Exercise is important, but working out always comes with the risk of injury. If you get hurt while working out, it can really feel like a slap in the face and put a damper on your fitness plans; so to remember the keys to injury prevention, remember: SLAP (Stretch, Limits, Ask, Pace)
- Stretch - I can't stress this enough: STRETCH, STRETCH, STRETCH! Loosen up those muscles before you start a workout. Even if it's a short workout, you can really do damage to your body if you start working with cold, tight muscles. Stretch after a workout to loosen them up again and help reduce muscle pain.
- Limits - I am all for challenging yourself, but you have to know your limits. If your body says it has had enough, don't push past those limits. Listen to your body and don't over do it! If your body says something is off, or that you are done - STOP!
- Ask - Know what you are doing before you do it. Take the time to learn proper form and if you don't know how to do a certain exercise, ASK!
- Pace yourself - if you are just starting out, don't jump right into multiple sets of an intense workout, and don't use heavy weights. When you are learning a new exercise, take the time to learn the proper form first, and then work on increasing reps and sets.
Even the most simple exercise can cause injury, so just remember to SLAP!