Why You Should Continue to Workout Even When You’re Injured
Injuries can be a setback, but they don’t have to put an end to your fitness journey. In fact, with the right modifications, working out can actually support your recovery and help you stay in shape. Here’s why keeping active while injured is beneficial:
1. Slowing Down Muscle Atrophy
When we stop moving due to injury, our muscles begin to atrophy, or lose strength and size, from lack of use. This can make recovery harder and prolong the time it takes to get back to your usual routine. Modified workouts can help keep the muscles around the injured area engaged and strong, slowing down atrophy and helping you bounce back faster once fully healed.
2. Maintaining Mobility and Flexibility
Even gentle, modified exercises can help prevent stiffness and maintain joint mobility around the injured area. This keeps your body flexible and supports a better range of motion, which will make returning to full workouts easier when you’re ready.
3. Boosting Mental Health
Staying active, even in small ways, releases endorphins that help combat the frustration that often comes with being sidelined by injury. Exercise, even if light, can reduce stress, boost your mood, and keep you motivated on your fitness journey.
4. Supporting the Healing Process
Exercise increases blood flow, which helps deliver essential nutrients to the body and the injured area, speeding up recovery. A strategic mix of gentle movements and resistance work can support healing without aggravating the injury.
5. Preventing Imbalances
An injury often means we lean on or favor the uninjured side, which can create muscle imbalances. By working on strength, flexibility, and stability in a modified way, you can reduce this risk and keep your body balanced and aligned.
6. Maintaining Routine and Motivation
Keeping up with a modified fitness routine can help maintain your habits and sense of normalcy, keeping you motivated and accountable. It will also make it easier to jump back into your regular workouts once you’re fully healed, with less lost ground.
Final Thought At Blackstone River CrossFit, our coaches can work with you to create a tailored workout plan that supports your recovery. Injuries are temporary challenges, not permanent roadblocks. Keep moving, and you’ll be amazed at how much it supports both your body and mind!
