Nutritionist James McKillop helps avoid injury when exercising

Exercise related injuries can happen out of nowhere: When exercising, it’s never a good idea to go straight from 0 to 60. Spend time stretching muscles before exercising. To stretch properly, slowly stretch the targeted muscles until there is tension. Stretch the muscles out for several minutes so that they’ll be flexible.
Tight muscles can cause imbalances in your body that could lead to injuries.

Don’t try to exercise through an injury. This will slow recovery time, and it can even cause the injury to worsen. Exercising with chronic pain is a recipe for disaster and may turn a temporary problem into a permanent one. For all injuries, seek medical attention immediately.

"Taking preventive steps to avoid exercise-related injuries is a smart step toward establishing a successful physical activity program," said Jim McKillop.

Warming up before exercise helps to loosen muscles, increase blood flow and prepare your whole body for exercise. Cooling down helps the whole body recover from exercise. There is some proof that warming up and cooling down can reduce muscle soreness after exercise. Warming up has also been shown to improve performance during exercise.