When it comes to exercise and health, there’s a lot of dodgy advice out there (including plenty from friends and family). We explode some of the myths which might put you off or lead to injury.
1. No pain no gain
Aching muscles are only to be expected when you first start exercising or you push yourself hard, but pain in joints, muscles, bones and ligaments are not normal or recommended. You could be overdoing it. Start off slowly to avoid injury and don’t carry on if it hurts.
2. Stretching prevents injuries
It’s a bit of a given that you need to stretch before jogging or other strenuous exercise to avoid injury or muscle pain, but research doesn’t back this up. One Australian study of men in the army found that it was a waste of time. Participants who stretched before training sessions had the same number of leg injuries as the ones who didn’t.
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