3 Tactics To Stay Active When You Have A Serious Injury

Nobody likes getting injured, especially if the injury stops you from doing things. Perhaps you got an injury trying to break your bench press PR in the gym, or maybe you’re unlucky and had an accident. Either way, it’s a debilitating injury in one way or another, meaning you’re unable to follow your regular routine. 

Aside from the pain, the most annoying aspect of an injury is how lazy it makes you feel. You’re used to going to the gym or being active, so it’s hard to sit around doing nothing. With that in mind, here are three tactics to help you remain active when you have a serious injury: 

Go for a walk

If your injury is on your upper body, the easiest way to remain active is to go for regular walks. It requires zero physical effort from your upper half, meaning the injured area remains safe and relaxed. Walking for anywhere between 30-60 mins a day is really good for you. Try to break it up into chunks so it’s more manageable – for example, a 15-minute walk to your local coffee shop means you’re walking for 30 minutes total without really noticing it! 

Walking burns calories and keeps you fit – it’s easily one of the most underrated forms of exercise you can do, even when you’re fit as a fiddle.

Try seated exercises

Obviously, if your injury is on your upper body, this isn’t a tactic for you. Instead, it’s for anyone with serious injuries affecting their lower body. This includes knee, hip, ankle or general leg injuries. For the most part, you’re still able to get around either via crutches or wheelchairs. As such, you could still make it to the gym if you wanted. 

Instead of doing a full-on routine, focus on upper-body exercises that let you sit down. Take all the weight off your injured lower body and get a good workout in. Remember to only do exercises that don’t cause any pain. If you feel a bit of pain from your injury, stop immediately and try something else. 

Work on your mobility

This applies to any bodily injury. If you want a low-impact way of keeping fit, just work on your mobility. Doing daily mobility exercises and stretches is great for your overall health as you get rid of muscle imbalances and tightness. At the same time, you’re moving your body, getting the blood pumping and staying active. 

The trick is to pick mobility exercises/stretches that don’t affect your injury. For instance, if your shoulder is in a sling, work on lower body mobility. If your knee is injured, work more on upper body mobility moves that you can do while sitting down. 

Of course, before you do anything, consult with a medical expert. If you haven’t already, get a diagnosis for your injury and find a treatment plan. Then, ask your doctor what physical activities you are capable of doing while injured. This will ensure you’re not pushing yourself too hard. There may be a period when you have to rest for a week or two. After that, you will be ready to get active again throughout the recovery process.