The whole point of exercise is to keep the body looking and feeling great. But if you don’t take the proper precautions, you might end up doing just the opposite, leading to a need for sports injury rehab. If you want to avoid chronic pain, follow the tips below from the physical therapists at Associates in Orthopedics & Sports Medicine in Dalton, GA.

Sports Injury Rehab Experts Share 5 Exercise Tips

1. Stretch Before & After

If you want to avoid muscle tears, stretch before your workout to help the tissue become more elastic. It’s also important to repeat your stretches after exercising. When you’re active, lactic acid builds up in the muscles—increasing the risk of soreness post-workout. Stretching helps promote circulation to reduce fatigue and speed up muscle recovery.

2. Warm Up  

No matter what your skill level is, you should always take time to warm up before working out. Easing into the routine with light activity helps boost circulation, ensuring muscles receive the fluids and nutrients they need to handle the demands of exercise.

3. Drink Enough Water

Without proper hydration, there is an increased risk of muscle cramps and torn cartilage—a problem that can require extensive sports injury rehab. Drinking enough water is particularly important during high-impact exercises, as perspiration causes the body to lose a lot of essential fluids.

4. Fuel Your Body

Eating healthy carbohydrates prior to a workout ensures muscles receive ample amounts of glycogen—a substance that supports hydration to prevent tears and other damage. To help your muscles recover from your workout, you should also consume adequate levels of protein on a regular basis.

5. Know When to Rest  

Even when you follow the above steps, it’s important to recognize the body needs time to restore itself after a workout. If you jump back into action too quickly, you won’t give tissues enough time to heal, increasing your risk of injury. To limit stress on the body, sports injury rehab specialists recommend alternating workouts and not ignoring cues that you need to heal—such as muscle fatigue.

While most fitness-related injuries heal in a few days, there are times when symptoms may not go away. If you’re experiencing considerable pain, soreness, or mobility issues after a workout, turn to the specialists at Associates in Orthopedics & Sports Medicine. As a leading sports injury rehab center in Dalton, GA, this clinic will accurately pinpoint problems and develop custom treatment plans to restore your physical abilities. Backed with state-of-the-art equipment, these physical therapists will also help you develop better fitness practices to avoid injuries in the future. Visit them online for more information on their services, and call (706) 226-5533 to schedule an appointment today.