Common Ways to Injure Yourself at the Gym
By Sara Butler
It doesn’t matter if you’re new to exercise or if you’re a pro at the gym, everyone makes workout mistakes from time to time. Some fall into the harmless category and the only consequences are not burning as many calories as you wanted to. But other mistakes can lead to serious injuries that will keep you out of the gym and further from your health and fitness goals. Here are some of the most common mistakes people make at the gym that lead right to injury.
You Normalize Pain
Say you’re working out on the elliptical machine one day and notice a pain in your leg. You don’t want to be sidelined by some silly injury so you keep pushing because "Hey, no pain, no gain! Right?"
If you notice pain while working out that doesn’t go away after you stop, or only continues to get more intense as your workout continues, then you need to stop. You may have sustained an injury that you’re making worse at the gym and that injury could impact your workouts and activities outside the gym, too.
Remember that exercise can and will be uncomfortable at times, but it shouldn’t be painful. Your body experiences pain as a distress signal to let you know something isn’t right, so listen to your body and get the pain you’re experiencing evaluated by a medical professional.
You Exercise Too Much
Yes, you can get too much of a good thing -- and exercise is one of them. Working out too much and pushing your body beyond what you should can take its toll on you. It can eventually lead to injury and burnout.
It’s great that you're motivated to work out, but remember that it’s a marathon, not a sprint, to better health and fitness. You must have a program that is sustainable. Make sure to have rest days for your body and mind and slowly work up the intensity and duration of your sweat sessions in order to help you stay healthy.
You Don’t Focus on Form
Your form when you work out is very important. If you don’t make it a focus, then you’re not getting all the benefits you can from your workout. Proper form is essential to target certain muscle groups and to keep your body stable and aligned. Poor form is a recipe for injury and disappointing results. Work with a trainer who can show you how to do an exercise the right way!
Stay healthy at the gym by avoiding these common mistakes!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Bossier City, La.