Although working out is one of the best things that you can do for your body, it doesn’t come without its risks. If you don’t take the right precautions, you can find yourself seriously injured. If you manage to get injured seriously enough, it could hinder your exercise goals for several months or even permanently.
It’s in your best interest to avoid getting injured as much as possible. Here are some of the best tips for staying safe while working out, no matter what the kind of exercise you’re doing is.
Be Aware Of Your Surroundings
As many as 40% of exercise-related injuries are a result of people’s lack of awareness of what’s around them. Whether you’re exercising outside or working out at the gym, you should always be hyper-vigilant of potential dangers.
You could easily get hit by a careless driver if you don’t watch out for hazards at all times.
Always Warm Up
When you work out, it’s important to slowly increase your intensity rather than go full out all at once. It usually never ends well to work muscles that haven’t been warmed up enough. Before you engage in any kind of exercise program, it’s important that you give yourself a small warm-up session.
This can be anything from brisk walking to doing jumping jacks in place. The idea is to get your heart rate up and your blood flow going to your muscles. Apart from literally warming up your muscles, you’re also warming up your mind. A warmup gets your mind ready for the challenge ahead of you.
Hydrate
Hydrating your body is important enough as it is. However, when you exercise, it’s especially important that you replenish the moisture in your body. When you sweat, you’re losing water by the minute, so It’s important to always carry a water bottle with you regardless of the activity.
Rather than waiting until you’re quenched with thirst and chugging, it’s better to take gradual sips throughout your workout. If you allow yourself to get too dehydrated, you could get nauseous and dizzy, and in some cases, even require hospitalization.
Wear The Right Shoes
It’s important that you wear the right footwear for whatever activity you’re doing. Trying to do an intensive workout in shoes that could cause you to misstep or fall could lead to a serious injury.
Be smart about your attire, and don’t be cheap. When you run, you should wear proper running shoes that provide arch support. Wearing regular street shoes or no shoes at all won’t give your knees or ankles the support that they need. Head to the store and buy what you need if you want to start exercising regularly!