The Best Low-Impact Exercises for Those Recovering From a Traumatic Injury

 

When a person suffers a traumatic injury, the body needs to rest and recuperate before it should be subjected to any strenuous exercises. Thankfully, there are plenty of options available to those who are looking to slowly introduce a workout regimen.

 

Walking

A nice and easy workout can be as simple as walking. It is easy to cut this exercise out of our daily routine when driving became more common than walking to our destinations. The best thing about this exercise is that it can be added into your daily life. Instead of circling a parking lot looking for the closest available spot, park in the back and walk to the store. Instead of taking an escalator or elevator, try the steps. You would be surprised how many people forget what it feels like to walk up just a single flight of stairs.

 

Swimming

While this may be a more difficult activity to get involved in, swimming is one of the best exercises to perform when healing from a trauma to your body. An injury specialist from Willens Law Offices, voted “Best of the Best” Chicago injury lawyer, recommends swimming for those who wish to keep their activity level up without risking complications as a result. The water helps soothe and massage your muscles, while also adding some resistance. You don’t even have to swim laps to benefit from this activity – just get in the water and move around and you are working out! If you don’t live near a river, lake or ocean, or it is during the winter time, check out your local YMCA or health club.

 

Yoga

Yoga is a very old practice, now studied by many different people for specific reasons. The combination of breathing and positions leaves yoga practitioners with a feeling of centeredness and mental clarity. For whatever reason you choose to try this practice, it has shown that yoga can help with posture, balance and strength. If you start and enjoy the results that you see, you can try more challenging positions and advance your skills in this ancient form of meditative exercise.

 

Cycling

Cycling is great because, depending on where you decide to go, you can make it a nice and easy ride or more difficult as you begin to heal. Many people add cycling into their daily life as well. Bike lanes and paths have become more and more common in cities, enabling people to exercise as they go about their daily life.

 

Always remember to be easy on your body when it is recovering from an injury. It is common for an active person to go a little stir crazy during the healing process, so choosing different exercise options will be the key for your mind and body to heal. Your body will talk to you and let you know when you’ve had too much – the key is to listen to it and be mindful of what you need during your recovery.

Categories: best, low impact exercises, Recovering, traumatic injury

How To Stay Fit When You Are Recovering From An Injury

 

Whether you are a competitive athlete or a weekend warrior, dealing with an injury is painful and emotionally grueling. Depending on the location and severity, an injury could result in weeks or even months of recovery and a major interruption in training. There are some things you can do to stay fit while recovering from an injury. However, make sure to consult with a medical practitioner.

 

Cross Training

Depending on the location of the injury, focus on the uninjured areas with weight training or choose activities that recruit other parts of the body. If the injury is located in the legs, hips, or back and reduces the ability to stand or balance properly, try alternatives that allow sitting. Upper body injuries do not interrupt walking or running, but could interfere with cycling and strength training routines. Opt for additional lower body exercises.

 

KT Tape

Although the method has been around for more than thirty years, the popularity of KT Tape continues to demonstrate efficacy for recovery and pain reduction while maintaining exercise. KT Tape is specifically designed to provide pain relief and support so you can continue to perform your best. It can also be worn in in water and withstand heat and sweat.

 

Rest

Perhaps the most difficult part of recovery is taking adequate time off to rest, but it is critical. Working through the pain could exacerbate an injury especially if it is due to overuse or over-training. This might be an opportunity to reevaluate a training program and to check for muscle imbalances or confounding postural issues.

 

Healthy Diet

Injuries derail an exercise regime, but should not interfere with other positive lifestyle choices that promote recovery and overall fitness. Continue to eat a diet that is rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables and healthy fats. It’s also critical to stay hydrated, whether you are working out or not. Be sure to drink enough water and limit sugary drinks like soda.

 

Try Something New

An injury tells us something is wrong, and it may be time to try something new. Gyms offer a plethora of equipment options such as elliptical, rowing, cycling machines and swimming pools. Deep water running, using a floatation device, maintains cardio vascular fitness with the added benefit of working the entire body and is joint friendly.

 

Injuries disrupt training and may be difficult to accept, but do necessarily force a cessation in exercise. Furthermore, adhering to medical protocols, ensuring sufficient time for full range of motion and function, and a consideration of alternatives like cross training generate faster recovery and help to stay fit.

