You thought you were doing everything right. You had the right gear, you thought you followed the right directions - but you're now sidelined with a weight injury, battling the discouragement and frustration that comes with a training obstacle. You could get mad, but why not get informed instead? There are common causes to injuries that can be prevented the next time around.
Not Enough Warm Up Time
There is no such thing as too much warming up. Considering that you are going to push your body as far as it can go during your workout - after all, you're typically working out to the point of muscle failure - you want to be sure that your muscles are primed and ready to for the challenge they are going to undertake. If muscles are not as ready as they should be, they won't be able to sustain the pressure, which means you are going to wind up hurt.
Be sure to give yourself at least 10 minutes of light aerobic activity before you begin your weight lifting. If you are in a gym setting, spent 10 minutes on the elliptical machine and then stretch before you make your way to the weight room. That warm up will not only prime your body for the task at hand, it will also put you in the mental state to tackle your workout challenges.
You Didn't Let Your Body Rest
You worked out in the weight room for five days straight and are now wondering why your body's broken down on you? Working out every day is an easy way to get injured. After a strenuous workout, your body requires time for muscles to repair and grow stronger. That doesn't happen during the exercise itself, but instead during that recovery phase. If you don't give your body time to recover, it weakens and opens itself up to injury.
Be sure to work rest into your workout routine. When a workoutaholic is forced to rest with an injury, it's almost a good thing - it's forcing that person to realize that he is not invincible and must listen to his body in order to achieve fitness goals.
You Cheated
For every right way to perform a strength training move, there are at least five wrong ways to do it. Cheaters really do never win when it comes to training - there will be some point at some particular weight at which the wrong method will result in an injury. What is unfortunate about this, though, is that some people don't realize they have been cheating until it's too late; they were taught improper form and thought it was the way to go until injury set in.
When in doubt, ask a trainer for tips. Always be sure to use straight lines and fluid motions while performing exercises. If it feels weird, check with someone to be sure you're doing it properly - odds are good that your body is signaling that something improper is happening.
 | Weight lifting a challenge that often intimidates would-be lifters, but you will see results and feel pride if you follow weight lifting tips. |
 | Upper body strength isn't limited to gym addicts. Upper body weight lifting routines can deliver optimal results in just two to three workouts each week. |
 | If you want to streamline weight lifting into a straightforward program with quick results, consider power lifting. |
Weight lifting exercises that will leave your body impressively toned can be performed right in your own home. |
If you are going to lift weights, be sure you're doing it right. Proper weight lifting techniques will help you see results while preventing injury. |
