Exercising is a great way to ensure you have a healthy cardiovascular system. Usually, when people think of improving cardiovascular health, they think of running, cycling, or even swimming. However, weightlifting can also be a great cardiovascular activity. In fact, researchers have found that weightlifting can be better for your heart and overall health than other options. Below are several weightlifting tips for injury prevention as you boost your cardiovascular fitness.
Many people believe that lifting weights can cause more injuries than running or other aerobic activities. However, that is not the case. Weightlifting can be a great training tool as it helps with both overall strength and injury prevention. This is because the stronger your muscles the less likely you are to sustain injuries. Additionally, weightlifting can help you to increase your range of motion and reduce fatigue. This improves muscle function, performance, and efficiency which all help your body to handle stress.
Make sure that you warm up your muscles before lifting any weights. This could be by stretching thoroughly or spending 5 minutes doing cardio. Warmed-up muscles not only help prevent injury but also help you be more aware of your muscles.
When lifting weights, ensuring your form is correct is crucial. After all, lifting weights improperly can cause stress on the body, which can lead to injury. Furthermore, proper form improves your performance and allows you to lift more weights for longer. To ensure you have proper form, keep these things in mind;
Ensure that you practice your weightlifting in the mirror so you can monitor your form. Watching your form in the mirror helps you correct the wrong posture. If not, you might injure yourself, and in the worst-case scenario, you might have to go through orthopaedic surgery.
While lifting weights can help reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke, too much can be a bad thing. Ultimately, a 30-minute weightlifting session can be more beneficial than an hour-long session. Plan your weightlifting sessions by paying attention to your body’s cues. As you begin to feel tired, take a break, step back and breathe. After all, your workout should make you feel invigorated. To create a great weightlifting routine, select 3-4 exercises for each day, and slowly increase your weight with each set.
Try to avoid working out the same muscle groups each day. Focus on creating variety in your schedule. Ensure that your weekly routine includes all your muscles, including the often-forgotten back muscles. If you are unsure of how to incorporate each lifting exercise into your routine, consider hiring a personal coach to help.
After every workout, make sure that you are relaxing your body mindfully. Start with gentle stretches, focusing on the muscles you just exercised. Then, finish warming down by stretching the rest of your body and walking around.
Use the weightlifting tips above to help with injury prevention, and improve your overall health by adding lifting to your workout routine. Ensure that you stay mindful of any previous injuries you may have, and listen to your body. Creating a regular weightlifting routine will allow you to not only increase your strength but also your cardiovascular health.
