- With Mayo Clinic physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist
Edward R. Laskowski, M.D.
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Edward R. Laskowski, M.D.
Edward R. Laskowski, M.D.
Dr. Edward Laskowski is certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, including subspecialty certification in sports medicine, and is a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine. He is co-director of the Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center and a professor at College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic.
He has been on the staff of Mayo Clinic since 1990 and specializes in sports medicine, fitness, strength training and stability training. He works with a multidisciplinary team of physical medicine, rehabilitation and orthopedic specialists, physical therapists, and sports psychologists.
Dr. Laskowski is an elite-level skier and an avid hiker, cyclist and climber. He approaches sports medicine from the perspective of a physician and an athlete.
In 2006, President George W. Bush appointed Dr. Laskowski to the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, and he has received a Distinguished Service Award from the Department of Health and Human Services for his contribution to the Council.
Dr. Laskowski was a member of the medical staff of the Olympic Polyclinic at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and has provided medical coverage for the Chicago Marathon. He serves as a consulting physician to the National Hockey League Players' Association and is a featured lecturer at the American College of Sports Medicine's Team Physician Course.
Dr. Laskowski, a Cary, Ill., native, has contributed to Mayo Clinic's CD-ROM on sports, health and fitness, a website guide to self-care, and hundreds of Mayo Clinic articles and booklets in print and online. He is a contributing editor to the "Mayo Clinic Fitness for EveryBody" book, and he has presented lectures throughout the world on health, fitness and sports medicine topics. His teaching expertise has been recognized by his election to the Teacher of the Year Hall of Fame at Mayo Clinic.
"There are many myths and misconceptions about exercise and fitness in general, and also many traditions that don't stand up to scientific scrutiny," he says. "My goal is to provide the most up-to-date and accurate information on sports medicine and fitness topics in a way that you can practically incorporate into your life."
Fitness basics (5)
- Do toning shoes really work?
- Exercise and illness: Work out with a cold?
- Body fat analyzers: How accurate are they?
- see all in Fitness basics
Stretching and flexibility (1)
- What is hot yoga?
Aerobic exercise (11)
- Ankle weights for fitness walkers: Good idea?
- Walking poles: Good for brisk walking?
- Barefoot running shoes: Better than traditional running shoes?
- see all in Aerobic exercise
Strength training (9)
- Fitness ball exercises: Good for my abs?
- Superslow strength training: Does it work?
- Isometric exercises: Good for strength training?
- see all in Strength training
Sports nutrition (2)
- Energy drinks: Do they really boost energy?
- Brominated vegetable oil: Why is BVO in my drink?
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Question
Exercise and illness: Work out with a cold?
Is it OK to exercise if I have a cold?
Answer
from Edward R. Laskowski, M.D.
Mild to moderate physical activity is usually OK if you have a garden-variety cold and no fever. Exercise may even help you feel better by opening your nasal passages and temporarily relieving nasal congestion.
As a general guide for exercise and illness, consider this:
- Exercise is usually OK if your signs and symptoms are all "above the neck" — symptoms you may have with a common cold, such as runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing or minor sore throat. Consider reducing the intensity and length of your workout, though, or you may feel worse. Instead of going for a run, take a walk, for example.
- Don't exercise if your signs and symptoms are "below the neck" — such as chest congestion, hacking cough or upset stomach.
- Don't exercise if you have a fever, fatigue or widespread muscle aches.
Let your body be your guide. If you have a cold and feel miserable, take a break. Scaling back or taking a few days off from exercise when you're sick shouldn't affect your performance. Resume your normal workout routine gradually as you begin to feel better. And check with your doctor if you aren't sure if it's OK to exercise.
Remember if you do choose to exercise when you're sick, reduce the intensity and length of your workout. If you attempt to exercise at your normal intensity when you have more than a simple cold, you could risk more serious injury or illness.
Next questionBody fat analyzers: How accurate are they?
- Laskowski ER (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. May 17, 2011.
- Exercise and the common cold. American College of Sports Medicine. http://www.acsm.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Current_Comments1&Template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=8635. Accessed May 16, 2011.
- Callahan LR, et al. Infections in athletes. In: Madden CC, et al. Netter's Sports Medicine. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2010:197.
- Weidner T, et al. Effect of exercise on upper respiratory tract infection in sedentary subjects. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2003;37:304.
- Domhnall M, et al. Evidence-based Sports Medicine. 2nd ed. Malden, Mass.: BMJ Books/Blackwell Publishing; 2007:110.
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