A skipping rope is one of these sports essentials that cost next to nothing but deliver truly amazing results. Everyone who has tried this workout knows for sure that despite appearances, it is very demanding and intense, a great cardio workout to burn calories. And that’s just one of the benefits! We are going to tell you more about them to encourage you to take out your skipping rope and carry it with you at all times, because you can skip everywhere! It will take less space in your suitcase than your running shoes.
Skipping rope for weight loss
This is a killer cardio workout. During fifteen minutes of intense workout you can burn 200 to 300 calories, which makes it better than running, cycling or swimming. Skipping rope engages most muscle groups in your body and produces a lot of heat. And to generate heat, your body burns calories!
Skipping rope for better coordination
It takes time before you learn to skip without constant tripping. A skipping rope requires total body coordination, which can be achieved through regular practice. Interestingly, research confirms this. An article published in Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology proves that a skipping rope helped improve motor coordination in autistic children. Teenage football players also achieved amazing results – after eight weeks of skipping rope, their motor skills improved a lot compared to those who trained only with a ball.
Skipping rope for a healthy heart
Jumping will raise your heart rate and force your heart to work harder. This unremarkable item can really work wonders, as confirmed by a study published by the European Journal of Applied Physiology. 12 weeks of skipping rope reduced the cardiovascular risk in teenage girls with prehypertension or high blood pressure. Towards the end of the testing phase, the girls who jumped rope had less fatty tissue, which is also very important for a healthy heart.
Skipping rope as a perfect warm-up
A turbo warm-up? It’s really a great idea to have a skipping rope handy, as confirmed by a scientific study on 96 runners. Instead of their usual warm-up routine, they skipped rope for five minutes. After 10 weeks they found that their 3k run performance had doubled compared to those who did not skip.
Skipping rope for bone density
Regular skipping will make your bones stronger, reducing the risk of osteoporosis, especially in women. Naturally, scientists have looked into this – a study published in the Public Library of Science found that girls aged 11 to 14 who skipped rope once a week had increased bone density.
Skipping rope for stronger muscles
It will help you strengthen your calf, thigh and gluteal muscles, as well as the abdomen and shoulders.
A tiny, cheap and trivial skipping rope has so many benefits. Why don’t you start skipping today?