Great issue for me right now, two weeks ago a dude was texting and hit me on my bike.

I have 35+ stitches in my face, neck whiplash, double thumb fracture plus today I found out the UCL tendon needs surgery. The bruise on my butt is still 8". My left ankle is sprained and I'm guessing the peroneal tendon has some damage, I doubt that will need surgery.

AFTER consulting two physicians, I'm still hitting the gym 5/week. Five days after the accident, all I could do was 15m on the elliptical and 10 minutes of super light machine weights.

I'm alternating 30-60 elliptical with 15M machine weights then 45M machine weights w 15M elliptical.

Considering my thumb damage and cast, I lift VERY LIGHT weights and minimal free weights. Today was arms, over 400 bi/tri reps and no weight over 40lbs.

I also meditate regularly. I self-diagnosed the thumb fracture in the ER before the XR. If something feels off, I don't push that part of my body at the gym.

I've been athletic my entire life and have worked around medical doctors and personal trainers for decades. I probably wouldn't suggest people without significant experience implement this type of workout routine, but most should be able to workout a little every other day or so.

The key if injured or not, is go slow. If it hurts a joint or tendon or the muscle hurts after the workout BACK OFF.

1. Rest the muscles involved with the injured area.
2. Research as much as you can to try to get an idea of the severity.
3. If it is severe, see a doctor and get a referral for a physiotherapist.
4. If it is not severe, and you are comfortable doing so, and you have done a LOT of research, try some strategies based on your research to help you rehabilitate.
5. Make sure you always use proper form and never lift with your ego. Choose a weight you can handle safely on your own or with a spotter.

At my age (68)there seems to be a bar graph with two different lines approaching each other. One “is wah- I don’t wanna exercise today “the other is “this May Just be the fittest I’ll ever be again - Must Maintain It.”.. balancing pain for future fitness-actually it’s always been that balancing act- hasn’t it?

I don't do gym.
It seems a waste to me, better use the time and energy doing something productive. That said, I have torn my rotator cuffs digging out tree stumps, so am resting then. Can still walk and cycle, Swimming, surfing and kayaking are my choice of ways to spend my time, no shoulders? Luckily I have a peddle powered kayak as well, but it is so heavy I need others to load it onto the car for me.

Instead of working out in a gym and risking tearing muscles, I do things that are natural..walking everywhere, usually over an hour a day, taking the stairs, carrying my groceries.

At home, I do pull-ups from a wooden hoe handle I wedged into an upper corner above my wardrobe.

For upper body, I use "gallopers," an invention I came up with in 2010, that not only gives the advantage and speed of being four-footed, but also slims the waist, makes you limber, develops the muscles of upper body/shoulders, and makes abs hard as rock after only a few minutes use.

Furthermore, the gallopers are almost effortless to use, and fun! You can go up the steepest, rockiest slopes without slipping, and very little effort, since it uses gravity and your own weight to power you.

No chance of injuries with that sort of work-out.

When I injure my leg or foot, I stop hiking and running until it heals. RICE: rest, ice, compression and elevation. Stretching. Ibuprofen reduces pain and swelling. Leg injuries do not stop me from lifting weights, particularly upper body workouts.

After shoulder surgery, I walked. Began hiking four months after surgery.

As soon as I got out of the brace, I began lifting weights again, starting at 1/2 lb. and increased the weight incrementally. At first, my physical therapist called me a "non-compliant patient." She wanted me to slow down. I iced before and after exercise. Did physical therapy exercises twice a day.

Eighteen months later, I had regained range-of-motion, strength and muscle. Best of all, I am PAIN FREE.

"You are one in a million patients," my shoulder surgeon said. He said most people give up after surgery and accept their limitations. They are unwilling to exercise because it hurts at first. Not me.

It depends, if it's the back then you wait it out. Otherwise if it's the leg work the upper body and if it's an arm work the lower body but don't wear yourself out, always recuperate before going back.

It depends very much on the injury. Some need rest and some do better with more training, though perhaps a little less extreme. I've erred on both sides. Building up gradually seems important to avoid injury, especially as you age.

Depends on the injury.
Broken toes keep me off the sparring and dance floors, broken nose? Meh.

I broke a toe last month so I avoided cardio for a while. Usually if my muscles are sore I will work them out, but if I am hurt due to some other reason I wont.