This is a guest post by Emily Carter, a passionate travel writer and fitness enthusiast. With a background in physical therapy, she shares expert advice on staying active and enjoying vacations even while recovering from injuries.
Getting injured doesn’t mean you need to put your entire life on hold. Yes, you’ll have to take it easy for a while, but it’s not the end of the world and you shouldn’t have to be a couch potato the entire time. It certainly doesn’t mean you have to give up traveling. There’s some strategic planning to do, and there’ll have to be adjustments, but it’s more than possible to travel, enjoy life, and recover from injury at the same time.
In this article, we’ll walk you through it and show you how to create an itinerary that won’t cause you problems.
By the time you’ve finished reading, you’ll be more than prepared for your next adventure!
Planning and Preparing
First off, congratulate yourself for being brave enough to keep living life even though things are not ideal. A little self-pat on the back should do the trick. Unless it’s your back that’s injured, then perhaps skip this part. Yes, you’re injured and you have to take it slow, but who says that means acting like there’s no more life left in you?
After you’ve patted yourself on the back, the next thing to do is to have a word with your doctor or physiotherapist to get a clear picture of what you can and can’t do.
This is an essential step and if you skip it, you’re in for a world of pain (possibly literally) because there’s a chance you’ll end up hurting yourself even more, especially if you’re dealing with specific challenges/injuries, like knee pain from a car accident, lower back pain, ankle sprains and fractures, whiplash, concussion, etc., all of which could affect the quality of your vacation.
Your neck, knees, or ankles are no joke and tons of things can go wrong with such delicate and complicated body parts. Once you get a green light from your doctor, choose where you want to go. Make sure the place you’re visiting works with your physical needs. This means that you’ll look for places with easy access to transport, walking trails, and generally flat terrain.
As far as accommodation goes, go for something with accessible amenities, like elevators or ramps. Before you start packing, make a list of everything you need. You might need supportive gear like braces, cushioned shoes, therapeutic tools (hot/cold packs, portable massage rollers, etc.), and anything else that can help with discomfort.
Medications are also something you can’t forget, so put those on your list, as well.
Activities that Support Recovery
You probably won’t be able to do everything you’d want to, but hey, at least you won’t be home in bed, watching Netflix, and eating chips. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but if you prefer traveling, then it might not be the ideal way to spend your time.
There are still some activities that are easier on your body that you can do. They’re fun, will let you move and stretch out, and they won’t hurt your recovery.
1. Nature Walks and Scenic Trails
Let’s be real, even if you were 100% healthy, you still wouldn’t miss a chance to go walk in nature and take a few selfies along scenic trails.
If you’re injured, you’ll need to make sure the trails are flat, though. It’s a good idea to use something supportive, like a knee brace or a walking stick to prevent discomfort.
Another good idea is to take breaks here and there.
2. Water-Based Activities
Swimming and aquatic therapy are excellent for your joints. Water gives them natural support, so if you’re recovering, swimming is your best friend.
Gentle water aerobics and swimming laps are a match made in heaven for recovery because these activities let you stay active, but don’t put pressure on sensitive areas, since the buoyancy of the water helps with movements. If you’re a fan of exploring, kayaking and paddleboarding are good choices. You stay active, have insane amounts of fun, and you don’t strain your body a lot.
Of course, you’ll need to pay attention to how you’re sitting and what your posture is like because if you don’t, you’ll feel some discomfort, especially in the knees and lower back.
3. Cycling and E-Biking
Cycling is yet another low-impact way to stay active, and it’s especially good if you’re dealing with an injured knee. An electric bike, or e-bike, can be very helpful for slopes and allow you to enjoy the entire ride without straining the areas that are recovering.
As far as routes go, choose ones that are either completely flat or that have gentle slopes.
Conclusion
You might not have thought that a vacation that’s more than just sitting around in a hot tub and sitting around in general is doable, but there you go – now you see that it is. A well-planned vacation won’t just be good for your mind; your body will thank you, too, because too much sitting and lying is never good, not even when you’re recovering. A little bit of thinking and maybe some supportive gear and you’ll be on your way to making every step, every ride, and every paddle an addition to your recovery.
Enjoy the moment, slow down when your body tells you to, and have fun on your trip!