Sports that Give a Full Body Workout

Written on August 16, 2024 - 4:09 pm | by EmmyW

This article will discuss sports that give a full body workout. Swimming and cross country skiing and the proper forms, techniques and physical benefits are detailed along with photo that demonstrate form.

Sports that Condition the Entire Body

For all the sports enthusiasts out there, did you know that there are some sports that give a full body workout? There are sports out there that are not only enjoyable but are beneficial for the overall health in that they work just about every major muscle group in the body, which helps with burning calories and getting fit. This article will give examples of fun, interactive sports that condition the entire body.

Swimming

Swimming is probably the best exercise for working the entire body. It is safe, easy on the joints, and effective in burning calories fast! Research shows that a 155-pound person swimming free style for an hour with vigorous effort, could burn 704 calories. In addition, swimming helps build lean muscle and improves flexibility.

How to Achieve a Great Swimming Workout:

With these six strokes, every muscle in the body is worked:

Try the free-style stroke with flutter kick. This works the deltoids, hips, hamstrings, and quads.
Try the back crawl with flutter kick. This works the deltoids, hips, hamstrings, back, and quads.
Try the side stroke with a scissor kick. This works the hamstrings, triceps, hips, quads.
Try the butterfly stroke with a dolphin kick. This works the chest area, deltoids, and the complete lower body.
Try the elementary back stroke. This focuses on the complete lower body and deltoids.
Try the breast stroke with a frog kick. This works the complete lower body, the triceps, and chest.

Butterfly Stroke

Back Stroke

Physical Benefits of Swimming

Swimming can be a very demanding exercise which can use every major muscle group. It really depends on the particular stroke being used that determine which muscle is worked. The back stroke, breast stoke and free style laps use muscles of the triceps, biceps, quadriceps, abdominals, gluteals, and hamstrings. Swimming is also beneficial for keeping the joints in the hips, neck, and other limbs flexible.

The large amount of oxygen used and the time it takes to complete a lap are the things that categorize swimming as an aerobic exercise. The U.S. Water Fitness Association gives some of the following benefits of swimming.

Improves physical appearance
Increases energy
Flexibility and strength are improved
Improved balance and muscular endurance
Aids in weight control/management
Aids in rehabilitation

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