(ARA) – There are all types of “weekend warriors" and everyone should do something active says Desiree Summers, host of Vessel Fitness. Perhaps you overdid it raking the leaves or cleaning up the garden. Maybe you played flag football with the family. Or you decided this is the time to finally start getting in shape. Any increase in activity or tackling a new one, can lead to aches and pains.
Usually these twinges and twangs don’t signal serious problems. But they can be seriously aggravating. Here are some tips on how to avoid (and if necessary), treat weekend warrior woes.
* Ease into activities. If you haven’t exercised for a few months or longer, start slowly and build up to longer, more strenuous activities.
* Take household projects step by step. Trying to till an entire garden or chop a winter’s worth of wood in one weekend is sure to result in sore muscles. Plan ahead so you have time to spread household tasks over a few weekends if necessary.
* Use the right equipment. For yard work, look for ergonomically designed tools. Make sure your exercise gear is right for you – do your running shoes fit properly, is your bike the right size?
* Take a break. If you feel like you’re overexerting yourself, stop and take a break, or quit the activity for the day.
* If you overdo it, cold therapy is recommended for muscle inflammation.
Your choices for cold therapy are ice packs or topical pain relief. But keeping an ice pack on a sore elbow during daily activities isn’t always practical, and topical pain relief formulas often have a medicinal smell and produce extreme sensations of cold, which many consumers do not like.
Courtesy of ARA Content
Desiree Summers is the host and co-creator of the television show Vessel Fitness on iLife TV.