Common Workout Mistakes to Avoid

To achieve a balanced workout, the sports medicine doctors at Heartland Orthopedic Specialists suggest having your athletes work in various planes of motion. Using only seated workout machines can cause muscle imbalance and predispose your athletes’ bodies to injuries, while using a variety of workout methods, including side-to-side exercises, rotating movements, standing, and seated exercises, allows your athletes’ bodies to work out in a way that’s similar to how they use them in their everyday lives.

“It’s important for your athletes to vary their planes of motion throughout a workout,” explains Dr. Eric W. Nelson, sports medicine doctor at Heartland Orthopedic Specialists. “However, before adding new moves to their workout routine, they must master the fundamentals of each movement.”

Dr. Nelson says that if your athletes try to perform an exercise without a thorough understanding of the fundamentals of the exercise, they can end up with an injury. Additionally, he cautions athletes of trying to perform a workout that is too complicated.

With a rise in the popularity of high-intensity interval training (HIIT), many athletes may mistake complex movements with impactful exercises. Dr. Nelson suggests having your athletes increase the intensity of their workouts by improving their range of motion, speed, and technique, rather than by adding more complicated movements.

Following these tips will help your athletes stay safe and make the most of their workouts and practices. If one of your athletes experiences a workout-related injury, schedule an appointment with one of the sports medicine doctors at Heartland Orthopedic Specialists by calling (877) 460-0453 or by clicking here to request an appointment online.