Get Fit Over 40 And Train Smart To Avoid Workout Injuries
by: svpras
Total views: 1
Word Count: 687
Unfortunately for some personal trainers, and their over 40 clients, the phrase 'No pain, no gain' really means 'you should feel some pain'. Ordinarily mild discomfort is to be expected when working out, especially for those just launching a new fitness routine. On the other hand pain is a natural warning sign. You are advised to pay close attention to it.
A properly designed workout routine should test you, but shouldn't damage you. As muscles get used, especially somewhat beyond their usual range, lactic acid, micro-tears and other physiological changes occur that result in muscles being built up stronger than before.
However if you are experiencing back pain, neck aches, knee joint soreness and other symptoms - and since your over 40 you will - you should consult with an expert. It could be that your technique may be wrong, you may be trying to conquer too much, too soon, or you may have a medical problem that should be addressed. Next to bad warm-ups or overdoing it, incorrect technique is the leading cause of injury.
The secret is to work up to any vigorous routine slowly. The tricky part is that 'slowly' will vary from person to person, depending on age, experience, prior exercise routines and overall fitness. Importantly always remember to get muscles warm and limber before cranking it up. Far and away a majority of strains and rips result from being too cold and not stretching, or extending your workout routine for more than you're ready for.
A proper warm-up should take a minimum of 15 minutes and include very gentle jogging or jumping jacks to get the cardio and lung systems engaged. Warm-ups should also include some slow, gradual stretching to get joints lubricated and muscles relaxed and gently lengthened. Warm-ups that are too short can easily lead to stretched or torn cartilage, an injury that takes a long time to heal.
Stay away from inexperienced personal trainers, or so-called 'friends' embarrassing you into fitness routines that stretch your beyond your comfort zone.
Also don't be fooled into believing you have to get out and run five miles two weeks after an injury, surgery or other debilitating condition. The very nature of physical therapy and exercise sometimes require that you work against discomfort, but you simply don't need to over do the process your first day out.
Part of the satisfaction of over 40 enthusiasts is being committed to fitness and wanting to push him or herself to achieve excellence. But an attitude that leads to overdoing it is counter-productive to your goal. At this time in life your goal is working to improve or maximize health and overall body tone and strength - not proving you are 'mentally tough'.
One of the best investments an over 40 fitness enthusiast can make is to hire a personal trainer. At a minimum before beginning any new routine that involves unfamiliar activities be sure to get the proper guidance from an expert. If you don't know how to use a station at the weight machine correctly, never be embarrassed to ask. The are countless clients in the local gym that are gunning for a painful and unsuccessful work-out experience all because they simply will not ask for help.
Awareness of your spatial environment while you go through your routine is important. It's easy to get into a rhythm, get concentrated on your workout and end up crashing into a wall or a nearby person. Jogging in the street especially requires that you pay attention to the surface you run on and the people and cars around you. Running shoes will not prevent accidents, only awareness and good reflexes can help.
So being is a great idea. Just remember to stay within your comfort zone as you gradually expand it. The foremost reason people give up on workouts is injuries produced by working beyond their capacity. That makes working out no longer fun. Building up, while you build out, to increase your ability to do more, faster will keep you going for years to come.
About the Author
R.A. Shore knows firsthand the benefits of fitness over 40 are weight loss, lower cholesterol, leaner body composition and more energy, to name few. To review real life case studies and find out more about maintaining a health life after age 40 visit http://www.physicalfitnessarticles.org today.
View PDF |
Print View
Rating:
Not yet rated
Comments
No comments posted.
Add Comment
You do not have permission to comment. If you
log in, you may be able to comment.
Next Article -
Are You Getting Enough Ab Exercise?Previous Article -
Exercising To Stay Fit
More Related Articles In This Category
1:
Learn How To Lose Weight And Live Healthy
2:
Breathing For Exercise Energy: Jump Starting Your Heart
3:
The Downfall of Female Circuit Training Fitness Clubs
4:
Top 6 Fitness Tips for Baby Boomers and Older Adults
5:
Exercise Tips For The Obese
6:
Eating Healthy and Cheap Meals- Less Than $5 Each!
7:
Join The Cycling Revolution
8:
A Personal Weight Loss Story
9:
Maintaining Your Weight Loss
10:
Best Wheelchair Exercises And Fitness For The Disabled
11:
Skateboarding and Its Modern History
12:
How To Get Flat Tummy And Six Pack Abs
13:
Building The Ideal Home Gym
14:
Ladies Stop The Battle Of Saddlebags With These 5 Exercises
15:
Should You Be Doing Yoga
16:
Preparing For Your First Marathon Run
17:
Training For A Triathlon
18:
Including The Bench Press In Your Workout
19:
Top 5 Tips For Exercising in the Heat of the Summer
20:
Physical Activity Means Weight Loss
21:
3 Tips to Obtaining Sexy Legs For Summer
22:
Learn How To Lose Weight And Feel Great
23:
The Truth About Low-Carb Diets and Your Health
24:
Making Positive Life Changes
25:
How Long Does It Take To Build Muscles
For WebMasters
Link This Article - HTML Code -
Link This Article - BBcode -
Copy This HTML Code To Put This Article In Your Web Site.
Article URL : Get Fit Over 40 And Train Smart To Avoid Workout Injuries
Article Category : Fitness
Article Author : svpras