Quite a bit has been written about how to build muscle effectively. You can find many different books and websites devoted to the subject of weightlifting and muscle building. Unfortunately, not all of these resources devote much time to injury prevention.
Quite a bit has been written about how to build muscle effectively. You can find many different books and websites devoted to the subject of weightlifting and muscle building. Unfortunately, not all of these resources devote much time to injury prevention. It's easy to understand why. After all, most beginners who are eager to build muscle quickly probably find the subject of injury prevention boring. Most new trainees would probably rather learn how to "get ripped" than to bother with safety tips or advice about recovery methods. Let's face it, though. If you do pick up an injury, it can put you on the sidelines for quite a while, and where will your muscle building program be then?
With this in mind, here are three quick tips for avoiding injury:
1. Stretch on a regular basis. It would be hard to overstate the importance of stretching if you want to prevent injuries while training. If you train consistently without doing any stretching, your muscles and tendons can become short and taut. This will significantly increase your chances of injury. Stretching, on the other hand, lengthens the muscles to increase flexibility. Have you ever seen bodybuilders who are really huge that can barely bend over to touch their toes? A consistent program of gentle stretching can keep you from becoming one of those guys. (note: Instead of outright pain, you're looking to experience a mild tension. Overstretching can cause injuries as well, but don't let that stop you. Find yourself a good resource in the subject of stretching.)
2. Don't lift beyond your means. You've probably been told not to spend beyond your means, right? Likewise, you shouldn't try to lift weights that are beyond your abilities. You need to challenge your muscles, but overdoing it can quickly lead to an injury. Forget about trying to rush through your program or trying to impress others in the gym. Gradually increase your weights, and you'll get there eventually.
3. Consider using joint supplements While the exact effects may not be proven yet, there is enough evidence for you to at least consider some of the supplements. Fish oil in particular is highly recommended for reducing inflammation, and the food and drug administration now acknowledges that Omega-3s (like those in fish oils) may reduce the risk of heart disease. You should also consider taking flax oil, glucosamine, and similar products that help reduce inflammation and protect your joints and connective tissue.
This is certainly not an exhaustive list, but hopefully it will get you started on the road to preventing injuries.
Why do bodybuilding supplement companies get away with it
I've made the point repeatedly that you can build a large amount of muscle naturally and safely without supplements (and definitely without steroids). In this article, I wanted to tackle an interesting question that came up recently in one of my conversations. Namely, why do supplement companies do so well?
Why you should take antioxidants to build muscle
I've had a lot of negative things to say about bodybuilding supplements in my previous articles. After all, the bodybuilding supplement industry is a huge industry that relies on human nature. What do I mean by this? Well, I believe that many people are looking for an easy way out to their problems, and this is especially true when it comes to improving their physical health or fitness.
If you want to have great looking abs
It's obvious that many people are eager to get in shape and improve their physical appearance. If this weren't true, you wouldn't see so many advertisements on TV for the latest weight loss pill or exercise machine. These companies do well because people are always looking out for the easiest way to get in shape.
