A new resolution, a new challenge, the urge to get going again: getting back into sport is always excellent news. The injuries of the first few weeks, much less so. A few simple precautions let you come back for the long term, not just at full tilt.
Content validated by Dr Cécile Besson Duvanel, Medical Director
After a long break, over the age of 40, or if you have risk factors (high blood pressure, excess weight, a family history of heart disease, smoking), a visit to your doctor before starting again is a good idea. They assess your fitness, your blood pressure and your history, and tailor their advice to YOUR comeback: a return to tennis at 50 doesn't call for the same preparation as a first half marathon.
One: picking up at your pre-break level, when your body has had a break too. Two: increasing everything at once, frequency, duration and intensity, when the cautious rule is to progress on only one parameter at a time. Three: ignoring pain that persists, hoping it will “go away with training”. Pain that comes back every session is a warning sign, not a stage to get through.
Joint pain that lasts more than a few days, swelling, discomfort that changes the way you move: it's time for a medical opinion. Our orthopaedic surgeons take over if a joint needs a thorough assessment, with radiology right there on site and a physiotherapy partner in the same building.
Between the lake, the lakeside promenades and the Pre-Alps, the Vaud Riviera is an exceptional playground. Choose an activity you genuinely enjoy, progress in small steps, get enough sleep: it's less spectacular than a heroic training plan, and infinitely more effective.
A comeback to prepare, or a pain that's setting in? Book an appointment with one of our doctors.
This information is general and does not replace a medical consultation. In a life-threatening emergency, call 144. Medical disclaimer
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