Geelong's Gym

If you’re injured and you avoid exercise or activities which engage that area… you may be doing yourself a disservice and putting yourself at greater risk.  Let me explain what I mean.

The other day I had a stint in hospital for hernia surgery.  When talking with the nurses they would, of course, ask me what I do for a living etc.  Naturally, it didn’t take long for me to start talking to them about health and fitness.  For those of you who know me, that won’t surprise you!  :-)

The right kind of exercise is a great way to bounce back quickly from injury

Being in that environment, hearing their stories and having those types of conversations, I had this overwhelming need to write a post about injuries.

So many people avoid exercise for fear of aggravating an injury.  In fact, if you’re 30+ and participated in sporting activities at a younger age, it’s likely that you will have some kind of injury.  If that’s you, I imagine you’re probably limiting or avoiding exercise for fear of further aggravating that injury.

This is a common reaction.  But, not exercising is putting you at greater risk.

You see by not using a body part, your body will atrophy (i.e. lose muscle tone/condition) in that particular area.  Which actually makes you far more susceptible to re-injury.

What is really needed is an exercise regime that helps to work and strengthen that specific area whilst not aggravating it during the process.  Those of you who have been through this will know what I mean when I say it’s a somewhat tricky endeavour to do this, but it’s essential to make sure you do so.

Because what happens when you have an injured group of muscles is, as a rule of thumb, the muscles will borrow from other muscles to get the job done (movement), which can then create muscle imbalances resulting in other injury and still not dealing with the initial problem.

I think it bears noting here that there’s research out proving that an aerobic athlete loses muscle tissue with ageing (atrophies) at the same rate as a couch potato.  So no matter what fitness level you’re at, some resistance and strength training is required to maintain strength in one’s body and to maintain muscular toning and conditioning.

It might seem like I’m pitching for business here, but a good personal trainer who understands rehab and strengthening whilst being cautious to not re-injure is well worth their weight in gold.

In summary, I really would encourage those of you who have injuries to look at getting involved in an exercise program which will help to strengthen that area, with proper guidance and instruction.  Otherwise, you risk re-injury at a later rate.

Were you going really well with your fitness routine but now you’re stuck in a rut?  Believe me, you’re not alone.  We know it’s frustrating but we’ve got some solutions from Australian Women’s Health magazine for four of the most common reasons your workout regime has gone awry…

1.  The New Job.  It can take quite a lot of time and effort to get up to speed in a new job and that can play havoc with your fitness regime.  To get your mojo back, ask around your workplace and find out who manages to fit regular exercise into their busy work schedule.  Maybe they squeeze in a lunch time visit to the gym or maybe they stop there on their way home.  Whatever they do, find out what their daily routine is and try adopting it for yourself.  And if you need some motivation to get started, why not ask them if you can workout with them.

2.  The Big Move.  No doubt about it, moving house is a big deal and it can take weeks to get everything unpacked and a normal routine reinstated.  Here’s a couple of hints – pack your workout gear last, so it’s easily accessible when you start unpacking.  Before you move, check out where the closest gym is and map out your driving route ahead of time, so you know exactly where you’re going.  Don’t forget, if you keep up your exercise routine you’ll have a whole lot more energy to get through those boxes much faster.

3.  The Injury.  Yep, this one is a killer, especially if you’ve had to sit on the couch for weeks or even months.  Getting back off the couch can be a challenge.  Firstly, set a goal for your fitness level when you can resume exercising – this will help you look beyond your current injury and towards your future fitness.  Secondly, consult with your doctor about what exercise is possible with your injury, so when you’re back on your feet you won’t be starting at the beginning.

4.  The New Baby.  Argh, those extra post-baby kilos and lack of sleep.  Finding time for a workout can be difficult, but if you can squeeze regular exercise in while your partner or mother is looking after the baby, you’ll find you have a whole lot more energy to get through the day and enjoy the new addition to your family.  And ladies, don’t stress yourself out by trying to drop the baby weight in record time.  If you add any exercise at all to your day the weight will come off.

Getting back into regular exercise can be tough once you’ve broken your routine, but don’t give up.  Set yourself a goal, find that thing that got you motivated in the first place and make a start today.