Working out can be a strenuous and adrenaline-pumping activity. You get to move and exercise your muscles, joints and your cardiovascular system as you do the different workout routines.
People may think that workouts are safe and free from injury. No one is safe from workout injuries. Beginners or advanced level gym buffs face the same kind of risk when it comes to workout injuries.
Even though prevention is a good way of avoiding workout injury risk, there can still be unavoidable instances wherein workout injuries can still happen.
Therefore, it is important that anyone who wants to work out at the gym must have the basic knowledge on what to do in case of injuries that happen while working out.
Know the possible workout injuries
Knowing the possible injuries that can happen when working out is the first thing a gym goer has to consider. This can also be a good way for prevention measures as you can be aware of the body areas you need to pay extra care when working out.
The following are the most common injuries that can happen during the workout:
- Muscle pull
- Muscle strain
- Sprained ankle
- Knee injury
- Shoulder injury
- Wrist injury
- Shin splints
- Inflamed tendons
Know your own weak spots
Now that you know the most common injuries, the next thing you need to know is which parts of your body need protection of need careful exertion.
Paying careful attention to your weak spots will make you cautious in your exercise and workout approach. Also, you can discover ways of strengthening these weak spots in a proper and injury-free way.
Know how not to aggravate injuries
If by some unfortunate chance you do get injured during a workout, you need to be careful not to hurt yourself more. For example, during cases of muscle pull, muscle strain or inflamed tendons (tendinitis), remember to cease any activity in the injured area.
If the arm muscles are injured due to lifting a heavy object, carefully let go of the heavy object. If it’s your dominant hand or arm that gets injured, have your other hand support the setting aside of the heavy object to avoid further strain or injury.
Learn to immobilize the injured part of your body until first aid can be applied.
Know who to ask for help
If the pain caused by the injury is excruciating but not incapacitating, ask for help from the nearest help professional.
If the gym has a medical clinic within the vicinity and a nurse or doctor stationed in it, go there directly to have your injury evaluated and treated. If no nearby health professional can be found, then contact health professionals within your area.
In the Texas area, you can reach a San Antonio chiropractor, a part of the San Antonio Health and Injury Center team of medical professionals, when it comes to workout, sports occupation or traffic-related injuries. The Health and Injury Center advises that “injuries and pain associated with workouts can vary from person to person and the effects of the injury can vary.”
Thus, gym goers and fitness enthusiasts should keep in mind to have injuries checked, no matter how small, to avoid complications and further injuries than can have long-term effects on the body.
Also, having injuries checked and treated by a medical professional can hasten recovery and can be provided proper rehabilitative care to get you back on track with your fitness or workout activity in no time.
Know when to stop or give it a rest
Be sure to follow all the instructions given to you by your attending medical professional. If medicines are prescribed, follow the indicated dosage, the quantity of needed medicines and the number days for treatment.
Never go less or more than the prescribed dosage to avoid unwanted complications. If a rest and rehabilitation period is recommended by the medical professional, follow the prescribed number of days of resting and the scheduled days for rehabilitative sessions.
Following medical instructions to a tee can be helpful for faster recovery. In a worst case scenario, if the doctor or medical professional advises you to stop working out, do not argue or disobey the advice.
The recommendation comes with a reason. The attending medical professional may know about a certain condition, the extent of the damage and its possible impact to advise you to stop the workout for your own good.
You can ask for further details as to the reason why you are advised to stop, and ask for another workout or fitness activity options as alternatives. Do not risk further injuries, health complications and medical emergencies by going against medical advice.
If stop, look and listen is an effective reminder for crossing streets, you can use this set of useful words when it comes to workout injury care. Stop means to cease activity when you are injured to avoid further pain and injury.
Look means look for the injured part of your body, assess the damage and apply first aid if needed. Look can also mean looking for a medical professional to tend to your injury.
Listen means to listen and follow the attending medical professional’s instructions for medication, rest and rehabilitation. Following these steps can help you recover from injury fast and hit the gym again very soon.