EXERCISE: SPORTS AND ATHLETICS

April 1st, 2009 by admin in Healthy bones Osteoporosis Rheumatic

It is a truth universally acknowledged that regular exercise is good for the health. The huge interest in their own health that people in western countries have been showing in recent years has been accompanied by growing participation in many forms of exercise. There are many exercise programs and schemes to be found, so it is as well to make sure before embarking on any for the first time that they are safe and effective, with properly trained tutors.

Many people who take up sports or games do not follow a regular routine, and risk injuring their health rather than improving it. To be effective and safe, exercise must be regular, and a time of each day should be set aside for it. You should strictly follow a graduated program of exercises, and as far as possible make sure that you are building up muscular strength on both sides of the vertebral column equally.

Sports and athletics-Each sporting and athletic activity has its own techniques, which must be learned and practised, for preventing damage to joints, ligaments and muscles. Even professional sportsmen, athletes and gymnasts, who train constantly, quite often suffer from strains and sprains, and anybody who goes in for such activities without adequate training and preparation is very likely to suffer for it.

If you go in for sport as relaxation from work, you should be restrained in your ambition, and bring not too competitive a spirit with you which would make you disregard your health and safety.

One golden rule for sport which should always be followed is: warm up before you start. Gymnasts and ballet dancers always start with some gentle exercises designed to warm up joints and muscles which have not been used for a while. They know that to start to work cold is to invite injury. Warm-up exercises should activate the postural muscles; loosen and stretch all the leg joints and foot joints; stretch the arm and hand joints. If you intend to be involved in sport, it is important to train and play regularly. It is irregular training or playing which is a frequent cause of injury. Do not train or play when you are injured. In attempting to protect one injury you may precipitate another – for example, a knee injury may produce limping and aggravate a back problem. If pain persists see your doctor.

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