How to Avoid Injuries when Working Out
It's been said that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and when it comes to exercise-related injuries, it's true. Daily exercise is important for your health and wellbeing, but pushing yourself too hard, or causing an injury, is not only annoying and painful, it can make the road to recovery so much longer. To keep active, and avoid injury, here are some things to remember.
Firstly, it's okay to start slow. If you're just getting back into the swing of things with regards to exercise, less is very often more. If you're stepping up your activity level from sedentary, it goes without saying that you should not try to go from zero to one hundred by running a marathon with no prior training. Go for a five-minute walk instead, and go slowly. Slow movement is still movement!
You don't have to go right into lifting hundreds of pounds of weights, either. Even five or ten pound weights can still provide enough resistance, and when worked slowly, correctly, and repeatedly, the results are surprising. Starting slow and knowing your own limits prevents strains, sprains, and all kinds of injuries, and will keep you in motion rather than recovering on the couch in pain.
Secondly, make sure your gear is good. This doesn't mean rushing out to buy the latest and greatest home gym setup, but it does mean walking in shoes that support your feet, don't rub or create blisters, and aren't falling apart. When you're out and about, make sure you've got water, sunscreen, and clothing that provides sun protection, too! Heat stroke and sun burns can sneak up on you when you least expect it, so stay safe.
Finally, remember to gently warm up and slowly cool down after your exercise. This gives your muscles and joints time to prepare and recover. Gentle movement, safe practices, and a healthy lifestyle will ensure that your body is moving right and taking you where you want to go, injury-free, for years to come!