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Do you train the same set of muscles every day? It can be disastrous

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Do you train the same set of muscles every day? It can be disastrous

Maybe you are conscious about your thick thighs or eagerly want to get your back into better shape as soon as possible – does that mean you should train them every day in the gym? Nope, you can’t and you shouldn’t.

Training the same set of muscles can go horribly wrong and leave you with severe injuries. Fitness experts as well as doctors warn against it.

Risk of muscle fatigue and injury

“Training the same muscles over and over again can lead to injuries or increased soreness. Muscles need time to recover and rest. After a good workout, you should give your muscles at least 24 to 48 hours to recover so that they get repaired well, and your performance will increase,” says Abhishek Singh, a Raipur-based fitness coach.

Recovery plays an important role in hypertrophy, which is the process of muscle growth.

“Recovery allows for neuromuscular adaptations, which enhances the communication between one’s nervous system and muscles, improving coordination and overall performance. Allowing time for muscle recovery also increases the density of Actin and Myosin filaments within muscle fibres, which enhances contractility or strength,” says Dr Prasad Bhagunde, orthopaedic and arthroscopy surgeon, Saifee Hospital and Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai.

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Experts suggest giving your muscles at least 24 to 48 hours to recover from a good workout. (Photo: Getty)

Robin Nagar, a Delhi-based gym trainer, explains how training the same muscles every day can work against your goals.

“For instance, you train your legs every day; by doing that, you are only breaking down your muscles. During a workout, muscle fibres break down, and it is during rest that they repair and grow. Without proper rest, muscles can become overly fatigued, eventually obstructing recovery. This can lead to injuries and prevent muscle growth (hypertrophy) and strength gains,” Nagar tells India Today.

Now, continuing this pattern without proper recovery can prevent micro-tears in the muscle fibres from healing, leading to chronic fatigue, muscle strain, or even tears.

“Attempting to push through without recovery often results in lowered performance; one may not be able to lift the same weights or complete the same number of reps,” says Dr Bhagunde.

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Ever heard of muscle imbalance?

There is also an increased risk of muscle imbalance – a condition where some muscles are strong, but others aren’t. It happens when you focus on only a particular set of muscles or don’t switch up your workout often.

If a daily run is the only form of exercise that you perform, you are not training your other muscles. It is important to train all major muscle groups in the body, to avoid pain and injury risks.

You can develop muscle imbalance if you don’t train all major muscle groups and focus on only one type of workout or a particular set of muscles (Photo: Getty)

People who focus on one particular activity or sport often witness this issue. A study noted that professional soccer players with strength imbalances were four to five times more likely to get a hamstring injury compared to those with no imbalance.

Hence, if you do the same kind of workout every day, it is important to introduce other types of activities as well. And if you are a gym-goer, it is recommended to alternate muscle groups throughout the week to ensure each set receives attention and also gets time to recover.

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Safer ways to train the same muscles in the gym daily

The risk of muscle fatigue and injury is especially higher with high-intensity training involving bigger muscles like quadriceps (thighs), hamstrings, glutes (buttocks), back muscles, and chest muscles. Big muscles take longer to recover after being worked out, especially when trained intensely with heavy weights or high volume. If not given enough rest, the muscles can become fatigued, lead to poor performance, affect coordination, and increase the risk of overuse injuries.

“Normally, smaller muscles with low intensity can be trained every day like biceps, triceps, and abs – but only with low-medium intensity,” says Yash Sharma, a Delhi-based fitness YouTuber.

“If you keep the intensity light or moderate, you can perform some exercises every day – like push-ups and biceps curls. The important thing to keep in mind, however, is to not reach the saturation of training and not reach a point where the muscles get more damaged than they can recover from,” Sharma adds.

There are some strategies to training the same muscle groups without overstraining them. (Photo: Getty)

Orthopaedic surgeon Dr Bhagunde agrees and adds that training the same muscle groups daily can be managed safely by changing the intensity and volume of workouts.

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“By alternating between high-intensity, low-volume training and low-intensity, high-volume sessions, one can keep engaging their muscles while not straining themselves,” he tells India Today.

In case you want to train your legs every day – for reasons like your mental satisfaction – you can also take up the technique of dividing the exercises throughout the week.

“If you do five exercises on your legs day, spread those exercises out throughout the week. Do one of those exercises each day to avoid overtraining and subsequent problems,” suggests Nagar.

Changing training modality, Dr Bhagunde says, can be an effective way to train the same muscle groups without overstraining them.

“For instance, after a high-intensity session of barbell back squats, one could switch to a lower-intensity activity such as cycling the next day. This method will keep the quadriceps engaged while reducing stress on the muscles. It is crucial to avoid lifting the same weight at high intensity on consecutive days, as this can hinder recovery and raise the risk of injury,” he says.

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Oh, and your muscle recovery not only depends on the rest days you are providing to particular muscles, but also on other factors like eating well, staying hydrated, and getting good sleep.