 

Categories: how to, Injury, Recovering, stay fit

Five Things You Might Face After Recovering From Cancer

Recovering from cancer is a huge milestone in any person’s life. It means that it’s time to move on and get back to your real life. Right? Not so fast. While yes, recovering from cancer should be celebrated, there are plenty of life-altering changes that cancer may bring. Here are just a few things you might face after recovering from cancer:

 

Saying goodbye to your cancer team

One of the first (and sometimes, hardest) changes is saying goodbye to the people who have cared for you throughout your cancer treatment. A cancer care team becomes almost like a surrogate family, from the nurses who helped you get ready for chemotherapy or other treatments to the reassuring doctors who guided you through your treatments. Fortunately, you can often continue to see doctors from your cancer team for checkups to ensure that you’re healthy and doing well. You can take steps to make the transition easier, like writing a heartfelt letter to your favorite doctors and nurses or even purchasing a small gift, like a fruit basket (note that doctors are often unable to accept expensive personal gifts). Not only will this help you move forward, but your team will love to know how much they are appreciated.

 

Continued pain

One thing that many cancer patients face after their treatments are over and they’ve “graduated” back into real life is continued pain. Chronic pain can be severe or mild and may even continue for the rest of your life. Bone metastasis or peripheral neuropathy can both cause physical pain, as can steroids taken as part of a cancer treatment. You should discuss your pain with your doctors to ensure that it is treated appropriately.

 

Regular doctor visits

Sure, before you got cancer you may have visited the doctor once or twice a year. But after cancer, expect to see your doctors more often until they’ve determined otherwise. It’s not unusual to have monthly checkups at first, oftentimes for a year or more, to ensure that you’re healthy and that the cancer has not returned. Make sure you maintain an open line of communication with your doctor so that you can ask any questions about your health.

 

Battling with bills

Medical bills often haunt cancer survivors, sometimes for years following treatment. Even with insurance, cancer can often cause bills to stack up. Unfortunately, you’ll have to deal with them at some point. If you’re in serious medical debt and you’re not sure what your next steps are, it can be helpful to discuss your debt plan with a professional like Lexington Law, in order to ensure that you’re being treated fairly when it comes to repayment. For more information about debt relief and credit repair you can follow this link.

 

Learning to manage your emotions

Cancer can be emotional, but life after cancer can bring along a whole slew of new emotions, from depression to stress and beyond. If you feel that your emotions are becoming unmanageable, don’t be afraid to discuss your needs with your doctor. Many cancer survivors experience these types of negative emotions after treatment and they can be serious if not addressed early. You may need to see a therapist to talk about what is going on and improve your mental health.

 

Life after cancer can be hard, even while it brings a welcome return to your day to day life. Learning what you may deal with after cancer treatments are complete may help you mentally prepare yourself for changes in your life.

Categories: cancer, cancer survivors, cancer team, cancer treatment, continued pain, health nbsp, life, nbsp, Pain, Real Life, Recovering

Post Workout Routine:Must-Knows for Recovering after Exercise

An important aspect of getting the most out of your workout routine is taking the necessary post-workout steps for recovery. Otherwise, not only will your workout fail to have the maximum positive impact on your body, but you could end up with some serious injuries. Here are five must-follow tips for allowing your body to adequately recover after any workout.

 

Stretch

Many people operate under the misconception that it is only necessary to stretch before a workout. However, stretching after exercising can be just as vital in keeping muscles from stiffening and becoming sore. A few minutes of stretching can go a long way.

 

Re-Hydrate

When you exercise, your body loses a great amount of its hydration through sweat. For this reason, it is important to re-hydrate yourself following any workout. Drinking water is the best way to do this, though sports drinks are always an option as well. Just be sure to stay away from dehydrating beverages such as alcohol, soda, and coffee.

 

Rest

After an intense workout and stretching, your body and muscles need some time to recover. If you have performed a muscle workout such as weight lifting, be sure that you give those muscles at least 24 hours to rebuild. Otherwise, you will defeat the purpose of lifting in the first place and cause unnecessary pain.

 

Get Plenty of Protein

Protein is important in rebuilding muscle after a tough workout. Furthermore, it also provides the body with needed energy. Make sure that you are getting enough protein and other nutrients in your body by drinking a protein shake, eating a protein-packed energy bar, or preparing yourself a dinner that is high in lean protein after a workout. To find out more about protein and other types of shakes that can help you get more out of your workout, visit http://www.idealshape.com/meal-replacement-shakes/.

 

Get Plenty of Sleep

While it is true that people are busier than ever these days, it is still important that you get enough sleep. Otherwise, a lack of sleep combined with the stresses of exercising can wreak serious havoc on your body. It is recommended that most people get at least eight hours of sleep per night, so do your best to make this happen, especially on days when you work out.

 

As you can see, there are many steps you should follow after a workout to ensure the best results. Keep these tips in mind to get the most out of your workout and to keep yourself healthy.

Categories: body, exercise, nbsp, Post-Workout, Protein, Recovering, sleep, Workout, workout routine