Strength training by lifting weights is an excellent way to help you get stronger, lose weight and feel healthier. It’s important, however, to lift weight properly to avoid injury.
Enlist the Pros to Help
A lot of the injuries I see come from improper lifting techniques, such as patients not bending their knees or forgetting to lift with their legs. If instead, they start lifting more with their back, that’s how they end up getting injured.
To avoid injury, always start your first couple of lifting sessions with a personal trainer or a coach at your gym. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. A lot of times people go the gym and are reluctant to seek assistance as they think they’ll look silly or should know how to lift properly. There are plenty of individuals who have been lifting for years, and they can still be using improper techniques.
If you are new to weight lifting, getting help from a professional will help ensure you’re using correct lifting techniques. We want you to start off on the right foot.
Warm up and Cool Down Properly
Before you pick up your weights, it’s always a good idea to warm up first. I recommend either riding a bike or getting on a treadmill for 5-10 minutes before you begin to lift. I don’t recommend stretching prior to lifting. Because a lot of times it will loosen up the muscles and it might leave you more prone to injury when you’re lifting. A good warm-up will get the blood flowing. Once you break a sweat, you’re usually ready to go. The warm-up process activates everything that will help to protect your muscles when you’re going to lift.
Afterward, a proper cool down is getting some good stretching in. I recommend another 5-10 minutes of stretching whatever areas that you just worked out.
Remove Nerve Interference With Chiropractic
In addition to lifting correctly, getting regular chiropractic care is an important part of your wellness arsenal. Chiropractic can remove the nerve interference that could be going to the muscles. Essentially there could only be 50% of the power going to the muscles because there’s something going on in your spine.
Seeing our South Philadelphia chiropractor to get adjusted allows your muscles to function fully, so you get a better workout. On the flip side, after you work out you also recover faster, and you can build muscle a lot quicker as everything’s functioning properly and working the way that it should.
Discover how chiropractic can help you feel your best. Contact our office today to schedule an appointment!