Staying active is a fabulous way to prioritise your health and ensure you’re in the best shape physically and mentally. Experts constantly recommend you stay active regularly, whether that means going to the gym, working out at home or finding other ways to get moving. But with all that physical activity, you risk overworking your body or particular muscle groups and even injury, which can leave you side-lined. With that said, here are some ways you can help prevent injuries from occurring so that you can continue to work out regularly.
Always Start with a Warmup
If you’re the type that rushes to get to your workout and you don’t worry about stretching and warming up, you’re doing your body a huge disservice. A warmup works to slowly raise your heart rate, which then gets your blood flowing. This will trigger more oxygen being sent to your muscles, which aids in your entire workout. It’s also great for building flexibility and range of motion so by the time your workout begins your body can handle it much better.
Warming up and stretches will also help to prevent injuries from occurring since you’ve given your body the chance to get used to the activity in a gentle way.
Some great warm-up activities can include:
- Squats
- Fast-paced walking
- Arm swings
- Walking up and down the stairs
- Lunges
- Jogging on the spot
Don’t forget to also finish your workout with a cool-down session that focuses on gentle movements and deep calming breaths.
Always Use the Proper Technique
No matter the activity you engage in, proper technique, form and position are essential. Should you go about the exercise in the wrong way, you can injure yourself, which can leave you out of action for days, weeks or even months. If you’re unsure what the proper technique and form are, do some research first and ask for help if available.
Give Sports Massage a Try
Another great tip is to look into sports massage as a way to prevent injury. You don’t need to be in pain or suffering from a current injury to benefit from massage. A good Bristol sports massage provider will focus on the manipulation of the body’s soft tissue, which ensures muscle imbalance doesn’t happen, making sports massage important for just about anyone. When you search for a reputable sports massage in Bristol, or any place, just know it can address injuries, stress, tension, discomfort, strains and more.
Know When to Take a Rest
While it’s admirable to want to be as active as possible and never miss a workout or training session, sometimes your body needs a rest. Resting allows the muscles to recover, which means your next training session will be that much more effective. It’s wise to listen to the cues your body is giving you and not push too far. Aim for a couple of days off each week, or at least choose low-impact activities on those days such as walking.
Thanks to these simple tips, there’s no need to risk injury when working out.