Tips for Exercising Safely

[caption id="attachment_2074" align="alignnone" width="600"] Exercising safely is important to help you regain fitness and avoid injury.[/caption]   NARA members are physical therapy providers dedicated to helping patients recover from injury with customized physical therapy programs. But for many people, avoiding injury while exercising is easier said than done, especially as we get older. As we age, it becomes more important to know our limits and to listen to our bodies to avoid injury. Tip to Avoid Injury: Start Slow We’ve all had that feeling of waking up sore after working out too much, but did you know that can lead to injury?When you first start exercising, odds are you’re motivated and ready to get back in shape (or at least better shape). That enthusiasm is important, but it can be a double-edged sword that causes you to test your limits, and then exceed them. Many injuries are caused by people who tried to do too much, too soon. The key is to start slow, doing manageable exercises and slowly building up your strength that is built off a strong base. Tip to Avoid Injury: Mix it Up While popular movies and strength competitions that are broadcasted on television make it seem cool to have arms that the size of trash cans, working out just one muscle group isn’t the best idea to build fitness and avoid injury. First of all, those results aren’t something you should expect, especially as you get older. Secondly, focusing on one muscle group will lead to those muscles to become fatigued, which is what leads to many injuries. Focusing on multiple muscle groups is not only safer, but smarter, as it helps you become well-rounded and reduces the risk of injury. You know what they say: Never skip leg day! NARA serves physical therapy providers across the country, focusing on providing education and advocacy. To become a NARA member, or learn more about what we do, contact us.