Why Skating is a Complete Sport

As children, we have all practiced skating, or at least we have tried. There are those of us who couldn't do it and others who skate, not only as a sport, but also as a hobby.

Skating, whether on wheels or on the ice, has the ability to improve our balance, coordination, and concentration through the movements of our legs. That’s why skating is a complete sport that’s recommended for children. Especially those who have problems with their psychomotor ability or concentration in studies.

In the following article we’ll look at why skating is a complete sport.

What are the benefits of skating?

Practicing this sport in childhood will help children to become adults with goals in life that are well defined and that they’ll fight for without qualms. If as an adult you are still enthusiastic about skating, you have chosen one of the best sports to keep you fit.

Skating is a complete sport also in the physical aspect

The most worked body part from skating is usually the lower body, that is to say, the legs. However, for good coordination and to maintain balance, it’s necessary to work with the rest of the body too.

Arms, waist, and the spine, are all very active while skating. This is why skating is a complete sport. In addition, it’s an aerobic exercise and a powerful fat burner that works all the muscles at the same time, but not too fast.

This means that skating will help you to lose weight, and later, it will feed your muscles, tone your body and make you look great.

For example, to give you an idea, in half an hour of cycling (an exercise where the legs work hard), you can burn around 150 calories, compared to the 300 that you can burn, when you skate.

Other benefits of skating

In addition to the aforementioned benefits, some of which are obvious, there are others that are not so obvious. These other benefits will help to motivate you even more:

• Strengthens legs and improves muscle tone.
• Improves your physical endurance
• The lungs and the heart are strengthened.
• It causes less impact on the joints than running – 50 per cent less.
• Shapes and strengthens the buttocks, waist and abdomen.
• Activates blood circulation.
• Our cells are nourished more continuously.
• Our breathing improves.
• It is a natural stress reliever.

Skating risks

Although there are many benefits of  this sport, there are also risks involved. It is not a sport in which you can start as an adult, unless you have mastered skills in coordination and balance.

The injuries suffered in a skating session can be intense and that’s why precautions must be taken. Even if you already consider yourself an expert, you should be cautious and follow safety rules, so as not to hurt yourself. Here are some guidelines:

• Wear protection. At almost any store you can find all sorts of protective gear to practice this sport safely, so choose the accessories that you think are necessary. The wristbands are a must because the hands are the first body part to support us on the ground when we fall.
• Don’t skate on wet or too smooth ground, since the wheels have no grip and a fall is much more feasible on dangerous, slippery ground.
• Skate in a safe place. Putting yourself in the middle of the road is not prudent, because you could cause or suffer an accident.
• Don’t hold onto vehicles while you skate.

These are minor risks, when you take into account the preventative measures that we mentioned above. Skating is a complete sport that will help you to keep fit and shape your body. Don’t hesitate to choose it!