LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - Over the past two days, we've talked about how to get off the couch and get fit. Today, we're wrapping it up by remembering one important thing: We're not kids anymore.
"It's normally the rookies," said UAMS orthopedic surgeon Dr. Lawrence O'Malley. "It's normally the ones who are on the couch and say I'm going to get in and work out and they push themselves too quickly."
Dr. O'Malley has seen his share of sports injuries -- he's worked for years with world-class athletes.
"Particularly, I've taken care of Clemson," he said.
And if those athletes, in their teens and early 20's can get hurt, it might be best to remember that it's not a competition.
"The problem," he said, "is you have 20-year-olds working out next to 50 and 60-year-olds and so the workout is going to be different."
Dr. O'Malley said you've got to know your body, know your age and if you're concerned, find an expert who can help you modify your workout.
"A lot of these HIIT classes will have someone there to help you make sure you're doing the proper form," he said, "and that's extremely important. If you do have shoulder issues you may not be able to do every exercise, but there are ways you can modify it and that's where a coach can help you to do that properly."
A coach like Lee Ann Jolly at Little Rock Athletic Club.
"There's always more than one way to do an exercise," she said. "There's always more than one way to work your quads."
Or Whitney White at Pure Barre Little Rock.
"Our teachers go around," she said, "you'll feel their hands on you, making sure you're in your safest, most effective position."
No matter which route you go, "it's trying to get people active," said Dr. O'Malley, "which is what I want. I want people to stay active. Even my patients with arthritis, I tell them motion is lotion. The more you move the better for their joint. It's just realizing your age and what we can do 20 years ago you may not be able to do now."
Dr. O'Malley said if you cross train, you're less likely to get hurt because your joints aren't made for doing the same exercise over and over.
He said pick three days a week, and you may want to bike a day, run a day and swim a day.