DALLAS 鈥� Megan O鈥橪aughlin works hard to maintain her weight loss and fitness level. She鈥檚 diligent about portion control. She runs regularly and takes aerobics and weight-training classes at her local gym.
So when she fell while running December鈥檚 Rock 鈥檔鈥� Roll half marathon in Las Vegas and broke her elbow, she had a big question for her doctor: 鈥淗ow soon can I start running again?鈥�
鈥淚 used to be morbidly obese,鈥� said the Dallas attorney, who ran the last 15 kilometres of the race without knowing the extent of her injury. 鈥淚 lost more than half my body weight. When you go through that, one fear is gaining weight back.鈥�
Another was losing the level of fitness she鈥檇 worked so hard to attain. The injury was, she said, 鈥渓ike having the rug pulled out from under me. For someone who is addicted to exercise as mental therapy, it鈥檚 really hard to be sidelined.鈥�
Luckily, avid exercisers can find ways to ease back into a routine during recovery from injury or illness 鈥� if they鈥檙e careful about it. Meanwhile, being injured, getting sick or having surgery can send diehard exercisers鈥� spirits into a sedentary tailspin.
鈥淔or people who exercise regularly, exercise becomes part of them,鈥� said Bill Borowski, director for athletic training services at Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation in Texas. 鈥淚t鈥檚 part of their social network, stress relief, everything else.鈥�
O鈥橪aughlin has spent almost every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for the last six years running with groups from Luke鈥檚 Locker.
She misses the camaraderie, she said. But she knows if she doesn鈥檛 do what she鈥檚 supposed to do 鈥� including three hours of physical therapy every day 鈥� her recovery will take longer.
The line between taking it too easy and rushing recovery is a narrow one, said Dr. Damond Blueitt, a sports medicine physician on the medical staff of Texas Health Fort Worth.
鈥淲ith prolonged bed rest, you lose muscle mass, you lose strength,鈥� he said. 鈥淧rolonged bed rest can decrease bone calcium.鈥� It can also increase the risk of blood clots because the blood is static, he said.
But trying to speed your recovery can be dangerous, too.
鈥淪ay you had a surgery where you were repairing something,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou have a lot of blood vessels in that area. The tissue gets altered. Any time you do an exercise where you get your heart rate goes up, more blood is going to that area. One of the consequences is that it may produce more swelling, more scarring.鈥�
Just as frightening is the potential for infection if you鈥檙e sweating and the wound gets dirty, he said.
鈥淚f someone has surgery and stitches, don鈥檛 get your heart rate up high for four or five days,鈥� he says. 鈥淟et the tissue heal some.鈥�
Most importantly, ask your doctor, and listen to the answer.
鈥淵ou have to be specific,鈥� he says. 鈥淚f the doctor says, 鈥業 want you to rest for two weeks,鈥� ask what that means. Does that mean I can鈥檛 go for a slow walk? Does it mean I can鈥檛 go light on the exercise bike or do light resistance training?鈥�
A stationary bike is often a go-to recommendation for Borowski, who tailors clients鈥� workouts based on what their doctors advise.
鈥淚t鈥檚 nonimpact in general, so you鈥檙e not getting a pounding like when you鈥檙e running,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e still using quads and hamstrings. It鈥檚 just a little different.鈥�
Pilates instructor Marilyn Levitt will work with injured clients only after they have a doctor鈥檚 release. Often, they come to her to learn how to modify their workouts while they heal.
鈥淓ngaging in different types of exercise is so important,鈥� said Levitt, owner of Core Pilates Dallas. 鈥淚t鈥檚 tough being told you can鈥檛 run for a while. But that time could be used to strengthen other areas of the body.
鈥淵ou can always do something else,鈥� she said. 鈥淧eople who want to will find something they can do.鈥�
Advised Blueitt: 鈥淭here鈥檚 usually always something you can do to get your blood flowing and your heart rate up so you don鈥檛 have such a tough time recovering. You get better results after surgery if you can get that person moving again, but you want to make sure they鈥檙e not doing things to affect the area that needs rest.鈥�
