10/06/2026
Injured? That doesn’t always mean STOP exercising, as fitness instructors we see this a lot. People stopping or taking a few weeks off for an injury that probably doesn’t need complete rest.
It’s interesting that we’re often told to exercise to strengthen muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints — yet when an injury happens, many people think the answer is complete rest.
The reality? For many injuries, appropriate movement is part of recovery.
🚫 What not to do:
* Ignore pain and push through it.
* Stop all activity for weeks or months without guidance.
* Return to full intensity too soon.
✅ What you should do:
1. Get the injury assessed
Know exactly what you’re dealing with. A strain, sprain, tendon issue, or fracture all require different approaches.
2. Reduce aggravating activities
Stop or modify movements that worsen symptoms, not necessarily all exercise.
3. Keep moving where possible
Maintain activity through pain-free or low-pain exercises. For example:
* Leg injury? Train upper body.
* Shoulder injury? Walk, cycle, or train lower body if appropriate.
4. Restore mobility
Gentle range-of-motion exercises can help prevent stiffness and maintain function.
5. Build strength gradually
Tissues become stronger when exposed to the right amount of load. Progressive strengthening is often a key part of rehabilitation.
6. Monitor symptoms
A small increase in discomfort during rehab can be normal, but worsening pain, swelling, or loss of function means you may need to adjust.
7. Return to normal activity step-by-step
Increase load, intensity, and volume gradually rather than jumping straight back to previous levels.
💡 Remember: Complete rest is essential for some injuries, especially fractures, severe tears, or when advised by a healthcare professional. But for many common musculoskeletal injuries, the goal isn’t “do nothing” — it’s “do the right things at the right time.”
Movement is often medicine. The challenge is finding the right dose.
If this post is reflective to you, then message, you can be advised what to do - set programme in gym, specific classes to prioritise.