injuries

You're well on your way to giving your life a healthy Spring cleaning, but what about your house? Have you dusted everything thoroughly, cleaned your window treatments, and taken that pile of items in the basement to Goodwill? Don't worry, I haven't either. But it's never too late to start chipping away at your Spring cleaning chores.

Once you do take out the rags and rubber gloves, make sure to exercise extra caution and safety, because according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2010 alone, more than 35,500 people injured themselves on a stepladder, and more than 41,000 suffered injuries while gardening or using gardening equipment. Wow — those are some serious Spring-cleaning injury stats!

Here are some reasons we tend to hurt ourselves around this time of the year.

Part of a fit lifestyle, in my opinion, is living life to the fullest. Taking advantage of each moment and doing something fun is just as important for living a fit and healthy lifestyle as a proper fitness routine. Unfortunately, sometimes those two things get in the way of each other, and the most well-lived moments can turn into injuries that can sideline your workout routine. In the spirit of full disclosure, here are a few of the silly injuries I've recently received and a few suggested solutions for averting disaster.

Slave to fashion: Thinking I'd only be out of my Las Vegas hotel room for a few hours (famous last words), I donned a pair of sky-high heels. A few hours turned into many hours, and that turned into an incredibly sore IT band. I'm a runner, so that was not ideal; each step I took during runs for a week reminded me of my five-inch heel mistake.
Solution: When in Vegas, wear heels . . . I get it. But it would have been prudent to stash a pair of those slip-on shoes that take up about the same amount of purse real estate as a compact. Lesson learned. Alternatively? If you're stuck in heels, sit when you can and pay attention to how you're walking. Had I just slowed down and walked properly, I don't think I would have had close to the same problem.

There are plenty more! Check out the rest and share your own stories after the break.

If you're an active gal, chances are high that you've tweaked your knee or pulled a hamstring while out adventuring. These injuries, be they acute or chronic, shouldn't spell disaster for your fitness life. Instead of sitting it out, figure out what you can do — there are many ways to work around compromised joints and muscles. I know because I found Pilates after injuring my lower back. Between using the aptly named Reformer and doing the mat work series religiously, I was able to work my entire body while rehabbing my beat up spine. I not only stayed in shape, but I got stronger, too.

Here are a few more fitness workarounds I have found:

• When I pulled my calf muscle earlier this year, running on land hurt, but deep water running was a great substitute.
• When my knees feel funky, I skip lunges and do step ups and donkey kicks to work my backside without bothering my knees.
• My neck was out recently, making cycling seriously unsafe since I couldn't turn my head, so I did a stairs workout — no head turning necessary and it sure did work my heart and legs.

If you have figured out some ways to work around injuries in your life, please share them in the comments below. Most likely, it will help another FitSugar reader keep moving.