Exercise, a mentally and physically beneficial activity, can be more hazardous than it is popularly thought to be. While taken in excess, there is a point when exercise may become detrimental, or even unhealthy, as the body is over-worked.
There are different levels of over-exercising. Senior Matt Pitzer, a personal trainer at the Student Recreation Center, said that the most common sign of over-exertion he sees with students is muscle fatigue or injury caused by overuse.
He explained that “accidental overuse” of muscles is most often caused when students try to reach unrealistic fitness goals, sometimes much too quickly. In doing this, students over-exert themselves and overwork their muscles in too short a time frame, which then causes injury.
This kind of “accidental overuse” is avoidable simply by setting realistic and attainable goals, Pitzer said.
“It is important (for students) to realize that it will take time to reach their goals,” Pitzer said.
The rec center sees an overall average of around 20,000 visits per week. However, Dennis Monroe, the director of physical education and recreation, explained that the level of usage is generally higher at the beginning of the term and steadily declines throughout the term. The rec center sees an unusual rush of students at the beginning of winter term, after students have jotted down New Year’s resolutions to stay more fit.
“Many have good intentions during that time, but throughout the term the usage tends to peter out,” he said.
During these early weeks of the term, Pitzer explained, students work out too hard and too fast, and overusing injuries is common.
“It has to do with the American culture, I think,” Pitzer said. “We want to have things now and with training it just doesn’t work that way.”
Rec center employee Logan Steinfeld said that it is important to approach exercise as a means of being healthy, not a means of looking attractive.
“You have to check what you’re really looking for,” he said.
Both Steinfeld and co-worker Nicole Duncan, a University junior, agree that students feel pressure to maintain their physical appearance.
Other types of “accidental overuse injuries” happen innocently enough as students experiment with different cardiovascular workouts or weight training techniques, Pitzer said. To avoid these problems, students must develop an understanding of their own bodily limits and what activities will lead to injury.
Freshman Molly Phillips has been an athlete all her life and continues to exercise on a regular basis.
“I push myself hard, but I know my own limits and when to stop,” she said.