For many of us, one of those goals might be to get in shape, join the gym (or use a current membership that might be slightly forgotten), or to generally focus on health.
However, what comes with an increase in exercise is an increase in exercise-induced injury. The most common injuries caused by exercise include strains and sprains, injuries of the knee or the lower back – which can cause the alignment of your spine to shift out of place, resulting in a visit to your chiropractor.
These types of injuries are caused by a range of factors, such as:
- Exercising before your body has warmed up
- Repeating the same motion over and over again
- Not having proper form for your exercise
- Not resting in between workouts
- Pushing your body too hard or too quickly
- Doing an exercise that is too strenuous for your level of fitness
- Not using proper equipment
So, how do you avoid an injury while still trying to reach your goals? Having a positive mindset and level of patience is important when beginning a new exercise program. This means taking the time to correctly warm up before exercising, choosing a workout that suits your level of fitness, and slowly increasing the intensity or resistance as your fitness improves.
If exercise is one of your goals for the new year, try warming up for 5-10 minutes by walking or doing a dynamic stretching routine (dynamic = controlled movements that prepare your muscles, ligaments and other soft tissues for performance and safety).
Start slowly with low intensity exercises like walking, swimming, biking, or a fitness class with options to make the movements beginner-friendly.
Remember, a small change each month can lead to a big change in 12 months. Good luck!
Recent Comments