Muscle building myths that may lead to injury

Anyone who's embarked on a journey to get ripped is familiar with the phrase "No pain, no gain."

While it's true that there is a certain amount of discomfort involved in building muscle, the point is to become healthier and avoid injuries that may lead to time away from the gym. Too many of the widely believed myths circulating throughout bodybuilding communities may actually lead to torn ligaments, strained muscles or a sore back.

An article in Men's Health reports that while old advice about not letting the knees go past the toes while doing squats may be good for the knee joint, it can also put undue stress on the hips. The source recommends keeping the upper torso straight while doing squats and lunges and keeping forearms perpendicular to the floor.

The magazine also says that drawing in abdominals too much while lifting may raise a bodybuilders risk of injury because it strengthens the wrong group of muscles, while under-utilizing the right ones. Instead, be sure to brace your abs while doing weights as opposed to sucking them in.

AskMen.com reports that the advice to work a muscle group until it becomes fatigued should only be followed two or three times per week, and not each time you hit the gym. Giving it your all every day may lead to overworking of the muscles and joints, and could eventually cause injury.