We all know that eating healthy and exercising are good both mentally and physically. “Regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states. “Being physically active can improve your brain health, help manage weight, reduce the risk of disease, strengthen bones and muscles, and improve your ability to do everyday activities.”
But what happens if you suffer an injury that keeps you from your regular exercise routine? It can happen to anyone. You pull a hamstring, get shin splints, develop plantar fasciitis, break your arm, sprain your ankle, and so on. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), the most common sports and recreational injuries in 2022 were caused by exercise and exercise equipment (445,642 injuries), bicycling (405,411 injuries), and playing basketball (313,924 injuries).
Of course, your first step should always be to minimize your risk of injuries. But let’s say that despite your best efforts, you experience an injury that sidelines you for a few days, a week, or more. An injury can profoundly impact your life.
You may gain weight, lose muscle, or lose momentum because it can be challenging to get back into your regular exercise routine after a period of inactivity. Furthermore, injuries can affect your mental well-being. According to the NCAA Sports Science Institute, injuries can cause sadness, anger, frustration, sleep disturbance, disengagement, and more.
Rest and rehab are crucial for healing an injury, but if you are careful, you can take steps to stay active with an injury. However, you must consult your physician before engaging in a new activity and listen to your body. If you feel pain or something doesn’t feel right, stop what you’re doing because it’s your body trying to tell you something.
5 Tips to Stay Active With an Injury:
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Focus on a different part of your body.
For example, swimming laps or gentle water aerobics may be an option if you have a lower-body injury. If you have an upper-body injury, walking or a gentle cardio class may be an option. If you have shin splints, perhaps try swimming or biking. -
Stick to Your Routine.
Sticking to a routine will keep you active and make it easier to get back into your regular routine when you’re healed. For example, if you usually run in the morning, do something else at that time that won’t aggravate your injury, such as walking. -
Get Outside.
Have you heard of Friluftsliv (no, that isn’t a typo, and please don’t ask us to pronounce it)? Friluftsliv comes from Scandinavia and translates to “open-air living” or “free-air life.” It’s the belief that “one should, in some way, connect with nature every single day, no matter if it’s raining sideways or snowing or bitterly cold.” Connecting with nature has been found to provide many benefits, such as improved sleep, reduced depression symptoms, boosted immune function, and more. So, try getting outside and doing something your injury will allow, such as walking, biking, kayaking, etc. -
Do Something Every Day to Heal Your Injury.
The faster you heal, the quicker you can return to your regular exercise routine. So, try to do something daily – stretches, icing, a massage, etc. – to heal your injury. Again, consult with your physician or physical therapist first. -
Eat Healthy.
Some of us are emotional eaters, so it’s no surprise that if we’re experiencing depression or stress due to an injury, we may find ourselves mindlessly reaching for comfort food. However, according to the CDC, Eating healthy helps support muscles, boost immunity, strengthen bones, and maintain a healthy weight, which can all help you heal faster and get back to your regular exercise routine more quickly.
Eat Healthy and Heal Faster
GO4IT Health products can help with the last tip to get you back to your regular exercise routine more quickly. Our products are not like other meal replacement supplements. They are formulated by health experts and medical professionals, especially for weight loss and weight management. They are made in the U.S. at special facilities to ensure the highest standards of quality and care. These products provide a complete balance of the macro and micronutrients your body needs to perform at its best every day… even with an injury. Check them out today.