The Latin dance-inspired fitness craze, Zumba, is an excellent way to get a good cardiovascular workout without making you feel like you’re exercising. As a result, the popular workout is a huge hit among women who have never exercised before. But therein lies a problem. Due to poorly executed motion, Zumba can cause muscle strains and injuries, particularly to the knees and hips.
On a weekly basis, orthopedic surgeons and hospital emergency rooms are seeing injuries. Some of the most common ailments include:
- Knee injuries:(ACL tears)
- Hip injuries: labrum tears, bursitis
- Back injuries: lumbar strains
- Ankle injuries: sprains, fractures
- Leg injuries: shin splints
Zumba is rigorous, in a typical class you burn up to 500 calories an hour. However, the classes are so fun participants can get caught up in the activity and not realize they’re overexerting themselves.
One of the biggest complaints from participants is pain in their knees. For many people, the solution is as easy as changing their sneakers. In Zumba, you spend a great deal of time moving from side to side and pivoting and swiveling on your toes. Sneakers, which are used for running have a thick tread that makes these movements difficult and can cause extra pressure on the tendons that hold your knee in place. Experts recommend basketball shoes because they are built to handle quick stopping and turning.
- To reduce the impact on the body, make sure classes are conducted on hardwood floors, which have a softer impact on the body.
- As with any exercise class, you should always warm up and cool down, skip moves that seem too difficult and make sure you drink plenty of water.
- Find an instructor that suits your fitness ability. In fact, it’s a good idea to observe a class before joining a gym, so you know what to expect.
- Do not overdo it. If your muscles feel overly strained or if a move is too painful, stop immediately.
- If you experience any pain or injure yourself, you should contact a medical professional immediately.
If you have been injured due to the negligence of another individual or as a result of a dangerous or defective item malfunctioning, we urge you to contact a personal injury lawyer in Chicago right away.
<< BACK TO BLOG POSTS