Whether you participate in weightlifting for exercise or sports performance, you are at risk for injury if certain movements are done improperly. It’s vital that you educate yourself on the correct lifting form for whatever exercise you’re doing. Equally as essential, understanding your limits and not exceeding a weight that you cannot handle may help prevent injury. At Spine & Sports Rehabilitation Pain Management, our physical therapy in Islandia can help treat an injury that you may have experienced while lifting at the gym. Contact us to schedule an appointment with one of our sports medicine experts. You should also consider researching possible triggers for weight lifting injuries.  

Common Areas of Injury

Weight lifting injuries not only affect your workout routine, but they also harm your overall quality of life. Here are some of the most common injuries, along with advice on what to monitor:

Back:

Caused by improper lifting and bad posture, herniated disks are ubiquitous in weightlifters and can break your lifting career. Deadlifts, bench presses, and rows are the usual offenders here. Sprains, strains, tears, and stretches can all occur with constant or incorrect exercises, all of which may require assistance from our physical therapy in Islandia to help treat these injuries.

Shoulder:

A variety of issues can stem from the misuse of the shoulder, all of which usually pertain to exercises such as lateral raises and bench/shoulder presses. Most people know about rotator cuff injuries happening from misuse, but it can additionally cause SLAP (Superior Labrum Anterior and Posterior) tears too. These injuries are extremely painful, and due to their nature as tears, will require physical therapy services to heal properly.

Knee:

All standing and squatting lifts are going to be included in this group. Partaking in repetitive leg lifts, including lunges, hack squats, deep knee bends, knee extensions, and jumps can pull and tear on the tendons in your knee. More specifically, the patellar tendon is the most common offender and might tear or even snap if you’re not careful. Thankfully, our staff is highly skilled in treating injuries of the knee, shoulder, and back. 

Preventative Measures

Firstly, it’s important that you never try to do something unsafe, unusual, or outside of your normal routine. This is not referring to progress and development, which is natural with commitment. This is instead referring to the massive amount of injuries that are sustained from incorrect weight lifting techniques or faulty equipment. You should never attempt to try to go too fast with your lifting progression, instead, focus on gradual improvement. 

Progress comes with persistence, and getting irrevocably injured because of your pride is not a wise choice. Spine & Sports Rehabilitation Pain Management in Islandia knows that you want to be the best you can, but we ask that you do so at a pace that fits your level so that you may correctly manage your body.

Additionally, make sure that when you partake in heavy lifting, you do so in a safe and coherent manner. Try to refrain from lifting alone, as you’ll likely need a spotter for heavier sets. It’s best to lift alongside someone that you trust. Alternatively, consider learning from the pros for some well-versed experience on your side. Many newer lifters (even some old ones) never learn the correct techniques for their lifts, and incorrect lifting can put immense strain on your body. 

Physical Therapy in Islandia

Weightlifting injuries can sneak up on you, and occur when you least expect them. Whether it is a sudden injury or one subtle improper movement that gives you chronic pain, injuries at the gym happen even when we think we are already experienced, weightlifters. If you think you might be doing something wrong, want to check, or want a second opinion, consult a trusted friend within the community. Additionally, if you think you might have overdone it in the wrong way or have sustained an injury, contact an expert for physical therapy in Islandia here at Spine & Sports Rehabilitation Pain Management to get personalized care.