Springing into an Active Lifestyle: Conditioning Tips
- Category: Rehabilitation, Healthy Living
- Written By: Henry County Hospital
Springing into Physical Fitness
Whether you're a professional athlete or you're working out to stay in shape, conditioning is essential when it comes to building a well-rounded fitness routine. Read on to learn more about how you can ease your way back into physical activity.
Take it Slow
Although you may be eager to jump right into your fitness routine, it’s essential that you don’t overdo it. While you may have specific fitness goals in mind, it takes time to build up your strength to attain those goals. If you do too much too soon, you’re at a higher risk of sustaining an injury.
Whether you’ve trained before or you’re new to working out, it is recommended that you start out with short workouts at a low intensity. Once you’ve become comfortable with this routine, you can start increasing the duration and intensity of workouts.
Focus on Each Area of Fitness
While many people think of strength as the top concern when hitting the gym, there are actually 3 major areas of your physical fitness.
When building your workout routine, be sure to work in exercises and stretches that target the following:
- Muscle strength
- Cardiovascular endurance
- Flexibility and range of motion
Remember to Take Rest Days
Though it may be tempting to work out every day when beginning your journey toward better physical health, it can do more harm than good. Remember to take off at least 1 to 2 days a week to allow yourself to rest. Rest days allow your body to recover and help to prevent overuse injuries.
