Warning: These Red Flags Could Keep You From Getting Back to Exercise After an Injury, Surgery, or Medical Diagnosis
Your exercise program can be the first step to better health and function. But if you have a medical condition, including a recent injury or surgery, it can present safety risks if you don’t know what to look for.
That’s why if you’re working with an exercise professional to help you get started and back on track, you need to make sure they take you through a thorough screening and assessment.
Not only does this give you and your trainer an opportunity to establish a baseline to measure future results…
But you’ll identify red flags you need to address with your medical care provider before you start lifting, stretching, or any of the other activities involved in a well-structured exercise program.
What are Red Flags in Medical Exercise and Post-Rehab Training?
Red flags are signs that there may be a more serious health issue present.
The following are the red flags medical exercise and post-rehab trainers look for:
Radiating Pain
Numbness and/or Tingling
Loss of Range of Motion
Loss of Function
Swelling
Night Pain
Chest Pain and/or Shortness of Breath
Open Wounds
Abnormal Vital Signs
Red flags let your trainer know you may need to be evaluated by your doctor or physical therapist before starting with exercise.
Not all exercise professionals look for these red flags. In more egregious cases, they might ignore them just so they can get started with the client.
That’s why working with someone who has the appropriate training and skills will keep you safe and on track to achieve your health and fitness goals.
Let’s look at each individual red flag and what it might be telling you…
Radiating pain refers to pain you feel across multiple areas of your body. It can be a sign of nerve compression or damage. This could be made worse by exercises done without the appropriate modifications.
Pain that radiates across the body can be related to nerve issues commonly seen in diabetes, and internal organs can lead to pain in other parts of the body.
Numbness and tingling might indicate damage or irritation of the nerves from a herniated disc or arthritis in the spine.
Excessive forward bending (in the case of a disc herniation) or back extension (with spinal stenosis) can worsen symptoms.
And a sudden onset of numbness or tingling may be a sign of a stroke. So understanding red flags and what they could mean is critical to exercising safely.
Loss of Range of Motion can result from joint injury or arthritis, and having full range of motion in an affected joint is typically part of the criteria for starting exercise.
Loss of range of motion in the shoulder can be a symptom of frozen shoulder, which can worsen over time. Shoulder impingement resulting from a muscle imbalance or bone spurs can also limit your range of motion.
Scar tissue might also affect your ability to move a joint through its full range.
Loss of Function occurs when you’re no longer able to perform activities or movements you once could.
It can be a sign of a significant injury or neurological condition, which could worsen with exercise and cause further harm.
Severe muscle weakness, an unstable joint, and even pain can interfere with function. But it can also be related to complications from a recent surgery, incomplete recovery, or infection.
Swelling is common after an injury or surgery. But your physician or physical therapist are the ones to help you manage swelling before you return to your exercise program.
It’s important to remember that swelling can be an indication of other complications, such as blood clots, infections, or problems with the lymphatic system.
Night pain is one of the more unfamiliar red flags. If you regularly experience pain at night, you should see your physician to make sure there are no serious health issues at play.
Cancer, poor blood flow, nerve entrapment, and organ problems can contribute to night pain symptoms. So you need to be cleared by your doctor before starting exercise.
Pain in the chest or difficulty breathing may be the result of a condition affecting the heart or respiratory system. And exercise may exacerbate these issues.
Open wounds after an injury or surgery are another sign to watch out for when returning to regular physical activities.
There’s always a risk to infection with open wounds, which only increases in gyms and other environments where large groups of people share equipment and facilities.
Finally, if you have abnormal vital signs, you need to make sure there’s no undiagnosed medical condition before you start an exercise program.
Vital signs include heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, and breathing rate. Any measurements outside the norm let you know that the body is out of balance.
Using Exercise to Improve Function and Manage Your Medical Condition
Medical exercise gives you a safe and effective solution for getting back to your daily and athletic activities.
These red flags are a critical part of the screening process to make sure you get the results you’re after while staying safe from injury or exacerbating symptoms related to your medical diagnosis.
When I work with clients, I always refer them back to their physician if any red flags are present before or after we’ve started our program.
Modifying your exercises (as well as the sets, frequency, intensity) is key to ensuring progress.
Your doctor can establish safe parameters based on your condition, which is why it’s so important to work with an exercise professional who’ll communicate with your medical care providers throughout your program.
Getting back to exercise and your regular physical activities after an injury or surgery requires careful consideration and planning. Knowing the red flags to watch out for is part of that first step.
Darwin Ruiz is an exercise professionals specializing in working with clients with chronic (but stable) medical conditions. If you’d like to get started with an exercise plan that improves strength, endurance, balance, and other areas of function—tailored specifically for your health and medical needs—click here to learn more about Medical Exercise.
Reference:
Jones, M. K. (2023). Advanced Medical Exercise Specialist Training Guide and Protocols. Medical Exercise Training Institute. Advanced Medical Exercise Specialist Residency.