Think of pain like the "check engine" light in a car. Turning a blind eye to this blinking light will inevitably result in a breakdown, granted the body's warning signs can be more subtle than a car's. (If only our knees came with a "Check ACL" light.)
But when it comes to preventing small problems from turning into lasting injuries, there are symptoms and signals that act as the first line of defense. Sure, soreness and fatigue accompany many exercise routines, but being able to identify more serious aches and pains is more important than many endorphin-seeking, active folks might think.
More: The Best and Worst Exercises for Bad Knees
Tune In to Common Warning Signs
It's easier to hear the alarms our bodies are sounding when we know what to listen for. Get familiar with the warning signs of three common conditions that could be compromising performance in the gym or in everyday life.
1. Overtraining
Caused by too many intense workouts and not enough time recovering from them, overtraining feels, well, terrible. If you've ever experienced some combo of prolonged periods of fatigue, soreness that won't go away, insomnia, a cold you can't seem to kick, and heart rate fluctuations, chances are you've been overtrained.
What to listen for: While there's not a single diagnostic test that determines overtraining, it does make its presence known pretty clearly . Be on the lookout for symptoms described above and consider using a heart rate monitor to establish your resting heart rate and your maximum heart rate. An elevated resting heart rate and/or an inability to raise your heart rate during vigorous exercise can both be signs of overtraining.
If you suspect you're overtrained, it's time to take a break from your workouts to focus on recovery. Take some rest days ASAP and focus on getting quality sleep and eating nutritious whole foods.
More From Greatist: Can You Exercise Too Much?
2. Injury
Just because some of our favorite pro sports moments involve an elite athlete heroically pushing through the pain of a brutal injury doesn't mean we should follow suit. In fact, even minor sports-related injuries generally require intervention. So how do we know when to take a knee?
What to listen for: Dr. Andrews warns of chronic and persistent pain, saying that managing it to allow for continued participation in sports or training is a bad idea. (In other words, don't pop ibuprofen and wrap your knee in a brace just so you can make it through a run.)
That not-so-bad-but-constantly-nagging ache in your calf or bothersome knot in your shoulder? It's trying to tell you something.
