No Pain, no gain?

This week I had the privilege of speaking on WLR fm where the focus was centred around the perception of pain and exercise. In this conversation I offered my thoughts about when to push on and when it might be a good idea to pull back and get an injury assessed. As I have recently completed my masters degree in Physiotherapy - I do feel I have got a much better understanding of this. 

So in an ideal world, a health professional would be on call upon your immediate request whenever we come across something we are unsure of when it comes to pain and injury. Unfortunately - this will not be the case for most people who are not a professional athlete with a dedicated medical team. Fortunately, there are several warning signs we can look out for when it comes to an injury or pain following exercise that may help us to better understand if a visit to the physio is warranted. While if in doubt it is always better to get checked out - we can always push ourselves to better understand our body and how strong we really are! 

So first things first - did you feel a pop, click or a crack at the time of pain? Is this pain sharp or more of a dull ache? Is it improving with time or getting worse? If pain is getting worse and intensity of pain is quite high - a trip to get it checked out is warranted! An assessment by a health professional can help to decipher the root cause of your injury, the severity and the next steps to get you back to baseline!

The next thing to look out for is instability. If pain is originating from a joint in the body such as the knee for example. Are you able to put your body weight through each knee or do you find you are compensating with the pain free side? Is the pain affecting how you move, in this case - how you walk? Does your knee feel like it is going to give way/buckle beneath your weight? This may be another sign that a trip to be assessed is most certainly warranted to ensure there is no ligament damage and to provide reassurance on plan moving forward if there are significant findings.

On the brighter side of things, if pain is improving over time, it is simply something that we can monitor over time while gradually easing ourselves back into exercise. While we don’t want to stop all activity, it is important we take a day or so rest before we start introducing  some gentle and gradual exercises back into the mix. The main priority should be to keep some gentle movement at each joint where we don’t push things past a 3 or 4 out of 10 when it comes to pain. Some mild discomfort can be part and parcel of coming back from an injury but avoid pushing through pain that begins to become progressively worse. 

As I mentioned at the start of this piece, I will also recommend a visit to a health professional for the best results when it comes to injury. Think of a small injury as a “check engine” light in your car. What starts as a small problem can sometimes manifest into a much more costly one if not assessed and monitored.

I am also delighted to announce that I am now offering an in person Personal Training service at kingfisher fitness club Waterford! Please get in touch through the contact information below or call into reception to check availability and avoid disappointment as spaces are limited! Please visit my new website www.coachedbycashel.com for more info!

Lastly, I would also like to clarify that I am not a registered dietician. All advice disclosed here is simply advisory based on my qualifications as a fitness professional and personal experience and knowledge gained working with individuals and helping them reach their goals. The advice given is not designed to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any health problem - nor is it intended to replace the advice of a physician. Always consult your physician or qualified health professional on any matters regarding your health. 

I hope someone out there found some of this information useful here, just some food for thought. For any questions in relation to this topic or training, nutrition, etc. or for coaching inquiries simply message me on my business page on instagram @coachedbycashel_ or by email - contact@coachedbycashel.com