Exercising can make you look and feel healthier, but when pain arises, it can be hard to tell whether it is better to stop and rest or work through the pain. A knee sprain, or stretching in one or more ligaments in the knee, is one painful injury that can occur when exercising, especially when exercises involve twisting and jumping. Depending on the severity of the sprain, you may be able to exercise through it with caution. In many cases, rest and a break from exercise is in order.
Pain in the Knee
Pain is the body’s natural response system sounding an alarm that something is not right. If you feel pain in your knee, it means that you should stop doing whatever is causing the pain until the pain subsides. This may mean taking a day or a few weeks off, depending on the severity of the injury.
Swelling in the Knee
If the area around the knee is swollen, this means there is inflammation in the tissue surrounding it. Swelling means that there is an injury somewhere below the surface, and the body is responding to it. If there is significant swelling, exercise should be stopped, and ice and elevation of the knee is in order.
Reduced Range of Motion in the Knee
When there is reduced range of motion in the knee area, the knee cannot properly extend. If you exercise with reduced range of motion, it throws off your natural gait and stride, which causes other areas of the body to compensate. Continuing to exercise while compensating for an injury can cause injuries in other parts of the body that are being overused.
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