by: Marcos Hernandez

Newsflash: pain is a normal phenomenon and sometimes injuries happen. As an active human you might think you experience these sensations more than most, but just talk to any sedentary person and they’ll tell you they have their fair share of aches and pains too. 

The reality is that most of the small tweaks our clients deal with happen outside the gym. People feel great, are full of energy, and want to be active when they aren’t working out. So they play recreational sports, hike, bike, or spend the weekend doing yard work. In short, their “rest” days aren’t exactly restful. 

Then they wind up with some tweak or injury and stop coming to CrossFit.

Let me tell you now: Pain or Injury doesn’t have to mean you miss training.

In fact, it can be a chance to focus on a weakness. Often times it comes down to focusing on what you CAN do, not what you can’t do, an important mindset shift that will help you stay fit and active over the long term.

If you are injured don’t assume you have to stay out of the gym. Remember, the program we have written on the board is simply a template that can be modified as needed. As coaches we have the freedom and responsibility to keep you showing up, moving, and getting better. We pride ourselves on being able to come up with responsible training programs, which take injury considerations into account. 

However, we can’t do this if you stop attending! Chances are, you’re not spending your time away from the gym doing hours of PT & corrective exercises, or training your weaknesses. 

If your knee/foot is messed up, we’re hitting upper body.

If your shoulder is on the mend, guess who’s doing all the squats?

Plus, continuing to show up, exercising, and seeing your friends in class is good for your mental health. It won’t be so hard to get back to the gym post-injury if you’ve been here the whole time.

With literally countless movement & equipment options, there is always something we can do to help you get better. Even if it’s just focusing on mobility/body mechanics or a simple circuit of biking and rehab exercises, the skills you learn while injured will have a slingshot effect on your training progress. Say goodbye to plateaus and hello to PRs!