Why Rest Days Should Be Part of Your Workout Routine

How Rest Days Support Your Fitness Routine

Although many people believe you need to train every day to see progress, that isn't the case. Rest days are just as crucial to your physical fitness.

Maximize Your Results

While many people believe that working out every day shows discipline and dedication to improvement, taking rest days is imperative when it comes to seeing results from your workouts. When you exercise, your muscles experience microscopic tears. When you’re resting, your body is able to repair these small tears, allowing your muscle tissue to heal and grow in size.

Reduce the Risk of Injury

Although it’s normal for your body to feel fatigued 2-to 3 days following your workout it’s also easy for your muscles to experience burnout when they’re pushed too far. When you continue to push your limits physically without a recovery period, your body is prone to overuse injuries.

How to Have an Effective Rest Day

Taking time off from an intense workout routine doesn’t mean you have to spend your rest days lazing about. There are plenty of activities that you can do to continue to support your physical fitness while taking it easy.

Some things you can try on your rest days include:

• Stretching: This helps to increase flexibility, improve your posture, and promote better circulation.
• Foam rolling your major muscle groups: This helps to ease muscle soreness and inflammation.
• Drink water: Staying hydrated helps to distribute essential nutrients throughout your body and prevents muscle cramping
• Take a hot shower or bath: This helps to relieve muscle tension and soreness while also promoting better circulation.

Primary and Specialty Care in Henry County

At Henry County Hospital, we’ve been providing compassionate healthcare since 1919. When it comes to primary and specialty care, each patient can expect individualized care that meets their needs. From education to emotional support, we focus on your individual health and wellness.