Jumping rope is an excellent way to burn a ton of calories in a short period of time, it's inexpensive and you can jump rope almost anywhere. A great jump rope can be purchased for under $20, you can use it at home, outside in the garden, in the park, at the gym, or while on vacation, the opportunities to jump rope are almost endless! (I always pack my jump rope when I travel).
Jumping rope is a great form of exercise because it satisfies cardiovascular conditioning and works almost every muscle in your body, while toning the muscles in your legs, shoulders and arms. Peter Schulman, MD, associate professor, Cardiology/Pulmonary Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center is an advocate of jump rope, he says "it's certainly good for the heart, it strengthens the upper and lower body and burns a lot of calories in a short time".
Schulman also notes that jump rope can put a lot of stress on the knees, ankle and hips, but if done correctly it can be lower impact than jogging. One of the keys to jumping rope is to stay light on your feet. Beginners tend to jump higher than necessary, if you are new to jump rope try to only jump an inch off the floor and stay high on your toes.
Schulman also notes that jump rope can put a lot of stress on the knees, ankle and hips, but if done correctly it can be lower impact than jogging. One of the keys to jumping rope is to stay light on your feet. Beginners tend to jump higher than necessary, if you are new to jump rope try to only jump an inch off the floor and stay high on your toes.
Jump rope can satisfy your cardiovascular training or it can be incorporated into your workout. For example you can do a set of squats or shoulder press followed by one minute of jump rope creating an interval style workout. However, you chose to incorporate it into your routine, you will certainly elevate your heart rate and burn a ton of calories. To get a better idea of how many calories you will burn, check out this exercise calorie counter, you may be pleasantly surprised. Exercise should be fun, jumping rope was a childhood joy, I hope it helps improve your level of fitness while bringing a smile to your workout!
