Exercise is a good thing. Can you have too much of a good thing?

Yes. You can.

Your doctor loves to hear that you’re making exercise a priority. But at the same time, they don’t want you to overdo it.

However, that’s precisely what many well-meaning people are doing. Maybe you’re the type who just can’t stay in the house all that much, and you’ve decided to start running or hiking.

Perhaps you simply need to do something to get away from your family for a little bit to preserve everyone’s sanity, and so you’ve decided to take up biking.

Or maybe you recognize that because you’re home more, you sneak in more snacks during the day. And so you’ve decided to compensate for that with exercise.

The coronavirus pandemic certainly changes the way you think and live your life, doesn’t it?

How Exercise Injuries Happen

Let’s be frank: these are prime conditions for hurting yourself. Exercise is not a bad thing. But the way in which you do it can be.

Suddenly starting an intense exercise regiment after a long period of inactivity is a great way to cause an injury. That could be painful muscle cramps, shin splints, knee pain, back pain, or heel pain.

More acute injuries can happen too. For example, you might roll or sprain your ankle. That could mean torn ligaments which may require surgery to repair.

Your heart and mind may be able to handle the intensity. But the problem is that your muscles, joints, and bones may not be.

Please Focus on a Gradual Return!

We love helping you recover from your injuries. But we don’t love seeing you injured.

And being injured is so inconvenient. You have to sit around when you’d rather be up-and-at-’em. You have pain. You may lose sleep. You need help from others doing basic things you’d rather do yourself.

It’s not fun.

So, whatever you do, we just ask that you create a simple planned routine for working your way back to full intensity.

Maybe have a chat with your doctor first. Join your favorite Facebook group or online forum to get advice from other exercise enthusiasts on how to approach your return to activity.

But whatever you do, please don’t go full-throttle from the outset! You have a high chance of winding up with a highly unfavorable outcome.