How To Prevent An Old Injury From Flaring Up

If you love working out and have played sports or pushed yourself in workouts in the past, you might have an old injury that you are still recovering from.

Even if this injury was seemingly minor and occurred months or years ago, it can still cause your body to feel pain and stiffness from time to time.

Flare-ups of this kind aren’t severe, but they can affect your ability to continue with your workout routine and day-to-day activities until they settle down again.

In this blog post, we will explore three ways of preventing an old injury from flaring up again - plus, what to do if a flare-up does occur! 

How to prevent an old injury flare-up

Prevention is better than reaction, so the goal, with old injuries, is to never notice them again! However, preventing an old injury from flaring up requires anticipation and astute perception of your needs as you push your body through exercise and daily life. 

Here are 3 ways to prevent a flare-up before the signs begin to show!

Stretch daily. 

Stretching is one of those activities that most people wish they did more of. Still, few people actually complete it daily. However, research shows that even ten minutes of stretching per day can work wonders for your muscles.

If you have an old injury, it is essential to keep your body mobile and flexible to prevent stiffness, fluid buildup, and inflammation. 

Daily stretching can be worked into your morning or evening routine and make you feel calmer, happier, and more prepared to take on the day!

Understand and avoid your injury’s triggers.

Depending on the severity and the location of your old injury, there may be specific movements or activities that cause flare-ups.

Once you learn to recognize what causes these issues, you can actively work around them, thereby reducing the chance of re-injury.

For example, suppose you have a knee injury that has since healed.

In that case, you might avoid running on hard ground or other joint-heavy sports such as skiing to prevent issues with the injury in the future.

Stay mobile. 

Many people with old injuries avoid exercise altogether for fear of making the injury worse.

However, this is one of the worst moves you can make. Your body is built to move; if you stay static, sitting most of the day without movement, it can affect your circulation, cause weight gain and reduce your muscular strength. 

What should I do if a flare-up occurs?

If your old injury does become inflamed or painful, it’s time to take immediate action. You should contact a doctor or physiotherapist for advice and treatment and reduce your activity until the flare-up goes away.

You can find products such as CBD cream and Kinesio tape for sale to support your injury until the inflammation goes down.

In conclusion, preventing an injury flare-up takes daily care and attention. If you do experience some pain, make sure to follow our advice for a quick recovery.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels