Training Through an Injury

A couple of months ago I fell from a horse whilst working on a new film project. I cracked a rib and damaged surrounding muscles. I broke my ribs on the same side about 15 years ago when a paddle board hit me after I fell from a wave. So I have a bit of experience of this!

As you may know, there isn't much you can do with broken ribs but take it easy. I did take it easy but I also had three photo shoots coming up that I couldn't rearrange. I decided to continue training but adapt to suit what I could handle without causing myself more pain or delay recovery too much. I tried to swim a few days after the injury but I couldn't put any power through that left side so stayed out from then on.

I switched my normal swimming, surfing, weight training and running etc to isolated movements using bands. When I broke my ribs last time I was able to do only one exercise on the bench but this time I was hurt at the front, the side and at the back of my rib cage. I found doing anything (including sleeping!) very painful. Anyway, I managed to keep training around the injury for five weeks until the work I needed to do was complete before taking two full weeks away from any exercise at all.

I use the word "training" but in reality all I was managing to do was satisfy myself that I wasn't just sitting around leaving things to chance. The minimal exercise probably had virtually no positive effects on my body but it did help me feel like I was at least in control of the situation. I don't do sitting around very well!

I got back into the water by body surfing, swimming and this week sup surfing. I still haven't lay prone on the ground or on a board to surf but I feel that wont be long.

The surf is back!