Train around an injury?
2 weeks ago I suffered a distal radial fracture during some hand to hand training, basically a broken right wrist. My question to you is should I continue to train my left arm? I absolutely hate the thought of completely being laid off of upper body training for over 6 weeks (in a cast 6 weeks, then rehab begins after that). I want to minimize the losses of my hard work but I also don’t want my left arm to be so far ahead of my right that it may never catch up. What do you think? What would you do?
First of all, Sergeant, thanks for all your sacrifice for me and everyone I know. God bless America.
Second, I’d give the injury time to settle in and settle down. Get to know it and give it time to mend through everyday activity. When you get antsy and feel cautiously and wisely confident, sneak up on a training scheme with care and sensitivity.
I had open surgery on the right shoulder and biceps years ago and applied this methodology. I started training within a week of my surgery with various machines that allowed some safe action within the mending area and the sense of balanced training. I moved quickly to lightweight dumbbells, training the injured and healthy equally. Such action provides stimulus to the muscle-memory and improves nutritious blood flow to the tissues and keeps one’s head together. The restrained efforts accelerated healing, and I advanced my training accordingly. Every workout was investigative, focused, satisfying, healing and educational.
Only you can determine the action and level of exertion you can apply without damage. Pain will guide you… improvise movements… stay very light yet effect tough effort through the mind and dynamic tension.
Had I pushed it, my efforts would have been destructive.
You’re smart and intuitive. Recovery is around the corner, virtue development along the way. Go…
Godspeed… Dave