Healthy Joints Require Cross Training

It is the most common complaint among people who workout, joint pain.  Weather it is lower back pain, knee pain or hip pain, you can modify your training program to avoid injury.  I was speaking to a woman last week who trains for marathons and she said that she has severe hip pain for about a year, and she continued to run.  Her only form of training was long slow distance running, and now she is scheduled for hip surgery. 

Believe me, I understand that time is of the essence when it comes to fitting in your daily run or ride.  Sometimes we just don’t have time to change things up, it is easier to just stick with the same thing.  At least we are getting our workouts in, right?  Maybe you are one of those people who thinks that if you are not training hard, you are not training.  No pain, no gain, right?

If you want to continue to be athletic and healthy, then you must cross train.  Cross training is a way to give our bodies a rest from our primary training and strengthen connective tissue and joints.  Olympic and professional athletes have programs designed with cross training days.  Olympic sprinters do bike training, and NFL football players use bikes, elliptical machines and TRX training.   Average Joe’s and Weekend Warriors are no different than professional athletes when it comes to smart training program design.

Here are a few ideas for cross training and designing a program that will help you reach your athletic goals and feel great in the process.

If you are:

•    Training for a 5K, 10K or Marathon:  Try intervals on an elliptical machine or bike 1 or two times each week. 

•    Training for a Triathlon:  Try circuit training with weights 2 to 3 times each week for an efficient resistance training program that will keep you injury free.

•    Cyclists:  Core training is a must.  Check out TRX Suspension training 2 to 3 times per week for an extremely time efficient and total body core focused workout. 

If you take the time to carefully plan your weekly workouts, you will have an amazing injury free summer.  Life is too short to be living with pain and cross training is the best way to ensure that you can perform your preferred sport for years to come.

Comments

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I have read whole article which belongs to Healthy joints.I agree with the Cross training is required for person who has problem in his or her joints.I think the combination of right diet and exercise isn't always as easy to keep up with.