Cross Training Exercises for when being injured

As I am writing this I am under heavy pain medication. I had surgery this morning (yes, I am crazy working already, but it helps to ignore the pain) and I am out of the game for a few days. I am a runner and this is a bummer. I am not supposed to run for the first few days (oral surgery – implant) to give the jaw bone a good chance to heal without having to deal with the heavy impact of running. So, since I am not that type of guy who just sits still I have to think about what other activities I can do + it raises the good question about cross training.

The term cross training refers to a training routine that involves several different forms of exercise. Cross training is a great way to condition different muscle groups and it allows you to vary the stress placed on specific muscles or even your cardiovascular system.

So, while my situation is more short-term (a week, maybe 2) other’s might not be as lucky and cross training requires a much more detailed look. As a runner your legs are your exercise equipment and if pull a muscle or have something worse happening to your legs, how do you exercise? As a runner in my situation where you want to avoid a heavy impact on your body, you can easily switch over to a bike or an elliptical trainer and exercise that way. The blood flow might still cause some pain, but that is something easier to tolerate. Swimming is also a great exercise and often comes in handy for people with muscle injuries or even after breaking a leg as part of the physical therapy.

If you are looking at different physical exercises when doing Cardio (Cardiovascular Exercise), the following exercises can offer a replacement for the exercise you cannot do right now. When reading this list, not every exercise listed is a good a cross training exercise for every situation, but it might give you ideas you have not considered before.

• Running
• Swimming
• Cycling
• Rowing
• Stair Climbing
• Skating (inline or ice)
• Skiing
• Tennis / Racquetball / basketball

Strength Training is another area often overlooked when looking for a cross training activity:

• Calisthenics (push ups and crunches and pull ups)
• Weights
• Tubing and Bands

And cross training does not end here. Pilates and Yoga are great, low impact exercises to consider.

A major benefit of cross training (no matter under which circumstances done) is actually improved fitness. Cross training is a great way to train different muscle groups, even develop a new set of skills, and reduce boredom that comes with certain exercises. So, cross training is not only needed and useful when injured and out of the game, but it is also useful to improve your overall fitness level.