Q Can I continue exercising during treatment? Which exercises are okay, and which should be avoided?
A During treatment, reduce running and descending stairs if they trigger pain, but swimming, water walking, and low-saddle cycling are generally permitted. Strengthening exercises for the hip abductors within a pain-free range actually aid recovery. As a general rule, you should stop exercising for the day if pain exceeds 3/10 of your normal level.
Detailed Answer
Selective load control is recommended rather than complete rest. Permitted exercises: Swimming, water jogging, high-saddle cycling (maintaining knee flexion of 70° or more), walking on flat ground, side-lying hip abduction. Restricted exercises: Incline running, descending stairs, squats (deep flexion), lunges (anterior knee overload). Exercise only when your pain level is between 0 and 2/10, and check if the pain returns to baseline within 2 hours after exercising.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
In Korean medicine, appropriate movement is considered to aid the circulation of Qi and blood. Complete rest can cause stagnation of Qi and blood in the Gallbladder Meridian, potentially delaying recovery. At Dongjedang, we recommend light aquatic exercise on the same day as acupuncture treatment, and advise avoiding overload on the affected area the day after needle acupuncture. We specifically adjust the permissible range of exercise according to your treatment stage.
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