Quite a bit has been written about how to build muscle effectively. You can find many different books and websites devoted to the subject of weightlifting and muscle building. Unfortunately, not all of these resources devote much time to injury prevention. It's easy to understand why. After all, most beginners who are eager to build muscle quickly probably find the subject of injury prevention boring. Most new trainees would probably rather learn how to "get ripped" than to bother with safety tips or advice about recovery methods. Let's face it, though. If you do pick up an injury, it can put you on the sidelines for quite a while, and where will your muscle building program be then?

With this in mind, here are three quick tips for avoiding injury:

1. Stretch on a regular basis. It would be hard to overstate the importance of stretching if you want to prevent injuries while training. If you train consistently without doing any stretching, your muscles and tendons can become short and taut. This will significantly increase your chances of injury. Stretching, on the other hand, lengthens the muscles to increase flexibility. Have you ever seen bodybuilders who are really huge that can barely bend over to touch their toes? A consistent program of gentle stretching can keep you from becoming one of those guys. (note: Generally speaking, you want a mild tension, not pain. Overstretching can cause injuries as well, but don't let that stop you. Find yourself a good resource in the subject of stretching.)

2. Don't lift beyond your means. You've heard of not spending beyond your means, right? Well, in the same way, don't try to lift weights that are way too heavy for you. You need to challenge your muscles, but overdoing it can quickly lead to an injury. Whether you do it to impress those around you or are just trying to advance as quickly as possible, forget it. Gradually increase your weights, and you'll get there eventually.

3. Consider using joint supplements While the exact effects may not be proven yet, there is enough evidence for you to at least consider some of the supplements. Fish oil in particular is highly recommended for reducing inflammation, and the food and drug administration now acknowledges that Omega-3s (like those in fish oils) may reduce the risk of heart disease. You should also consider taking flax oil, glucosamine, and similar products that help reduce inflammation and protect your joints and connective tissue.

This is certainly not an exhaustive list, but hopefully it will get you started on the road to preventing injuries.

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