Ever experienced sudden pain during a workout? Chances are that you tweaked a muscle due to an incorrect posture. Whether due to a loss of focus or poor form, getting hurt when exercising can be a huge setback. Here are a few common workouts where people go wrong with their posture and the damages of an incorrect posture.
- Squat
Don’t let your knees drop inward. This common mistake can be remedied if you actively spread your knees apart.
- Deadlift
Avoid low back injury by maintaining your natural lumbar curvature.
- Shoulder Press
Decrease the risk of shoulder impingement by mimicking the natural plane of shoulder motion.
- Plank
Spare yourself unnecessary spinal compression by preventing your head and belly from sagging to the floor.
- Running
Land as softly as possible to decrease impact on your joints.
Poor posture while working out can cause:
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Back, Shoulder and Neck Pain
Back, shoulder and neck pain are the most common effects of poor posture, and the most noticeable. Poor posture can cause a misalignment in the spine and lead to even more pain. It also causes joint stress.
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Tension Headaches
Tension headaches are another common side effect of poor posture. The tension in your neck, shoulders and spine eventually works its way up to your head and causes a tension headache.
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Poor Breathing
The lungs function optimally when the diaphragm and rib cage can properly expand. Poor posture restricts blood and oxygen flow, which makes it difficult to breathe. Proper posture becomes important when engaging in physical exercise simply because the body requires a higher oxygen intake to meet the physical demands of the activity.
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Induces Stress
An inadequate flow of oxygen forces the heart to speed up to provide enough blood for the oxygen cycle. This results in a vicious cycle that stresses your vital organs and eventually, you.
To avoid the problems caused by incorrect body postures while exercising, make sure you are well read about the exercises that you do. A friend in need is a friend indeed, so ask your gym buddy to watch you and help you with maintaining the right posture. Experts are experts for a reason, invest in a trainer to help you with a technique and see the results for yourself!