Protect Yourself When Exercising
By Tom Herrin
There has been a lot of information about protecting people from various things lately. This even applies when they are trying to be involved in physical activities. Working out is a great way to preserve and improve health, but when people fail to take the proper precautions when they do so, they may be risking injury. When these happen -- injuries -- the motivation is taken out of the activity. Some simple things may be able to make it much more successful. Some of this may simply be a matter of being in tune with the body or establishing a few reasonable practices.
Working up to Exercise Is Best
Too many times, people become so enthused about getting involved in a new program that they jump in too far too fast. It is important to remember to begin slowly and work up. This can allow an opportunity for blood to flow to more distant parts of the body. A good supply of blood means a good supply of oxygen and other things required by cells and tissue. This is why a good warm-up routine is so critical. At the end of the session, cooling down by slowly decreasing activity is just as important.
Choose the Right Clothing
In order to perform well, one must be comfortable. Loose clothing can play a big role in this. It may allow air to flow in such a way as to avoid holding in heat. That may, in turn, promote better cooling as people are active. In addition to clothes, maintaining good shoes can help prevent excess impact on the body. Many people make the mistake of failing to change shoes often enough. Before they realize it, the cushion and support may be worn down and lost. A simple remedy for this is to mark a calendar for a particular time to purchase new shoes. Some suggest buying new ones twice per year.
Develop a Good Feel
After we get in the habit of exercising, most of us will be more in touch with our bodies. Knowing when we are pushing ourselves too far is as important as knowing when to push harder. Overdoing anything may result in injuries that take quite a long time to get over. I have had the experience of doing much without adequate rest. The consequence was severely strained muscles that hurt when I did anything. It even hurt to turn loose of a small object I set down. Once I allowed the right rest, it was all fine. I learned a valuable lesson.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Redmond, Wash.