In order to maintain a healthy lifestyle, many turn toward exercise. It's the perfect way to get your heart pumping, lift your mood, boost your immune system and even sharpen your mind. However, injuries often prevent people from exercising to their full potential. Here are a few ways to prevent those injuries before they occur and keep you as healthy as possible:
Joint supplements
By making a joint supplement like UltraFlex Gold Triple Action Joint Formula a part of your daily routine, you may be on your way to healthier joints within just five days. When running outdoors or on the treadmill, your joints are often put under stress, which can affect the way you feel when you exercise and may make it slightly uncomfortable. This joint supplement has natural antioxidant effects on the body which help to neutralize free radicals. Clinical studies have shown this supplement to promote joint comfort and even reduce stiffness.
Warm up and cool down
Making time for warm-up and cool-down sessions before and after your workouts is crucial for an effective workout – and can also protect you from sports-related injuries. By warming up your muscles, you'll have increased flexibility and full range of motion to really minimize your risk for injury. A warm-up could include a brisk five minute walk or even starting off with a slow jog just to get your blood pumping. Once your workout is done, decrease the intensity to get your heart rate down.
Stretch
Stretching before and after your workout is also crucial in preventing any muscle tears. Before you jump on that treadmill, make sure to stretch out all the parts of your legs- the quads, calves and hamstrings – to ensure your muscles are ready for a workout. According to Fit Day, stretching also increases the flow of oxygen to your muscles, which wards off things like cramps and aches.
Know your fitness level
Go into a workout knowing how much your body can handle. If you're not sure, start off at a lower intensity level and build your way up. If you jump right into an intense workout that your muscles aren't ready for, you could be at risk for injury.
Stay hydrated
Dehydration is one of the main causes of muscle cramps, according to Greatist. Make sure you fill up on water before, during and after your workout to stay properly hydrated. Think of your body like a car: If you don't fill up on gas before you leave for a long trip, you're likely not going to make it too far. Make sure, however, not to over drink, making your stomach feel full and uncomfortable.
Get proper rest
Many people believe that in order to reach their goals of getting in shape and staying in shape, they need to exercise every single day. However, if you don't give your body a little rest every once in a while, it's not going to perform to the best of its ability. Active suggested that you should avoid over-training and take at least one day off from your workout schedule each week. This gives your muscles time to rest and get stronger.