My son plays soccer and during last Saturday's game, he was shooting a goal and took a hard kick from the goalie right in the thigh. He was rolling on the ground in pain for a little while but managed to walk off the field. (And I managed to keep myself firmly planted in my chair. I'm sure other moms can understand how hard it is to do that!)

It wasn't long before my son was back on the field, though. He was visibly limping and just forcing himself through the pain, so I was a bit worried. While I was proud of the sportsmanship he was showing, pain is your body's way of telling you something is wrong -- and he was clearly ignoring that. Later that day, my son developed a nasty bruise -- but that was the full extent of the injury. So, other than being a bit sore and using an ice pack for a while, he was fine.

Whether you play sports, run, bike, or even just walk around your neighborhood, injuries can happen when you least expect it. While mild muscle discomfort is expected with exercise, it's usually not a good idea to keep working out while experiencing pain. Swollen muscles, joint irritation, numbness ... these are all signs that your body has had a bit too much. So, what do you do if pain puts you on the sidelines?

• At home treatments. Some injuries can be treated at home. Swollen muscles can be treated by using RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation).
  
• See a doctor. If the injury is severe or pain persists over a number of days, it's time to see a doctor. Go to the ER if you've experienced a serious injury (breaks, sprains, inability to put weight on an area, etc.). If the injury is more minor (e.g. persistent muscle pain), schedule an appointment with your general physician or (if insurance allows it) a sports medicine professional.

Keep in mind that most mild injuries -- like my son's bruise -- won't prevent you from being active. But do pay attention to your body's signs and modify your activities accordingly. Even if you have a more serious injury -- like a break or a sprain -- you can still find creative ways to be somewhat active. For example, if you're dealing with a leg injury, try using hand weights and doing upper body strength training.