How to Prevent Injuries When You're Working Out at Home

Hands up if youve hurt yourself doing something stupid during a home workout.

Andtwicenow Ive had a dumbbell fall apart mid-lift because I hadnt tightened the collars enough.

I got off easy.

The gym doesnt have low ceilings in its dance studios.

Their weights dont fall apart.

Were all in new territory now.

If you got some new home gym equipment, you may not be used to using it.

If youre improvising with the things you have around you, you may not be aware of their limitations.

So here are a few tips.

Watch out overhead

Your ceilings may be lower than you think.

Check your overhead clearance before you dive in.

You found a tire you’re free to flip?

Great, but dont forget that theres a serious risk of bicep tears if you do heavy tire flips.

Take a minute tolearn how to do it safely.

Same goes for any other lift thats new to you, especially anything heavy or awkward.

Picking up heavy rocks?

Get your technique down before you go all-out.

Resistance bands can snap unexpectedly, even in the best of times.

The rubber breaks down over time, so most brands recommend you replace them every few months.

Check the manufacturers website for guidelines.

Even if you dont normally worry about the collars, home is a different place than the gym.

Double up if youre not sure how secure they are.

While were at it, dont trust anything.

The same goes for wherever you anchor your suspension trainer.

Again, check the instructions that came with it.

If youre doing hanging exercises outdoors,pleaseremember that dead tree limbs snap easily.

They may look sturdy, but when they break they can do so suddenly.

Dont do pullups off a branch that conveniently has no leaves on it.

If you arent sure how much weight a branch can hold, dont risk it.

But bolts can work loose and bad decisions can come back to haunt you.

Make a habit of checking your space and your gear before every workout.

Are the bolts on that pull-up bar still tight?

Is the ground dry?

Are those resistance bands still looking fresh?

Iprobablywont trip over it, but why not remove the risk?