I asked this question on another website but wanted a second opinion. Here's the thing: I sprained my ankle. My doctor okayed exercising on it. I typically work out 1-2, sometimes more, hours per day. I found out my ankle was sprained on Tuesday. It is now Sunday. I have continued to exercise as usual. Do you think that all of this exercise will impede the healing of my ankle? It does hurt. I'm just terribly afraid of bumping down my exercise for fear that I will gain weight. What do you think I need to do?
I sprained mine almost 3 weeks ago. I haven't not worked out on it. I have arthritis and I've sprained this ankle numerous times so I expected it to take a while to heal. I wouldn't want to make it worse, so I am giving it rest.
Did you discuss with your doctor the type and intensity of your exercise?
I have sprained my ankle a couple times. Both times my doctor had me alternate hot and cold, and wrap my ankle. I was allowed normal activity (walking with it wrapped) but no excessive pressure.
I would personally NOT perform exercises that aggravated the sprain. I would concentrate on upper body, core, and flexibility workouts, and adjust my lower body workouts so that they were no-impact; AFTER double checking with my doctor for clarification of her instructions.
It really depends on the severity of the sprain. Having had a severe sprain, I know that they can sometimes take a long time to heal; mine hurt on and off for close to a year and sometimes still swells if I'm too active on it. Hopefully yours isn't that severe! I definitely wouldn't do anything that involves impact or twisting until it had some time to heal. Ice and advil are your friends!
I have arthritis in my ankle too. I feel like I'm an old lady or something, yet I'm only 32! I also have sprained this ankle I think twice in the past. Not recently, but still... My doctor prescribed me some Naproxen, but it doesn't seem to be helping, and I seem to be having some gag reflex problems lately (gotta call my other doctor about that...) so I can't really get them down. Man, I have too many problems!
I just can't stand what I look like and the thought of gaining has me terrified. Even maintaining is scary. That's why I wish to continue. I guess, like someone said, I could do upper body and core exercises. How about water exercises?
Water exercise would be good! And, don't worry too much about gaining, just adjust your calorie intake accordingly.
I'm 50+ and only exercise moderately for 30-45 minutes each day (sometimes no cardio at all - only flexibility and core) and I had no trouble losing, and now maintaining.
Weight loss is at least 80% food intake, so while exercise is important, it isn't the most important piece.
Your long-term health is very important and aggravating your injury won't help in the long run.
You CAN exercise, just be smart about it - give your ankle time to heal!
Water exercise is good. However, I think you need to take a look at why you feel terrified at the thought of maintaining your weight while you heel. Pushing your body when it's hurt because you fear how you look is not healthy.
I've had lots of sprained ankles (they take a long time to heal). I would go with the doctor's advice. Once the swelling goes down and I have enough range of motion to work out without pain, I always went back to the gym. I would do weights, swim or other types of exercises that didn't put too much pressure on the ankles. But generally I believe that putting some weight on the ankle will actually help in the healing process.
Sprained ankles do take a long time to heal. Find alternative ways to work out that will not hurt. If it HURTS its wrong. If it "fatigues" it's ok as long as you stop before it progresses too far.
Water exercises, in general anything seated will be less stress. I am a big free weight gal, but will often move to machines when injured to help stabilize. Cycle instead of run or elliptical. Rowing machine.
Hon, I don't think this is about the exercise at all. It is about your fear of gaining weight and losing control. You might want to see someone about this.
All of us have experienced injury. Pro athletes do to. We all take time off to heal because to do otherwise would be foolish. And the reason you give for wanting to continue despite your injury might be worth investigating.
Cause if you can focus more on healthy living and exercise for the health benefits rather than the fear of gaining weight, you will feel SO. FREE.
How Much Exercise? Injury!
