Staying active is an important part of physical fitness and getting injured can be incredibly frustrating. A temporary setback can put brakes on your progress and make it hard for you to get back into your groove. Depending on the injury, you could be off your favorite sport for days, weeks, or even months while you allow yourself to heal. But just because you are recovering does not mean you need to be immobile and do nothing. There are always some ways that you can do to stay active so you can stay physically and mentally strong as you recover, and there are things you can do to speed up your recovery. KEEP MOVING!!!
Almost all cardio workout involves the lower body, and so when you have upper‑body injuries, this can be a good time to train your endurance. If you’re a weight lifter with limited mobility in your shoulders, arms, and hands due to injury, you can try light cardio exercises like walking and jogging.
Whether it’s your knee, ankle, hip, or foot, take the opportunity for strength training using your upper body. This can be beneficial especially in sports that involve running, where strong arms are needed to propel the body forward.
Simple back stretches help soothe your back pain, but doing core stabilization exercises that emphasize activation of specific abdominal muscles does not only helps ease and prevent chronic lower back pain but also strengthens the core.
If you’re recovering from an injury, give yourself an adequate amount of time to rest and recover. The importance of rest and recovery has already been emphasized. Without rest, acute injuries can become chronic and more severe, prolonging your recovery. Except when you’re nursing a fracture or recovering from severe injuries, you can start doing light exercises that do not stress your injury, such as range of motion exercises. However, keep in mind that some of these exercises will depend on the type of injury you have and it is important to ask your doctor to ensure you are staying fit, healthy, and safe.
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