Getting back into exercise after injury

06/04/20233 min read

Recovering from an injury and want to get back exercising? We can help. Discover advice on all things exercising after recovery in this article. Learn more here.

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Exercise & Performance

While feeling a bit stiff after working out can feel uncomfortable, this is generally not considered an injury – more often than not it is just the sign of a good workout! But if you have been injured and you’re going through recovery with a view to get back into exercise, you’re in the right place.

With the help of our Digital Health Lead and qualified physiotherapist Fiona Sweny, we’ll cover everything from the most common types of injuries you can get from exercising, to preventing injuries after exercise in the future.

Introducing exercise to your routine after an injury

Ready to try and start exercising again after an injury? Our Digital Health Lead Fiona Sweny highlights that recovering from an injury is very different for everyone and is dependent on many factors, such as type of injury, age and activity levels that you are trying to return to.

For example, a stress fracture in your foot will require a different return to exercise protocol than a traumatic fracture, and it is best to do it under the supervision of someone who is experienced in injury management.

Once you’ve been given the all clear, then you can return to exercise using a gradual approach to allow your body to adapt to the increase in training load.

How much exercise should you be doing after you’ve recovered from an injury?

The expert opinion is that the level of exercise you should be doing is dependent on how long you have been injured for and what your level of activity and fitness level were like previously. The key is to progress it sensibly.

Couch to 5K, which is the NHS’s running protocol, is excellent for someone getting back into running who may have been out for a while. Remember, regression is normal.

Returning to fitness after injury is rarely linear, so be attentive to signals in your body that tell you you’re doing too much. Generally speaking, muscle soreness that passes is fine, but pain is not.

How to prevent of injury after exercise

So, what can you do to reduce the chance of getting injured again in the future? Fiona Sweny MSc points out that rehabilitating from injury is essential and returning to exercise before you have healed is likely to lead to you being injured again.

It is very important to build strength and flexibility as you return to physical activity after an injury. Focusing on recovery, sleep, nutrition and a balanced training plan are all helpful to reduce chances of injury.

Alternative exercises

Your health care professional will advise you what you can or can’t do, but a rule of thumb is that you can generally do something rather than nothing. This might take some creativity dependent upon your injury.

Whether that is working your core, focusing on upper body strength, using a bike, or going swimming instead of running, keeping as active as you can is still important, but ensure that you follow your rehabilitation guidelines and don’t take any unnecessary risks.

Tips for exercising after recovery

To help you along the way, our Digital Health Lead Fiona Sweny has provided some extra tips on exercising again after injury:

When rehabilitating from an injury it is not a case of ‘no pain no gain’. Be aware of your symptoms.
Healing times are dependent on the severity of the injury and also the type of tissue you injure (e.g. bone vs muscle vs tendon).
Both smoking and alcohol are consumption are detrimental to tissue healing
A balanced diet is key, and there is some limited evidence for eating foods that have anti-inflammatory properties.

The final say

Getting back into exercise after an injury can be difficult, but with the right approach and advice it is certainly achievable! For a little extra support, you might want to consider taking some supplements or vitamins for bones, joints and muscles to help as you build up your exercise routine again. And of course if you have any concerns about your symptoms, do speak to a medical professional for advice that is tailored to your exact worries.

1. https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/home-and-community/safety-topics/sports-and-recreational-injuries/

2. https://the-compensation-experts.co.uk/news/most-common-gym-injuries/