Sunday Story...Injuries

Injuries happen. As we age, we need to take every precaution to prevent injuries that could prevent us from working out. The fact is, we're always going to get a little tweak here, a little pull or strain there. However, the idea is that we won't have an injury that stops us. When we must stop training, that's when we go backwards. We need to avoid going backward at all costs.

That being said, we also need to push ourselves to the edge of our comfort zone occasionally. So, how do we do that and avoid injury? One way to do that is with a proper warm-up. A proper warm-up will: 

1. Raise my core body temperature

2. Get my muscles warm and supple

3. Have my heart rate raised just enough to be ready to work

Another way to prevent injuries is to engage in some form of mobility training. This is not part of your warm-up, but rather something you regularly do. Mobility includes both strength and flexibility exercises. 

Another part of injury prevention is knowing when to stop. If we have a very sharp pain and it feels like you're stabbed with an ice pick, that is an indicator that you need to stop. We need to stop and assess: "Is what I'm doing wrong? Is the movement causing that pain? Or is the pain now going to exist without the movement?" If the pain persists without movement, you must stop.

If I make a minor adjustment here and there, I can continue to work. I might bring the weight down, reduce the load, and lower the intensity, but I can continue to move. It might be strained or tweaked, but it's not injured. 

As we age, it becomes increasingly important to understand our bodies. Back in the day, when you were in your 20s, you could work through injuries and recover more quickly. That may no longer be the case as you get into your 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond. Be smart, train hard, live long and healthy.

If you're interested in learning how to build muscle and strength, sign up for a free fitness assessment at www.crossfitodyssey.com or reach out to me directly, and let's get you started on your journey to extraordinary results.

John Mariotti

www.sunday-stories.blogspot.com

www.crossfitodyssey.com

775-338-2412