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Physical activity is a great way to keep in shape and ward off heart disease. Unfortunately, exercising is not without its risks; namely injuries. While there is no way to completely eliminate your chance of sustaining an injury, there are a few things you can do to minimize your risks.

Here are three secrets you can use to help you prevent injury next time you exercise…

Secret #1: Don’t Skip the Warm Up or Cool Down

The warm up and cool down phases of a workout are very important. They allow your body to perform at peak capacity, promote faster recovery, and help prevent injury. However, many people skip these portions when they are pressed for time, or simply opt to never do them at all. Just as important as warming up and cooling down is doing it the right way:

• Your warm up should be 5-10 minutes long and include a full body activity such as a light jog, rowing machine, or dynamic stretching. Perform your warm up at low-to-moderate intensity; just enough to make you break a sweat, but not enough to leave you feeling fatigued.

• Contrary to popular belief, static stretching should be saved for the cool down, not the warm up. For best results, hold each stretch for 10-30 seconds and avoid rocking or bouncing.

Secret #2: Listen to Your Body

No one knows your body like you do. It’s important to listen to your body and take the cues it is giving you. If you feel like you really need a rest day, you probably do – even if your schedule doesn’t call for it. On the same note, if you are experiencing pain that feels like anything more than muscular soreness from a previous workout, it is probably best to pump the brakes and wait until you fully heal before exercising again.

Secret #3: Perfect Your Form

When it comes to exercising, there is a right way and a wrong way to do just about everything. There is a proper way to squat, a proper way to bench press, and believe it or not, there is even a proper way to run. Performing these movements with proper form will not only help your body be as efficient as possible, it will ensure your biomechanics are correct and help prevent injury.

Unfortunately, injuries may still occur despite our best intentions. When they do, Orthopaedic Specialty Group is there to help. As southern Connecticut’s largest and most experienced orthopedic practice, you can trust us to fix virtually every bone and joint in your body. Call us today to schedule an appointment at (203) 337-2600.