#GymFails: 5 Common Gym Mistakes You Should Avoid – Kansas City Muscle & Joint Specialists
15 January 2020 — Physical Therapy
Every year people add, “getting in shape” or “losing weight” to their New Year's Resolution list, and gyms become packed with workout newbies who haven’t done enough research to avoid getting hurt. The chiropractors and physical therapists at F.I.T. Muscle & Joint Clinic have seen it all when it comes to gym-related injuries. To avoid hurting yourself, here are some common gym mistakes you should avoid in 2020.
Mistake #1: Ignoring your trainer
If you’ve invested in a personal trainer, you should listen to what he or she has to say. They’ve been educated in best practices to help you reach your goals without harming yourself. Sometimes you may think, “well, I’d rather do it this way,” but it’s always best to follow their guide.
Mistake #2: Lifting too heavy
Don’t try to impress others by lifting more weight than you can. First, you’ll end up messing up your form, causing the workout to be ineffective. Second, you could really hurt yourself. Instead, start slow. Give yourself time to adjust, and over the next few weeks you can add more weight.
Mistake #3: Not warming up
Every time you workout, you should do some kind of warmup. Never try to lift weights or do cardio on cold muscles and joints. This can add tension, which can lead to strains and other injuries.
Mistake #4: Failing to have a plan
You don’t want to step foot in the gym without having a plan. Before you go, write down what your fitness goals are and the workout you want to do that day. Without a plan, you may end up wandering aimlessly around the gym, then going home feeling unproductive and unfulfilled.
Mistake #5: Repeating the same workout
All too often, people find a series of workouts they like, then do them over and over again. That’s only going to stall your progress and stop you from getting the results you want. Even if you like doing the same workouts, continuously change the number of reps or the amount of weight. Even better, switch up your routine every few weeks.
Gym mistakes happen to all of us. F.I.T. can help.
Anyone can get hurt in the gym, even if you’re extra cautious during your workout. Some common gym mistakes could lead to muscle and joint injuries that shouldn’t be ignored. Those injuries could even lead to a range of motion deficit that will only make working out more difficult in the future.
If you ever find yourself unsure of what you’re doing in the gym after an injury or after a long period of time off, let F.I.T. Muscle & Joint Clinic help you regain your full function. We offer a wide range of chiropractic and physical therapy services in Kansas City that cater to each of our clients’ unique needs.
