Many gym-goers injure themselves by pushing harder to be better than friends

A poll of 2,000 gym-goers revealed adults will hit the gym to keep up with friends but in doing so they fall foul and treat a simple fitness session as a competition.

Some push harder to be better than fellow health buffs and others will test their boundaries in a bid to impress, whatever the reason, this ‘go hard or go home’ mentality is resulting in injuries up and down the country.

Over two thirds agree a lack of sleep can also be the possible cause of injury, with 43 per cent saying they will often try and get a better night’s kip when they have hurt themselves following exercise.

Andrew Thomas founder of natural health company BetterYou, which commissioned the research, said:

This research shows that people are pushing themselves to the limit without establishing a suitable warm up and, most importantly, recovery routine.

Poor sleep patterns, muscle tension and aches and pains are all symptoms of a potential magnesium deficiency. This powerhouse mineral is vital for anyone starting a new exercise routine this New Year.

The study also found just under two thirds will forget to conduct a proper warm up, cool down and stretch routine during workouts.

And 60 per cent confessed they don’t know how to carry out such a regime safely without hurting themselves.

As a result, two fifths agreed failing to warm up properly is a common cause of aches and pains.

Millions of adults are experiencing cramps, back pain and stiff muscles during exercise with over a third agreeing it has affected their job as a result.

People admit to struggling to walk, pick things up off the floor and going up and down stairs because of niggling aches and pains.

Others said they even struggle to sit on the toilet, hug people or type.

With the majority of pain from fitness routines setting in within 12 hours after exercising and lasting an average of two and half days, it’s a wonder where people fit in the time to recover.

With the typical health enthusiast doing the equivalent of just over 25 minutes of exercise a day, it’s no wonder they are experiencing aches and pains more than once a week.

The research found just over one in five agree not having enough rest days is a likely cause of injury./p>

In spite of this, just one quarter will always allow themselves rest days between workouts.

Just under three quarters said recovery is important to them, but just over a third will treat their aches and pains with rest.

And gym buffs will typically give themselves just over a day to recover between workouts.

One quarter believe they don’t need to give themselves rest days with one sixth in fear of losing their fitness levels if they take time off.

And just under one in ten even confess to being addicted to exercise.

The majority of gym-goers head out in order to keep fit, with just over half staying in shape to take care of their health and keep their blood pressure down.

And one in ten hitting the treadmill in an attempt to make new friends.

Andrew Thomas added:

Many of us are time poor and yet recovery is essential to ensure that we can hit the next exercise session sooner and harder.

Magnesium is crucial to help speed up recovery by helping you improve muscle function and flexibility, maintain electrolyte balance and reduce fatigue. It’s also vital for skeletal strength and energy production, and will help you to sleep well after your workout through its ability to relax muscles.

Seven in ten of us suffer from low levels of magnesium. It’s a fact that we don’t get enough from our daily diet, and so a supplement that gets straight to where it’s needed is the way to recharge our systems.

Supplementing magnesium transdermally (through the skin) is a superior way to absorb this mineral, and has been proven to work five times faster than tablets. As it’s absorbed through the skin, it bypasses the digestive system straight into the body tissue providing a fast and effective dose directly to where it’s needed.