If you've recently gone through an injury or a surgical procedure to your lower body, one thing that you'll quickly notice is that you'll need to make changes to your workout routine. Now that you're not as mobile as you once were, you may wish to concentrate on upper-body exercises until you're able to once again use your legs at full capacity. If this change seems daunting, it's advisable to hire a personal trainer. They'll put together a regimen that you can perform while seated, given that standing for a workout may not be practical at the moment. Gyms have all sorts of benches and other devices that you can use to sit while you work on your upper body. Here are some things that your trainer may incorporate.

Strength Training

There are many different strength training exercises that you can do while seated as you recover from a lower-body issue. This can be a good time to put your primary focus on your upper body so that you can build some significant muscle in this area. Your personal trainer will introduce you to several seated strength training exercises, including biceps curls, triceps extensions, and shoulder presses, as well as many other exercises that will keep you engaged in your workouts. You can start with small weights and low reps until you're familiar with each exercise, and then increase your weight or reps.

Cardio

When you think of cardiovascular exercises, you almost certainly picture someone who is moving their entire body. While it's true that full-body exercises are ideal for getting the heart rate up to help with your caloric burn, there are some options that you can perform while seated. Your trainer may have you swing your arms as though you're performing jumping jacks, but with your lower body stationary instead of moving. They might also show you how to pump your arms as though you're jogging, which can help to increase your heart rate.

Stretching

Stretching is another form of exercise that you can do while seated as you recover from a lower-body injury or surgical procedure. People often experience tight backs and shoulders, so you can use this time to focus on improving your range of motion. Expect your personal trainer to show you how to move your shoulders and arms to target different parts of your upper body with specific stretches.

Don't be discouraged by a lack of mobility with your lower body. Working with a personal training fitness program can help you to shift your attention toward improving your upper body's fitness.