5 Bad Habits You Need To Stop Now To Prevent Injury

Nothing feels worse than finally being motivated and getting the groove of your fitness plan only to be roadblocked by an injury. While a workout injury can happen to anyone, no matter your fitness level or experience, there are certain bad habits that can make one more susceptible to an unfortunate injury.

Regular exercising is great for your body. With little planning and being careful, you can prevent injury and stay safe during exercise. Here are 5 habits that you need to stop right now to prevent injuries and make the most of your workouts.

Skipping warm-up: Doing warm-up exercises before starting to work out is crucial to the success of a workout. A good warm-up will raise the temperature of your body and muscles and gradually bring up your heart rate. This will help your body to get ready for a workout. Warming up the body will improve muscle elasticity, increase flexibility, and avoid overexertion or overstraining of the muscles during a workout, thereby reducing the risk of any injuries during the workout. It will make sure that you are both physically and mentally prepared for the workout and also allow for efficient cooling post-workout, which means less chance of overheating or accidentally hurting yourself during the workout.
Skipping a cool down: A post-workout cool down is as important as a warmup. A good cool-down routine allows for a gradual recovery of pre-exercise heart rate and blood pressure. A sudden drop in the heart rate as well as the blood pressure to normal levels post-workout can make you feel light-headed or dizzy and can be very dangerous. Additionally, a cool-down helps in stretching out the muscles and kicks off the body’s recovery process in a healthy way, helping you to avoid injuries.
Not Stretching: Another important component of a safe and effective workout is performing proper stretching. Stretching keeps the muscles strong, flexible, and healthy. Flexibility is vital to maintaining a good range of motion in the joints. Without proper stretching for flexibility, the muscles may shorten and become tight. When called on for activity, tight muscles are weak and may be unable to extend all the way, putting you at risk of strains, sprains, joint pains, and muscle damage.
Ignoring pain: It is very important to pay heed to any pains that may arise during or after a workout. While it may seem easier to ignore the pain and keep exercising through it, it can prove to be very dangerous. Pain is the body’s way of signaling that something is wrong. It may be because of bad posture, high intensity of the workout, or even muscle damage. By ignoring pain, you may be putting your body at the risk of a serious injury or worsening an existing one. It is very important to seek proper medical attention to any sharp pain that you feel during workouts.
Wearing the wrong equipment: Wearing the right equipment during workouts or sports is of utmost importance. By using the wrong equipment or equipment in the wrong size or equipment that is not supportive enough, you may be putting yourself at the risk of an injury. For example, by wearing shoes that are not supportive during running, you are not only putting your foot and ankle at risk but also your legs and spine.

While injuries in sports and exercising are common, taking the right precautions and inculcating certain habits can help you in avoiding injuries. The best way to work out safely is to do so under the guidance of a professional. Looking to up your fitness game in a safe manner? Check out our MSF Transformation Plans and you’ll receive expert guidance and diet and workout plans that are completely customized to fit your current fitness level, dietary preferences, budget, and health and fitness goals.

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