7 Ways to Avoid Gym Injuries By Mark Etinger At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Congratulations! You’ve just decided to change your ways and register to the gym. That’s a great decision. In our daily lives, we don’t really get to participate in sport activity. Sitting in the office and turning in the chair is not quite the recommended workout and texting doesn’t really strengthen your muscles. It’s important to engage in a daily activity and the gym is a great place to do so. If you spent the last year sitting on the couch, there are a few rules to follow before hitting that gym. Many sports injuries occur due to poor warm-ups, misuse of the equipment or just wrong exercise methods. Here are a few things to watch out while in the gym:

1. Warm-up. Many people skip this important part of the workout. In fact, warm-ups that include at least 15 minutes of stretching can help increase the blood flow and lengthen the muscles. That way, your body is ready to workout and is less likely to get hurt.

2. Know your machine. When you do the treadmill there isn’t really much to know. But how about all the weird equipment with all the weights and stuff? Did you ever find your self sitting on one, using your legs to lift the weights but then you discover that you should have done this with your hands? Next time, don’t be afraid to ask. Some gyms even give a free first time appointment with a personal trainer. Use this opportunity to learn about the equipment.

3. Balance your workout. We all want that six-pack abs, but it is also important to work all the muscles in order to avoid injuries.

4. Don’t live in the gym. You probably want to achieve the best results but this doesn’t mean that you should spend the entire week in the gym. Excessive training can lead to injuries and you will probably get tired of the routine and dropout.

5. Don’t compete. You shouldn’t care if the person next to you is running faster or looking better. There are no heroes in the gym and everybody worked hard to get to where they are.

6. You are not running a marathon. The treadmill might seem like the best possible workout. But excessive use of the treadmill can lead to serious injuries due to its hard running surface. If you love running, try the outdoors for a change.

7. Cool down. Not less important than a worm-up is the after practice cool-down.

Do the opposite – move from higher high intensity exercise to low intensity exercise and focus on the muscles that you used during the workout.

If you follow these simple rules you can drastically reduce the chances of gym injuries. But if you feel like you’ve been injured during practice, don’t wait on being checked. When that over the counter medicine and prescription medicine stops working, you should defiantly consider visiting a qualified doctor that can treat your injuries.

Published At: Isnare Free Articles Directory http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=385274&ca=Recreation

Important Notice DISCLAIMER: All information, content, and data in this article are sole opinions and/or findings of the individual user or organization that registered and submitted this article at Isnare.com without any fee. The article is strictly for educational or entertainment purposes only and should not be used in any way, implemented or applied without consultation from a professional. We at Isnare.com do not, in anyway, contribute or include our own findings, facts and opinions in any articles presented in this site. Publishing this article does not constitute Isnare.com's support or sponsorship for this article. Isnare.com is an article publishing service. Please read our Terms of Service for more information.