How to Start Exercising Again After an Injury

Athletes and regular exercisers are prone to recurring injuries. But once the pain subsides, you can go back to exercising, right? Not so fast... follow these tips:

Follow the 10% Rule

Instead of going from 0 to 100, which is a common way to reinjure yourself, increase your activity by 10% each week. Pick a place you're comfortable starting and increase the distance, intensity, weight lifted or time of exercise by 10% each week until you're back to your normal routine.

Work Out Different Muscles

Overuse injuries are very common, but maintaining muscle balance across the joint helps to keep these injuries at bay. So for example, to protect and strengthen your ACL, lift weights with both your quads and your hamstrings.

Make Sure You're Eating Right

Don't take a break from good eating habits while you're injured. Make sure you're getting all the nutrients you need to sustain your workout again. And don't forget to stay hydrated!

Stay Positive

An injury may impede your progress to your goals, and that can get you down. But no matter your fitness level, it's important to stay positive and keep going.

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Serious Injuries Sideline US Players During World Cup

All eyes were on the US last week as they stunned many by beating Ghana in their opening World Cup game with a 2-1 victory. But joy was overshadowed by serious injuries to two of the star players, Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey.

Altidore left the game with a strained hamstring and Dempsey had a bloody nose after taking a high leg to the face.

The US coach says Altidore is healing well and should be able to play soon.

A second US player, Matt Besler, suffered tightness in his hamstring but is expected to play as well.

Vitals.com outlines in an infographic the most common soccer injuries, as well as how to prevent them. What's the most common? ACL injuries are at the top of the list. Read more here about what Texas Orthopedics' Dr. Randall Schultz says about these all too common and very painful injuries.

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ACL Injury Strike Dallas Cowboys

The football season hasn't even started and it looks like the Dallas Cowboys have already experienced a setback.

ESPN reported last week that the Cowboys' middle linebacker, Sean Lee, has a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and slight tear of the meniscus. The injuries will likely put him on the sidelines for most of the 2014 season.

So, what is an ACL injury? Why is it serious enough to take a star player out of the game?

The ACL is a powerful ligament that stabilizes the front of the knee, which is why it is so debilitating for the person with an injury. Ligaments are strong non-elastic fibers that connect our bones together. The ACL crosses inside of the knee, connecting the thighbone to the leg and provides stability to the knee joint.

An injury to the ACL in the form of a tear or sprain is one of the most common knee injuries especially among athletes who participate in sports like soccer, basketball, football and baseball. In these sports, athletes often shift direction quickly, stop suddenly, are jumping and or doing other sudden movements that are often associated with an ACL injury.

The ACL can tear completely or partially. Some cases of ACL tears are treated with non-surgical methods. However, there are several surgical options that successfully restore knee strength and stability. In the case of Sean Lee, the report suggests he will undergo surgery to repair his injury.

Click here to learn more about Texas Orthopedics ACL injury care.