Exercising is a fundamental element of living a healthy life. Working out regularly improves your physical and mental faculties, builds muscle and coordination, and can prevent injury. That being said, it is possible to sustain injuries while working out if you’re not careful. In this article, we’ll talk about some of the more common causes of exercise injuries and walk through some tips for working out safely to avoid injury.
Proper Form is Essential
Perhaps the biggest cause of injuries sustained while working out is improper form. Bad weight lifting technique can cause a wide variety of muscle strains and sprains, and poor running form can put you at increased risk of spraining your ankle. Make sure you are practicing good form at all times during your work out. If you’re doing something for the first time, ask for help from an experienced professional.
Bad Equipment
Another big time culprit of exercise injuries is bad equipment. An old treadmill may malfunction and cause you to lose your balance; a broken down weight lifting machine can serious and sudden injuries; a worn out pair of running shoes can put excess pressure on certain areas of your feet and lead to plantar fasciitis. Always take a good look at your work out equipment before you start using it, and avoid if it’s showing signs of wear and tear.
Warm Up & Cool Down
It’s important to ease into your exercise routine with stretches and light warm ups. Stretching before you work out loosens up your muscles and gets your body ready for exercise so you’re not going from zero to sixty. Likewise, it’s good to cool down after an intense work out to prevent cramps and soreness.
The physical therapy professionals at OrthoRehab Specialists have twenty-five years of experience treating post-op surgical patients, as well as those who are dealing with debilitating injuries or conditions. Our clinics provide direct access to physical therapy care so you can get the rehabilitation help you need with or without a prescription. We treat patients throughout the state of Minnesota, but our primary clinics are located in Minneapolis and Edina. Contact us today to set up your appointment if you or a loved one has been injured while working out.