Q: I’ve been out with an injury for about two months. How long will it take for me to get back in shape?

That depends on the severity and type of injury, notes Michele Aliani, P.T., C.S.C.S., and clinical director of professional physical therapy in New York. “It can take anywhere from four to eight weeks to return to pre-injury status.” If the injury was moderate and you stayed somewhat active, your strength and endurance will come back a little quicker. To speed recovery, stay as active as you can by training around your injury. “This helps keep up muscle memory,” says Aliani, so you return to top form quicker. Just don’t go too hard, too fast when you do start a full training regimen, or you can reinjure yourself.