Everyone knows that working out is good for you and it can be excellent for both your physical and mental health. Unfortunately, exercise can lead to a range of injuries seemingly out of nowhere even when you are simply running on a treadmill. These injuries are infuriating because they can stop you from exercising as well as make simple daily activities a challenge which is problematic if you have little ones to care for. It is important to be aware of what the more common exercise injuries are so that you know what to look out for and how you can prevent them from occurring.
Strained Back
A strained back is the most common exercise injury and, unfortunately, the hardest one to deal with as every movement can be felt and involves the back muscles. People often have weak backs due to prolonged sitting and/or bad posture, so strains can occur when people lift too much weight or have poor form while exercising. It is important to lift with your legs and perform low-intensity back exercises designed to strengthen the back muscles to prevent strains.
Runner’s Knee
Although running is a superb form of cardiovascular exercise, it can also be dangerous, and there are many common injuries that stem from this activity. Most common is runner’s knee which is an irritation of the cartilage underneath the kneecap (this injury can also occur in any sport that involves running). The best way to prevent this injury is to shorten your stride, to run on firm yet supportive surfaces and to strengthen hip, glute and quad muscles.
Tennis Elbow
Although called tennis elbow, this is a common injury which can be sustained while performing a wide range of exercises and sports. It is caused by overuse of the arm, forearm and hand muscles which creates a pain in the elbow which can make even a small range of movement painful – this can interfere with many aspects of daily life. Since tennis elbow is technically a form of tendonitis, it can heal on its own. Without proper attention however the issue can continue to reoccur, with each occurrence creating microtears in the tendon which can lead to conditions like calcific tendonitis that are extremely painful and significantly more debilitating. So, it would be wise to have the issue looked at as soon as possible.
Tennis elbow can be prevented by:
- Avoiding over training
- Stretching prior to exercise
- Working out to increase wrist and forearm muscles.
Tennis elbow treatment is usually successful, and there are steps to take to speed up recovery, such as physical therapy and topical gels.
Achilles Tendinitis
Achilles tendinitis is a nasty injury which can make even walking a painful experience. It is another common running injury that can be caused by playing a wide variety of sports like tennis and basketball. This injury is sustained due to overuse of the Achilles tendon. It usually occurs when people increase the intensity or duration of their exercise. This can be avoided through increasing your activity level gradually with regular exercise, by stretching daily and by choosing high-quality, supportive footwear.
These are a few of the more common injuries that are sustained as a result of exercise and ones which can make it difficult to manage daily chores. Hopefully, this advice will help you to prevent one of these injuries so that you can continue to enjoy all of the great physical and mental benefits that regular exercise can bring.