Learn why you should NEVER perform Behind-the-Neck Exercises
Please don’t be like me! Several years ago I was warned to stay away from behind-the-neck exercises and movements, and do you think I listened? Of course not.
And as a result, I acquired a rotator cuff injury that slowly gets worse and worse over time.
It is often said that it is much smarter to learn from the mistakes of others than to have to suffer the consequences yourself. I’d say that I agree with that.
Just in case you are not quite sure what a “rotator cuff” is, its a handy little muscle on the back of your shoulder that literally helps your arm to “rotate” around the shoulder socket.
For most people, this muscle is not supposed to rotate far enough to take the arms too far behind the head.
Behind the neck exercises not only pull this muscle to the edge of its natural range, but often have additional weight resistance involved that cause even more stress to the area.
If this is done repetitively over time, the muscle will often get injured. Another thing that may happen is that it will become inflammed and swell to the point where the bone around it pinches the muscle. Both conditions are chronic, painful, and should be avoided at all costs.
So, if there are any behind-the-neck movements in your current workout, you will want to find more shoulder-friendly alternatives. And if such an exercise is ever recommended to you by a friend or exercise program, ask or look for a better alternative immediately.
You only get one body! Take care of it.
Exercise Facts You Must Know!
Fitness-oriented gym classes were designed to make fitness and good nutrition fun and achievable and to maximize the amount of movement during the class period. Class size was limited to 14 students to allow for increased instructor attention, increased opportunity for motivation, and less time standing in line.
The key to keeping up with a resolution to get fit is finding an activity, or range of activities, that you enjoy. Not everyone sees exercise as fun, and doing something you find boring just because it’s good for you is very difficult to sustain. But you can take steps to make it more enjoyable.
Eye Exercise
Close your eyes as tightly as you possibly can. Squeeze the eyes, so that the eye muscles contract. Hold this contraction for three seconds and then let go quickly. This exercise causes deep relaxation of the eye muscles and is especially beneficial after the slight strain caused by the eye exercises. Blink the eyes a few times.
Exercise tip for an exercise benefit:
Get yourself a stationary bike. They’re easy and handy and quiet. So you can hop on it and exercise when your little one is taking a nap. Play your children’s games with them: hopscotch, kick ball, jump-rope or what ever they come up with.
Exercise facts
Evidence shows that regular exercise can:
1. increase levels of HDL or “good” cholesterol,
2. lower high blood pressure,
3. help improve body composition by burning fat,
4. promote healthy blood sugar levels,
5. promote bone density,
6. boost the immune system,
7. improve mood and reduce the chance of depression.
Generally speaking, the greater your stamina, the greater are the health benefits. If you want to improve your stamina, it’s important to start gently, increasing the frequency of your activity before increasing how hard you exercise.
Try out new sports or activities until you find something you like. When you find an activity you like, try exercising with a friend, at a pace that still allows you to talk. Activities that you can do as a family or with friends may help with motivation.
