|GPs are reporting an increase in “New Year’s | |resolution” injuries, caused by a sudden increase in| |physical activity without adequate preparation. | | | | | |”Many people end up in GPs’ surgeries after making | |New Year resolutions to lose the ‘Christmas kilos’ | |gained over the holiday period”, said Dr Rob | |Walters, Chair of Australia’s largest GP | |organisation, the Australian Divisions of General | |Practice. | | | | | |”We strongly support the benefits of an active | |lifestyle but leaping into a new exercise regime | |without the correct preparation can result in | |debilitating injuries and painful side effects. | | | | | |”For example, I saw a young woman recently who | |complained of such severe muscle soreness she was | |unable to walk up the stairs to her apartment. She | |had visited a gym for the first time in six months | |the day before and spent 2 hours lifting heavy | |weights and taking an advanced aerobics class. | | | | | |”If she had taken a more gradual approach to | |re-starting her gym program she would have avoided | |the problems she is experiencing now and be further | |along the track to increasing her fitness levels. | | | | | |”People can also risk serious health problems, such | |as heart attacks and strokes, by suddenly increasing| |their level of physical activity without adequate | |preparation and medical advice. | | | | |”A bit of common sense is important — if you | |haven’t jogged for years and you suddenly go on a | |10km run in the middle of the day in a heatwave, you| |are asking for trouble.” | | | | | |Source: Media Release Australian Divisions of | |General Practice

January 2003