One of the main reasons why athletes and fitness fans turn to compression knee sleeves and calf sleeves for help with recovery and overcoming pain, is that they suffer from the results of overuse. Joint and muscle overuse injuries happen when you place too much stress on a joint or muscle within a short period of time. While part of the work that goes into reducing overuse injuries involves strengthening your muscles and improving your running form, another part involves understanding how these injuries happen in the first place.

After all, the more you know about the factors that can promote injury, the more likely you are to take measures that will prevent you from taking unnecessary risks that might increase your chances of a sprain or strain.

Overuse Injuries are a Kind of Trauma

Among runners, triathletes and cyclists - joint and muscle overuse injuries are very common. Some studies have even suggested that the annual rate of running injuries sustained in a year is somewhere in the region of 75%. In other words, one out of every four runners will need to recover from a significant injury each year.

These injuries happen because pounding the pavement, or pushing through up-hill portions of your cycling path place some serious pressure on your joints and muscles, leading to cumulative trauma around the ligaments, muscles, joints, and tendons that gradually builds up and worsens over time. Injuries take place when the amount of cumulative trauma being placed on the various structures of the legs exceeds your body's ability to recovery from the damage being taken. This is one of the main reasons why experts prioritize recovery as a crucial way to get fitter faster, while preventing unnecessary overuse injuries.

How to Prevent Overuse Injuries

There are a number of methods experts use when helping athletes overcome joint and muscle overuse injuries. For example, dynamic stretches that promote functional flexibility and prepare the body for the sorts of movements it will encounter during a workout help to reduce the chances of accidentally straining muscles or attempting to move past a restricted range of motion. Dynamic stretches are simple motions that can be done before and after exercise to warm up the muscles and increase flexibility.

Another good tip for preventing joint and muscle overuse injuries is to strengthen the muscles, tendons, joints, and ligaments that are most commonly effected during these periods of pain and discomfort. Fortunately, while most athletes think they need an expensive gym membership or fancy home-based fitness center to get the strength they need, the truth is that improving your muscles can be done from the comfort of your own home - without any high-tech solutions. A quick workout that covers basic exercises for strength should be enough, including:

• Squats
• Bridges
• Chin ups
• Pull ups
• Push ups
• Side Planks
• Planks

Concerns about Overuse

If you're worried about the amount of pain you're experiencing after a workout or run, don't simply force yourself to keep moving. Although continued motion is beneficial in some recovery options, it won't be ideal for everyone, and it's worth speaking to your doctor about the treatment you should be pursuing.