PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – It is a great time of year if you like to get out and exercise but sometimes even with the best intentions we can injure ourselves and find ourselves on the sidelines.

Years ago the philosophy was quite simple. If you suffered an injury you had to stop exercising and have total rest. This is still the case in certain situations but we are learning that sometimes it is better to get back out there.

Here are a couple of examples: people with tennis elbow certainly need rest and must learn how to avoid the movements that lead to inflammation but for those with the classic injuries caused by tennis, it is now recommend to reduce the amount of play but don’t totally stop as you are healing.

Another new report in the British Medical Journal finds that people with ankle sprains actually rehabilitate better if exercise is a part of their therapy. Obviously guidance is necessary in these cases but it makes sense.

Reported By Dr. Brian McDonough, KYW Newsradio Medical Editor