For years, I struggled with knee pain. From anti-inflammatories and massages to needling, cupping, physiotherapists, and doctors—I tried it all. Eventually, I turned to the most recommended solution: REST. But it didn’t work. While resting did provide temporary relief, the pain got worse over time. If you’re someone who enjoys an active lifestyle like me, you’ll know the frustration of being side-lined. To me, the essence of fitness is that it enables us to live the life we desire.
After about three years of trial and error, I found what worked for my injury:
- Slow and heavy resistance training to strengthen the muscles around my knees. As it turns out, tendons prefer this type of movement—they’re not fans of rapid movement.
- Modifying exercises that felt uncomfortable ensured I still had an effective workout without unnecessary pain.
- Patience. Recovery wasn’t instantaneous. I stuck with the plan for months, recognising that rehab, like training, has its highs and lows.
Now, I’m not dismissing the importance of rest for certain injuries. Conditions like fractures or sprains certainly require downtime. However, what truly grates on me is the generic advice from some doctors (and occasionally from ‘Doctor Google’) suggesting we stop training completely, rest, and stretch. If you’re battling tennis elbow, no amount of rest and stretching will get to the heart of the injury. Moreover, think about the mental shift: transitioning from the high of regular training to doing nothing.
Here’s how injury treatment has evolved over the years:
Old Way:
- Total rest.
- Treating the symptom without addressing the root cause.
- Relying heavily on passive treatments.
- Believing time would do all the healing.
New Way:
- Modifying exercises.
- Digging deep to tackle the root cause.
- Recognising the mental benefits of movement, however limited.
- Incorporating gradual, steady resistance training to strengthen weak areas.
If injuries are hindering your progress, consider the above guidelines. And remember, at Willow Way Fitness, our top-tier biokineticists are on standby, ready to guide you back to pain-free mobility.
Until next time!
