06 Feb Injuries
Have you ever been motivated and excited to crush the day, a project, or a goal – only to experience a setback, bump in the road, or other type of discouragement? That blow is never soft and generally stings pretty badly. This week, we’re talking about physical limitations and setbacks…injuries. While some aches and pains are bearable and not detrimental to your overall health, other injuries can really slow us down (or stop us completely) when we take the time to listen to our body and care for it well.
The Mayo Clinic says:
An overuse injury is any type of muscle or joint injury, such as tendinitis or a stress fracture, that’s caused by repetitive trauma. An overuse injury typically stems from:
- Training errors. Training errors can occur when you take on too much physical activity too quickly. Going too fast, exercising for too long or simply doing too much of one type of activity can strain your muscles and lead to an overuse injury.
- Technique errors. Improper technique also can take its toll on your body. If you use poor form as you do a set of strength training exercises, swing a golf club or throw a baseball, for example, you may overload certain muscles and cause an overuse injury.
The good news is that many injuries are preventable. Here are a few tips from the Mayo Clinic about caring for your physically active body.
- Use proper form and gear. Whether you’re starting a new activity or you’ve been playing a sport for a long time, consider taking lessons.
- Pace yourself. If you’re starting a new fitness program, avoid becoming a weekend warrior.
- Gradually increase your activity level. When changing the intensity or duration of a physical activity, do so gradually.
- Mix up your routine with cross-training. Instead of focusing on one type of exercise, build variety into your fitness program. Flexibility training is an amazing cross-training focus. Check out this desk yoga video to incorporate into your workday.
Read the full Mayo Clinic article here. Additionally, we know that fueling your body properly (ie. hydration and nutrition) is critical, as is listening to your body and building in recovery and rest periods.
Unfortunately, injuries can still hit us even when we seem to be doing all of the right things. If something does ail you, remember that Google doesn’t replace a healthcare professional. While knowledge is power in a lot of ways, trying to self-diagnosis and treat yourself is rarely the safest option. Once you know what you’re dealing with, please let your boot camp coach know, in case there are future modifications or technique/form tips to share with you.
Workout/Exercise Spotlight: Balance and Mobility. The Australian Physiotherapy Association shares:
Balance is the ability to control your body position while standing or moving. Mobility is the ability to stand up and walk in a range of environments. Both of these can deteriorate with age and certain health conditions make this deterioration worse. The good news is that a well-designed exercise program can usually improve the balance and mobility in people of any age.
So the next time you find yourself at boot camp balancing on one leg while doing something with the rest of your body that makes your brain hurt, know that you’re engaging in “a well-designed exercise program” targeting your balance and mobility.
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