Is Taking Muscle Relaxers When Lifting Weights Safe?

It isn’t safe to take muscle relaxers or pain medications while lifting weights. Both of these types of medications alter your perception and your state of mind. In addition, they can make you lightheaded, dizzy, and can give you blurry vision.

Of course, you should discuss anything you take with your doctor whether it is a nutritional supplement or, especially, a stronger muscle relaxer. In addition to the way that muscle relaxers and pain medications alter your state of mind, they also affect the muscles as well. They prevent muscle contraction, which means that you are wasting your time by working out while taking any of these medications.

If your doctor has given you the all-clear to exercise, go PRO today for access to certified personal trainers, workout plans, and more.

Are There Any Medications That Are Safe to Take When Lifting Weights?

You can work out when taking any medication that doesn’t change your ability to function normally if you have been cleared by your doctor.

If your doctor puts you on pain medication or muscle relaxers because you have damaged your back, (the most typical weight lifting injury), or another part of your body, then you need to continue taking that medication. Further, if your doctor approves your taking other medications, such as over-the-counter medications, then that’s fine.

However, you need to be aware that any medication with antihistamine, which is available over the counter, can affect your body in the same way that muscle relaxers can.

Typically, the safest medications to take while working out are acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and/or aspirin. With that said, you need to consider something before you take one of these pills prior to working out: your body’s pain is an excellent way to determine when you have had enough in terms of a workout. If your body’s pain receptors are blocked, you may push yourself too hard and cause serious injury to your back or other body parts.

The best course of action is to avoid taking any medication while working out if possible. You don’t want to put yourself in a position where you don’t know if you are injuring yourself while you are lifting weights.

Is It Safe to Lift Weights With Back Pain?

There is no general rule of thumb to help you with this question. That is because it really depends on what is causing your back pain. If you have a ruptured or herniated disc in your back, for example, then you should not be lifting weights.

However, if you tweaked a muscle while helping a friend move, it may be safe to lift weights while avoiding the injured area. The bottom line is that it depends on your injury.

If you are experiencing any kind of chronic back pain, it is in your best interest to visit your doctor and let him or her take a look at your back to determine what the problem might be. If your doctor says you have a serious medical problem, then you need to follow your doctor’s advice in terms of lifting weights.

In some cases, your doctor may determine that it is okay to do some types of exercises but not others. You doctor may also tell you to base your decision about working out on how you feel when you conduct certain movements. This is especially true if x-rays or sonograms don’t show any bone or muscle injuries.

Are There Any Weightlifting Exercises Recommended for Back Pain?

Interestingly, there have been several small studies on this particular topic. In every study, people who performed weightlifting exercises for their whole bodies saw a reduction in their back pain.

As mentioned above, you need to clear any weightlifting you do with your doctor before you start. If, however, your doctor tells you that there are no injuries to your back, then you may get some real benefits from lifting weights.

You should, however, avoid lifting heavy weights for a while until you strengthen your back. A weak back may be the cause of your pain and by giving it time to grow stronger you can avoid serious injury. Weak abdominal muscles can also contribute to back pain, so an abdominal workout plan may help get you back into weightlifting shape.

In addition, to protect your back from further injury, you should never jerk lift weights unless you have been trained in the proper form required to perform Olympic lifts. What this means is that your weightlifting should be in slow, controlled motions.

If your back starts feeling worse, then you need to stop what you are doing and give your back time to heal. If your doctor still can’t find anything wrong, consider visiting a chiropractor to see if you need an adjustment to your back.

The bottom line is that keeping your back safe from harm is vital to your quality of life. People with chronic back pain find it difficult to live life to its fullest. What’s more, a minor injury today could turn into a major one tomorrow. To find back-strengthening exercises and for access to certified personal trainers, go PRO today.