HealthChat's Top Fitness
Getting The Most Out Of Jogging
Jogging remains a very popular means of getting fit. Most
importantly it is an excellent way of improving cardiorespiratory
fitness.
However, if you are planning to start jogging remember
the following:
- Warm up first - before running do at least two minutes
of warm-up exercises or a brisk walk. This reduces the
risk of muscle injury.
- Run at your own pace - never attempt to keep pace with
someone else. You should feel comfortable when running,
breathing regularly without muscle pain.
- Run with a good posture - your trunk should be vertical
with no leaning. Run with arms bent at the elbow and swinging
in a backwards/forwards movement. Hands should be relaxed.
- Keep to the soft - where possible run on soft surfaces
e.g. grass. Hard surfaces jar your joints, increasing
the risk of injury.
- Cool down - after jogging take time for your cardiorespiratory
system to return to normal. Walk around and relax your
muscles from head to toe. Breathe deeply initially and
gradually reduce your breathing rate back to normal. Never
crouch or bend over (reduces airflow to the lungs); or
sit/lie down (increases risk of cramps).
© HealthChat 2004
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