You take those trips to the gym to keep you healthy and in shape, so knowing how to use the gym safely is essential. We all get injured from time to time but gym accidents are preventable. Here are 5 gym safety tips:
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Make Sure You are Healthy- The most important thing you can do is make sure you are healthy enough for your exercise routine. Get a yearly checkup and discuss your fitness plans with your doctor to make sure you don’t need to practice any special cautions or restrictions.
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Use Proper Form- Performing any exercise properly is very important to prevent injury. You may not even realize that leaning forward on a treadmill or lifting improperly could cause you major strains and pains later.
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Get a Personal Trainer- A personal trainer can be essential in gym safety. A trainer can demonstrate and assure you are performing your exercise routine properly to prevent injury. Having a personal trainer is one of the best ways to help you get the most out of your gym time, while keeping you safe.
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Warm-up- Don’t just jump right into your routine. Stretching and doing warm-ups can help prepare your body for exertion. Warming up helps get blood flowing to muscles and doing just a few minutes of walking or light exertion can help get you started safely.
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Practice Equipment Safety- When using any type of equipment with moving parts you should always pay attention so you don’t squash fingers or toes. Rack your weights when done to prevent someone from tripping. Check pins and collars on weight machines and barbells to make sure they are properly placed. It is also important to be aware of others and what equipment they might be using near you to avoid any accidents.