Injuries can happen when you exercise. It doesn’t matter if you have been exercising for years or if you are just starting an exercise routine. Getting injured can cause your fitness goals to grind to a halt. It’s important to prevent injuries when you exercise.
What Are Common Exercise-Related Injuries?
Muscle strains or injuries to the tendons and muscles are common with exercise. This is because exercise often forces you to push your muscles to their max and stretch tendons. Sprains and tears are also common. Any one of these injuries can have you out of commission for days or weeks. The following are a few precautions to follow when you workout.
Consult Medical Professionals
It is easy to find a workout program online. You might see the testimonials of individuals who tried the workout program you are considering and are now fit and trim. However, just because an exercise routine worked for them is no guarantee it is right for you. Therefore, talk to your physician to make sure you are healthy enough to exercise. Your physician can give you guidelines on modifications you must make to the exercises you want to do based on your medical condition and physical limitations.
Be Selective About Your Workout
Watching a video of someone doing a high impact workout can be entertaining. You may want to be able to jump and spin and kick like they are. However, high-impact workouts are not right for everybody. For example, women who are battling with osteoporosis or certain types of arthritis should avoid high-impact workouts. For many people, low-impact workouts, such as swimming or elliptical exercise, will provide the aerobic conditioning they want without putting stress on their joints.
Learn To Do the Exercises Correctly
This is especially true when weight lifting. Many fall into the trap of wanting to lift a lot of weight, so they compromise technique for perceived results.
It is more important to learn the right form by working with a trainer than it is to lift a lot of weight. Lifting a lot of weight incorrectly can hurt you. Talk to a physical therapist and let them tailor a workout that is in harmony with your physical capabilities.
Warm-Up
It is never recommended to work out muscles that are cold. When new warm-up, you are increasing the temperature of your core. This encourages blood to flow to the muscles you are going to use. A brief warm-up also mentally prepares you for the exercises you are going to do.
Discuss Past Injuries with Professionals
If you suffered an injury years ago that caused you to stop working out, don’t just assume that the injury has disappeared because it is not bothering you. It is best to talk to a professional. For example, if you stopped playing tennis, golf, or baseball because of tendonitis, you may want to speak to someone who can explain homeopathic treatment for tendonitis to you. That way, you can address any injury you had and prevent the injury from reoccurring.
The Value of Cross-Training
Your body will progress faster if you change your workout routine. Besides getting you past your plateau, changing your workout will give your muscles a break from the same routine. Changing your workout routine will positively affect your metabolism. It can increase your body’s ability to burn fat.
Be Realistic About What You Can Do
You might have been able to do 50 pull-ups and 100 push-ups when you were in your early 20s. If you are now in your late 40s, you may not be able to exercise with the same energy or intensity. You need to be realistic about your training. Don’t think about what you could do. That is how injuries happen. Trying to do too much too fast can also lead to injuries. Start your workout slow. Over time, increase the intensity. This is how you can prevent unwanted injuries.
Have a Good Diet
You are what you eat. You can prevent injuries by eating a balanced diet and keeping your body hydrated. Carbohydrates give you the energy you need to work out. They also help your body recover. Protein is key to repairing the muscles you break down during a workout. You may benefit by talking to a sports nutritionist to understand the foods that you should eat in order to energize your workout.
Conclusion
Exercise is an important part of your health. If you take the time to warm up before you exercise, choose workouts that are realistic for you, and consume a balanced diet, your workouts will be enjoyable and injury-free.