Published By:

Medha Chawla

Published On:

Oct 20, 2024

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Adults hop on viral ‘rebounding’ trend to make exercise fun again — ‘I feel like a kid’

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Adults hop on viral ‘rebounding’ trend to make exercise fun again — ‘I feel like a kid’

Forget boring home workouts, on-demand HITT classes and cold winter runs.

The latest wellness trend bouncing around TikTok involves a workout you might not even realize you’re doing, and that’s the point. It’s called rebounding. This low-impact exercise involves jumping on a mini fitness trampoline — called a rebounder — to get your heart pumping and support lymphatic drainage.

On Amazon, this best-selling model is currently on sale for just $129. It measures in at just 40 inches, making it ideal for small spaces while still offering room for an adult to jump, squat and jog in place. Users swear it gives them a seriously effective full-body workout, and many remark that it’s “so much fun” to use.

Clinical trials also back the benefits: a 12-week rebounding program for overweight women showed significant improvements in body composition as well as a decrease in diastolic blood pressure.

Ready to jump on the rebounding trend, too? You’d better hop on this Amazon deal fast.

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Amazon

This sleek rebounder by BCAN is sturdy and easy to set up, thanks to pre-assembled bungees and simpel video tutorial.

Reviewers say it’s completely changed their workouts, with one remarking they “feel like a little kid again.” Others have also noted it’s much easier on their joints than higher-impact exercises.

“It absorbs impact well and allows for a nice, smooth rebound that is gentle on the joints, making it perfect for a low-impact cardio workout,” one person explained. “Whether I’m doing high-intensity intervals or simply bouncing for fun, the movement feels fluid and responsive.

The BCAN model features an upgraded handlebar for added stability. It’s 8mm premium bungee — with a durable woven outer layer and a 350-strand natural latex core — delivers smooth, quiet bounces, so you can enjoy your workout without disturbing others.



This article was written by Miska Salemann, New York Post Commerce Writer/Reporter. As a health-forward member of Gen Z, Miska seeks out experts to weigh in on the benefits, safety and designs of both trending and tried-and-true fitness equipment, workout clothing, dietary supplements and more. Taking matters into her own hands, Miska intrepidly tests wellness products, ranging from Bryan Johnson’s Blueprint Longevity Mix to the viral Oura Ring to Jennifer Aniston’s favorite workout platform – often with her adorable toddler by her side. Before joining The Post, Miska covered lifestyle and consumer topics for the U.S. Sun and The Cannon Beach Gazette.

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Fitness trainer with 18 years of experience shares why exercise is crucial for kids: ‘Not just about health and fitness’

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Fitness trainer with 18 years of experience shares why exercise is crucial for kids: ‘Not just about health and fitness’

Exercise is often spoken about in the context of physical fitness – stronger muscles, better stamina and improved overall health. But its value, especially for children, extends far beyond the body. Regular physical activity can quietly shape character, teaching lessons about effort, patience, discipline and resilience that mirror how the real world works. From learning to cope with discomfort to understanding that progress takes time, exercise can become a powerful training ground for life itself.

Exercise is important for kids. (Image generated via Google Gemini)

Also Read | Chennai fitness trainer with 18 years of experience shares 5 simple things to focus on for long-term fitness

Chennai-based fitness trainer with 18 years of experience, Raj Ganpath – founder of the Slow Burn Method, co-founder and head coach at Quad Fitness, and author of Simple, Not Easy – is shedding light on why exercise is important for kids, with the benefits going beyond health and fitness. In an Instagram video shared on February 27, he explains how the impact of exercise extends far beyond physical wellness, shaping resilience, discipline and long-term character development.

Embracing discomfort

According to Raj, exercise is one of the healthiest ways to help children learn how to sit with discomfort in a safe, structured and sustainable way. Life inevitably brings challenges and unease – something adults understand well – but many children today are shielded from situations that test their resilience.

He explains, “Exercise is a great way to experience this discomfort in a safe and sustainable manner. Lifting weights, holding a plank, doing cardio, repping till it burns, all of these things are opportunities to embrace discomfort, opportunities to put themselves in a place where they’re not comfortable and learn from it, opportunities to practice physical and mental resilience.

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Learning hardship

The fitness trainer emphasises that hardship is an inevitable part of life, and meaningful success often requires pushing through moments of difficulty. While most adults recognise this truth through lived experience, children may not always have the same exposure to challenge. Raj believes exercise can bridge that gap.

He elaborates, “It will teach them that they need to do hard things if they want to accomplish something. Getting through a very hard workout, setting a goal and achieving it, completing a task. All of these things are not just random chores. These are incredible opportunities – opportunities to experience hardship and build fortitude.”

