Wear and tear injuries can appear out of the blue and take a long time to heal. One of the best ways to deal with them is to prevent them from happening in the first place.
Below are three things you can do to prevent wear and tear injuries. Make sure to work them into your everyday routine so you can steer clear of common wear and tear damage.
Stretch Often
Stretching before any type of physical activity is really important if you want to avoid wear and tear injuries. Stretching makes your muscles flexible and strong so that your joints retain a wide range of motion.
Tight muscles and joints are far more likely to cause wear and tear injuries. When we are not physically active, our muscles and hamstrings get tight. If you force strain on tight muscles and hamstrings, you will increase the risk of injury. This is because tight muscles are shorter and are unable to extend all the way they need to during physical activities.
One of the best ways to prevent wear and tear injuries is to stretch your muscles on a regular basis. This isn’t something you can do once and see results immediately. Make sure to add stretching to your daily routine so that your body can gradually become flexible and your muscles get used to a variety of movements.
The best way to determine what your stretching routine should be is to see a physical therapist. A physical therapist will be able to assess your muscle strength and will be able to create a stretching routine that is catered to your needs and abilities.
Look Out for Warning Signs
One of the best ways to avoid wear and tear injuries is to listen to your body. For every activity, pay attention to any pain you experience. For example, your body shouldn’t hurt when you exercise. If it does, you should take the time to understand why you’re hurting. You may be performing the activity incorrectly – such as using the wrong parts of your body to bear the burden as you lift weights.
Following directions is crucial when it comes to preventing wear and tear injuries. When performing any activity, make sure you follow directions, use the right equipment and tools (such as the proper type of shoe), and get professional help if you have questions or need guidance.
If you are sure that you are performing an activity correctly and are still experiencing pain, there may be underlying issues in your body that you need to deal with. For example, if your feet hurt when you walk for extended periods of time, it’s possible you have a condition such as plantar fasciitis. If underlying issues go untreated, they can become worse and lead to injuries.
It is easier and much less painful to prevent injuries than it is to heal them after they happen. Make sure you look out for warning signs, so you can take care of wear and tear injuries as early as possible.
Take it Easy
Make sure to get enough rest. Your body needs adequate time to heal and recover every time it’s under strenuous conditions.
If you are doing the right stretches, following directions on how to do your physical activities and don’t have underlying conditions that are making your body hurt but are still getting wear and tear injuries, you may be pushing your body too hard. Your body needs time to get used to anything you do. So, if you start a new sport or activity, make sure to pace yourself so your body can get used to the stress you are putting on it. This is an easy way to prevent wear and tear injuries.
OrthoUnited is a patient-focused facility dedicated to helping you with all of your musculoskeletal system needs. If you would like to talk to a specialist about preventing wear and tear injuries or any other issues, call (844) 469-2663 to make an appointment with our trusted doctors today.
