Injury – what to do & how to deal.
Nothing completely ruins your fitness routine like a new injury, like my freshly fractured left wrist? Right? Wrong? Ummm… Maybe?
Your workout routine will likely have to adapt to a new injury. Whether you have a fractured wrist, broken leg, sprained ankle, thrown out back, or general aches and pains, any of these will likely limit your current fitness routine. How long these limitations will last depends on the specifics and extent of your injury, your ability to heal and recover, and physiotherapy or rehabilitation required. Time typically heals all wounds but to help speed up that process, Fitness Town has a great selection of rehab and wellness products.
So for the next 4-6 weeks I will be exercising without the use of my left wrist and hand. I won’t able to increase my bench press, deadlift, barbell row or any major compound lift. Why? Well, gripping a barbell when my left wrist is fractured and severely sprained isn’t going to start, or end well.
But that’s enough talking about what I can’t do. What can I do? And what can you do with your injury?
First and foremost, remain positive. It’s easy to get down on yourself, maybe even a little depressed but shift your mindset from “I can’t do this, I can’t do that, I can’t do anything” to “OK, my wrist is fractured but what can I do?”
Injury or not, nobody met their fitness goals by sitting on the couch, eating Cheetos and watching TV.
In my situation, the first thing that sticks out to me is cardio and core work. Considering that just over a week ago I wrote that core work is one of my least favourite exercises, the next few weeks should be interesting. As for cardio, last time I checked I don’t walk on my hands, so running on the treadmill, riding the exercise bike, or even walking or hiking shouldn’t be an issue.
I’m also taking this wrist injury as an opportunity for my joints to recover. Front deltoids and elbows can take quite the workload from consistent and heavy pressing movements.
The bottom line is to continue to do something. What that something is will depend on your latest, and perhaps greatest injury.
After all, something is better than nothing.
What’s your latest injury? What happened? Need help changing your fitness routine? Let me know in the comments and come in-store and talk to one our Fitness Experts.
Always Keep Moving
