6. Don't ignore pain. Listen to your body. If you feel pain, you should stop immediately before the problem gets worse. Take it slow. Try walking or stretching for a moment to pinpoint the exact spot of the pain. If the pain persists you should have your doctor check it out.
7. Rest, rest, rest. It is important to take care of injuries as soon as they happen. Many overuse injuries, if caught early, can be healed with rest and time off from the sport or activity. Untreated injuries can result in a prolonged recovery time, loss in range of motion, need for surgery or even permanent damage.
8. Get annual physicals. You should get a physical every year to detect any potential or existing overuse injuries, along with any other health issues.
9. Get some sleep. Hormones produced by your body are released during sleep to help aid in your body's natural healing. It's important to get the right amount of sleep (7 to 9 hours) to allow your body to repair itself naturally.
Whether you're continuing your winter training, getting back into your work-out routine to get fit for swimsuit season or just training harder, faster and longer during the summer time, it's important to know about overuse injuries, the risk they pose and ways to prevent these injuries from affecting you.
Keep your muscles strong. Find a strength class.