Is Rest Really Best?
Have you experienced an injury and been told to “rest”?
If so, for how long?
What do you do/how do you feel when the rest period is over?
While good intentioned advice, complete rest when injured can do more harm than good.
If you fully pause activity when injured, some of the effects experienced include:
Weakened muscles
Decreased cardiovascular fitness
Reduced joint movement
Decreased circulation to the joints and nerves
Decreased performance level
Increased chance of re-injury
Increased frustration and decreased mental health due to inactivity
Increased amount of time it takes your body to heal, repair, and recover
Movement is key for healing. When you move your body in a safe and responsible way, blood and nutrients flow to the tendons, and muscles, which allow for tissues to heal.
As the saying goes:
Motion is Lotion
Now we understand that there are certain circumstances, such as fractures and post surgical procedures, where immediate rest is needed. However, this doesn’t mean taking a prolonged hiatus from movement. Training the rest of your body while the injured muscle, ligament, or joint repairs itself can speed up your overall recovery time.
Imagine you broke your foot. While the injured area may need time off, you can still work on push ups, pull ups, rows, etc. to increase overall strength, circulation, and conditioning. This will speed up your recovery time and allow you to return to a high performance level once your foot is healed.
Fun Fact: Research has indicated that up to 39% of the strength gained in your uninjured leg will be gained in your injured leg. This simply results from training around the injury!
Moral of the story: When you experience an injury, don’t stop moving! There are safe and effective ways to exercise which help to speed up your recovery and maintain your performance level.
Are you experiencing pain and unsure what to do next?
Have you been told to rest but find yourself still in pain after taking time off?
Use this link or visit our website at www.resolveptnj.com to schedule a discovery call with Dr. Dan and learn how you can maximize your recovery time , continue to move safely, and return to your activity feeling strong and confident.
