There are many great reasons to perform physical exercise. Not only does it strengthen bones and muscles, but it is good for heart and brain health, too. While it offers amazing health benefits like those just mentioned, there are common mistakes that can impede progress or cause bodily injury. Thus, it’s imperative to take care when exercising. Avoid these three common exercise mistakes to help keep safe:
- Exercising newbies often concentrate on form. While that is extremely important, they should take care not to overdo it, especially when starting out. Exercising too frequently, too intensely, or for too long, especially when beginning a new routine, can lead to soreness, discomfort, or injury. For example, one may risk tearing or overstretching muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Additionally, overexertion injuries put people at higher risk of re-injury. When one begins an exercise routine, it’s wise to allow the body time to acclimate and wind down. Thus, it’s beneficial to warm up the body before physical activity and cool down after. The key is to build up gradually to avoid stressing the body and to take frequent breaks when needed.
- Improper exercise. Staying in proper form is essential to safe exercise. Not only does it decrease the risk of accidents, but it also increases performance level. Performing exercises wrong can injure joints and muscles by putting too much repetitive stress in the wrong places. Sometimes people who exercise believe they are in good form, when in truth, they are performing exercises incorrectly. This is especially true of people who are new to exercise or lack adequate training. For those who are unsure of technique or don’t know how to use a particular piece of gym equipment, it’s always best to seek guidance via a professional trainer. A few lessons can go a long way in terms of safety.
- Failure to vary routine. A person who goes to the gym and regularly engages in the same single type of exercise risks failing to get a well-rounded workout. Many pieces of gym equipment, such as the leg press, are designed to target specific areas of the body. While leg press machines can be used by beginners to develop leg muscles and strength, they are mainly intended for building lower body strength. While they do provide excellent leg exercise when used correctly, they are only part of a full body workout as they neglect the upper body. Additionally, performing repetitive workouts of the same region of the body while ignoring other body parts is not beneficial for increasing overall full-body strength and performance. This can be easily fixed with a varied routine.
The above are three common exercise mistakes often made by newbies. Exercise is an important aspect of health and overall physical and mental wellbeing. To be safe, a person should discuss any new exercise routine, as well as medical conditions and medications, with their doctor before beginning. However, there are also some commonsense approaches people can take to prevent injuries. Avoiding overexertion and improper exercise, as well as varying routines for overall wellness, can go a long way to improve one’s physical and mental strength.
This article is purely informational and is not intended as a professional medical article.
