Safe exercising is an integral part of a healthy lifestyle. It can help control weight, reduce the risk of heart disease, and even improve mental health. An essential part of working out is being aware of the signs of pain and knowing when it’s time to stop.
Continuing to work out through pain can lead to serious injury, and then you’ll have to give us a visit here at Injury Treatment Solutions to get yourself patched up.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss some different types of pain you may experience while working out and how to tell when they’re no longer safe. Always remember, the key to safe exercising is proper technique and paying close attention to what your body is trying to tell you!
If you feel a painful pop or click.
Many people worry about and experience clicking or popping sounds from various parts of their bodies. Maybe your knee pops every time you squat, or your wrist clicks from an awkward movement. It would be best if you remain aware of these while you are exercising. Pay attention to any repetitive or reproducible clicks or pops emanating from any part of your body. If one of these “pops” is followed by pain, then immediately stop whatever exercise you were doing. A painful pop could indicate a tear or partial dislocation, and backing off quickly will prevent further damage. At which point ice the area and seek medical attention.
If the pain gets worse as you work out.
If you begin to experience pain while exercising, this is not always a sign that you need to stop immediately. However, if the pain persists after some adjustments are made by changing your posture or changing your technique, stop immediately. If the pain you’re experiencing gradually worsens as you continue your workout, it’s time to stop immediately. The pain is most likely a sign of continued damage to an injury in your muscle tissue, cartilage or joints. If you experience any of these scenarios, speak with your primary care physician or call us at Injury Treatment Solutions for a thorough orthopedic and neurological evaluation.
If you feel pain in a specific area.
A sign that you need to stop your current exercise is when you experience pain in a specific area. Any pain that is coming from a single area should not be ignored. As you go through your workout, general soreness and exhaustion will always set in. But a prominent pain in a single, recognizable part of your body is a good sign to give it a break. Even if the pain does not linger, sporadic pain may be an early warning sign of worse things to come. These early warning signs should not be ignored. It is best to catch the problem early. Like with any problem, if it is caught early, you have your best chance to fix the problem. If it goes on too long your chances of correcting the problem are significantly reduced.
If pain is followed by swelling.
Swelling is a massive red flag; all exercise should stop the second you discover it. It is indicative of a more severe issue than typical workout soreness or a passing jolt of pain. To address the issue, your body creates swelling by flooding the afflicted area with excess fluid or INFLAMMATION. If you experience any swelling, apply ice to the area and contact your primary care physician or contact us at Injury Treatment Solutions.
If you feel any sharp pain in general.
The most significant physical red flag that you can experience is sharp pain. A sharp, stabbing sensation — regardless of whether you are exercising or not— is an indicator that something is wrong and needs to be addressed. This sharp pain could be caused by a number of things, from tendon tears in the shoulder to a bone fracture in your leg. If the pain occurs once and doesn’t return or is not reproduced, it is tough to determine what the cause was. However, if you are looking for peace of mind, you can always schedule a checkup with your doctor.
What should I do if the pain doesn’t subside?
Safe exercising is essential to a healthy and athletic lifestyle. But sometimes accidents happen and you wind up hurting yourself. If the pain doesn’t seem to go away, you’ll no doubt need to see a doctor as soon as possible. There is no one better in the Melbourne, FL, area than our skilled doctors here at Injury Treatment Solutions. If you are experiencing any non-emergency physical pain or would simply like to know more about what we do, you can reach us by phone at 321-888-8888. You can also schedule an appointment via our Contact Us page here.
