Exercise is a vital component of a healthy lifestyle, but there is a right way and a wrong way to do it. Everyone has different exercise needs and different levels of comfort and safety related to exercise. Here’s why it’s so important to work your muscles safely and appropriately.
Protecting Your Muscles
When you exercise, you should rotate the muscle groups you work throughout the week. Some can be exercised together, but you should always allow them to rest between workouts. This is to protect those muscles from overwork and overextension. If you overwork or overextend them, you’re putting them and the rest of your body at higher risk for exercise-related injury and the development of conditions such as osteoarthritis. By protecting your muscles, you allow them adequate recovery time so you can get the most benefits from your workout.
Managing Chronic Conditions
You should structure your exercise program around what is healthy and suitable for your body. Not everyone needs to focus on the same things. For example, everyone should incorporate some cardio and weight training into exercise routines, but some may focus more on one than the other. This is particularly important for people with chronic conditions. When you have a chronic condition, the goal isn’t always to bulk up or run a marathon. Sometimes the goal is to manage symptoms or build the body’s overall strength and stamina. When you manage symptoms through exercise, be careful not to overdo it. Develop an appropriate workout routine with your doctor.
Aging Safely
Exercise is equally important for health in the present and health as you age. The safer your workout routine, the healthier you’re likely to be as you age. Develop a routine that includes cardio, muscle toning and lengthening, balance, flexibility and building muscle. All of these will help you maintain body mass, balance, strength and mobility as you age. You should focus on low-impact exercises, such as swimming, cycling and yoga, as you age, which can stress and damage your muscles and joints. By structuring your routine for long-term use, you can age more safely and healthily.
Allowing Yourself a Healthy Lifestyle Balance
By exercising regularly, you can improve or maintain your quality of life. Regular, steady exercise is linked to improved heart, lung and brain function. It can help you be more alert and energized for longer periods of time and it can even help ease symptoms of depression and anxiety by releasing endorphins. In coordination with regular medical care, a healthy diet and good work-life balance, exercise can help you live a happier, healthier life and reduce your chance of developing certain conditions such as autoimmune disorders, heart disease and certain types of cancer.
Avoiding Potentially Harmful Exercises
Learning to work your muscles safely and appropriately can also help you understand what exercises to avoid. Not every exercise movement is harmful to every person, but some are ill-advised in general and others may not be good for people with certain goals or conditions. For example, someone with arthritis should avoid high-impact workouts such as running, jumping and crossfit. However, high-impact movements may be recommended for those training for a marathon or attempting to burn more calories. Learning to work out safely also involves learning how to use equipment such as resistance bands and weight machines appropriately and and practicing exercise movements correctly. Doing so helps you avoid potential injury, unnecessary overexertion and long-term damage. For example, sit-ups are good core exercises, but you must practice the correct form or modify them to avoid straining your thighs, hips and back.
When you start or modify your exercise routine, it’s important that you make sure it will fit safely and healthily into your lifestyle. Research new exercises or workout classes, talk to your doctor or physical therapist or ask an exercise coach about what modifications to make to your routine. This will ensure you avoid doing anything that might hurt your body or worsen a chronic condition.
