The standard treatment plan for many injuries, from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears to fractured bones, includes rest.
Keeping the injured area free of further stress or strain is often necessary for healing. Pushing yourself too hard after an injury may lengthen your post-injury recovery period, and may even lead to further complications.
However, many individuals who are most at risk for stress injuries or traumas don’t want to sit still for weeks, much less months, while they heal. What if you’re an athlete who has a sports injury? What if you’re pursuing a healthy weight loss goal? Total rest may not be the right prescription for you.
At the Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Dr. Michael Blackwell works with his patients to balance their needs for rest and activity while healing after an injury. He lets you know what types of activity are safe for you, and how you can work out without risking reinjury.
Dr. Blackwell specializes in sports medicine and can help with hand and wrist injuries, foot and ankle injuries, and more from his locations in Tomball, Kingwood, and Shenandoah, Texas. Here, he offers some of his key tips for staying active after an injury.
Some forms of physical activity are low-impact, while others are high-impact, in terms of how they affect your body. Running and contact sports are examples of high-impact sports. Low-impact activities include:
Low-impact activities let you stretch, work muscles, and improve cardiovascular health without jarring and jostling your body in ways that can set your recovery back after a musculoskeletal injury.
Some types of low-impact activity may be more appropriate for you than others, depending on the injured area of your body.
Often, strengthening your core muscles actually helps with your recovery after an injury, in addition to helping you stay in shape while your body heals.
Strong core muscles take pressure off of neighboring ligaments, tendons, and bones, leading to accelerated healing as well as improved biomechanics after recovery.
For example, if you’ve suffered a shoulder injury like a rotator cuff tear, your symptoms of pain and shoulder instability may improve if you take time during recovery to strengthen your back muscles. Knee injuries mean you need stronger upper leg muscles in addition to improved core strength.
After an injury, stay in touch with your overall state of physical wellness, especially when you’re in the process of getting back to your previous activity levels. Your own body signals provide essential information to reduce your risk of reinjury.
If you experience increased pain or fatigue, especially in the injured area of your body, respond by scaling back. Stop as soon as you start to feel achy or worn out, and talk to Dr. Blackwell if your activity plan consistently pushes you over the limits of comfort and manageability.
With the right mindset, as well as expert advice and support, you can maintain a balance between staying active and giving your body the rest it needs during recovery. For post-injury treatment, advice, and support, contact Dr. Blackwell at the Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine today.
Schedule your appointment over the phone or book online now.
