Main menu

Pages

Get fit and avoid injuries after reopening the gyms and returning to training after a long pause

 

Get fit and avoid injuries after reopening the gyms and returning to training after a long pause

 


After a long hiatus due to the quarantine in all the Arab world and the closure of everything, including gyms,

Many countries in the Arab world announced the easing of the stone and the reopening of the halls again, thus returning to training after a long pause

If you are interested in getting back in shape after a layoff due to a quarantine or a busy life, or you may have experienced an injury or illness. Or whatever your story, the result was that you stopped following your exercise routine, and going back to your old days became almost impossible. There is no need to let your fitness issue frighten you or cause you frustration, all you have to do is keep the following tips in mind and you will be back in shape as soon as possible.

 

Reduce the intensity and intensity of exercise by 20%:

 

Even if you stop exercising for a short time, you will be surprised to see how much conditioning you have lost in such a short period. “The truth is that cardio fitness begins to weaken a little within only three days, but it is also an indicator of fitness that can be recovered relatively quickly,” says Michael Olson, PhD, professor of exercise science at Auburn University.

After you stop exercising for a week or more, reduce the intensity of your previous exercise routine by at least 20%, break up your traditional exercise routine, and give yourself time to recover while exercising, even if you didn't need that time when you were exercising Sports and going to the gym. Do the exercises for 10 to 15 minutes, drink some water, then add another 5 to 10 minutes. Do not rush back to training for 30 minutes straight at your previous pace.”

As for muscle fitness you previously enjoyed, it stays a little longer than cardio, as you start losing muscle mass within three to four weeks after you stop exercising, says Laurel Saglimpin, a fitness trainer based in Lynchburg, Virginia: If you stop exercising for months or years, you can expect weakness in your bones, ligaments and tendons, which is when your risk of injury is particularly high.”

Therefore, we recommend reducing the weight of the weights, the number of repetitions and the number of sets of exercises by 20%, and increasing the rest periods. We also recommend paying attention to how you feel during and after strength training. The best way to monitor whether your exercise is appropriate and safe is to be aware of the quality of your repetitions, and stop when you feel weak, or when you notice that your repetition is slow, or That your body began to break down and weaken during training.”

In terms of how often you exercise per week, start with moderate-intensity cardio three times a week, leaving at least one day between training days. And perform resistance and strength exercises twice a week, taking two days of rest between the days of exercises to give your muscles enough time to recover. Rest is an important part of any exercise plan, whether you are at a beginner, intermediate or even an advanced level of fitness. After a few weeks, you can add an extra session of cardio and an extra session of strength training if you like.

 

Choose your exercises carefully:

 

You should rebuild your fitness from the ground up, as you did when you were training to get a strong body and high fitness in the past. Take advantage of exercises that train the whole body (instead of exercises that focus on a single muscle at a time) and that move many joints at once, such as squats, push-ups with biceps, and leg raises). “Avoid doing exercise routines that include a lot of jumping, plyometrics, core twists and fast movements while you improve your performance and speed in cardio and strength training,” said Laurel Saglimpin. Intermittent high-speed exercises can be very difficult in the beginning, unless you allow yourself enough time to rest between intervals.

If the reason you stopped exercising was an injury, you need to be extra careful. "If you're a runner who wants to get back in the running, it might be wise to start with some non-weight-bearing exercises like cycling at the gym," says Pete McCall, associate faculty member in the Department of Exercise Science at the University of Mesa. If you are a weightlifter, it may be best to re-train with sports machines - which provide stability to your body - before resuming free weightlifting. ”

Another problem that you will face when you stop exercising is gaining excess weight. Carrying extra body weight can wear and damage joints during high-impact activities like running and jumping, (follow these tips to get you started on your weight loss journey). So I recommend sticking to swimming, cycling, weightlifting, hot yoga and low-impact aerobics if you are heavier than your ideal weight, and seriously focus on adjusting your diet so your weight is more suitable for the joints and bones of your body.”

 

Set yourself a reasonable time frame for getting back into shape:

 

The longer you stop exercising, the more time you need to regain your former fitness and strength. "For the average person who exercises three to four times a week, it will take about 4 to 8 weeks to return to full strength," McCall says. But no matter what type of exercise you do, we advise you not to rush. And remember that exercise is nothing but physical stress, and doing too much of it in a short time may lead to injury and further hinder you from reaching your fitness goals. So it's best to gradually increase the exercises in order to progress – like lifting one or two pounds more or increasing the duration of your run by five minutes.” And even if you are not injured, the rush and rush to get results may lead to severe pain in the muscles, and increase the period that the muscles need to recover between exercise sessions. .

Another way to make sure you don't overdo it too soon is to break your workout sessions into smaller sections, such as walking briskly for 15 minutes in the morning and another 15 minutes in the evening. “Spending just 10 minutes exercising will result in positive health changes such as less fatigue, more energy, and better sleep,” Olsen says.

 

Don't focus too much on how fit you were before:

 

Getting back into your former fitness can be discouraging, especially if you clearly remember how fit you were in the past. Saglimbin recommends focusing on the present moment rather than crying over spilled milk. "Keep track of your exercise performance metrics — like pounds you lift and distances you run — and enjoy watching them increase from week to week," she says. You can even plan to reward yourself with a massage at a spa, once you reach one of your big fitness goals.”

Comments

table of contents title