So you run three days a week and believe yourself to be pretty fit. A friend invites you to a low impact aerobics class and you find yourself exhausted and cant keep up?

Maybe youve been faithful with your strength training program at the local gym but youre winded after running around the park with your grandkids?

Or perhaps youve been circuit training for years and believe your cardio and strength are that of a high performance athlete but one day you bend over to lift something up and end up with a back injury that lasts for weeks?

Most people stick with a sport or exercise program they enjoy and train year after year to improve their skill and ability. However, experts in the fitness field recommend cross training (participating in more than one sport or activity).

Using just one set of muscles repeatedly can also increase your risk of repetitive injury. The harder you train your body for just one activity, the more stress you put on all the muscles and bones involved in that one activity, so the more you do and the better you get, the more you risk overuse and the greater your risk of injury.

Cross training can help minimize injuries and muscle imbalances.

Some other benefits of cross trainingare:

Relieves boredom and keeps you interested by adding variety to your workout

Renews motivation and adherence to exercise program

Develops your entire body rather than just specific parts or energy systems (aerobic vs. anaerobic )

Follow this link:
Kittle: Cross training and core strengthening for older adults