Risks of Exercise

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There is always a risk of injury from exercise, particularly from strenuous activity that puts excessive pressure on the joints and muscles. If you haven't already been exercising regularly and have any of the following characteristics, you should check with your doctor for a fitness evaluation if you:

are over 35 and smoke,
have diabetes or are at known risk for heart disease,
are over 40 and inactive,
have high blood pressure,
have chest pains or any severe discomfort when you exercise,
have high cholesterol, or
have difficulty breathing during mild exertion such as daily-living activities.

The risk of injury can be greatly reduced by completing warm-up stretches prior to exercise.

There are times when it may not be beneficial to exercise.

Exercise should be avoided if:

illness has caused a high temperature,
You have recently had a cold or flu, as this can result in raised body temperature, increasing the risk of dizziness and fainting,
an old injury is still healing,
you have an existing injury, as it may prolong the healing process, or
a doctor or midwife has advised against it during pregnancy.

Gentle exercise can be beneficial during pregnancy but some antenatal conditions can be complicated by exercise. Exercise should also be discontinued immediately if any dizziness, abdominal pain or bleeding is experienced.

If you have given birth less than six weeks ago, the abdominal muscles will be weakened after childbirth and the risk of haemorrhaging increased. Exercise should be built up gradually and should not be started until six weeks after childbirth. This is doubled to twelve weeks after a caesarean birth.