Delayed gratification

In today’s fast-paced world, the desire for instant gratification is stronger than ever – and children are growing up at the centre of it. With technology, streaming platforms and 10-minute delivery services, almost everything is available at the tap of a screen. As a result, the ability to wait, persist and work steadily towards a long-term goal can easily take a back seat. Exercise, notes Raj, offers a powerful counterbalance.

He explains, “Everyone wants everything right away today. This is true for us adults too, but it is even more true for our kids because this is the only world they know. A world where everything happens right then and right there, whenever they want it, wherever they want it. Exercise will teach them to wait, to be patient, to trust the process, to fail and still keep going, to work towards something larger that they will get much later. This is a very important character building quality and will serve them well for many, many years to come.”

The fitness trainer concludes, “Exercise is not just about health and fitness. It is a simulation of life itself. A ready-made character building tool available to you to help prepare your kids for life, the raw and real life that they’re going to have to deal with no matter what. So make sure they build the habit and make sure they embrace it.”

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Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. It is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.

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What Are “Movement Snacks”? How To Try This Trending Fitness Hack

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What Are “Movement Snacks”? How To Try This Trending Fitness Hack

The World Health Organization says the average adult is supposed to get 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity five days a week, which sounds somewhat doable until it’s 9 p.m., your kids are finally in bed, and you just want to fall onto the couch and dissociate. But more and more people online are talking about “movement snacks” — little bite-sized amounts of exercise you can do throughout your day to meet your 60-minute goal without having to make special time for one big workout. Because yes, we all want to be our healthiest, but sometimes a HIIT class at the gym is just not in the schedule.

We asked personal trainers and fitness coaches for their favorite movement snacks you can do in the office, around the house, and on busy weekends when everyone’s home.

How much exercise is a person really supposed to get?

While the WHO recommends 60 minutes a day, the CDC is a little more lax, recommending at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week, or about 30 minutes a day, five days a week. While it may feel like you’re the only one struggling to fit a workout into your daily routine, you’re far from alone. In fact, it’s always been hard for most Americans. So, while movement snacks may be a cute new term we’re all hearing for the first time, fitness pros have been promoting bite-sized exercise forever.

“I work with busy professionals, so I’ve been integrating micro workouts of two to 10 minutes into my clients’ lifestyles for almost 20 years,” says Andrea Marcellus, certified personal trainer and CEO of AND/life.

The most important thing for your health isn’t getting all your daily movement done in one big, perfectly curated workout — it’s about being consistent, Marcellus says. Movement snacks can help you stay consistent because you don’t have to budget a big chunk of time; instead, you can fit something simple into your day when you have three minutes to spare. Hell, you don’t even have to change clothes or go anywhere.

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“Most people think movement only counts if it’s a workout. That mindset is what keeps people sedentary. In reality, your body doesn’t care if steps come from a hike, a gym session, or pacing when you’re on a call,” says Lindy Royer, physical therapist and balanced body educator. “This is where you win the game — by stacking movement into things you’re already doing.”

Movement Snacks To Try Throughout Your Day

  • Set an alarm on your phone to chime every hour — that’s what women’s fitness coach Allison Kalsched tells her clients. When it goes off, stand up and do 10 bodyweight squats. Then go back to work. When you get tired of squats, mix in walking lunges, push-ups (it’s fine if they’re modified!), or dead bugs. Throw on 30 seconds of jumping jacks or high knees for bone-building benefits, which is important for women in menopause, she adds.
  • Take a micro walk. “Five minutes or 500 steps is my absolute favorite,” says Dr. Milica McDowell, doctor of physical therapy, author of the forthcoming book Walk, and exercise physiologist at US Physical Therapy. “It changes mood, lowers blood pressure, boosts mental clarity, and can help you get your cumulative steps in.”
  • Dance to your new favorite song with your kids or all by yourself. “Dance party was big with my kids after dinner,” Marcellus says. “It takes four to 10 mins and helps kids burn off dinner energy, while also giving parents a metabolic boost.”
  • Stop and do 60 reps of any full-body exercise, like squats, lunges, or jumping jacks — this usually takes about two minutes, no matter which one you choose, Marcellus says. Or, hold a plank for one to two minutes.
  • Pair walking with habits that already exist to get your steps in, like marching in place while brushing your teeth or doing a lap inside the house while your food is in the microwave. “This means you’re not adding time — you are upgrading your time,” says Royer.
  • Count your housework. Sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, general domestic labor — these things totally contribute to your total exercise time each day, says Royer.
  • If you go up or down the stairs at home, just… do it two or three times. That little extra here and there adds up, according to Royer.

The best advice is to focus not on “how can I move right now?” but “how can I do something that isn’t sitting right now?” Royer says. “The real truth that most people ignore is that sedentary time is the real enemy, not a lack of workouts. Focus on breaking up your sitting time. Build in frequent movement snacks. You’re not looking for perfection, just something more than nothing. You don’t need more time; you actually just need more conscious efforts to move.”

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