50 People Share Their Injuries That Are Not Funny But You Can’t Help But Laugh

Social psychologist and personal trainer Jennifer Fidder says that, in general, people who are less flexible and lack muscle strength and balance are more prone to injuries.

In a workout context, mistakes that often lead to accidents, especially with beginners, include improper form and choosing a weight that is too heavy.

"It’s important to first get familiar with an exercise and practice proper form before increasing resistance. Skipping the warm-up and jumping straight into heavy weights can also lead to injuries, particularly around the shoulder area," Fidder explains.

Certified triathlon coach Kristen Hislop stresses that weakness is a huge trigger for injuries. "I tell my high school athletes that if you can't balance on one leg for 10 seconds after the age of 60, you've lost ten years off your life. They always need to do research and then tell me I am correct. If you can't balance on one foot, you are more likely to fall. As we age, falls can cause breaks and worse."

She adds that doing too much too soon and our imbalances can also contribute to injury proneness.

"We are born pretty perfect. As we go through life, we have injuries and learn patterns of movement that create imbalances. Our bodies are incredibly adept at compensating. So while we might come back to activity, we are not moving as we should. As we add more and more small injuries, they really start to compound," Hislop explains.

Another thing that is important to know to avoid accidents is that injuries can happen at any age.

"Younger bodies are often more forgiving and generally more flexible, but that doesn’t mean they are immune to injuries. Their healing process tends to be faster, though, largely due to better blood flow, which supports tissue repair. Higher levels of growth hormones and stronger immune systems are additional factors that contribute to quicker recovery from wounds and injuries," Fidder says.

"Kids who are growing and going through puberty are at high risk for injury. Bones grow faster than tendons and ligaments, which can create true aches and pains. Kids have a tendency to want to go from zero to 60, and while they may not be sore, this can result in injuries. Kids also don't want to talk about something hurting, fearing that they might be pulled from a game," notes Hislop.

"On the flip side, injuries are incredibly common for older adults. Our healthcare system focuses on disease and fixing something afterwards. My son just graduated from the University at Buffalo with a Physical Therapy doctorate. At graduation, they encouraged the grads to go out and focus on health versus disease. We'd all be better off if we focused on doing more and doing it better. We should focus on being strong, lifting weights, working on balance, and working on any imbalances."

Something else we can do to reduce our risk of injuries is to be proactive and work on our balance and strength on a daily/weekly basis, says Hislop.

"There are so many little things we can do. Stand on one foot while cooking. Start with your less dominant side (or the injured side in the past). Park further at the grocery store and carry your bags to the car while working on great posture. Walk up and down stairs every day (without holding the railing). Sit on the floor and stand up without using your arms," she further suggests.

"This may not be possible today, but these can be goals to work towards. Never use age as an excuse. You can always get stronger and have better balance. It takes work, but the benefits are HUGE! I do think about how I want to age - what do I want to be able to do. If you travel the world, there are many areas where people old and young, move well without injury because they move more often and lift heavy things."

"The more muscle mass we have, the better our bones and organs are protected," Fidder summarizes.

"Muscles essentially act as a cushion. Muscle also plays a key role in stability, posture, and overall functional movement. As we age, improving balance and flexibility becomes just as important for preventing falls and maintaining overall stability. That’s why a proper strength training routine, combined with balance exercises and flexibility training, is crucial for reducing the risk of injuries."