Tips To Avoid Injury While Jogging On A Treadmill

If your primary fitness goal is to lose weight, joining a gym and hiring a personal trainer is a good start toward achieving your desired outcome. Provided that you also make healthy changes to your diet, it's possible to lose weight by focusing on a fitness regimen that includes plenty of aerobic exercise. Your personal trainer will likely get you started on jogging on the treadmill. If you haven't previously done so, this workout will require a bit of an adjustment period, but soon you'll be successfully jogging under the watchful eye of your trainer. The last thing you want is an injury that slows your progress; here are some tips that can help you to prevent one.

Keep Your Feet Low

You may fall into the habit of taking tall strides as you run on the treadmill; this can often occur as you get used to the feeling of the ground moving beneath you. Tall strides mean that your feet have farther to fall, which results in a significant impact. Every time your feet land on the treadmill, you're creating a small impact to your lower-body joints. Over time, this can leave you with sore knees, for example. If you're noticing knee pain or you're just concerned about your stride height, consult your personal trainer for stride advice.

Build Up Over Time

You shouldn't try to jog for an hour the first time you step onto the treadmill. While you might be eager to burn calories and begin to transform your physique, overexerting yourself can potentially lead to injuries, especially if you've been rather sedentary in the past. Talk to your personal trainer about how long you should jog during each workout. Based on your fitness level and body type, your trainer will give you specific goals. You might jog for just 10 minutes the first time, and then gradually increase your workout length over time, for example.

Don't Lean Forward

If you're feeling a little uncertain on the treadmill, you may find yourself leaning forward so that you can securely hold onto the machine's handles. While this posture may make you feel less at risk of slipping off the back of the machine, it can put stress on your lower back. Over time, you may develop back pain as a result of running with this posture. Your personal trainer can teach you the proper body position while you jog and demonstrate it for you. This way, you'll be at less risk of developing an injury that halts your workout progress.

For more information, talk to a professional like Medical Fitness and Wellness Group.