Benefits of Participating in Exercise During Recovery

It’s a common belief that after a physical injury, individuals should simply rest and avoid all forms of exercise or sport. While this may be true in some cases - when exercise would be physically unsafe - it is certainly not always the case.

Comprehensive medical advice should always be sought before starting any physical activity following serious injury. But once it’s deemed safe, exercise can often be highly beneficial and even support the healing process.

For example, someone experiencing neck pain or sciatica as a result of an accident may, at the appropriate time, be advised by a doctor or physiotherapist to follow a tailored programme of stretches and exercises.

These exercises must be supervised properly to ensure they don’t cause further injury or worsen symptoms.

Benefits of physical exercise during recovery include:

• ›Providing pain relief (when done correctly)
• ›Reducing swelling and inflammation
• ›Improving anxiety and low mood
• ›Enhancing sleep quality and duration
• ›Supporting balance and coordination
• ›Boosting overall wellbeing
• ›Increasing independence and ability to complete functional tasks

What makes exercise safe and effective in rehabilitation?

1. Timing – Exercise should begin at the right stage of recovery, once it's physiologically safe.
2. Supervision – Activities must be guided by trained professionals, such as doctors, physiotherapists, pain management specialists, and, in some cases, occupational therapists.
3. Graded progression – The programme should be appropriately paced to avoid increased pain or setbacks, with the goal of making the body stronger, not weaker.
4. Flexibility – Recovery is not always linear. It’s important to listen to the body, adapt routines when needed, and understand that taking breaks or adjusting the programme is okay.