Key Tips for Totally Avoiding Workout Injuries
By Genevieve Cunningham
Working out should be an essential part of everyone's life. Exercise brings so many benefits to our overall wellness. Stronger muscles, better balance, weight loss, and heightened moods are just a tip of the iceberg. But there's one thing about workouts that is a little discouraging for some: the risk of injury. One of the worst things is to start a new exercise routine, only to wind up down and out because of injury. No thanks! Luckily, avoiding injury isn't as hard as it seems. If you need a little help staying safe and healthy during your workouts, take a look at these tips for avoiding injury and staying in the fitness game.
Adequately Warm-Up
Warming up is more important than most people realize. Warming up allows our muscles to get warm. It deepens our range of motion. It allows the body to stretch further. You can warm up with a full body stretch -- focusing especially on muscle groups that will be used heavily in your routine. You might also take a little jog or do a series of quick exercises that get your heart pumping. Find a warm-up routine that feels good to your body, and make sure it's a solid part of every exercise routine that you partake in.
Focus on Flexibility
Flexibility is key in preventing injury. If you're not flexible, you're far more likely to injure a muscle or tendon or ligament. Why? Because it literally can't take the tension. But it's not enough to stretch before a workout. Make sure you're focusing on flexibility at other times as well. Stretch in the morning or at night. Try yoga to really deepen your range of motion. The more flexible you can make your body, the less susceptible you are to random injury during your workout -- and at other times as well.
Continually Strengthen Your Body
Another important part of injury prevention is strength. If your muscles are strong, they can take a little more during your workout. With strength, one bad routine won't necessarily break your body. So how do you create strength? You lift weights. You use your body weight for a good calisthenics workout. You try yoga or Pilates. You do whatever it takes to make your muscles strong and dense for a healthier body and lower injury risk.
Injury is never a good thing. Besides the obvious pain that's involved, it also puts you out of the game for a while. You won't be able to continue your fitness journey as you heal, which then sets you back in reaching your goals. Protect yourself! Use these tips to lower the risk of injury in your workouts, and you can enjoy better health as you move forward.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Henderson, Nev.