Working Out While Sick - What's Your take?

RE: Working Out While Sick - What's Your take?

Former Member — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 13:09:36 GMT

Hi Michelle, I think since you have the tickle in your throat, you should not swim. That tickle typically leads to fever/chills when ignored. However, I feel typical "light" colds(without the tickled throat) tend to be combatted better with light, light exercise. Jen

RE: Working Out While Sick - What's Your take?

Celestial — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 01:34:02 GMT

As a Family Nurse Practitioner, I would tell you that if you have a fever stay home. As a swimmer, I would tell you that when I have a lot of congestion, chest or nasal, swimming seems to help loosen it, improves my outlook (which is usually crappy when I'm sick) and makes me feel better. But I try not to share a lane, in fear that I may breathe my germs on a friend. Also, I agree with everyone who has posted previously about taking it easy & not trying to go crazy fast and long distances. (GI bugs that are uncontrollable should be a no-brainer, stay away from the pool.) I swim through almost everything.

RE: Working Out While Sick - What's Your take?

rlee — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 04:18:42 GMT

When I am sick I go and at least try. I usually just swim the free or other strokes nice and easy. If I don't feel I can then I just get out. I notice since I started swimming when I start getting a cold come on after I swim it disappears. I was feeling like this last saturday at the meet. I just ate cough drops and swam anyways. The next day I felt great. Now I feel like I am still getting a cold but going to practice. In fact I better get ready I have to leave at 4:50... I hope you feel better real quick!:anim_coffee:

RE: Working Out While Sick - What's Your take?

Former Member — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 17:56:20 GMT

For a very long time, I swam and ran even if I was wheezing during an asthma attack. I had constant nasal infections and my colitiis would flare up. I woudl still swim. Now, if I have a cold I've realized that it will very likely get worse if I swim. It is really weird that I never thought it was inappropriate to have a peak flow in the lower 300 (usually in the upper 600s) and go swim. Also I wondder how many of my colds and chest infections I got from some one who didn't have enough sense to stay home?

RE: Working Out While Sick - What's Your take?

Muppet — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 03:41:32 GMT

No pain no gain. But don't overexert yourself and make yourself worse. My sickly MO is to work out with slightly lighter intensity. I feel like training when I am sick helps build confidence, endurance and immunity to pain. But thats just me.

RE: Working Out While Sick - What's Your take?

Allen Stark — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 06:46:02 GMT

I have heard the rule if your symptoms are above your neck a light work-out is OK. If you have a cough, feel achy sick,have GI symptoms etc. don't work-out.It's better to miss a couple of days than to over do and need a couple of weeks or more to recover.

RE: Working Out While Sick - What's Your take?

Former Member — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 12:55:23 GMT

If I am sick, I don't swim. But, when I am starting the recovery from being sick, I do swim. Moving the body is beneficial to a body that has been sick. As long as I have no fever, no aches and pains associated with illness, then I swim a 'little bit." But I would think a sore throat may not be a good indication to swim; because you are still sick. It is sore for a reason; your body is not quite right. Donna

RE: Working Out While Sick - What's Your take?

swimmieAvsFan — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 11:12:03 GMT

typically, unless i am glued to my bed, sick as a dog, i try and get in at least a short workout. but i definitely take it easy. i'd rather get in, maintain at least a little feel for the water, and maybe even hack up some of the nasty junk in my head/lungs ;) but you *have* to take it easy. i usually swim 4500-5000 yards in a practice, but if i'm sick, i will drop down to around 2000-2500. and usually just a lot of long slow stuff, focusing on good strokes. if you can't drag yourself to the pool, don't consider this a set back, just a break that your body would eventually need anyways. just an example from my past- in 2005, i got a really nasty case of the flu (as in i was in bed for 3 days straight, thankfully my little brother went to college in the same town i was living in at the time!) so i was out of the water for 5 straight days, and during a training period i considered very critical for success at USMS nationals that spring. i was a little bent out of shape over being out of the water for that long, but it was okay in the end, cause not only did i have 4 masters PBs at nationals, i also won 2 of my events... just my :2cents:

RE: Working Out While Sick - What's Your take?

Former Member — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 06:18:31 GMT

You should listen to your body. You know if you're a bit sniffly or really sick. My idea has been if your chest is clear for breathing then exercise (maybe ease up 25-30% of distance or effort)...if you have chest congestion then resting until it clears is a good idea. I've got the sniffles today. I will be swimming, then going into the sauna for a "re-heat" after the pool then a long warm shower. Followed by a glass of port or 4 when I get home ;) This is of course provided the under 10 year old hooligans aren't towel flicking etc and generally giving me a headache--why do swimming changing rooms have to amplify?? Pavarotti would kill to sing in ours! Rich