Right now. Don’t do it. It’s not worth it. If you’re my husband that is, and you’re fighting off your seventh cold of the year. Our daughter started nursery in January and since then we have each been sliding from one bug to the next. Coughs, colds, and even a bout of gastroenteritis have plagued our home, but at least our daughter remains healthy, cheerfully sticking her snot encrusted fingers in our mouths and up our noses as soon as we pick her up at the end of the day.
Apart from cold static stretching (WHY WOULD YOU DO IT??) my dearly beloved’s only brain fart when it comes to exercise is a belief that running, or playing squash or whatever it is this week, when you’re ill is good for you. It’s not. It’s just not. Your body is working hard enough as it is when you’re ill and if you overload it you will just get worse. Don’t run when you’re sickening for something, when you’re ill, or when you’re convalescent. When you’re healthy, then go for it with great guns. Being fit will strengthen your immune system and help you fight off these nasty bugs, but if do get struck down, then rest up, drink lots of water, eat well, and let it run its course. It’s not fun, but that’s life.
Similarly, don’t run if you’re injured. “Oh but it’s fine once I get going,” a client tells me as they wince in pain trying to climb onto the massage couch. “I just run through the pain.” Don’t run through the pain, you berk. Pain exists to tell us of damage and malfunction in the body, and ignoring it isn’t going to make it better. That teeny weeny muscle tear that’s making you frown, and rub your leg might feel like’s easing as the area warms up and blood rushes through it, but the tear will continue to grow, weakening the muscle and causing more pain and a longer healing time. And scar tissue is brittle and will rip again quickly if you don’t take care of your recuperating muscle.
Rest will help. If the injury is acute, ice will help by reducing the inflammation and numbing the area. Depending on the injury, compression and elevation will also help. And yes, I would say this, but massage will help. Massage, gentle mobilisation, and, in time, exercises to build the strength back up will all help. For best results book a massage with a therapist who can also offer rehab advice. Oh, wait, that’s me! Better yet, don’t get injured in the first place. Don’t exercise when you’re ill and please, PLEASE, don’t run through the pain. So, darling husband, put down your squash racquet, put on your slippers, and put the kettle on.
