Get Outside And Exercise
The weather is starting to warm up (finally!) and that means that many of us are heading outdoors to get in our exercise. It’s also the time of year when we start seeing a lot of sports-related injuries. After being shut in after a long winter, many of us get wrapped up in the excitement of nicer weather and forget what we need to do to ensure we’re taking care of our bodies when exercising outdoors.
Whether you’re running on a track or a trail, getting in a few rounds of tennis or golf, hitting the hiking trails or hopping on the bike for a long ride, it’s essential to properly prepare in order to avoid injury. The season’s just beginning and you don’t want to be forced to skip it thanks to an injury, right? Here are a few tips to ensure that doesn’t happen.
Take It Easy
If you haven’t worked out in a while, inside or outside, it’s probably best to start moderately. Don’t try to pick up right where you left off last time you exercised outdoors. You’ve got all spring, summer and fall to get back into condition, which can only come with time. The more you push yourself early on, the more likely you’ll injure yourself and not be able to continue working out the way you want.
Wear The Right Footwear
When exercising outdoors, no matter what the sport, it’s important to get the right footwear. Our feet play a key role in everything we do outdoors, and different sports often require the use of different muscle combinations. Wearing the wrong type of footwear can do serious damage to our feet, but also to our back if they don’t offer the right type of cushion and support.
Stretch It Out
We might sound like a skipping record when we say this, but we can’t stress stretching enough. Generally speaking, it’s good to stretch both before and after a workout. But also consider stretching a little just when you wake up, even if you don’t intend to work out that day. This will considerably help you stay limber on the days you do.
Now Get Outside And Enjoy The Spring Weather!
While no one ever wants to intentionally injure themselves, always know that if you do hurt yourself, we’re here to help. We work with patients to develop personalized recovery plans that as fast and safe as possible. We want to get you back out there as quick as possible, but we also can help you develop a long-term understanding and approach to physical fitness.
If you’re experiencing chronic nerve pain that just won’t quit, you may be a candidate for spinal cord stimulation. If you’d like to learn more, contact us to schedule a consultation. Please call Pain and Spine Specialists in Maryland at 301-703-8767, in Pennsylvania at 724-603-3560, or in Virginia 540-433-1905 to make an appointment or use the form on our site to send us a message.