Pushing through the pain when you exercise is usually a good thing. But when you have a broken bone, especially in your hand, if it hurts, it’s past time to stop.

So how do you exercise with a broken hand?

The fact that you don’t want to use it as an excuse says you’re determined, motivated, and in the right frame of mind. From there, you can do anything, as long as you stick to these tips during your workout.

1. Get Your Doctor’s Advice

Doctors know the importance of exercise on your overall health. They’re not going to advise against it unless there’s a good reason. Since your doc knows your unique health concerns, they’re the best person to go to for advice before you start working out.

For instance, you might think that using your elbows to do those lat pulls is okay. Your doctor knows how the muscles are all interconnected, though, and could explain why it’s a bad idea.

Ask for approval or alternative suggestions for your favorite workout exercises before you leave. Then, listen to what you were told, or you could end up injuring yourself further and a lot more downtime.

2. Check Out Other Types of Exercise

Running with a broken hand can be hard. If you’re in a cast, it throws you off balance. And if you trip, it’s not easy to catch yourself without causing a lot more damage.

There are lots of other aerobic workouts you can do in place of running, such as:

● Fast walking with leg weights
● Hiking on somewhat smooth trails
● Dancing
● Using an exercise bike

All of these workouts can be high-impact while still keeping you in control of your body. Avoid treadmills and ellipticals that require balance and the use of your arms.

3. Try Yoga

Never been to a yoga class? You’re missing out on some of the best mind and body exercise out there!

First, you have to get rid of any preconceptions or stereotypes you have about yoga. There are multiple varieties; some that fit the stereotypes, and others that don’t.

For the active person held back by a broken bone, restorative yoga is suggested. It uses a combination of movements and props to gently bring your body back into its normal ability to function.

When you’re resting, relaxing, and flexing at the same time, you’re giving your injuries the conditions they need to heal more quickly.

4. Help Your Body Naturally

There’s a fine line between ignoring the pain and doing something to help it go away. Pain killers will let you work through your discomfort, but the end result could be a re-injured hand.

However, there are some natural ways to relieve the pain and encourage healing at the same time.

Studies on cannabis show that the plant works wonders to improve chronic pain. Because it interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system, cannabis promotes internal balance.

When each system in your body is aligned properly, regenerative cells repair damage, and nerves that cause pain are soothed.

A natural topical cream that helps if you don’t have a cast is capsaicin. Found in hot chili peppers, capsaicin relieves pain caused by joint or nerve inflammation.

Similar to creams like BenGay or BioFreeze, capsaicin causes a light tingling/burning sensation at first. After a few minutes, the heat begins to dull the pain without any side effects. Your nerves are soothed, and your body can work on healing the internal damage again.

5. Stop Before it Hurts

When you decide to work out knowing you have a broken bone, it’s crucial that you don’t “get in the zone.” You have to pay attention to every sign your body is sending and stop an exercise before it starts to hurt.

You already know that if you begin to feel pain in your arm, you need to quit immediately. Your body is feeling stressed, and you could reinjure yourself.

But the same rule applies to the rest of you, too. In order to heal, there has to be rest and relaxation. When any part of your body is stressed or injured, some of your healing cells head over there instead of working on your broken hand.

Give your body the best chance it has to recover quickly by balancing rest, exercise, and a healthy diet. Save the “no pain, no gain” mantra for after your broken bone has healed.

Conclusion

Millions of people would use the fact that they have a broken bone as an excuse to avoid exercising. Not you, though, and that’s commendable!

But instead of reversing your recovery by accidentally pushing too far, be sure to follow these tips before, during, and after your workout routine. You’ll be back in top shape again and ready to push through the pain before you know it!