On the August long weekend this year, I experienced an unexpected setback—I broke my clavicle in a simple fall from my bike.
The emergency room doctor’s orders were clear: Keep my arm immobile in a sling for 4-6 weeks with regular X-rays to monitor the healing process.
Like any active person, I initially thought I could somewhat continue with my daily exercise routine. I imagined myself Nordic walking, strength training, practising yoga, and stretching, just with some creative adjustments.
However, reality quickly set in.
Anything that moved my arm in the sling was painful, and I couldn’t lie on my back or on my side without discomfort. Initially, all I could manage were a few standing leg exercises that didn’t involve my upper body.
But rather than getting stressed, I decided to embrace the time as a rest period—a chance for extra reading, socializing with friends, and enjoying lots of walking.
About 10 days into having my arm in the sling, I noticed something surprising: My arm (both arms acutally) had become noticeably thinner and wrinkly.
It made perfect sense—after all, my arm hadn’t moved for over a week. But I was still shocked by how quickly the muscle loss had occurred and how dramatically it affected the appearance of my skin. It was, and still is, wrinkly and saggy where once it was firm and smooth.
But it makes sense. My muscles have shrunk while my skin has not.
As we age, our skin loses its elasticity. When muscles become weaker and smaller, the skin no longer shrinks to conform to the smaller shape of the muscles it encases. Instead, it retains its larger shape and size, and it sags.
The good news? I’m hoping to be cleared and ready for full-body exercise in a few weeks. And once this happens, my arm muscles will gradually get stronger and bigger, and my wrinkly skin will disappear.
If you’re looking to improve the shape of your arms, remember: The answer isn’t fancy creams or lotions but regular strength training. Start building those muscles, and you’ll be amazed at the difference it will make.
