Exercising and playing sports are great ways to stay in shape and live a healthy lifestyle. However, a sports injury can set you back big time on your fitness goals.

Here are 5 ways you can help prevent injuries during sports and exercise activity.

1. Warm Up/Stretch
Before participating in sports or other physical activity, warm up by stretching. Muscles are more prone to injury if you don't warm up sufficiently before activity. Light jogging or walking can also help your muscles warm up.

2. Check with Your Doctor
Before beginning an exercise program or participating in sports, visit your doctor for a physical. Your doctor can let you know if you have any conditions that could make you more prone to injury and can give you advice for how to prevent it.

3. Don't Be a Weekend Warrior
Don't try to cram all your exercise into the weekend days. Ideally, you should spread your physical activity out over the span of the week. Aim for 30 minutes of physical activity each day. Squeezing too much physical activity into consecutive weekend days will make you more likely to sustain injuries.

4. Use the Right Equipment
If you are a runner, make sure your shoes are replaced as needed. If you are a cyclist, be sure to wear a helmet and proper gear. Whatever sport you participate it, wearing the right gear will help you prevent injuries.

5. Listen to Your Body
Exercise or sports should not hurt, and if it does, listen to your body and stop what you are doing. If running hurts your knees, it could mean you need better shoes or it could be time to try out a lower-impact sport. There is a difference between a "tough" workout and a painful workout. Pay attention to your body!

Looking for more information on preventing sports injuries? Check out our Health Library for some wonderful resources. Do you need medical assistance for a current sports injury? Visit the Human Motion Institute online at Medical Center of Lewisville to see how we can help!