Avoid Exercise Injury

Exercising is an essential part of staying active and healthy. But, it is 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 5 minute walk helps get your body ready for cardio activity. Stretching before and after your workout also helps 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 lift with 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 so you avoid injury. A trainer can assess your fitness level and start you on a regimen that is the best for you, and they can 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 or fatigue, dizziness or lightheadedness are signs that you need a rest. Take a day or two rest. 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 specialists at Orthopedic Associates of Port Huron at (810) 985-4900.