Avoid Exercise Injury

Exercising is an essential part of staying active and healthy. Unfortunately, it’s easy to push too hard during exercise, which can lead to injury. Here are some tips to remember while exercising to avoid injury.

Be Sure to Warm Up Before Exercising

Warming up before you exercise gets your blood flowing and increases the elasticity of your muscles. This helps you perform better and protects your body from injury. A brisk five-minute walk helps get your body ready for cardiovascular activity. Stretching before and after your workout also helps to loosen your muscles.

Focus on Your Form

Bad form is one of the easiest ways to hurt yourself while exercising. Be aware of your posture while you are working out, especially when lifting weights. Find a spot with a mirror to view your positioning. Also, remember to use your legs, not with your back, when lifting heavy weights.

Work with a Personal Trainer

A personal trainer can guide you in the right direction in your workout plan. They can tell you the proper technique and adjust your form. A trainer can also assess your fitness level and start you on a regimen that works best for you as well as introduce you to new exercises to work different muscle groups.

Know When to Rest

If you feel pain in your joints or muscles, it is never a good idea to work through the pain. Move on to something different or stop your workout if you feel pain. Your body will tell you when it needs to rest, so listen to it. Exhaustion/fatigue, dizziness, or lightheadedness are signs that you need a rest. Take a day or two off your workout plan, if necessary. It may be just what your body needs to come back even stronger.

For more information about how to avoid injuries while exercising, call the doctors at Sierra Pacific Orthopedics at (559) 256-5200.