Although we avoid it at all costs, injuries can sneak up on us out of nowhere. They usually require long recovery periods of resting to heal quickly, but you do not have to completely give up exercising with an injury. Exercising with an injury is possible and can easily be worked into your normal exercise routine if you take the right steps and precautions.

Ask Your Doctor

As you should be focusing on recovering from your injury, speak with your doctor before committing to any exercises routines. Overtraining occurs more easily when you are injured. Your muscles tire quicker than usual because your body is focusing on mending the injury. A secondary injury could easily occur if you exercise the wrong parts for too long. Your doctor will tell you which parts of your body should have little to no exercise during your recovery.

Work Other Areas

Be ready to change parts of your exercise routine to accommodate your recovery. Exercising with an injury can be tricky depending on where you are hurt. Focus on other areas during your workout routine. Have an injured knee or foot? Work on upper body exercises that can easily be done sitting or lying down. Have an injured elbow or shoulder? Focus on lower body exercises that will not put unnecessary strain on your injury. You should work with some physical therapist recommend exercises that will help heal and strengthen your injury without making it worse.

If It Hurts, Stop

Unlike normal exercising where the burn is a good sign, if you feel pain while exercising with an injury, you should stop or move on to a different exercise. If you are recovering from an injury, overworking other areas of your body will only cause more harm and could lead to further injury.