Getting enough exercise isn’t just good for your health. It’s also the best way to prevent injuries and keep your body functioning at peak performance levels for years. Unfortunately, there’s a right way to exercise and a wrong way to get your sweat on. If you’re not careful, you could end up making mistakes when exercising that will leave you working with a Wyoming physical therapy team for months just to get back to normal. Here are a few key mistakes you’ll need to avoid with your exercise routine.

Not Stretching Before AND After

Stiff muscles can make working out painful at best and lead to injuries at worst. By stretching both before and after your workouts, you’ll keep your muscles loose and better able to move through their full range of motion. That flexibility can make all the difference in keeping you limber and reducing your risk of injuries as you work out.

Following the Same Routine Every Day

When you find a routine you love, it’s easy to get into a rut. Unfortunately, following that same routine over and over is a great way to overdevelop certain muscles and neglect others. This makes your body unbalanced and increases the likelihood of muscle strain in the underdeveloped muscles. By changing your routine up and working out different muscle groups throughout the week, you’ll help your body stay balanced and healthy.

Focusing Only on Cardio

Everyone seems to focus on cardio and cardio alone. After all, it’s what helps you burn calories and reach your ideal weight. But doing so can make the rest of your body more prone to injury and muscle strain. Worse, it can cause your weight loss to plateau. Instead of focusing solely on cardio, start incorporating some strength training elements into your workouts. You don’t even have to lift weights. Just running through some bodyweight exercises is enough to build functional strength without building bulk. Those muscles you build can also help your body burn more calories and decrease fat stores, making it easier for you to maintain your ideal weight in the long run.

Pushing Yourself Too Hard, Too Fast

New workout goals often come with the temptation to push yourself as hard as you can, as quickly as you can. But pushing yourself as hard as possible too fast can lead to serious muscle strain and you’ll need weeks to recover if you want to work out without pain. Instead of going all out on your workouts, take things a bit slower. Ease into routines and build your stamina and strength over time. Then, once you’ve built up to it, you can start pushing yourself harder. 

Avoid Making These Mistakes at All Costs

No matter what your goals are, make sure you avoid making these mistakes when you start exercising. As long as you stretch, change up your routine, and give yourself permission to rest when you need to, you’ll be able to reach your goals and get fit quickly. If you start to feel a twinge that won’t go away, schedule a consultation with the physical therapy team at North Platte as soon as possible.