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Working out at home is a great way to stay moving during quarantine. However, it’s also important to stay safe while doing home workouts, which can be difficult, especially if you are new to exercising at home.
As more and more platforms are creating home workout videos, your options are endless–and many of them are free. However, before you commit to an at-home workout, there are some safety concerns to consider.
First, unless you are joining a relatively small zoom workout or have an individualized training session online, it is going to be difficult (or impossible) for the instructor to check on your form during the workout.
For people who are new to working out and are unfamiliar with the correct form for certain exercises, this can be dangerous and could potentially result in injury.
In regular workout classes, instructors provide feedback on your form and modifications if necessary. If they can't see you, they cannot help you make the proper adjustments.
Second, home workout videos are not always designed for beginners. Many trendy workouts on social media would be difficult for a beginner to replicate, and could result in injury if attempted.
As always, listening to your body (and its limitations) during a workout is crucial.
Third, many home workout videos neglect to mention the importance of rest days, which are necessary for recovery. Speaking to Popsugar, Cordelia Carter, MD, orthopedic sports surgeon with a speciality in pediatrics and director of the Center For Women's Sports Health at NYU Langone Health, emphasized the importance of taking a rest day.
This can help you avoid injury. With that in mind, choosing workout plans that incorporate rest days into the schedule is a good idea. It's also a good idea to pick videos that include a warm up and stretches.
If you are considering using this time at home to experiment with some workout routines, stay safe by keeping these warnings in mind.
