Exercise is a necessary part of our daily lives. Exercise provides so many physical, mental, and emotional benefits that you cannot really overlook it once you’ve experienced the good it brings. However, despite all the positive things that exercise can give you, it still poses some risk of physical injury. If you are not mindful of your attitude and habits, you can seriously harm yourself. Thankfully, workout injuries can be prevented. Here are nine tips that can make your workouts injury-free.
Before taking on any form of exercise, you should first consider your fitness level. This is to determine what exercise you need to do to achieve your fitness goals. Your fitness level will also help you know if your body is capable of handling the demands of a workout.
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To work properly, your body needs to have the essential vitamins and minerals. When you exercise, you put your body under physical stress so make sure that you are getting the nutrients to fortify your body. You lose water and electrolytes during exercise so make sure that you are properly hydrated.
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Make sure that you have the proper equipment and clothes for your chosen exercise. Using the proper equipment ensures a smooth and problem-free workout experience. The proper equipment can even enhance your workouts. Investing in the proper clothes is also beneficial as it can help prevent blisters and chafing.
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Before performing any exercise, you should take time to properly warm up your muscles. Walk or jog around to get your muscles warm and your blood moving. If you want to stretch, it is recommended that you do so only after warming up. This is to prevent muscle tears that can lead to more serious injuries. After any exercise, make sure to cool down your body. Gradually decrease the speed and intensity of your movements until you are breathing normally and your heart rate is no longer racing. Cooling down properly is vital in preventing muscle soreness and breathing or heart problems.
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Do not put yourself at risk for injury by jumping into a workout without knowing the proper form and technique. Consult a fitness expert if you can. If not, then the internet is full of instructional materials that come in text and video format. There are also fitness books and DVDs that can help you learn proper form and technique.
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No matter how passionate you are about working out, it is best to not overdo anything. Do not go overboard with the repetitions, the intensity, and the frequency of your exercise. Too much of anything can cause strain to your muscles, joints, and bones.
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Your workout plan should always include recovery and rest days. Recovery and rest is important for anyone who exercises because the body is given time to heal. You can easily prevent strains, sprains, soreness, and other injuries if you take time to recover and rest. Your heart, bones, muscles, and immune system will thank you for taking it easy once in a while.
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Be responsible for your own body by knowing your limitations. You should consider things such as your fitness level and any physical conditions that can increase your risk for injuries. Age can be a factor that can determine your limitations but by no means should it be an excuse to not exercise.
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In the end, preventing injury all comes down to how well you listen to your body. You need to understand the signs and signals that your body sends. You should know that hunger means time to eat; thirst means you need to drink more fluids; tiredness means you need some rest; pain means you need to stop.
Preventing workout injuries is not really rocket science; it really just is common sense. I mean, you can’t seriously expect to run a marathon if you can’t even run for 30 minutes straight. You can’t overwork your body without expecting something to break down. Think of injuries as your body’s way of saying “Enough” or “This is too much”. But honestly, do you really want to reach that point?
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