Should I Still Work Out When I'm Sick?

By: Billy Pratt, BA, CPT, PAS, GIPS, CFMSP, Pn1

It really depends on how “sick” you are. If it’s a case of the sniffles, and you generally feel OK, or you're just coming down with something, a light workout at home (so you don't expose others to any viruses) can help to boost your immune response to make you feel better and recover faster. If on the other hand you have a headache, are feeling nauseous, are running a fever, or have the characteristic muscle aches of a more severe illness, you must not exercise and should just rest (you don’t want to make it worse).

Bear in mind also that a light “recovery/immunity” workout must also take into account body positioning with relation to the head; sinus or nasal issues will require an elevated head with neutral spine to ensure adequate drainage - this helps make sure excessive congestion does not occur. Trust me, as I used to suffer from chronic sinusitis.