Sunday, March 29, 2009

The importance of avoiding muscle injuries

By Jon Cardozo

Starting out on any project can be a lot of fun. There's usually excitement, and this is enough to get people going for a while. Unfortunately, this period is more like a honeymoon and doesn't really last long. Building muscle, for example, takes consistency over long-term.

Even though a person might be eager to get started, rushing ahead with misinformation can lead to major problems down the road. Not only can this impede your progress in a strength training program, but it can also lead to injury and illness if care is not taken in the beginning. Here are a few tips to help you avoid pain in the future.

The first thing you should do is address any preexisting injuries before taking on an intense muscle building program. Getting a checkup with your family doctor is a good start, but you may need to consider some other therapies such as myofascial release to clear up any trigger points or scar tissue. Even some forms of massage therapy can be quite helpful, and many are surprised by the relief that these therapies can provide.

You may have to shop around to find the right chiropractor or massage therapist, but there are some real gems out there. The right kind of therapy can effectively treat injuries to your muscles and connective tissues. If you ignore these problems and try to get started on your weightlifting program anyway, you can make the injury much worse.

Another important thing to keep in mind is the recovery program. You should never underestimate the importance of resting in between workouts. Some people make the mistake of going to the gym day after day and following an extremely intense workout program. The truth is that your muscles need rest in between workouts since that is when they grow. Too many beginners try to build their muscles all at once.

Remember that muscle grows because you're exposing it to a heavier weight than it is used to. This growth occurs after the workout is complete, and the body needs time to rebuild the muscle cells. This is why many well known trainers only recommend a few hours of workouts per week, believe it or not.

If resting is important, then sleep is absolutely crucial. You should understand your muscles are not the only parts of your body that need to recover. Your entire body, including your nervous system and immune system, need to recover from your workouts. Moreover, deep sleep is necessary to build your muscles as effectively as possible. Do not underestimate the importance of sleep. Simply lying around and taking it easy isn't good enough either. You have to devote enough time to sleep each day.

The last bit of advice I would like to give you before you begin your new weightlifting program has to do with listening to others. When you start going to the gym or hanging out in a bodybuilding forum, you'll probably be exposed to many different opinions that contradict each other. It's tough to sort it all out, but you need to look for people who have proven their philosophies and achieved success. Look for a trainer who has proven how to build muscle naturally without steroids and even with no supplements (or a minimum of supplements).

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