A Safety Check For Weight Training
Monday, October 13th, 2008Weight training is great for your health, but you need to make sure you do it safely and properly. Here are some tips on how to stay safe and injury-free when you train.
An increase in Weight-Training Injuries
Injuries related to weight-training are on the rise. In fact, a 35% increase in weight-training injuries has been reported to emergency rooms between 1978 and 1998.
Soft tissue injuries such as bruises, abrasions, strains, and sprains were the most common injuries reported in the study. Some of the causes included unsafe behavior, equipment malfunction, lack of supervision, and inattention.
A Safe Activity Overall
However, this doesn’t mean strength training is unsafe. Strength training is still one of the safest activities, as long as it’s performed with safety in mind.
Safeguarding Your Workout
You don’t have to be a newcomer to fitness to be concerned about safety. No matter what your fitness level, you should give your strength-training program a safety check-up.
The best strategy is to hire a qualified, certified personal trainer. Although regular sessions with a trainer can be costly, you can still get a lot of benefit from one or two sessions.
If you’re new to strength training, ask to be introduced to exercises and equipment. If you’re a veteran, ask to have your form checked. Also, if you exercise at home, ask the trainer to evaluate your equipment.