Frequently asked questions about weightlifting injuries with brief and worthy answers that will help you to recover faster and stay injury-free. What injuries can you get from lifting weights? What are the most common causes of weightlifting injuries? What are the best strategies for preventing weight-lifting injuries? How long does it take to fully recover from an injury? Just to name a few.
Will a postexercise ice bath help me recover more quickly?
The logic behind ice baths relates to the normal wear and tear of exercise. Hard exertion causes “microtears” in your muscles; these microtears stimulate new growth that makes you stronger. But this damage can also cause soreness that interferes with the next day’s workout, so quick repair is essential. Ice baths cause blood vessels to constrict, forcing waste products out of the affected area. It’s almost like wringing out a sponge, Then, when the area warms up again, fresh blood rushes in to help the healing process. At least, that’s the theory. But scientists putting ice baths to the test under laboratory conditions have produced mixed results. Try and see how it works for you!
Should I exercise when I’m sick?
The answer to this question seems obvious: if you’re sick, your body needs its strength to fight off the infection. But exercise is a deeply entrenched habit for many people, so when illness strikes, they want to know if they can exercise without doing themselves harm.
For any sort of serious illness, there’s no doubt that you shouldn’t exercise. The question usually arises with less serious conditions like colds, which are unpleasant but not debilitating. Although there isn’t a great deal of research on the topic, many researchers apply a rule of thumb known as the “neck check,”
People are generally free to exercise if their symptoms are above the neck, like a runny nose, sneezing, or a scratchy throat. But symptoms below the neck like fever, aching muscles, or a chest cough are grounds for caution.