Exercise and Wound Healing
As a nurse, I have managed many wounds throughout my career.
When I transitioned into teaching Pilates full-time, I thought that I had seen the last of them - I was proven wrong! Not too infrequently I have had clients who have sustained deep wounds often as a result of falls.
It especially seems to happen in some of my older clients, and can be a bigger issue if they have a medical condition that may affect wound healing, such as diabetes.
One client in particularly sustained a fall and we encouraged her to come back into the studio to begin some gentle mobilisation. When she fell, she had knocked the front of her shin and the skin was red, bruised, swollen with fluid, and appeared as if the skin was about to break down. We took some photos before and after and were impressed by the improvements in blood supply to the area and the decrease in swelling.
Comprehensive wound management considers a broad range of factors from wound type and size, other medical conditions and lifestyle factors, dressings or compression used, and elevation of the wound as needed.
However, adding gentle mobilisation and exercise alongside these considerations can make a difference to acute wound healing, especially in older people.
Once you have got the all clear from your health provider, structured return to exercise can help build strength and improve balance and mobility. All of which help to decrease the chance of falls in the future.
Of course, seeking guidance from your doctor, wound care nurse or other health professional first is always a good idea!
Founder and Senior Educator Peta Titter
REFERENCES:
BOLTON, L. EXERCISE AND CHRONIC WOUND HEALING. WOUNDS. FEB 2019; 31(2): 65-67
O’BRIEN, J., FINALYSON, K., KERR, G., EDWARDS, H. EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A SELF- MANAGEMENT EXERCISE INTERVENTION ON WOUND HEALING, FUNCTIONAL ABILITY AND HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE OUTCOMES IN ADULTS WITH VENOUS LEG ULCERS: A RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIAL. INT WOUND J. 2016. 1-8. DOI: 10.1111/IWJ.12571
SMITH, D., LANE, R., MCGINNES, R., O’BRIEN, J., JOHNSTON, R., BUGEJA, L., TEAM, V., WELLER, C. WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF EXERCISE ON WOUND HEALING IN PATIENTS WITH VENOUS LEG ULCERS? A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW. INT WOUND J. 2018;15:441-453.
AUTHOR: PETA TITTER
DISCLAIMER
THE CONTENT PROVIDED ON THIS WEBSITE IS FOR EDUCATION AND INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO REPLACE INDIVIDUAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL CARE. READ OUR FULL DISCLAIMER HERE