Common Workout Injuries & What To Do About Them

Injuries are a common occurrence when it comes to working out. Whether you're lifting weights, doing cardio, or even just walking outside in the winter cold - your body is going to take a beating.

This article will go over some of the most common injuries that people experience while working out and what can be done about them.

Preventing workout injuries

You're mid-workout and you suddenly feel something no one wants to feel: A snap/twinge that leaves you hobbling away... 

So, how did you get here, to this point? What could you do to prevent these types of injuries?

Did you stretch properly before starting your session?

This should always be done before lifting weights, doing cardio, or even just going for a run outside in the winter cold to help prevent injury.

Also,  did you warm up BEFORE stretching?

Before starting your workout session it is important to do some light activity that will get your heart rate going and blood flowing properly throughout all of your muscles.

This could be like hopping on a stationary bike, jogging in place (or walking), etc.

This generally lasts between five and fifteen minutes depending on how much time you have during whichever part of the day this may be happening.

Did you use proper form when working out?

It is important to work with good form while exercising because if you don't then one small thing might cause an over-exertion of a certain muscle and possibly lead to injury.

When lifting weights - be sure you have your shoes on, especially if you are doing so more than casually as some injuries from this come from tripping over feet/shoes while trying to lift heavy weight or perform intensive activities with dumbbells, etc.

Also, remember that form is key!

While many people think squats are just bending down and standing up again they can actually cause serious damage to the lower back region if not done properly which could result in long-lasting injury. 

Always check for proper form before beginning any exercise session.

Treatments for common workout injuries 

Did you know that approximately 1.5 million people go to A & E each year due to injuries they've received from exercising?

When it comes down to the more common injuries like strains and sprains some basic first-aid can help heal these before seeking medical attention. This, of course, varies depending on severity but as a general rule:  keep your injured body part elevated (if possible) and use ice packs for swelling.

Exercise should be avoided until full recovery is achieved which could take anywhere between three days and six weeks - again this depends on how bad the injury was. Be sure to seek out professional opinion if any question about whether or not stretching/ice etc. will still do damage!

What to do if you have a new injury

If you've recently injured yourself while working out it is important to know what kind of injury this is. For example, if the pain is on one side only and sharp then there's a good chance that it may be something like bursitis or a strain/sprain (depending on severity).

If the pain seems more widespread than just in one area though it could mean some other type of tissue damage that would require proper medical attention before moving forward with any workout plans.

A common mistake people make is to try and work through it. While you may feel this is a quick way to heal the injury, it really is best not to - muscles need rest after being injured, they don't need more stress put on them.

If at all possible cut out cardio workouts completely for the time being as these are generally going to be harder on your body than resistance training will.

Always seek medical advice if unsure about doing any activity that could re-injure yourself or make symptoms even worse so you aren't caught off guard by something small turning into something big in no time!

This can help prevent long-term damage from occurring which would mean recovery times take much longer...

When should I see a doctor about my injury and what are some warning signs that I need medical attention?

If you have a new injury that is extremely painful,  if it seems like something more serious than what you think it might be (e.g. broken bones/serious sprain), if there are any signs of infection such as redness or swelling, and especially when in doubt!

This way the doctor can take a look for proper diagnosis and treatment plans to get back into working out without causing any more damage than has already occurred which could lead to chronic pain issues down the road - not fun at all!

What exercises should I avoid?

It's important to know what activities will cause further harm to an injured body part so these should definitely be avoided until full recovery is achieved. If your joint is inflamed this means rest from anything that puts pressure on it and icing the area regularly.

If your injury is a muscle strain or pull, avoid any weight training exercises as well as cardio activities such as running until fully healed again to prevent further damage from taking place to these muscles.

This can be frustrating because you may feel like you're getting nowhere but rest assured, just keep up with whatever treatment plan has been put in place by your doctor and everything will heal nicely!

For those of us who love working out knowing what we shouldn't do might sometimes not help much when our bodies begin protesting after a little while...

When this happens it's important for people to know their limits - if something hurts don't push through it! While going slow could seem less encouraging at first remember that it's all about safety and doing things right.

If the pain is bad enough to stop you in your tracks, listen to that! Sometimes we can get so caught up with working out or running/lifting weights etc that we don't think about our bodies' limits - this won't help anything at all.

Even though it might seem like a good idea on paper (e.g. "I've made more progress today than I did yesterday") if something isn't feeling quite right then rest is what needs to happen for healing purposes.

Don't let workouts be an excuse to push yourself past any sort of limit because when muscle soreness kicks in afterward there won't be much fun had by anyone involved.

The benefits of seeking treatment right away

As always, it's definitely worth taking the time it takes to make an appointment with a professional.

They can help you develop a treatment plan and let them know how your pain progresses so they can tell if things aren't getting better or worse and adjust accordingly (e.g. switch up medications/treatments).

This way we avoid long-term issues down the road which is always going to be helpful for staying healthy in general... If at any point along this journey someone feels like something might not be quite right then that's what doctors' visits were made for...

How to pick a physical therapist

When the time comes to get treatment for an injury it's important that you choose someone who can effectively help your body heal itself.

This isn't always easy unless people are familiar with physical therapy services themselves but overall, choosing a professional should be based on their credentials and years of experience rather than something like cost which will vary greatly between different offices...

As seen in this article there are many ways injuries can happen while working out - even when we think our form is good or things seem fine.. It's up to us as individuals to figure out what works best for our own bodies so if something doesn't feel quite right then pushing through isn't your only option.

The benefits of deep tissue massage therapy 

This type of massage is great for helping people recover from any sort of injury because it works out the knots that form in your muscles - this could be why some types of injuries (e.g. muscle strains) tend to also cause soreness and inflammation at first.

The only drawback with deep tissue massages might be their cost but can always check local studios or ask around about student discounts!

Massage therapy has helped many athletes throughout history so there's no doubt that these treatments are beneficial even though they may not seem like something fun to try...

Benefits of acupuncture for injury recovery

While acupuncture may seem like an odd type of treatment to some, it's definitely great for helping people recover from all sorts of injuries - especially if they're chronic in nature.

The benefit here is that there are no side effects so you can go about your day feeling good overall.

People who have tried this tend to praise its effectiveness so while pain relief might sound too good to be true (e.g. "I need my body back"), it could still help with everything from mild discomfort to the most severe long-term issues.

It's up to us as individuals though when figuring out what works best for our own bodies; trying something new isn't always easy but at least we don't risk breaking the bank doing these things!

The  benefits of yoga for injury recovery

The benefits of getting a massage can definitely be seen in other types of treatments too.

Yoga is one that's been around since ancient times and has helped millions upon millions of people throughout history - this isn't surprising when you look at the science behind why it works so well...

Wrapping up

Prevention is the best medicine for workout injuries. The sooner you reach out to a physical therapist, chiropractor, or other qualified healthcare professional about your injury, the better off you will be in terms of being able to heal and getting back into your regular routine as soon as possible.

If you have any questions about your injury or are unsure if you need medical attention for it, consult with a physical therapist.

Physical therapists can help to give advice on how to prevent injuries and treat them once they occur.

They work closely with patients so that they feel confident in their ability to move around after an injury occurs. By reaching out early enough, many problems can be avoided completely!