Spring and summer bring warmer weather, sunny days, and more hours of natural light. If you’re someone who enjoys outdoor activities or exercising outdoors, these factors may leave you feeling motivated to spend more time outdoors during these warmer months. Compared to exercising indoors in the winter, outdoor activities can bring different risks to your health, including an increased risk of injury. Learn more about common injuries and how to avoid them so that you can enjoy the time that you spend outside this spring and summer.
If you suffer an injury, AFC Urgent Care West Long Branch is here to support you by providing rapid injury care on a walk-in basis so that you can get back to doing the activities that you love as quickly as possible. Our clinic maintains short wait times and is open 7 days a week with extended business hours. Simply walk-in, or schedule an appointment online.
Does Exercising Outdoors Increase Your Risk of Injury?
Exercising outdoors is a great way to increase the amount of time you spend outdoors when the weather is nice. Compared to exercising indoors during the winter months, being outside can increase your vitamin D levels and help improve your overall mood. It also can be motivating, because there are more people to interact with and more to look at.
Although exercising outdoors when the weather allows it is generally a good idea, there are certain risks associated with taking your workouts outdoors that you should be aware of. Uneven surfaces are a common cause of injury due to the tripping hazard. If you’re not paying attention to where you’re stepping at all times, you could risk rolling an ankle or falling and hurting yourself. Similarly, there are hazards such as cars and other people that you need to look out for while exercising outside.
Tips for Reducing Injuries While Exercising Outside Near Long Branch, NJ
Taking steps to prevent injuries is the best way to ensure that you can enjoy the warmer weather while it lasts! After a long winter off, it is always important to be aware of your physical fitness levels. Overdoing it too early can lead to injury. Always make sure to stretch before a workout to avoid muscle injuries and increase your workout times gradually so that you don’t overwhelm your body. Overheating and sunburns are also common during the warmer months, so prepare accordingly by timing your workouts appropriately and wearing sunscreen.
If you’re someone who lives in a busy metropolitan area, finding a running track or local fields that are well maintained is a great way to reduce your risk of injury compared to working out along a road.
Rapid Injury Care in West Long Branch, NJ
While there are preventative measures you can take to reduce your risk of injury, sometimes injuries happen without warning. If you do suffer an injury while exercising outdoors, it is important to seek medical care immediately. Continuing to work out with an injury can make it worse and untreated abrasions can lead to infection.
Seeking medical treatment for your injury will ensure that you uncover exactly what is wrong and can treat it effectively which will reduce your down time. Taking the time to properly heal your injury is important. Otherwise, you could risk reinjuring yourself in the future. X-ray imaging conducted by a medical professional is the best way to discover the severity of your injury to ensure that you can get the necessary treatment.
Walk Into AFC Urgent Care West Long Branch for Same-Day Injury Care in West Long Branch, NJ
Being aware of the risks associated with moving your daily exercise time outdoors is important so that you can take steps to prevent injuries before they happen. If you do suffer an injury, AFC Urgent Care West Long Branch offers rapid injury care for patients in West Long Branch, Eatontown, Oceanport, Tinton Falls, Monmouth Beach & Shrewsbury, NJ. We never require that you schedule an appointment to receive prompt care, simply walk into the clinic!
Our clinic is equipped with a digital X-ray suite so that our board-certified medical providers can accurately diagnose your injury and determine the most effective treatment plan. We offer same-day care with short wait times every day with extended business hours. Our clinic is able to accept most medical insurance plans and offers affordable care for patients who are paying out of pocket for their medical treatment. Walk into the clinic today!
