How to Avoid Sports Injury

How many of you have sports injuries or are unable to exercise as effectively as you would like? Your doctors or gym will be able to give specific answers but we will look at some of the common ones.

Regardless of the injuries there are always ways to exercise. Maybe not what you would like to do but nevertheless there are always ways.

People need exercise, just like they need the air to breathe.

Quit looking at another person and think I can't do as much as them. You are not another person, you are yourself and you are unique. You need to find an exercise program suitable for yourself nobody else. Then you need to keep to that program and in time see it developed into a long term exercise program that you will love.

There will be different things available in each person's hometown do your own homework and find the classes that are most suitable for your budget and also the hours you can exercise.

Most places will offer exercises for people in different groups. Check out your gym, pool or even the internet to find out what is available for you. Aerobic exercises are wonderful but make sure you got to the right class. There should be specialist classes around for the following groups, beginners, pre/post natal women, overweight people (often taken by an overweight person), senior citizens, handicapped and children. There will be different emphasis for each of these groups.

Ask questions about the person leading the group. Some people start a class with no experience and these are to be avoided because if you do get an injury you need to have confidence in your teacher that they know what to do at the time.

Six of the most common causes of exercise related injuries:

1. Incorrect Exercise Technique: Having poor body alignment, placing strain on joints such as knees, ankles, and lower back, or crooking the neck to watch the leader can all lead to injury.

2. Persisting through Pain: We all know the old saying: No pain; no gain. This is one myth you need to get rid of. If you have pain it might be the first warning sign of an injury and to ignore it could lead to fast worse injuries.

3. Poor Floor Surface: A cement floor covered with a carpet, linoleum or any other surface not designed for exercise can cause injury. These floors do not give with you when you exercise so end up jarring your muscles. If you are building a gym make sure you have a shock-absorbent floor. Think what it would be like in the car with no shock absorbers. That is exactly what you would be doing to your body.

4. Improper footwear: Most people think they can wear whatever trainers they have. The reason there are so many trainers around is because different ones are suitable for different things. If you want ones to use for multi sports then go for a good cross-trainer. It might cost a little more, but that is a small price compared to the medical bills if you get injured.

5. Overtraining: Now this is something many of you can fall into the trap of. You start with an exercise program and you could soon become addicted to it, working longer and harder. You need to leave time for the body to rest and recover from exercise. Before the marathon we were encourage to do gentle workout and nothing for the following week. When I got back to the gym, I found difficulty in walking at 3 mph whereas I had trained at 4 mph. My body needed rest and nourishment.

6. Untrained Instruction: Many people enter into exercise without knowing what they are doing. You would not want to travel in a plane with a person who had never flown before in charge of the plane. Do your homework, read about exercise and the effects on your body, and then follow them. None of us are born as fitness instructors we need to learn. When we know how to do something we avoid injuries.