Help ease my mind....

[Timber99]

I was injured (my knee) about two weeks ago and my workouts have been few and far between. I usually average about 5 days per week but this week only three workouts. The doc gave me the go ahead to go back to my regular schedule, but honestly, I feel some pain and stop during the workouts. I start physical therapy Monday and hope to be back in full action in a couple of weeks. In the interim, I am doing workouts the best that I can and stopping when it feels like I should. I feel like I am losing my results! I see a difference in my clothing, etc. (I guess I should also add that for about three to four weeks prior to my injury, my workouts were fewer b/c I was training for a long distance walking event, so I am not concerned only for a two week period but more like a 5 or 6 week period of different, fewer workouts).

It would take quite some time to lose some of my results, wouldn't it? And wouldn't it take less time than that original building to regain my results (particularly the muscle definition and slimming down of the hip area) afterwards? I keep telling myself that this is the case, but am I correct?

 

[ColleenM]

You are definitely doing the right thing. Right now, at this point in your life, you really need to focus on your knee healing and taking things slow and easy. Even if perhaps you lose a little ground, in the long-run you will be healthier and thank yourself for it.

Some options might be to change your workouts to something lighter, maybe pilates, floorwork or something that doesn't aggravate your knee as much. Also keep tabs on your diet. You might need fewer calories right now.

The theory is that muscles have "memory" and so when you do start working out 100% again, it should come back a little easier. But really for now, try to focus on getting healthy first! You're going to have to live your whole life with that knee, so let it heal and take things easy (spoken from someone who didn't listen and now has chronic knee problems!)

Colleen

 

[murph]

not to worry

"softer" workouts will not hurt you; right now you KNEED them!!
:-gloat
The most KEY THING (I have found) is that you continue to do something and do not lose the Habit of doing something. What the SOMETHING is is less important...Murph

 

[Timber99]

Thanks guys!

Thanks for the advice. I really just needed some moral support, I guess.

I did take a couple of weeks with only a couple of workouts per week. It was much less than that usual 5 or 6 but I figured it was something more than nothing that that my body needed some rest. Honestly, I was exhausted! This week, I strive for 5 workouts "adapted" to the injury, which I again figured is somethign better than nothing. I start phsycial therapy this week, so we will see what happens!

 

[JMFRANE]

Hi,
I had knee surgery a couple of years ago and my doctor told me that the best exercise for the knee is bike riding. It builds those muscles around the knee. It sure worked for me. And I still ride my bike a lot. My knee feels great.
Joanne

 

[l23]

Rest!

Trust me, your knee needs to heal and doing too much will only hinder the healing process. If you don't take the necessary rest, you could further damage it and be out of exercise for months.

I had a broken toe (who knew a little toe is so important??) and took a whole month off from cardio. It was tough at first, but I got used to it. I did get a little 'softer' but that went away once I slowly started up again. Use this time to focus on weights and stretching. Cardio isn't the only exercise your body needs!