How to Handle Injuries in the Gym

If you have never been injured while training in the gym, you should consider yourself lucky and of course aim to keep it that way. Safety is a high priority in most formal gyms and fitness classes for a reason: injuries are difficult and, at best, will tend to set you back in your routine. If you do happen to get injured during your work out, here are some tips to minimize the damage.
 
If it hurts, stop. You may be tempted to try and push past the pain, but if something feels painful, or simply feels wrong, calling a time out is always the best choice. If you participate in a contact sport such as boxing or Muay Thai, you may need to stop the sparing session if you get hit.
 
Let your Instructor Know:  Your instructor probably has experience dealing with a variety of injuries and can tell you what you should do next.
 
Assess the extent of your injuries: Most injuries are not an emergency situation. However, if you feel that you may need medical attention, you should figure out when and how to seek it out. For instance, if you’ve hit your head, you may have a concussion, which means that driving is probably not the best idea- especially if traffic can be an issue as it can be in Los Angeles.
 
Let your doctor know: Even if an injury seems minor, it is always a good idea to let your doctor know that you have been injured during your next checkup. Even if the information seems frivolous to you, there are injuries that take their toll in the long run. For instance, you should always let your optometrist know if you’ve been hit in the eye because that will allow the doctor to check for signs of serious conditions that may be long term consequences of the impact.
 
Give yourself some time off: It is imperative to rest after an injury. If you are uncertain how much time off you should take, ask your doctor and your fitness instructor to get an idea. Keep in mind, however, that everybody is different and that you may need a bit more time to recover.
 
Ease back into your routine: All of that time spent taking care of your injury can be foiled by pushing yourself too hard once you are able to work out again. It may be tempting to try to catch up and get back to the shape that you were in before the injury- but you run the risk of reinjuring yourself and having to take another break. Be patient with your body and, if you are working with a new instructor, be sure to inform him or her that you are recovering from an injury.
 
Getting hurt is never fun, but with proper care, you can nurse most injuries back to health, and get back to doing what you enjoy. When training for Muay Thai, Cross Fit, or Boxing in Los Angeles, pick the right gym to customize a program that works safely for your abilities and needs.

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