If you’ve ever suffered an injury, you understand how debilitating they can be.  Besides the pain you suffer, it limits what you can do and can really bring you down. Sometimes it’s not even an imposed injury, rather a muscle or joint ache that somehow appears and turns out to be something like bursitis or tendonitis. Simply an inflammatory thing. This is most common in women in their 50’s. When this happens, it is very common for women to stop exercise altogether. However, this just leads to feeling even more down. I recommend working with someone who can help you exercise in an alternative way or perhaps even restore your movement altogether.

Liz is a perfect example of what I am talking about. Liz has suffered with a shoulder injury the last few years after a muscle tear. She lives with chronic pain that offers flares up in a wrist she broke many many years ago. Recently she is also suffering from bursitis in her right hip.

There are times the most Liz can do is a short walk, sometimes not even that. Other times, Liz can do a lot more as her pain level may be super lower but still not quite what she used to be able to do. Together we work at creating training routines that work for her with her ailments, whether it be alternative exercises, mobility work, movement restorative exercises, going for a walk, hydrotherapy or just plain old rest. Everything has a place. Knowing when to implement what, is key.

If you’re struggling with an injury, movement restriction or inflammation pain, don’t stop moving, it’ll only make the situation worse. This is when people slip into sadness and feel disempowered and incapable. Keep moving in whatever capacity you can, it will help your mental state. Reach out to an expert for help if you’re feeling a bit lost. You can reach out to me. As well as a certified Personal Trainer I’m also a certified Movement Restoration Coach.

• Coach Terri