So I tore something in my elbow. Probably a tendon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
One thing I learned early in my exercise career is that injuries should never shut you down. In fact, they are opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I witnessed a young gymnast breaking his foot during practice at UC Davis. Being on the gymnastics team at a college, you don’t have the opportunity to just sit out for 3 months and heal. Your condensed 4 year career will likely be over. This particular gymnast was back at training in 2 weeks – cast and all. I thought he was amazing prior to the accident – until I saw him do a one-legged front flip!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Injuries can be discouraging – or they can be defining. Working around pain is challenging. It tests your mettle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I’ve seen too many people quit exercising all together when they encounter an injury. My father used to play basketball with us until he twisted his ankle in his late 30’s. No more basketball. In fact, no more anything athletic. At 59, I still play basketball and run with my kids. I still sprint race my grandkids, (though I don’t expect I’ll be winning much longer). That’s over 20 years of fun my old man missed because he decided to hang it up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With exercise, it almost seems like some people are looking for an excuse to stop and an injury provides that. Opportunity missed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But if you don’t quit, you still need to be smart about it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
First and foremost is to avoid injury:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once you’re injured:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There’s a very entertaining article on the subject at https:\/\/www.nerdfitness.com\/blog\/injuries\/<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In my case, I pretty much broke all the rules. The pain of the injury wasn’t immediate. I felt it a day later. Figuring it was just muscle strain, I tried to work through it. More pain ensued. I keep using the elbow and now it’s been 3 weeks and it’s only getting incrementally better each week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What I have done right is that I am working out around the injury. Been focusing on my legs and my core. Also working the opposing arm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The result has been empowering. I’m proving to myself every day that nothing can stop me. The injury has reinforced my tenacity. It’s been a blessing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As we get older and as we push our limits, there will be injuries. You can bet on it. The challenge of working out around the injury is very satisfying. No one-legged flips for this guy, but there’s nothing that will get in my way of staying active so I can hang with my kids and grandkids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ron <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" So I tore something in my elbow. Probably a tendon. One thing I learned early in my exercise career is that injuries should never shut you down. In fact, they are opportunities. I witnessed a young gymnast breaking his foot during practice at UC Davis. Being on the gymnastics team at a college, you don’t … Continue reading Exercising with Injuries<\/span>