But, proceed with caution! Diving headfirst into your exercise program at the level prior to your injury may cause re-injury or further setbacks. Judi Sheppard Missett, founder and CEO of Jazzercise, Inc., offers the following tips for returning to your workout program after an injury:

• Let your body heal  - Don’t rush back into your regular exercise activity. Ask your doctor about when you can return to your fitness program, and follow your doc’s advice!

• Warm-up slowly – The American College of Sports Medicine recommends warming up with 5 to 10 minutes of mild activity. This is increasingly important when you are nursing an injury.

• Try cross-training – In order to prevent or recover from overuse injuries, it’s important to vary your exercise activities. If you are a runner, then try cycling, swimming, or power yoga.

• Pace yourself – Don’t increase your level of activity too quickly. Start at a basic level, and then increase your workout by about 10 percent each week.

• Keep a workout log – Write down how long you exercise each day and the types of activities that you do. This workout log can be helpful when you visit your doctor to discuss your progress.

• Watch for compensation – Your body naturally seeks to protect itself. So, the way that your body moves to avoid pain from a foot injury may lead to a knee injury, then lower-back pain. Be watchful about how your body is moving, so that one injury doesn’t lead to a cascade of maladies.

• Stretch properly – Your quest to return to your previous fitness level will not be complete without proper stretching. Never stretch before your warm-up, as your muscles are cold and more likely to be injured. Try stretching towards the end of your workout. Use a slow and even approach, without bouncing.

• Listen to your body – “No pain, no gain” is an outdated, unsafe line of thinking. In fact, pain or discomfort is your body’s way of telling you to slow down.

It may be frustrating, but taking your time to rebuild your fitness level is crucial to avoid re-injury. Take your time, pay attention to your body’s warning signs, and the results will come.

Jazzercise, created by Judi Sheppard Missett, is the world's leading dance-fitness program with more than 7,500 instructors teaching 32,000 classes weekly in the U.S. and around the globe. Since 1969, millions of people of all ages and fitness levels have reaped the benefits of this comprehensive program, designed to enhance cardiovascular endurance, strength, and flexibility. For more information on Jazzercise go to jazzercise.com or call (800)FIT-IS-IT or (760)476-1750.