64. Adapt and Overcome: Modifying Your Training with Injury

Key Takeaways

• Having an injury does not automatically translate to stopping all training

• Many exercises can be modified to be safely performed in a way that does not worsen an injury

• Don’t forget to exercise the uninjured parts of your body such as the opposite leg or arm

 

“It doesn't matter if you're an athlete or you're just a normal person competing in the game that we all call life, there's things that you can continue to do to prepare your body for what lies ahead,” explains host Dr. Andrew Fix. Dr. Andrew’s experience with his Achilles repair procedure has taught him firsthand how to modify exercises in order to keep training while healing. Today, he discusses how to adapt and overcome an injury, including how to modify your training regimen.

 

Whether you are an athlete or just a regular person looking to maintain your health, your training needs to be adjusted anytime you have an injury. If you hurt your leg and then are told to not exercise your lower body at all, you will likely suffer muscle atrophy. Instead of completely putting a halt to your training, don’t forget about the rest of your body. You may not be able to do the same exercises that you could do before right away and ones you can do will likely need to be modified, but it is better than doing nothing. Continuing to train even before being cleared for a return to full activity is good for your body’s overall strength and resilience. The longer break you take, the more difficult it will be to return to your old training or sport when you are cleared. 

 

Learning how to adapt and overcome an injury is a vital part of caring for the body that you have been gifted with. An injury is not an automatic reason to take an all out break from training. Instead, it is an opportunity to approach training in a new way and to focus on strengthening other parts of your body. Physical therapy can teach you ways to keep your body strong while healing your injury, so that when you are cleared you can get right back to doing the things you love. 

 

 

Quotes

• “You can see a very noticeable difference in what we call atrophy, or loss of muscle due to not using it, in the size of his one leg compared to the other in areas like his quadriceps, his hamstrings, his calf, not just the ankle.” (7:52-8:05 | Dr. Andrew)

• “I would suggest you continue to train as much as you can with the rest of your body, including your other limb, whether that's your arm, whether that's your leg, don't forget about it.” (16:27-16:38 | Dr. Andrew)

• “When you get injured that does not mean that your training stops or takes a break because life doesn't take a break for us.” (18:10-18:16 | Dr. Andrew) 

• “It doesn't matter if you're an athlete or you're just a normal person competing in the game that we all call life, there's things that you can continue to do to prepare your body for what lies ahead.” (18:46-18:57 | Dr. Andrew)

 

Links

Connect with Physio Room: 

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Andrew’s Personal Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dr.andrewfix/ 

Andrew’s Personal Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/andrew.fix.9/

 

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