Did you know that there are almost half a million sports-related injuries every year? Of those, injuries at the gym make up the highest percentage! Common sports injuries include shin splints, torn muscles, torn tendons, and sprained ankles.
Not only are sports injuries painful and debilitating, but they also can keep you away from your favorite sport. Many people think there’s nothing they can do to prevent injuries while exercising, but this is a misconception! You don’t have to grin and bear it anymore, you can be proactive about preventing injuries.
To learn more about how to prevent injuries from working out, read on!
Ramp Up Slowly
One of the most common causes of sports injuries, especially running injuries, is doing too much too soon. Start slowly and build up with caution, even when you feel good.
If you build up too quickly, you risk straining your muscles or your tendons. Take it slowly and don’t push it.
Warm-Up
You had to know this one was coming! Warming up is the most important factor for preventing sports injuries. It’s shocking how many people jump right into lifting weights or running without a warm-up, risking serious injury.
Always stretch first, and do some light exercises before getting into the heavy stuff. Prevent weight lifting injuries by performing some reps with light or no weight before building up to your max.
See the Experts
Many people think they should only seek professional help when they have an injury. While the professionals can speed up your healing time, they can also do a great job of helping you prevent injury.
For example, you can have a therapist perform a running gait analysis. During this process, you’ll run on a treadmill and your therapist will watch and film you, finding faulty movement patterns and assessing your injury risk. Then, you can improve your stride and prevent injury down the line.
in addition, a sports therapist can also assess any minor aches and pains before they turn into full-blown injuries.
Check out sportsmedtexas.com to see what the professionals can offer.
Listen to Your Body
There’s a common adage that says to listen to your body while it’s whispering, so you don’t have to hear it screaming! Athletes who think that exercise has to hurt in order to be effective are misled.
If your exercise hurts beyond making you a little bit sore, back off. Treat your pain before continuing. It’s better to take a few days off than to end up with an injury that keeps you out of your sport for months.
Prevent Injuries at the Gym With These Tips
Injuries at the gym are incredibly common, but they are not unavoidable. With a bit of proactivity and being honest with your body, you can stop yourself from getting hurt. Honor the things that your body allows you to do by taking care of it.
And don’t forget to reach out to help when you need it, the experts can always help you find the right path!
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