Gyms are a fantastic
way to get fit in a controlled environment, but even the most safety conscious
gyms cannot prevent injuries from happening. It is easy to become complacent
when you are a gym veteran, but even the most experienced of us can fall into
bad habits over time. And if you are a newbie to the gym world then it is
essential that you familiarise yourself with the correct way to work out from
day one. Here we offer our top tips to avoid injuries in the gym.
1) Know your equipment
There is nothing more
embarrassing than disregarding an introductory session when joining a gym, only
to discover that you have no idea how any of the equipment works. To save
yourself standing around like a lemon, make sure you sign up to an induction
before getting started. Yes, it may be dull, but not only will it save your
blushes, it might also prevent unnecessary injury. Qualified instructors will
show you how to avoid hurting yourself on potentially dangerous equipment like
the running machine- they can at least point you in the direction of the stop
button!
2) Warm-up
Your warm up is one of
the most important parts of your exercise routine. An efficient warm up routine
will prevent unnecessary injuries, increase your flexibility and speed up
recovery time from your workout. Begin with low intensity aerobic activity,
like power walking or a gentle job, for 5 to 10 minutes to get your heart
pumping and your lungs working. Then begin stretching your leg muscles, arm
muscles, lower back and chest (remember, avoid bouncing when you stretch- you
risk tearing the muscle). Don't rush your warm up- doing the exercises correctly
is more important than speed! Even if you are short on time, make sure you put
aside an extra 5 minutes to get your body moving- or you will regret it the
next day when you can't walk up and down the stairs.
3) Pace yourself
Starting a fitness regime
generally means that you are eager to see results - whether that means
developing a slimmer, more toned physique or a healthier cardiovascular system.
But the biggest mistake you can make is throwing yourself into a routine all
guns blazing. Of course you could start out going to the gym for 2 hours a day,
7 days a week, but this may not be sustainable. Your body only has so much
energy to work with, and you must pace yourself to avoid overtraining. Soreness
is normal the morning after an intense workout, but needing a crane to get out
of bed isn't. Start slow and concentrate on long-term goals. Some gyms offer
free training programmes which can be handy if you don't know where to begin.
4) Stick to the rules
In the gym, rules are
NOT made to be broken. Health and safety is important in the gym (even if you
think it is a waste of time in other areas of your life like the workplace!).
Know who your first aider is- all gyms should have a qualified member of staff
on duty that is trained in first aid. In addition, familiarise yourself with
the fire escapes in case of an emergency. Finally, pay attention to diagrams of
how to use the equipment to avoid hurting yourself or those around you.
5) Hydrate
When doing any type of
exercise it is important to stay well hydrated. Working out whilst dehydrated
will affect your performance and slow your recovery time. Drink plenty of
fluids before, during and after your session and adjust your intake depending
on how intensely you exercise. For shorter workouts - those lasting less than
one hour - sports drinks are not necessary. However, for longer, more intense
workouts, sports drinks can replace lost electrolytes and provide sugar for
energy. If you forget to bring a drink with you, make regular trips to the
water fountain. And whatever you do, avoid alcohol and caffeine at all costs!
6) Good posture
If you carry out an
induction session, you will be told by your instructor how to use correct form
when working out. If you don't maintain good 'form' or technique when doing
exercises at the gym, you won't be exercising the muscles you are supposed to. Worse
still, you may even be putting yourself at risk of injury. A classic place to
spot poor posture is on the rowing machines; people will round their shoulders,
hunch their back and pull as hard as possible, putting a lot of pressure on the
spine and back muscles. Another common area of mistake is on the treadmill,
where users will have poor dynamic body control when running. If you are
getting pains in places where you shouldn't, then talk to a personal trainer
before you do yourself a mischief.
7) Mix up your routine
It is easy to get stuck
in a fitness rut when you go to the same gym day after day, month after month,
but it is important to mix up your routine every 4-6 weeks. It is around this
time that your body begins to adapt to your training and is no longer
challenged. Not only will your fitness grind to a halt, but you run the risk of
overworking particular muscles and joints. Try changing equipment, increasing
your weights or adding sets. If your routine is stale, then take a fitness
class to learn some new moves and gain some motivation. Variety is the spice of
life after all!
8) Protect yourself
with Physiotherapy
With all the best
intentions in the world, we can all fall victim to sports injury at some point
in our lives. Common gym injuries include foot and ankle problems like plantar
fasciitis, stress on the knee, lower back problems and misalignment of the
neck. If you are serious about your gym routine, then be prepared to visit a
physiotherapist. Look for a health insurance policy that has cover for private
physiotherapy- it will stop you having to wait on the NHS for treatment if you
do hurt yourself. When investing in health insurance, choose an insurer that
offers discounted gym membership- you might save yourself a pretty penny.
Chloe Hibbert writes on
health and fitness for ActiveQuote, a website where you can compare health
insurance quotes online.
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