It can happen to anyone. A good fitness routine is created and real results are being seen. Muscle strength and tone are improving and pounds are being dropped. Everything’s going great! Then an injury occurs and staying on track seems impossible.

There’s good news. Depending on the injury in question, there may not be a reason to derail a workout plan. Researchers at the University of Oklahoma have discovered that people can still gain benefits from modified workouts even if they’ve suffered an injury.

Oklahoma’s researchers focused on people with arm injuries. Let’s say the right arm is hurt, but the left arm still goes through the workout routine on a regular basis. Believe it or not, researchers discovered that benefits can extend to both arms even if only one is put through the paces.

Researchers looked at people who only trained one arm for two weeks. They found that strength in the “off arm” increased up to 10 percent despite the injury. The reason for this is that exercising one arm can stimulate muscle nerve fibers in the opposite arm. That means even if one arm isn’t put through the paces, it can benefit in movement in the other.

What to Do Before Trying This

While the University of Oklahoma’s research is great news for those who don’t want to let injury sideline their fitness routine, it’s still important to exercise caution. Before trying to work out when there is an injury, be sure to:

  • Consult a physician – It’s always a good idea to check with a physician to determine if working out with a specific injury is a good idea. A doctor might have compelling reasons why a fitness plan should be tabled for a time. It’s also possible the doctor will have some insights on what should be done and what should be avoided.
  • Work with a trainer – Trainers can offer some very good insights on creating modified exercise plans to use while a person is recovering from injury. It’s best to get professional advice and make any modifications that are recommended for the duration of recovery.
  • Stay positive – Even if a fitness plan has to be completely derailed due to an injury, try to keep a positive attitude. Get right back on track as soon as the recovery period has passed. Don’t push too hard either. It may take time to get back up to full speed after an injury.

Working out even when there’s an injury present is sometimes possible and it can produce real benefits. Just remember to get medical clearance and proceed with caution.  Get Fit Maryville has a long history of supporting it’s clients with pre-existing injuries and trauma.  Please feel free to contact Get Fit Maryville if you have any questions or need support!