensure that you're healthy enough to resume activity. The chiropractor you work with on your treatment will have an idea of your situation and your particular limitations, so they'll be able to help you get started on the right foot.
Start Out Slow
Once you have the all-clear to resume activities, it's important that you start slowly and take precautions to avoid re-injuring yourself when you do. It's a good idea to start off with a low-impact exercise and ease back into a routine. Think of going for a walk, riding a bike, or swimming. Then, try to work yourself back to where you were before the injury occurred.
It's important that you do not go too hard too fast. If you do, then you risk injuring yourself again and making your recovery that much more difficult.
Make Sure to Stretch
Stretching is an important activity for anyone, whether they're recovering from an injury or not. Stretching has many benefits, including:
- Increased flexibility
- Stress relief
- Increased blood flow to the muscles
- Prevention of back pain
- Improved performance in activities
You may need to modify stretches while still recovering from an injury, so make sure to talk to the chiropractor about some stretches that will work for you and your particular injury.
Focus on Form
Good form is crucial to exercise, but it's even more crucial when you're trying to recover from an injury. You may want to invest in a few sessions with a personal trainer to help you get back in the workout saddle and ensure that your form is on point. This can help you to avoid injury down the road as it helps you to recover from this one.
Make Active Recovery a Habit
You can reduce your risk of injury by practicing active recovery. This is a plan you participate in after your workout that helps you to stay healthy. It includes using ice on your sore muscles, using a foam roller to give yourself a deep tissue massage, and staying hydrated.
You can't always avoid injury, but you can do your part to come back healthy from one.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Riverside, Calif.