Any ideas on exercise I can do with an injured calf?

[dameofdilemma]

Have torn my calf muscle in a dance class - nothing too severe but can’t bear weight on it or flex it fully - physio thinks will likely be at least 2-3 weeks before I’m walking properly and more like 6 weeks before I’m running.

I'm not prone to injuries and run regularly - only the second time I’ve had an injury preventing me from exercising, but I’m going to be cautious.

Am struggling with the boredom of not even being able to walk anywhere. Have done a bit of floor Pilates but I’m bored. Any ideas?

Feel like life is just work and chores right now with anything nice like holidays and social plans all cancelled. Am grumpy and feel guilty that I’m taking it out on Dp, who’s been so patient driving me to physio etc.

Exercise for me is primarily about work stress management, lifting my mood, dealing with daily worries etc. Need some ideas before I massively annoy my family!

No advise, but in the same situation (not dance, but pilates) in bed with lovely weather outside.
I also use exercise to manage work and daily stress so feeling really panicky 🫨
I think my body is trying to tell me to slow down too and that I have been overdoing things, so might use this to teach myself a lesson.

I would have asked the physio as they should know? What did they say?

The physio has given basic rehab exercises only. Not advice on exercise generally. I'd probably need to pay a PT for that.

I'm a farmer and I read this post very very wrong 😂😂😂
Hope your injury is better soon

Brilliant!

Could you manage swimming?

Swimming with a pull buoy would completely eliminate the need to use your calf if you can do one-legged push offs.

Like a pp, I'm dyslexic and also read this wrong. It's given me a real giggle!

Swimming with a pull buoy
upper body weights/ strength work - time to work on that chin-up!
might be some lower body stuff you can do - adductor work for eg?

Upper body weights - either seated or kneeling. Add some sets of fast punching for cardio? Agree with the swimming too - breast or back stroke with a float between your legs.
It's horrible, I've been there, wishing you a speedy recovery.

Thanks for the farmer jokes - given me a much needed giggle 🤣

@dameofdilemma swimming & gentle cycling have always been good to me when dealing with an injury! Great cardio whilst low impact.

Floor barre, or pilates designed for dancers. More useful to you I reckon. Swimming maybe? You can also do ankle circling whilst sitting down, and you could always practice balancing on one (the good) leg with your eyes shut.