Muscle strains, and muscle-related injuries in general, are some of the most common workplace injuries. These strains can seriously get in the way of your work, and could become even worse if not taken care of. However, taking some preventative measures can help reduce the risk of these injuries…
Muscle Strains: How To Avoid Them
Be aware of the symptoms
The first part of avoiding muscle strains is knowing what they are. These strains (also known as pulled muscles) occur when you push your muscles a bit past their usual limits. In these situations, your muscles begins to slightly tear, usually near the tendons. For example, strains can occur if your job requires you to do a lot of heavy lifting, or constant physical activity.
A strain, however, is not a full-on tear, but could increase the chances of one. Usually, you can quickly tell when you strain a muscle. There’s generally a quick feeling of pain or soreness in the strained muscle, which might be followed by bruising. When you feel this, you’ll know you probably have a strained muscle.
Know your limits
Muscle strains tend to come when you either push past your body’s natural limits, or when you get worn out and don’t properly rest. Therefore, a big part of avoiding these injuries is knowing what your own personal limits are. While you might be tempted to just push on with your work, you’re putting yourself at risk of a serious injury.
Don’t push yourself past the weight limit you’re comfortable with lifting. Instead, either get help or use tools or machines to move those heavier objects. Also, take breaks when you feel like you need to. Giving your muscles time to relax can help with avoiding strains.
Stretches are key
Still, doing constant heavy lifting isn’t the only way muscle strains can occur. In fact, they could occur even when you’re doing work well-within your limits. In these cases, it could be because your muscles aren’t loose enough. A great way to avoid this situation is by doing some stretches beforehand.
There’s plenty of stretches out there that you can do for your arm, leg, and back muscles. These stretches will help loosen and warm-up your muscles, getting them ready for the work ahead. Plus, most of them are quick and easy to do, meaning you can always have space and time to do them.