Sometimes You Have To Take A Break

I recently suffered a bit of joint pain in the left wrist as a result of pushing my body a bit too hard. When someone tells me they are hurt from working out, I give them the advice of taking some time off and letting the body heal (assuming that it is pain caused from something other than muscle soreness after a great workout, if that is the case get back in there!). As many fitness enthusiasts know, it is often quite easy to give this advice, though it can be quite difficult to follow. I stuck to my guns and stayed away from putting any unwarranted pressure on the injured wrist and now I am ready to get back into full-on weight lifting mode.

This example was a minor setback in my weekly exercises and I'll be back on the wagon tomorrow but others may experience long term injuries that are not healed in a matter of days. If you happen to suffer from one of these ailments, think about reassessing your workout program to plan around the injury. For example, if your knee is bothering you, rather than continue running for your cardio, try something a little less abrasive like a stepper machine. If you have elbow problems, experiment with exercises that do not agitate it. Or try the most basic of tests, try the normal exercise but greatly reduce the weight. This can be particularly effective in the healing process as the increased blood flow results in faster recovery times.

If you feel that the injury you have suffered is severe, see a doctor. The above methods are for those who have a good handle on what their body can take. An injury like a torn tendon or torn muscle should not be engaged unless part of a very specific physical therapy program that is supervised by a trained professional.