the Benefits of Blood Flow

This week my research took place in doctor's and physical therapist's offices. I spoke with an orthopedic specialist and separately with a physical therapist. Though they practice in different offices and do not know each other and indeed have different specialties, they said the same thing. (that never happens :))

Their opinions or medical advice were supportive of what I have been told by others in sports medicine over the years, but as with research, anecdotal evidence that repeats itself gains more sway.

The issue addressed was cardiovascular exercise when injured. Indeed, this applies to acute and chronic injury, but also to chronic disease conditions such as arthritis and back pain. Gone is the recommendation for bed rest or even relative rest and in is the need for doing some form of physical activity. This increases mobility, decreases atrophy and in regards to injury, can speed healing by carrying oxygenated blood to the injury site and carrying inflammation or free radical damage away. The heart pumps this blood through our system and exercise can enhance that pumping.

To be fair, the doctors and I had a deeper conversation in regards to athletes and people who engage in routine vigorous physical activity. This class of person is getting a lot more from their “exercise” than a strong heart and increased blood flow. Usually, the exercise is used as a coping skill, mood stabilizer, competency booster and to challenge ones limits. People in this category tend to push through pain when they are injured, and according to Jason Koczman, PA at the Advanced Sports Medicine Center in Sarasota Florida, it doesn’t always lead to worse injury. Jason said that sometimes pushing through can work and the problem ceases. That is not usually what happens, but since many of us know that it could happen, it is our first response and desperate hope. Other times, an injury, a pain, is a message to stop doing whatever it was that caused the injury or exacerbates it. Both Jason and PT Judith Chmiel agree that maintaining conditioning and blood flow will improve healing. The point is to do something that does not hurt but to do something. Both were clear that complete rest was not recommended. Active recovery appears to be the newest mantra in sports medicine and I for one am glad of it. Oh and pain meds are pretty much old school as well. Most docs will now recommend ice and limited use of ibuprofen.