Stretch, don’t snap

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Derek VanHorn
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  It sounds like a good idea one day, and feels like a bad one the next.

With only a handful of weeks of summer left, you're not alone in wanting to get out of the house and make the most of Misawa's weather.

"It's not always the nicest weather here, so people want to get out and be active," said Daniel Hershey, 35th Aeromedical Squadron exercise physiologist. "That's great, but you need to prepare your body for whatever you plan to partake in."

Whether it's a snapped Achilles tendon from spontaneous pickup basketball or lingering shin splints from outdoor runs, the missing ingredient to an injury-free workout is usually the same - there was no warm-up.

"No one really wants to warm up," Hershey said, "but if you don't, you're only setting yourself up for a date with physical therapy."

Tech. Sgt. Liz Torres, 35th Medical Operations Squadron, said the physical therapy clinic here sees more than 3,000 patients annually, and that around half of them are athletic injuries. She said improper training and lack of preparation are the main reasons patients end up in therapy.

"It's important to do a simple moving warm-up -- high knees, jogging or emulating some of the sporting activity you're about to do," Hershey said.

If you're just starting to work on your beach body, you're late to the party. But as it's been said - it's better late than never. Just don't expect it to happen overnight.

Hershey said pushing through injuries or taking on an intense workout without previous training will only set someone back further on the recovery trail. Start slow, and build up to longer and heavier workloads with plenty of time for recovery.

"Your body has to adapt to the stress you're about to put it through, and you've got to give it time to do that," said Hershey, who previously worked here as a personal trainer.

While Hershey loves his job, you're probably better off not crossing paths. He regularly works with those on injury profiles and who have failed military physical fitness tests.

"Obviously, I like to see the other side of fitness, where people are working to become better before a setback," he said.

There's nothing wrong with being spontaneous and getting some exercise, just don't do it at the cost of your safety.