Working Out When You Are Injured

So, as I mentioned before, I went snowshoeing with my husband last weekend. What I didn't mention was that I hurt my knee on our hike. It was a knee that was already feeling strained due to my new spinning routine. It is hard being 55, obese and wanting to have lots of exercise in my healthy lifestyle. The body is not always willing.

I was climbing down a steep incline when I wrenched my knee. I then, after getting my breath back, had to limp my way back to the cabin....slowly. This further aggravated my already mad knee. It became swollen but not overly so. I put it up once we got back to our place.

The next day I started icing it and keeping it elevated. I did that for the first two days. Then I got cabin fever. The less I move the more I eat too. Not a good thing. So I decided I had to figure out how to get some exercise. Walking is usually the easiest and mildest method for getting some exercise. This time around that won't work since walking is still pretty painful.

Having a daughter in a wheelchair who focuses her exercising on upper body made me think. I could adopt a similar plan! For part of my warm up I could use the hand cycle. Then I could do my usual bench routine. I can even do standing routines if I don't have to move my leg much....although I suspect the pressure on it is probably not ideal at this stage. I found a good guide on line for how to exercise with a knee injury which might be helpful to refer to if you ever find yourself in a similar situation.

The good news is I was able to exercise...work up a little sweat and feel like I was doing a good thing for myself despite my injury. Bottom line, I didn't use it as an excuse to get out of exercising or for diving into the deep pit of self pity that has been all too easy for me to do in the past. I don't know how long it is going to take to work through this injury but for now I feel I have a doable plan. And I know there is more I can build in...like swimming...which I love. Here's hoping it won't take too long to get back to my spin class!