Health Tip: Protect Your Muscles

Conditions that raise your risk for strain and injury

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(HealthDay News) - It's important to stretch and warm up your muscles before exercise.

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The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons lists these common risk factors for muscle strains and injury:

• Tired muscles that have been worked too hard.
• Tight muscles that haven't been properly stretched.
• Weak muscles that haven't been strengthened through training and exercise.
• Muscles that haven't been warmed up before exercise, sports or other activities.
• Muscle groups that work together that don't have properly balanced strength. For example, a stronger hamstring than quadriceps, or vice versa.

-- Diana Kohnle