Methodology
How to Train Around an Injury
Francesco Zen, founder of ZTraining · Last updated June 19, 2026
The two non-negotiables
Protect the injury site completely
No load, pressure, or effort gets placed anywhere near where the injury actually is, full stop.
Never compromise recovery
If a workout is leaving someone exhausted while they're meant to be recovering, frequency drops immediately, no exceptions.
Why frequency is the first lever to pull
An exhausting workout doesn't just risk the injury directly, it pulls recovery resources away from healing. Cutting frequency right away, rather than trying to push through, protects the timeline for getting back to full training.
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Francesco Zen is the founder of ZTraining and ZLIFE, with 18 years of coaching experience working with executives across the UK, US, and UAE. He built Mr Z, an AI coach trained on his methodology to bring the same approach to a wider audience.