Should I Keep Training If Something Hurts?

Not all injuries are serious, but some situations warrant closer attention.

Many aches, pains, and minor injuries improve with time, activity modification, and appropriate rehabilitation. However, it may be worth seeking prompt assessment if you experience:

• Significant trauma

• Inability to bear weight

• Severe swelling

• Obvious deformity

• Progressive weakness

• Loss of sensation

• Symptoms that continue worsening

• Difficulty performing normal daily activities

It's important to remember that pain intensity alone does not always determine how serious an injury is. Some relatively minor injuries can be quite painful, while some more significant injuries may initially seem manageable.

Dr. Marler often focuses on how symptoms affect function. Questions such as "Can you walk?", "Can you use the affected area?", and "Is the problem improving or worsening?" are often more helpful than focusing on pain alone.

If you're unsure, an assessment can help determine whether further investigation or treatment is appropriate.

Not necessarily.

Many runners assume that pain means they must stop running completely, but that is not always the case. In many situations, modifying training may be more appropriate than eliminating it entirely.

Possible modifications might include:

• Reducing mileage

• Adjusting pace

• Limiting hills temporarily

• Increasing recovery time

• Cross-training when appropriate

The most important consideration is how symptoms respond. If pain continues to worsen during or after running, further modification may be necessary. If symptoms remain manageable and recovery is progressing, some level of running may still be appropriate.

Dr. Marler frequently works with runners who want to remain active while recovering. His goal is often to identify what level of activity is currently tolerable while gradually rebuilding running capacity.

For many people, maintaining some degree of activity is preferable to complete inactivity whenever possible.

Pain often returns because feeling better and being fully prepared for activity are not always the same thing.

Many people stop thinking about an injury once symptoms improve. However, if the factors that contributed to the problem have not changed, symptoms may return when activity levels increase again.

Common examples include:

• Returning to sport too quickly

• Sudden increases in training volume

• Reduced exercise after recovery

• Increased work demands

• Poor recovery habits

Dr. Marler often explains that recovery involves more than simply reducing pain. It also involves rebuilding the capacity needed to tolerate the activities you want to do.

A temporary flare-up does not necessarily mean the injury has returned or that damage has occurred. Sometimes it simply means the body is being asked to do more than it is currently prepared to handle.

The goal is to build long-term resilience rather than simply chase short-term symptom relief.

There is no universal number that applies to everyone, but some discomfort during exercise is not always a sign that harm is occurring.

Many rehabilitation and training programs involve gradually exposing the body to activities that may produce mild symptoms. What matters most is how those symptoms behave during and after exercise.

In general, it may be reasonable to continue if:

• Symptoms remain mild and manageable

• Pain does not continue escalating during activity

• Symptoms settle afterward

• Function continues improving over time

Dr. Marler often encourages patients to monitor trends rather than reacting to every sensation. A small amount of discomfort that remains stable may be very different from pain that worsens significantly or limits function.

The goal is not to avoid every sensation. The goal is to find an appropriate balance between protecting an injury and continuing to build capacity.

The answer depends on the injury, the sport, and the demands involved.

Rather than focusing on a specific timeline, Dr. Marler often focuses on whether the body is prepared for the demands of participation.

Important considerations may include:

• Symptom behaviour

• Strength levels

• Confidence

• Activity tolerance

• Sport-specific demands

• Recovery between sessions

Returning too quickly can increase the likelihood of setbacks, while waiting unnecessarily long may reduce confidence and delay progress.

For many athletes, the goal is a gradual return rather than an immediate return to full participation. This may involve progressively increasing training volume, intensity, or sport-specific activities before returning to unrestricted competition.

The ultimate goal is not simply getting back to sport. It is returning with the capacity and confidence to participate successfully and consistently.