User:Wigginsa235/High-intensity interval training

Dangers of HIIT
As much as there are benefits to HIIT, there are some health risks you need to worry about.

Coronary Artery Disease
Living a life with little to no exercise can possibly cause coronary artery disease by doing high intensity exercise. According to American College of Sports Medicine, with this condition, you may need permission from your doctor prior to starting HIIT. Before starting, you need to figure out what level you are at. That way, you can work up to each level without overwhelming your heart. The important thing is to make sure to only advance when you are ready. Livestrong noted that 1-2 days a week for 15 minutes is a great place to start. When you feel ready to move on, change it to 30 min. If you are up for a challenge, add another day of exercise. As long as you go at your own pace and make changes based on your comfort level, this will ensure safety.

Overtraining
It is important to balance HIIT workouts with others that aren't so intense. Les Mills Labs did a study in 2018 on HIIT and overtraining. If you overdo HIIT, you won't have much energy. This can lead to an increased risk of injury. Recovery is really important since that's when the body makes effective changes. Muscle soreness, strains and pain are one of many common signs so you need to make sure you are training within your limits.

Injury
Another study, performed by Rutgers University, showed a high risk of injury due to HIIT. According to Science Daily, this study found that the knees, shoulders and ankles were the most commonly involved injuries. More specifically, knee and ankle sprains were very common. Based on that, neuromuscular training and pre-strengthening programs are recommended to improve flexibility. This should be done before starting HIIT workouts. It is always a good thing to push yourself, but you should also make sure to decipher what a "good" pain is and what a "bad" pain is. You know your muscles are working when you feel a "burning sensation" near the area of the muscle. You should stop what you are doing if you feel a sharp pain or something is cracking. Knowing these differences will help you with proper form and prevent injuries.