Training While Injured
If you've experienced an injury before, you know how overwhelming and frustrating it can be. Many people assume they must stop training completely until their injury has healed. But did you know that's not always the case? More often than not, you can continue training with the support of a qualified professional and by making some changes to your program.
Training With an Injury: Understanding Your Body
Many clients are surprised to learn they can keep training even while they're injured. When you’re injured, recognising your limitations is important. But you can often continue to train safely while you are recovering from an injury if you have the right support. A qualified health professional can adapt your training program to accommodate your injury.
The Cross-Education Effect: The Powerful Connection Between Mind and Body
Have you heard about the 'cross-education effect'? This is a phenomenon where training a limb on one side of your body can lead to improvements in a limb on the other side of your body, even if you don't train it. For example, if you injure your right arm but only train your left, you can slow the loss of strength in your right arm.
But don't just take our word for it. Research shows that this brain-body connection can lead to your injured limb gaining strength, even if you're not training it (Manca et al. 2017). So, the cross-education effect can help you maintain your overall strength during rehabilitation.
Personalised Training Programs to Accommodate Injuries
Your path to recovery after an injury is unique to you. Our team will adjust your training program according to your needs. They will focus on the larger muscle groups while avoiding any strain on the injured area. For example, with a wrist injury, you can still train your legs, core, and other upper body muscles, depending on your specific situation.
Another benefit of our machines—beyond the CAM technology covered in Science 1—is their adjustable features. These adjustable features allow the machine to be set up to accommodate not only your size and ability but also any injuries. Our machines will safely support you while you're injured, which, in many cases, can allow you to keep training.
Strength Training and the Benefits for Your Overall Health
Not only can strength training help you manage or recover from an injury, but it can also help you if you're managing a chronic disease. And the research backs this up. According to a study by Momma et al. (2022), strength training can help improve health outcomes for people with chronic diseases.
Take people who have received treatment for breast cancer, for example. A study by Cannioto et al. (2020) found that if you are active before and after treatment, the risk of the cancer returning is lower and the survival rate higher. Even if you had to adjust your activity level during treatment, the benefits remain the same.
By working with an Exercise Physiologist, you create a program that can help you manage a chronic disease and improve your overall health.
Don’t Let an Injury Hold You Back
Remember, having an injury doesn’t mean you need to stop training. With professional guidance, you can stay active, motivated and healthy as you manage or recover from a health issue or injury. Our team can help you on your path to recovery while still achieving your goals.
References:
Cannioto R, Hutson A, Dighe S, McCann W, McCann S, Zirpoli G, Barlow W, Kelly K, DeNysschen C, Hershman D, Unger J, Moore H, Stewart J, Isaacs C, Hobday T, Salim M, Hortobagyi G, Gralow J, Albain K, Budd T and Ambrosone C (2020) ‘Physical Activity Before, During, and After Chemotherapy for High-Risk Breast Cancer: Relationships With Survival’, Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 113(1):54-63.
Manca A, Dragone D, Dvir Z and Deriu (2017) ‘Cross-education of muscular strength following unilateral resistance training: a meta-analysis’, European Journal of Applied Physiology, 117:2335-2354.
Momma H, Kawakami R, Honda T and Sawada SS (2022) ‘Muscle-strengthening activities are associated with lower risk and mortality in major non-communicable diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies’, British Journal of Sports Medicine, 56:755-763.
