Is a fear of injury holding you back?

When it comes to exercise, fear of injury can be a significant barrier that holds some people back. Of course, it’s important to take safety measures and precautions to keep yourself injury free. However, you shouldn’t let the fear of injuring yourself hold you back from trying new forms of exercise and reaching your health and fitness goals.

Whether you fear the risk of developing a new injury or aggravating an existing problem, it’s important to understand that exercise can actually help to prevent injuries and promote the healing of chronic injuries. This is why physical therapists prescribe exercise to their patients who are dealing with sports injuries, aches, and pains.

While it is normal to feel some level of discomfort during exercise when you’re working your muscles hard, it is important to distinguish between the discomfort associated with exertion and the pain associated with injury. Starting with low-impact exercises and gradually increasing intensity and duration can help you build up your tolerance and confidence.