When it comes to exercising you will find plenty of quotes that encourage you to work hard and push yourself beyond your body's limits.
If you have a trainer, they know how much to push you, but if you exercise alone, as most people do, you have to listen to your own body.
And one of the signs it's time to slow down is the pain. But most men just ignore the pain and continue their weightlifting program, which can lead to severe health problems in the future.
It's normal to feel your muscles sore during weightlifting, but when you feel actual pain, you should be taking a break. Here are the types of pain that should be a red flag when it comes to exercising.
Shoulder pains
One of the body parts that is prone to injuries during weightlifting is the shoulder. When you feel pain in your shoulder and you hear a clicking noise when you lift above your head you need to take a break.
Depending on the location of the pain, you might be suffering from a tear or tendinitis.
A doctor can diagnose the issue and recommend pain management treatments to cure the pain and reduce the inflammation. Depending on the situation, you might be able to continue to do light exercises or your doctor might recommend you to pause your routine until your shoulder is cured.
Elbow pain and burns
If you feel a sharp pain in your elbow when you do bicep curls it might be the symptom of the so-called tennis elbow, a condition which might turn into chronic pain in your elbow. If this condition is left untreated, it can severely impair your daily function, preventing you from picking up and holding even the lightest objects.
Severe back pain
One of the most ignored red flag of weightlifting is the back pain. If you feel a severe pain in your back, accompanied by numbness or tingles, you might have damaged your spine or a nerve.
The culprits for this type of injury are squats with weights, especially when you try to push yourself and lift more than usually. Another common reason of severe back pain due to lifts is the faulty position during the exercise. If you try to do the squats with lifts by holding a rounded lower back you can easily hurt the spine.
Deep groin pain
When you notice a deep pain in your hips or groin you might have a torn labrum. This injury is often accompanied by stiffness in the groin area and can require surgery, in severe cases.
The labrum is a cartilage which absorbs shocks and acts like a joint lubricant. A tear in the labrum can usually be fixed with rest and anti-inflammatory pills, but to avoid it in the future, work on strengthening your glutes and pelvic muscle.
One of the best ways to know when to keep pushing yourself and challenge your limits is to listen to your own body. When you're in pain, you should take a break and allow your body to heal itself until the next workout.
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