LONDON: The gym appears to be giving way to outdoor exercises. Research shows that one in three women are shunning working out at the gym. In an effort to workout in fresh air, 56% of health enthusiasts said they would definitely not be returning to the gym, femalefirst.co.uk reports. The increasing popularity of functional workouts, boot camps and small group personal training sessions has fuelled the growth in the number of outdoor exercise options.
Being cheaper is also one of the main reasons women have decided to ditch the gym. But people also admitted that they feel more comfortable exercising in a less confined space with people watching. There are some factors to take into consideration when considering outdoor exercise, particularly running. Managing joint pain is extremely important but difficult for any runner. So it is essential to keep a check on your body while jogging.
Fitness expert Kristoph Thompson shares his tips in managing joint pain to help prevent sporting injuries and maintain healthy strong joints, according to femalefirst.co.uk,
• Maintain a healthy weight: This can be beneficial for your joints. One study claims that losing about a pound of weight delivers almost a four pound reduction in knee joint load for each step.
• Warm up/cool down: Invest time to ensure the body is prepared for exercise by undertaking warm-up activities at the start of your session. The cool-down phase will help you to gradually reduce the intensity of activity and soreness in the joints and muscles.
• Strengthen muscles and increase flexibility: Flexibility injuries can occur when a joint is taken outside of its comfortable range of motion. Ensure you stretch your muscles before running.
• Allow time for recovery: Should injury occur, allow enough time for full recovery and seek professional advice if symptoms persist.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 18th, 2014.
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