How To Stay Active When You Can't Be

written by runnergirl training


Life is full of ups and downs. Often an injury or illness can strike in the most inopportune time. Here are some ways to stay active when you're benched.

Depending on the reason why you are injured or sick will determine the level of activity that you can maintain. Here are a few examples of common situations & ways to remain active. These aren't meant to take the place of physical therapy but just to keep you moving. It is recommended to consult a doctor for treatment and rehabbing options.

Running Injury:
A torn ligament, muscle, strain & sprain will require several weeks of not using the affected area. Try to keep up your activity level without aggravating the injury. If you can take the stairs, walk the neighborhood, utilize pool workouts & lift weights (with the non affected areas). Avoid twisting, jarring, motion that focuses on the inured area, medium and high impact activities.


Non Running Injury:
These injuries can be from everyday tasks or repetitive motion injuries. Perhaps you strained a shoulder from lifting something overhead or have pulled back muscle from overreaching for something heavy. Focus on movements that avoid the injured area. Run, cycle, walk and lift weights that allow the injured area to recover.

Illness:
When you are sick your entire body is focused on recovering. It will even divert the healing process of injuries to focus on boosting immunity and wellness. Being under the weather requires a lot of energy. Allow yourself time to feel better. That can require substituting workouts for sleeping in or resting on then couch. Many runners are very focused on meeting mileage quotas that they don't listen to their bodies.

Medical Procedure:
At times life throws you a curveball and you may need surgery or a medical procedure. Often they require times of avoiding exercise. It can feel frustrating to be benched while waiting out a recovery time of several days to weeks. Try to focus on moving when you can. Walk around the grocery store for more steps in the day. take breaks during the day to move around and avoid sitting or laying for too long.


The above suggestions will help keep you as active as possible while navigating the recovery process. Focus on keeping moving!