It is a misconception that exercise should stop just because one limb is injured. There are plenty of exercises you can do even if one arm is in a sling or your ankle is in a moon boot.

Research has shown exercising your uninjured side can help prevent a significant loss of strength to the affected limb. This means that, when you have recovered, the loss of muscle strength won’t be as dramatic.

Exercising the uninjured side can also help to understand the movement pattern and exercise that you will be doing once your injured side is ready. You may be able to do one or two specific movements in your sling, but once out of it your exercises will be able to progress much further. To help with this process, starting those progressions earlier on the non-affected limb can help with both your understanding and your muscle’s ability to adapt to the exercise which will help reduce the overall loss of strength on the injured side.

This is where talking to your physiotherapist or exercise physiologist is really helpful. Not only can they provide you with exercises most helpful for your injury, they can also help keep you motivated. No one wants to be injured, but it’s important to keep moving!

THE SPORTS INJURY CLINIC

A: 365-367 Nepean Highway, Frankston

T: 9783 9990