Every day, chiropractors across the country deal with fitness mishaps. Sometimes, we see clients who are just getting their fitness routine off the ground. Others have been running or participating in certain sports for years. All it takes is one wrong move, and it’s not always yours. Many of the injuries we see happen because of little things that can easily be avoided.
When you run into misaligned discs, the pain can be excruciating. Depending on the severity of the problem, you might need multiple appointments each week to fix the problem. Often, addressing the small issues before they start to get in the way of the things you love can keep you flexible and ready to go. Even things that don’t seem directly related to your spine like a sprained ankle can cause serious havoc if left untreated. When you assess the damage early and take the proper precautions, you can minimize your pain and improve the outcomes.
Not all injuries can be prevented with proper fitness practices. The large majority of them can, though. The most common mistakes might surprise you.
Improve Your Workouts and Avoid Costly Medical Bills
You’ve probably heard it on fitness videos and in classes. Many sports teams will also reiterate this point. Always warm up before any workout. Your muscles need time to get ready before you jump into your core exercises. Your muscles are more prone to injuries and pain when you start cold. It could lead to things like a pulled hamstring, strained lower back, or torn ligaments. Even something as simple as light stretching can help you warm up cold muscles. What else can you do to reduce your risk of injury during a workout?
- Use the Proper Technique: If you need to take it slower at first, take as much time as you need. Getting the technique right can help you avoid injuries with any exercise. It’s when people get in a hurry or don’t have the practice doing it the right way that injuries happen.
- Keep Muscles Flexible: While your muscles are warm, always stretch. Develop a stretching routine to keep your muscles flexible. Some people do a whole body stretching routine. Even if you have limited time to work with, make sure you stretch the key muscle groups you use most often.
- Effective Cool Downs: Cooling down after your exercise routine is just as important as warming up. After any exercise session, take 10 to 15 minutes to bring your body down from the workout slowly. Stretching during your cool down on a regular basis can help you avoid sprains, muscle pulls, and more.
- Drink Water through the Day: The bulk of your body is made up of water. Water keeps your joints and muscles working properly. When you don’t get enough, you experience the many symptoms of dehydration. This includes joint and muscle injuries and pain.
Build Muscles and Exercise for Weight Loss in Pelham NY
Diet and exercise are key tools if you want to lose weight and keep it off. Cutting and burning calories are two parts of the process. Cardio is one of the most effective ways to burn fat. Building more lean muscle mass can boost your metabolism and help you avoid injuries. Especially for patients with arthritis, strengthening the muscles can prevent unnecessary pain. This can also make weight loss easier for patients in Pelham NY.
If you are injured, your instinct might be to stop exercising or try to work through the pain. Both of these are wrong. You can tone down your workouts or take the stress off the injured area. For example, if you sprained a wrist, you might focus on legs only cardio until your wrist is ready for weights and other related exercises. Some people work one arm until the other is ready to get back to the gym.
You’ll also need to seek medical treatment early. This could be as simple as icing the affected area as soon as possible. It can also mean seeing a chiropractor or other medical professionals. The sooner you address the problem, the faster your recovery will go. In some cases, you can also reduce the risk of further injuries in the same area. You can boost your weight loss and more with a chiropractor. Just click here and see the difference McKenna Family Chiropractic can make.
