After committing to a workout routine, being sidelined for a few days (or even months) because of an injury can make you crazy. Sometimes you need to stay focused on your recovery, but that doesn't mean you have to be sedentary; the key is to be smart about how you stay active. Learn how to maintain fitness while recovering from an injury below.
Know Your Limitations
If you are trying to stay active when you are still recovering from an injury, there’s one important thing to keep in mind: know your limitations. The worst thing you can do is set yourself back even more by doing an exercise you shouldn’t be doing. Ask your doctor the types of workouts are safe for you, and stick to those exercises until your doctor clears you for more.
Use Exercise Machines
A great way to stay safe as you recover from an injury is to use exercise machines. Machines can lend an assist with difficult exercises and prevent you from injuring yourself further by trying too much too soon, a situation you might fall into with free weights. The good news for you is that Precor Home Fitness offers plenty of exercise machines that can help you stay fit.
Focus on One Area
During this time, you might not be able to work out one muscle group. However, it’s the perfect opportunity to strengthen another, so establish some goals with one muscle group in mind. Instead of using weights right away, rubber resistance bands can be a better option. They can give you more control and focus your movements.
Consider Cross-Training
If you don’t want to neglect certain areas, consider cross-training that can hit more than one muscle group. For example, if you are looking for a safe alternative to a full-body workout, do some workouts in a swimming pool or even play some sports. Cross-training can be great; just keep your body’s limitations in mind so you don’t overdo it.
Improve Your Diet
A final way to maintain your fitness while recovering from an injury is to take this time to improve your diet. A healthy diet can put you in a great position for working out full-time once you have fully recovered. The combination of a healthy diet and safe, moderate workouts is probably the best thing you can do to stay in shape.