Stop making these common workout mistakes

This Week’s Top Stories from Harvard Health

Stop making these common workout mistakes Exercising is one of the best things you can do for your health. But if you're performing your exercises the wrong way, you could be hurting, not helping your body. One of the biggest exercise errors is using improper technique. You risk back injury if you arch your back while doing planks or push-ups, and knee injury if you bend too deeply in a lunge or squat. Another mistake is doing the wrong exercise.

Get your copy of Stretching Stretching is an excellent thing you can do for your health. These simple, yet effective moves can help you limber up for sports, improve your balance and prevent falls, increase your flexibility, and even help relieve arthritis, back, and knee pain. Whether you're an armchair athlete or a sports enthusiast, this Special Health Report, Stretching: 35 exercises to improve flexibility and reduce pain, from the experts at Harvard Medical School will show you how to create effective stretching routines that meet your needs and ability.

Additional News from Harvard Health Publishing Warning: Avoid these novel treats in shopping malls and restaurants Becoming a vegetarian Weight may determine how much aspirin is needed to prevent heart attacks

Featured Event Cancer and the Microbiome Thursday, November 15, 12-12:30 pm ET Harvard Medical School’s new webinar series offers business and science leaders the opportunity to engage with ideas and research shaping the future of health care. On November 15, Dr. Wendy Garrett will discuss opportunities for leveraging the microbiome for cancer diagnostics, biomarkers and novel therapies. Register now

Stretching Featured content: • Stretching: The basics • Safety first • Stretching to ease pain • Six questions (and answers) about stretching exercises • SPECIAL SECTION: Warming up for sports with dynamic stretches •  ... and more! Click here to read more »