Martial Arts is a fantastic high-energy sport that helps promote mental and physical health. Offered in many forms, this cardio exercise has many benefits that help prevent and combat disease and improve the overall function of your body. However, as your body works hard to increase heart rate and build endurance, injury prevention is equally important for your safety and success.
Physical Activity and the Body
Martial arts are a high-aerobic or cardiovascular exercise that involves stimulation of the heart rate and breathing rate in our bodies. As described by MedicineNet.com, when your body participates in aerobic exercise, your heart pumps oxygenated blood to your working muscles. Mayo Clinic outline the benefits of training your body in martial arts, swimming, running, and other aerobic exercise.
- Increase in endurance
- Reduces risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, strong, and obesity
- Combats depression, anxiety, and promotes a healthy mind
- Helps clear your arteries
- Strengthens your heart
Participation in aerobic exercise undoubtedly provides several benefits for your mental and physical health. However, how do we protect ourselves from injuries associated with exercising? Legends MMA, Brampton, has the answer below!
How to Prevent Injury
Better Heath Channel confirms that compared to other contact sports, martial arts has the least amount of related risks. Although this aerobic exercise has a low risk of severe injury, preparing our bodies for combat is important.
- Stretching –With limited time in our busy schedules, we may pass on stretching. Research presented by the Mayo Clinic, a non-profit organization specializing in clinical education, discusses the importance of stretching. The core benefits include improving your body’s flexibility and range of motion in your joints, which can help decrease your risk of injury. Stretching is an important part of your routine as it also helps the body transport blood to your working muscles.
- Hydration – When you participate in aerobic exercise, your body needs water. Researchers for Human Kinetics, Asker Jeukendrup, PhD, and Michael Gleeson, PhD, provide findings that explain how important water is to your body. An athlete’s ability to perform high-intensity exercise “is reduced by as much as 45% by prior dehydration corresponding to a loss of only 2.5% of body weight”. The result of dehydration is a lack of oxygen the muscles, which could lead to injury.
Before participating in high-intensity sports, keeping the above recommendations in mind is important to help prevent injury. Remember to stretch, keep hydrated, and ask questions regarding movements and proper technique. If you’re looking for martial arts in Brampton, Legends Mixed Martial Arts provides classes in Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Savate, Brazilian, Boxing, Karate, and more. Contact us today to learn about our programs and how we can help you achieve your fitness goals.