We all know that the gym is good for you. It can help you to get fitter and healthier, boost your immune system, and can even help with managing stress and anxiety. But sometimes, the gym can go wrong and you can get injured. A gym injury can cause you many problems, including pain, loss of ability to do normal things and emotional distress. Here’s how you can best cope and recover after an injury from exercise.
1. Think About What Caused The Accident
Accidents can happen very easily while working out, and they’re usually nobody’s fault. Perhaps you picked up a weight awkwardly, or slipped on the treadmill. Sometimes, however, there is someone at fault. Was a machine set up unsafely? Was a trip hazard left out? Did a gym trainer show you an incorrect and unsafe way to use one of the machines? If the gym is at fault, you should seek advice from a personal injury specialist, such as The Hadley Law Firm.
2. Go Slowly When You Return To Exercise
To get back to exercise after an injury, you must take it slowly. Don’t rush back to the gym or push yourself too far when you do return or you run the risk of making the injury worse and prolonging your recovery period. If you’ve had to take some time off from exercising, remember that your strength and stamina will likely have reduced too, so don’t push yourself too soon when you do go back to the gym. If you start exercising again and something hurts, stop, and try again another day. Take it easy and work on improving your range of motion before worrying about difficult workouts.
Start with more gentle exercise like walking first, before you get back to weights or the rowing machine. Swimming can also be a good choice for a gentle workout, as the water offers support for all your joints. If you’re struggling with a gym return, swimming might be the answer.
3. Consider Seeing A Physio
If you’re struggling to recover after your injury, you should seek help from a physiotherapist. A physio can give you a personalized plan to help you recover and rebuild strength in the injured area. This can help you to recover more quickly, and much more safely. They can also advise you on when it is safe to return to your training regime, and which exercises to avoid until you are further along the road to recovery.
4. Eat Healthier
A healthy diet gives your body the nutrients it needs to get to work on healing itself. Try to eat well, with plenty of protein and fresh fruits and vegetables. Dark leafy greens will help your body to produce collagen to cushion painful joints and help with rebuilding tissue. Oily fish for Omega 3 is good for aiding recovery too.
Make sure you drink enough water and keep yourself well hydrated. A well hydrated body works better all round, meaning it will heal better too.
