Preventing Exercise Injuries

April 29, 2016

Summer will be here before you know it, which leaves you with just a short amount of time to get “beach body” ready. Before rushing into intense workouts though, it’s important to make sure your body is prepared for that kind of muscle strain. Readying your body for exercising is the key to preventing any kind of injury that can result from strenuous activities. The last thing you want to do is hurt yourself and not be able to exercise, or even move at all.

Some of the most common injuries resulting from exercise are muscle strains, sprains, and back pain. Luckily, there are ways you can prevent getting hurt while exercising.

Warm-up. Warming up before exercising is extremely important. The best way to do this is by moving at a slower pace. For example, if you are about to go for a run, start walking for a couple of minutes before you begin to run.

Stretch. Stretching your muscles after you warm up and after your workout increases your flexibility, which allows you to not only perform better during your workout, but prevents muscle strains afterward.

Choose the right exercise. If you are new to exercising or are not healthy enough to do certain exercises, try starting off with a low-intensity exercise like bike riding or walking, and build up from there. It is also important to change up your exercise routine frequently. Performing the same exercise can result in the overuse of certain muscles.

Wear proper workout gear. Wearing the right gear for your workout, such as running shoes, a helmet, and kneepads, are crucial in preventing injuries.

Learn the right technique. Using improper technique while working out can put a strain on your muscles and cause overuse injuries. Using the wrong technique while exercising can cause you to hurt your body more than you are helping it.

Rest and relaxation. Be sure to listen to your body. If you feel pain while exercising, you may be overdoing it. With this in mind, make sure you give your body time to rest so that you are able to continue to pick up the pace in future workouts without straining your muscles.

Overall, just like any activity, there is always a chance of getting hurt. However, with the assistance of the above mentioned techniques, you don’t have to be afraid to take your physical fitness to the next level. Happy exercising!

For more information on how to prevent exercise injuries, visit the National Institutes of Health Medline Plus website at https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/patientinstructions/000859.htm.

*You should always consult with your doctor before beginning a new exercise regimen.