Keep it Moving

It’s a normal response to think that rest and inactivity will help when we have an injury or other health setback, but it turns out that it is better to keep it moving even if you have to moderate or alter your activity. I had two recent experiences where this was the case.

Ten years ago, when I strained my knee running the message I heard from my doctor and my chiropractor was to stay off my knee and rest it. My orthopedist told me all runners were crazy and I needed to start biking, and he added that my running days were over, but my physical therapist showed me how to keep going to protect myself from injury.

Even that amazing woman couldn’t protect me from my border collie colliding with my knee last summer on its path to the Frisbee, tearing my meniscus. The message for healing from everyone was very different this time. Although the MRI tech told me I should try biking, everyone else told me to keep moving to keep the blood flowing.

I heard the keep it moving message during COVID too. It had been about a month since having COVID and I could not shake the crushing fatigue. I called the doctor who knew I was a runner expecting him to tell me to rest, but he told me to push myself to my physical limits because I was tired because I wasn’t getting enough oxygen. I will always remember him saying, “Don’t let this thing win.”

You can change the message slightly for your health to say don’t let age or sickness, or any type of poor health win. Keep it moving to stay strong enough to face any challenge.