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Should I Exercise With Injury or Pain?

Family walking

Going for a walk can help to reduce pain and speed up the healing process

Almost every day, someone will fire this question at me, and it’s an important one.

Remember when you hurt yourself as a kid, and your coach would say, “Don’t worry, just walk it off”? Well, your coach knew what he was talking about, and that same advice holds true today.

Motion is the Key to Decreasing Pain

Moving helps to diminish pain and initiate healing. Getting motion into the joint is key!

We’re going to assume that if your joint injury was severe enough, you initially rested it for a brief time, used ice, elevated it and perhaps used compression bandages. NOW you must begin moving the injured joint!

Move as quickly as possible after an injury or even a surgical procedure. By doing so you’ll reduce your risk of a repeat injury and avoid the severe stiffness that comes with continued immobilization.

Here are some of the ways that you can begin rehabilitating the joint:

  • Walk, using a normal gait
  • Take the joint through normal ranges of motion to help increase its function
  • Water therapy: swimming is one of the safest exercises, as it places no pressure on the joints
  • Do strengthening exercises to increase the endurance and strength of the muscles and bones surrounding the affected joint
  • Visit us for specific chiropractic care to speed healing, reduce pain and restore joint motion

All of the above suggestions are valid whether you’ve had a recent injury or simply have chronic discomfort in certain parts of your body.

The worst course of action is to sit and do nothing!

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